U.S. patent application number 09/793073 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for method and apparatus for controlling the blending of drinks.
This patent application is currently assigned to Vita-Mix Corporation.. Invention is credited to Barnard, David J., Boozer, Richard D., Dastoli, Benjamin J., Kolar, David J., Miller, Brent A..
Application Number | 20010028913 09/793073 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23613547 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010028913 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kolar, David J. ; et
al. |
October 11, 2001 |
Method and apparatus for controlling the blending of drinks
Abstract
A drink-blending machine (10) includes an ice-shaving unit (11)
and a blender assembly (12). The ice-shaving unit (11) is adapted
to transfer ice from a bin (15) to the pitcher (18) of the blender
assembly (12). A weighing mechanism (31) includes a deflection beam
(33), one end of which carries the pitcher (18). The deflection
beam (33) includes a strain gauge (34) which provides a signal
proportional to weight to a control circuitry box (30). In
operation of the machine (10), a quantity of liquid is placed in
the pitcher (18) and dependent upon the weight of ice or
liquid-to-ice ratio predetermined by depressing a selected button
(44), ice from the ice-shaving unit (11) is transferred to the
pitcher (18) until the predetermined weight of ice is received by
the pitcher
Inventors: |
Kolar, David J.;
(Streetsboro, OH) ; Dastoli, Benjamin J.;
(Brunswick, OH) ; Miller, Brent A.; (Olmsted
Township, OH) ; Barnard, David J.; (North Olmsted,
OH) ; Boozer, Richard D.; (Wakeman, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Edward G. Greive
Renner, Kenner, Greive, Bobak, Taylor & Weber
Fourth Floor, First National Tower
Akron
OH
44308-1456
US
|
Assignee: |
Vita-Mix Corporation.
|
Family ID: |
23613547 |
Appl. No.: |
09/793073 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09793073 |
Feb 26, 2001 |
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09407792 |
Sep 29, 1999 |
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6194013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
426/590 ;
426/519; D7/378 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/27 20130101;
A47J 2043/0733 20130101; A23G 9/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/590 ;
426/519; D7/378 |
International
Class: |
A23L 002/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender
and a source of ice comprising the steps of placing a quantity of
liquid in the pitcher of a blender, and transferring ice from the
source of ice to the pitcher until a predetermined weight of ice is
received by the pitcher.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined weight
of ice equals a selected liquid-to-ice ratio.
3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the source of ice is an
ice dispenser and the step of transferring ice includes the steps
of initiating the dispensing of the ice, weighing the ice
dispensed, and stopping the dispensing of the ice when the selected
liquid-to-ice ratio is reached.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the step of weighing
includes the step of determining the weight of the liquid.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of determining
includes the steps of weighing the empty pitcher, weighing the
pitcher with the liquid therein, and subtracting the weight of the
empty pitcher from the weight of the pitcher with the liquid
therein.
6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of
starting the blender before the step of transferring.
7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of
stopping the blender after the step of transferring.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined weight
of ice is dependent on the quantity of the liquid.
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the source of ice is an
ice dispenser and the step of transferring ice includes the steps
of initiating the dispensing of the ice, weighing the ice
dispensed, and stopping the dispensing of the ice when a
predetermined weight of the ice is reached.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of weighing the
ice includes the steps of weighing the pitcher with the liquid
therein to determine an initial weight, weighing the pitcher with
the liquid therein as the ice is being transferred to the pitcher
to determine a current weight, and subtracting the initial weight
from the current weight to determine the current weight of the
ice.
11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of
comparing the current weight of ice with the predetermined weight
of ice and commencing the step of stopping the dispensing when the
current weight of ice equals the predetermined weight of ice.
12. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of
starting the blender after the step of transferring.
13. A method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender
and an ice dispenser comprising the steps of weighing an empty
pitcher of the blender, placing an arbitrary amount of liquid in
the pitcher, selecting a desired liquid-to-ice ratio for the drink,
starting the blender, weighing the pitcher with the liquid therein,
determining the weight of the liquid by subtracting the weight of
the empty pitcher from the weight of the pitcher with the liquid
therein, initiating the transfer of ice from the dispenser to the
pitcher, terminating the transfer of ice when the determined weight
of the ice matches the selected liquid-to-ice ratio, and stopping
the blender.
