Beverage making device, control method thereof and refrigerator

Abstract

The invention provides a beverage making device, a control method thereof and a refrigerator, and the device comprises a liquid storage part which comprises a liquid outlet; the material storage part comprises a discharging port, a propelling shaft and a propelling piece, the first end of the propelling shaft is connected with a first motor, the second end of the propelling shaft is arranged at the discharging port, and the propelling piece is arranged on the propelling shaft; under the driving of the first motor, the propelling piece moves from the first end to the second end through the propelling shaft; and the mixing chamber is arranged at the downstream of the liquid outlet and the discharge port and is used for mixing the raw materials of the beverage with the liquid. According to the device, the steps of manually obtaining beverage raw materials and manually mixing are reduced, the operation complexity is reduced, meanwhile, errors caused by improper manual operation can be reduced, and the beverage making accuracy and consistency are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of intelligent household appliances, and in particular to a beverage making device and a control method thereof, and a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] In the field of beverage production, the traditional beverage production process is often highly dependent on manual operation. From the preparation and proportioning of raw materials to mixing and stirring, each link requires fine manual operation and strict monitoring. However, this high degree of manual participation not only makes the beverage production process cumbersome and complicated, but also easily introduces operational errors, affecting the taste and quality of the beverage.

[0003] Specifically, existing beverage making devices usually use manual methods to add raw materials, such as adding raw materials into a mixing container by manual weighing, manual pouring, etc. This method is not only inefficient, but also easily affected by human factors, resulting in inaccurate amounts of raw materials, which in turn affects the taste and nutritional value of the beverage. Summary of the invention

[0004] One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a beverage making device to solve the technical problems in the prior art of high degree of manual participation in the beverage making process, complicated operation and large errors.

[0005] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator.

[0006] In order to achieve one of the above-mentioned invention purposes, the present invention provides a beverage making device, comprising: a liquid storage portion, including a liquid outlet; a material storage portion, including a material outlet, a propulsion shaft and a propulsion piece, the first end of the propulsion shaft is connected to a first motor, the second end of the propulsion shaft is arranged at the material outlet, and the propulsion piece is arranged on the propulsion shaft; under the drive of the first motor, the propulsion piece moves from its first end to the second end through the propulsion shaft; a mixing chamber is arranged downstream of the liquid outlet and the material outlet, and is used to mix the raw materials of the beverage with the liquid.

[0007] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a stirring portion, one end of which extends downwardly in a vertical direction to the bottom of the mixing chamber.

[0008] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the stirring part includes a stirring shaft and a stirring blade, the first end of the stirring shaft is connected to the second motor, and the second end of the stirring shaft is connected to the stirring blade.

[0009] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a heat conducting plate and a heating wire, wherein the heat conducting plate is arranged at the bottom of the mixing chamber, and the heating wire is arranged below the heat conducting plate.

[0010] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the propulsion sheets are distributed on the propulsion shaft in a spiral manner.

[0011] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the mixing chamber comprises an exhaust hole, and the exhaust hole is arranged on the top of the mixing chamber.

[0012] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a storage component, and the storage component is located below the liquid outlet of the mixing chamber.

[0013] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid storage portion includes a liquid inlet and a valve, and the valve is arranged at the liquid inlet.

[0014] To achieve one of the above-mentioned purposes of the invention, the present invention further provides a control method for a beverage making device, the control method being applied to any one of the beverage making devices, the control method comprising at least one of the following steps: in response to a beverage preparation signal, controlling the liquid storage part to flow liquid into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet; controlling the material storage part to use a propulsion sheet to place the raw materials of the beverage into the mixing chamber through the material outlet, and controlling the stirring part to perform a stirring operation; in response to a device cleaning signal, controlling the liquid storage part to flow liquid into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet, and controlling the stirring part to perform a stirring operation.