14. A method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender
and an ice dispenser comprising the steps of placing a quantity of
liquid in the pitcher of the blender, selecting the weight of ice
to be added to the pitcher, weighing the pitcher and liquid to
determine an initial weight, initiating the transfer of ice from
the dispenser to the pitcher, weighing the pitcher with the liquid
therein as the ice is being transferred to determine a current
weight, subtracting the initial weight from the current weight to
determine the weight of the ice, stopping the transfer of ice when
the weight of the ice matches the selected weight, and operating
the blender to mix the drink.
15. Apparatus for controlling the mixing of a drink comprising a
blender having a pitcher, an ice machine adapted to transfer ice to
said pitcher, and a weighing mechanism to determine the weight of
the transferred ice, said weighing mechanism initiating the
stopping of the transfer of the ice to said pitcher when a
predetermined weight of ice is in said pitcher.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said weighing mechanism
includes a deflection beam having one end carrying said pitcher,
and a strain gauge on said beam to measure the weight of said
pitcher and the content of said pitcher.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising an
electronic control communicating with said strain gauge to receive
weight information from said strain gauge.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a plurality
of selection buttons, each said selection button, upon activation,
providing different information to said electronic control
regarding the desired weight of the ice to be transferred.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a motor to
operate said blender, said electronic control operating said motor
in accordance with information received.
20. Apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a motor for
said ice machine, said electronic control operating said motor in
accordance with information received.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
blending drinks, in particular, drinks made with a portion of
liquid and a portion of ice, as is often prepared and served in
restaurants, cocktail lounges, or the like. More particularly, this
invention precisely controls the portions of the drink so as to
provide repeated, consistent drinks.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Very popular beverages today are those commonly referred to
as "frozen" drinks whereby a portion of liquid, which often
includes liquor, and a portion of ice are mixed in a blender to
create an almost slush-like drink. In the past, the most typical
manner to create such drinks required the bartender or other
operator to put a quantity of liquor, flavored drink mix, ice and
possibly even fruit in the pitcher of a blender, and then operate
the blender until that drink is perceived to be adequately mixed.
The drink is then transferred from the pitcher of the blender to a
glass for consumption by the patron.
[0003] Such a procedure has many disadvantages. For example, this
procedure requires the constant attention of the operator who, in
the sometimes busy environment of a restaurant or cocktail lounge,
could be giving his attention to making other drinks while the
frozen drink is being prepared. Moreover, even the skilled
bartender cannot, in this manner, always make drinks which are
consistent in quantity and quality. That is, the operator is
required to guess to the correct amount of liquid and ice to put
into the blender, dependent on the number of drinks to be made, and
if insufficient ingredients are blended, the patron's glass will
not be filled on the first try, and the operator will be required
to blend additional liquid and ice. Or, as often is the case, the
operator may blend too large a quantity of ingredients which, if
not eventually used, is wasteful to the economic detriment of the
establishment. Moreover, there is no way to assure that the quality
of the drink is consistent from drink-to-drink. If patrons have
enjoyed a good first drink, they expect that their second drink
will be of the same consistency and flavor of their first drink,
which cannot always happen when the operator is required to
"eyeball" the amount of liquid relative to the amount of ice to be
blended.
[0004] One proposed solution to at least some of the aforementioned
problems is to provide a combined ice dispenser and blender whereby
the functions of each are controlled by time. Such is shown, for
example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,528,824 and 4,681,030. In these
devices, an attempt is made to control the amount of ice to be
delivered to the blending cup by operating an ice shaver for a
predetermined amount of time. Then, after a predetermined time
delay, the blender operates for a preselected amount of time.
However, repeatably consistent drinks cannot be made by such a
device in that there is no correlation between the amount of liquid
which is manually placed in the cup of the blender and the amount
of ice to be delivered. Moreover, using time as the operative
control parameter does not assure that the correct or precise
quantity of ice has been added. For example, the ice machine might
be almost empty, thereby not having a sufficient quantity of ice
for the drink, yet this prior art device would run for a
predetermined time and deliver an incorrect quantity of ice. Or,
even if there was sufficient ice in the machine, it will not always
be delivered at a uniform rate and might not even be delivered at
all, as could happen if the ice delivering blades were operating in
a dead air space created by an arching of the ice in the
machine.