[0015] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, before controlling the material storage part to use the propulsion sheet to place the raw materials of the beverage into the mixing chamber through the discharge port, the method further includes: in response to a first signal for making a target beverage, controlling the heating wire to heat the liquid in the mixing chamber until the temperature of the liquid falls within a preset temperature range, and the first signal instructs the liquid storage part to release the liquid into the mixing chamber.

[0016] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the control method also includes: obtaining a first preset temperature value and a second preset temperature value corresponding to the target beverage, the first preset temperature value is less than the second preset temperature value; when the actual temperature value of the target beverage in the mixing room is less than the first preset temperature value, controlling the heating wire to heat the target beverage in the mixing room; when the actual temperature value of the target beverage in the mixing room is greater than the second preset temperature value, stopping the heating wire from heating the target beverage in the mixing room.

[0017] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, after the liquid storage part is controlled to flow water into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet, the control method further includes: obtaining the current liquid storage amount in the mixing chamber; when the liquid storage amount is greater than or equal to the standard liquid storage amount, controlling the motor to drive the propulsion shaft at a first speed; when the liquid storage amount is less than the standard liquid storage amount, controlling the motor to drive the propulsion shaft at a second speed, and the first speed is greater than the second speed.

[0018] In order to achieve one of the above-mentioned objects of the invention, the present invention further provides a refrigerator, comprising a door body, wherein any one of the beverage making devices described above is arranged inside the door body.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention have at least one of the following beneficial effects:

[0020] The present invention adopts a beverage making device, which drives the propulsion shaft through a motor, thereby driving the propulsion sheet to automatically push the beverage raw materials to the material outlet, and evenly mix them with the liquid flowing out of the liquid outlet in the mixing chamber, thereby realizing the automation of beverage making. The device helps to reduce the steps of manually obtaining beverage raw materials and manually mixing, and reduces the cumbersomeness of operation. At the same time, since the pushing and mixing of beverage raw materials are all completed by machinery, it can also reduce the errors caused by improper manual operation, and improve the accuracy and consistency of beverage making. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a beverage making device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a material storage portion in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of a stirring part in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator including a beverage making device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 1 is a schematic diagram of the steps of a control method for a beverage making device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 1 is a schematic diagram of the steps of a control method for a beverage making device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 1 is a schematic diagram of the steps of a control method for a beverage making device in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 8( a ) is a schematic diagram showing the working principle of the beverage making device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 8( b ) is a schematic flow chart of a beverage making device in a preparation state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG8( c ) is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a beverage making device in a cleaning state according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional changes made by a person skilled in the art based on these embodiments are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] Terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like used herein to indicate spatial relative positions are used for the purpose of convenience to describe the relationship of one unit or feature relative to another unit or feature as shown in the accompanying drawings. Terms of spatial relative positions may be intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation shown in the drawings.

[0033] For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0034] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0035] It should be noted that the term "comprises" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device that includes a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0036] like Figure 1As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a beverage making device 100. The beverage making device 100 is used to make different target beverages according to user needs, such as brewing milk powder to make milk beverages.

[0037] The beverage making device 100 comprises a liquid storage portion 11. The liquid storage portion 11 is used to store water or other liquid beverages, such as juice, milk, etc.

[0038] In one embodiment, the liquid storage part 11 may include a liquid storage box and a first pipe, the liquid storage box includes a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet, the liquid inlet is connected to a water source, and the liquid outlet is connected to a liquid inlet 13-3 of the mixing chamber 13 through the first pipe. In this way, by setting the liquid storage box, it can be used as a buffer container to store a certain amount of clean water or liquid so that it can be quickly supplied to the mixing chamber 13 when needed, avoiding the influence of water source fluctuations or pressure changes on the beverage making process.

[0039] In one embodiment, Figure 1 The liquid storage part 11 includes a liquid outlet 11-3, and the liquid outlet 11-3 can be connected to the liquid inlet 13-3 of the mixing chamber 13 through the first end of the first pipe 11-2, and the second end of the first pipe 11-2 is connected to the water source.