[0005] Thus, controlling the operation of a drink-making machine
using time as the controlling parameter does not adequately solve
the problems prevalent in the art.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
method and apparatus in the form of an ice shaver and blender for
preparing drinks which creates a repeatably consistent quality
drink.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
method and apparatus, as above, in which the precise desired amount
of ice, by weight, is metered into the blender.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
method and apparatus, as above, in which the quantity of ice
metered to the blender is dependent on the weight of the liquid in
the blender.
[0009] It is an additional object of the present invention to
provide a method and apparatus, as above, which creates drinks of a
repeatably consistent quantity.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a method and apparatus, as above, which allows the drink maker to
use his time efficiently.
[0011] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide a method and apparatus, as above, in which errors by the
drink maker in creating a drink are reduced, if not eliminated.
[0012] These and other objects of the present invention, as well as
the advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will
become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by
the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
[0013] In general, a method of making a liquid and ice drink, in
accordance with the present invention, utilizes a blender and a
source of ice and includes the steps of placing a quantity of
liquid in the pitcher of the blender, and transferring ice from the
ice source to the pitcher until a predetermined weight of ice is
received by the pitcher.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
the method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender and
an ice dispenser includes the steps of weighing an empty pitcher of
the blender, placing an arbitrary amount of liquid in the pitcher,
selecting a desired liquid-to-ice ratio for the drink, starting the
blender, weighing the pitcher with the liquid therein, determining
the weight of the liquid by subtracting the weight of the empty
pitcher from the weight of the pitcher with the liquid therein,
initiating the transfer of the ice from the dispenser to the
pitcher, terminating the transfer of ice when the determined weight
of the ice matches the selected liquid-to-ice ratio, and stopping
the blender.
[0015] Yet another method of making a liquid and ice drink, in
accordance with the present invention, which utilizes a blender and
an ice dispenser, includes the steps of placing a quantity of
liquid in the pitcher of the blender, selecting the weight of ice
to be added to the pitcher, weighing the pitcher and liquid to
determine an initial weight, initiating the transfer of ice from
the dispenser to the pitcher, weighing the pitcher with the liquid
therein as the ice is being transferred to determine a current
weight, subtracting the initial weight from the current weight to
determine the weight of the ice, stopping the transfer of ice when
the weight of the ice matches the selected weight, and operating
the blender to mix the drink.
[0016] An apparatus made in accordance with the present invention
for controlling the mixing of a drink includes a blender having a
pitcher and an ice machine adapted to transfer ice to the pitcher.
A weighing mechanism is provided to determine the weight of the
transferred ice. The weighing mechanism initiates the stopping of
the transfer of the ice to the pitcher when a predetermined weight
of ice is in the pitcher.
[0017] A preferred exemplary apparatus for controlling the blending
of drinks, and its method of operation, incorporating the concepts
of the present invention, is shown by way of example in the
accompanying drawings without attempting to show all the various
forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied,
the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the
details of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice shaver and blender
device made in accordance with the concepts of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic view of some of the internal
components of the device shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic, partially broken away and
sectioned, side elevational view particularly depicting the
weighing mechanism utilized by the device shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting one method of operation
of the device in accordance with the concepts of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting another method of
operation of the device in accordance with the concepts of the
present invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0023] A drink-blending machine is indicated generally by the
numeral 10 and is shown in FIG. 1 as including two basic
components, an ice dispenser preferably in the form of an
ice-shaving unit generally indicated by the numeral 11, and a
blender assembly generally indicated by the numeral 12.
Drink-blending machine 10 also includes a base portion 13 which
supports a partially cylindrical pedestal 14 which, in turn,
supports an ice bin 15 which is part of ice-shaving unit 11 and is
adapted to carry a supply of ice. Ice-shaving unit 11 also includes
a lid 16 for closing bin 15, lid 16 having a handle 17 so that it
can readily be removed from bin 15 to position ice therein. Unless
otherwise evident, all components of machine 10 can be fabricated
of any suitable plastic material, and it is preferable to form bin
15 of a transparent material so that the user can observe the
quantity of ice maintained therein.
[0024] Blender assembly 12 includes a container or pitcher 18
having a base 19 which is received by, and carried by, a pad 20.
Pad 20 includes locators 21 generally near the corners thereof to
receive a mating structure (not shown) on the bottom of base 19.
Pitcher 18 includes a conventional handle 22 and cover 23, with
cover 23 having a slot 24 therein to receive an ice chute 25
therethrough. Chute 25 thus enables bin 15 to communicate with
pitcher 18 so that ice may pass from ice-shaving unit 11 to pitcher
18.
[0025] Base portion 13 and pedestal 14 internally house the
operating components of drink-blending machine 10. As schematically
shown in FIG. 2, the bottom of base portion 13 includes a support
plate 26 having feet 27 depending downwardly therefrom, generally
at the corner edges thereof, to support machine 10. Plate 26
carries a blender motor 28, an ice-shaver motor 29, an electronic
control circuitry box 30, and a weighing mechanism generally
indicated by the numeral 31.
[0026] Although the precise details of the operation of drink
blending machine 10 will be hereinafter described in more detail,
in general the operator places the liquid or other ingredients of
the drink to be created into pitcher 18. The liquid could include a
drink mix and an alcoholic beverage, and the other ingredients
could include whole or sliced fruit or the like. Individually, or
collectively, these ingredients will be referred to herein as a
"liquid." In a conventional manner, ice-shaver motor 29 causes
blades (not shown) to shave the ice at the bottom of bin 15, which
ice passes through chute 25 and into pitcher 18. In a likewise
conventional manner, blender motor 28 causes a blade or agitator
(not shown) positioned near the bottom of pitcher 18 to mix the
liquid and ice until the drink is completed.
[0027] In accordance with the present invention, weighing mechanism
31 is provided to determine the precise amount of ice to be
positioned in pitcher 18. Weighing mechanism 31 includes a pedestal
32 positioned on plate 26 which carries one end of a deflection
beam 33. Beam 33 is provided with a conventional strain gauge 34
positioned above a recessed or thinned-out area 35 of beam 33. The
other end of beam 33 carries pad 20. Thus, the entire weight of pad
20 and pitcher 18 is suspended on the end of beam 33. A flap guard
36 is shown as being mounted on beam 33 and extends above strain
gauge 34 to protect it from damage by undesired contact. As will
hereinafter be described in more detail, and as is well known in
the art, strain gauge 34 provides a signal proportional to weight
to the circuitry in control box 30.
[0028] The manner in which blender assembly 12 is operated by motor
28 is somewhat schematically shown in FIG. 3. Motor 28, via a belt
(not shown), drives a pulley 37 which rotates a stub shaft 38.
Shaft 38 extends through a bearing housing 39 which is received
through, but does not engage, an opening 40 in pad 20. At least the
upper portion of shaft 38 is squared to be received in a squared
bore 41 of a shaft coupler 43 so as to rotate coupler 43. Shaft
coupler 43 also includes a splined bore 42 opposite or vertically
adjacent to squared bore 41. The shaft (not shown) which drives the
blade of the blending assembly 12 is likewise splined so that it
and pitcher 18 are moveable vertically relative to coupler 43, yet
the shaft is engaged for rotation by coupler 43.
[0029] By means of weighing mechanism 31 and conventional
electronic circuitry positioned in control box 30, which circuitry
could be designed in various forms, as known to one skilled in the
art, to carry out the various required functions, drink-blending
machine 10 can operate by various methods to blend a drink in
accordance with the present invention. The operation is controlled
by series selection buttons 44 located on a touch pad 45 on the
front of base portion 13, each selection button 44, as will
hereinafter be described, providing differing instructions to the
electronic circuitry. In addition, pad 45 may be provided with a
number of other buttons 46 for preforming calibration, programming
and other functions.
[0030] One preferred method of operation is depicted in FIG. 4.
Machine 10 is first calibrated by placing an empty pitcher 18 on
pad 20 and then pressing a calibration button 46. Preferably, the
blender may be started at this time, for a dry run, for the purpose
of freeing the interaction of coupler 43 and the spline on the
blender shaft. Strain gauge 34 then provides a signal proportional
to the empty pitcher weight to the electronic circuitry, which
indicia is stored in a register therein. This calibration process
would only need to be repeated if a new pitcher were used or if,
through a vast amount of use, there may be a suspicion that the
pitcher weight had changed.
[0031] With the empty pitcher weight now being known, in the method
of FIG. 4, the user need only put any arbitrary amount of liquid
into pitcher 18. Of course, the skilled user, if he knew, for
example, that he were mixing two drinks, would likely attempt to
place enough liquid mix for two drinks into pitcher 18. But such is
not necessary because in accordance with the method of FIG. 4, the
precise amount of ice, dependent on the desired liquid-to-ice
ratio, will be supplied to pitcher 18. To that end, after the
arbitrary amount of liquid is placed into pitcher 18, it is placed
on pad 20. The operator then depresses one of the selection buttons
44 on touch pad 45 to instruct the electronic circuitry to provide
a certain amount of ice, by weight, to pitcher 18. Each button 44
will have a different ratio ascribed to it, a ratio identifiable by
the circuitry. For example, one button 44 may signal the circuitry
that a one-to-one ratio of ice and liquid is desired, whereas
another button 44 may be used for a one-to-two ratio or the like.
The providers of the liquid drink mix usually instruct the user
relative to the desired ratio for their mix.
[0032] Thus, the operator, knowing the desired liquid mix-to-ice
ratio, depresses or touches the corresponding button 44 at which
time the blender is preferably started by activation of motor 28.
After a very short pause, to assure that the interaction of coupler
43 and the spline on the blender shaft is free, the weight of the
pitcher filled with the liquid is read by the strain gauge 34 and
stored in a register in the electronic circuitry. The empty weight
of pitcher 18 is then subtracted from the weight of pitcher 18 with
the arbitrary amount of liquid therein (to determine and store the
weight of the liquid) and the ice shaver is started by activation
of motor 29. At this point in time, the weight of the pitcher,
liquid and ice, is monitored by gauge 34, and when the desired
weight is reached, which now includes the predetermined weight
amount of ice (dependent on the ratio selected), ice shaver 11 is
stopped and the blender will continue to run for a time period
dependent on the total weight of the drink. That is, for example,
if a one-to-one ratio has been selected, ice shaver 11 will stop
when a weight of ice equal to the weight of liquid has been
obtained, and the blender 12 will be programmed to run for a
further time, which may be longer or shorter if a different ratio
were selected.
[0033] As a result, no matter what amount of liquid is added to the
pitcher, the desired proportional amount of ice will be added,
resulting in a drink of perfect, repeatable consistency. Such would
result even if the user under-poured or over-poured the original
amount of liquid.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows one of several other modes of operation for
machine 10. In this mode, the user fills the pitcher with his best
estimation of the approximate amount of liquid desired, dependent
on the number or size of drinks to be made. The user then depresses
or touches the appropriate button 44, with buttons 44 in this
instance being programmed to tell the machine how many drinks are
intended to be made, and therefore how much ice, by weight, will be
needed. For example, one button 44 may dictate one six-ounce drink,
and another button 44 may dictate a twelve ounce drink, or two
six-ounce drinks. The weight of the pitcher 18 with the liquid
therein, often called the tare weight, is then determined by strain
gauge 34 and the tare weight is stored in a register of the
circuitry. Ice shaver 11 is then activated to provide ice to the
pitcher and the current weight thereof is continually monitored by
gauge 34. The tare weight is subtracted from the current weight to
determine the weight of the ice which has been added. This ice
weight is compared with the final ice weight based on the drink
selected, that is, dependent on which button 44 has been depressed.
When the current ice weight matches the final ice weight, ice
shaver 11 is stopped and the blender started. Dependent on the
quantity of the drink selected, the blender will run a
predetermined time and then stop. A drink of perfect quality, and
of a desired quantity, may now be served.
[0035] Other minor variations to the method of FIG. 5 just
described are contemplated by the present invention. In some
instances, and for certain types of drinks, for example, it may be
desirable to start the blender at the time the drink type is
selected and before ice shaver 11 is started. Then, if desired,
before the tare weight is determined, as in the method of FIG. 4,
the blender may run a few moments to free the interaction of the
coupler 43 and the spline drive for the blender which could result
in a more accurate tare weight reading.
[0036] In view of the foregoing, it should thus be evident that a
machine constructed and operated as described herein will be
controlled based on weight measurements being obtained to produce
drinks of a consistent quality and quantity, thereby accomplishing
the objects of the present invention and otherwise substantially
improving the art.
* * * * *