[0040] Thus, by directly connecting the water source and the mixing chamber 13 through the first pipe 11 - 2 , the residence time of the liquid inside the beverage making device 100 can be reduced, thereby reducing the risk of bacterial growth and contamination, and ensuring the hygiene and quality of the beverage during the product manufacturing process.

[0041] In a specific embodiment, the liquid storage part 11 includes a liquid inlet and a first valve 11-1. The first valve 11-1 is arranged at the liquid inlet of the liquid storage part 11, and is used to open or close the liquid flow path from the water source to the first pipe 11-2, so as to control whether the liquid in the liquid storage part 11 can flow smoothly into the mixing chamber 13.

[0042] The beverage making device 100 includes a material storage portion 12. On the one hand, the material storage portion 12 can be used to store raw materials for making a target beverage, such as milk powder for brewing milk, soybean milk powder for brewing soybean milk, or black sesame powder for brewing black sesame paste.

[0043] On the other hand, the material storage part 12 can also control the process of adding the target beverage raw material (including at least one of the adding time and the adding amount). When the amount of liquid in the liquid storage part 11 is large, the amount of raw material added by the material storage part 12 to the mixing chamber 13 will also increase; conversely, when the amount of liquid in the liquid storage part 11 is small, the amount of raw material added by the material storage part 12 to the mixing chamber 13 will also decrease.

[0044] Continue to refer to Figure 1As shown, the material storage part 12 includes a first storage box 12 - 1 and a propulsion assembly 12 - 2 (including a propulsion shaft and a propulsion sheet). The propulsion assembly 12 - 2 is used to push the raw materials in the first storage box 12 - 1 into the mixing chamber 13 .

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the storage part 12 includes a first storage box 12-1, a second storage box 12-7, a discharge port 12-5, a propulsion shaft 12-3 and a propulsion piece 12-4 (i.e., a propulsion assembly). The first end of the propulsion shaft 12-3 is connected to the first motor 12-6, the second end of the propulsion shaft 12-3 is arranged at the discharge port 12-5, and the propulsion piece 12-4 is arranged on the propulsion shaft 12-3; driven by the first motor 12-6, the propulsion piece 12-4 moves from its first end to the second end through the propulsion shaft 12-3.

[0046] The first storage box 12-1 is connected to the second storage box 12-7. In one embodiment, the first storage box 12-1 is located above the second storage box 12-7, a first opening is provided at the bottom of the first storage box 12-1, and a second opening is provided at the second storage box 12-7, and the first opening is connected to the second opening through a pipe.

[0047] In another embodiment, the first storage box 12-1 and the second storage box 12-7 are arranged close to each other, and the first storage box 12-1 is located above the second storage box 12-7. A through hole is set at the corresponding position (such as the bottom) where the first storage box 12-1 and the second storage box 12-7 are close to each other, and the raw materials in the first storage box 12-1 can be put into the second storage box 12-7 through the through hole.

[0048] In addition, there is no specific limitation on the shapes of the first storage box 21 and the second storage box 12-7. For example, the shape of the first storage box 12-1 can be set to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The "funnel shape" (or "trapezoidal shape") shown can also be set to a "square shape".

[0049] In one embodiment, the propulsion sheet 12-4 is distributed on the propulsion shaft 12-3 in a spiral manner.

[0050] In a specific embodiment, the propulsion pieces 12-4 are continuously distributed on the propulsion shaft 12-3 in a spiral manner. Figure 2 As shown, the space of the propulsion shaft 12-3 can be more effectively utilized through the spirally continuously distributed propulsion pieces 12-4, so that the material in the material storage portion 12 maintains a continuous material flow during the propulsion process, thereby improving the material storage and propulsion efficiency.

[0051] In a specific embodiment, the propulsion piece 12-4 is intermittently distributed on the propulsion shaft 12-3 in a spiral manner. In this way, the intermittently distributed propulsion piece 12-4 can reduce the blocking phenomenon of the material during the propulsion process, especially when the material particles are large or the fluidity is poor, this design can more effectively ensure the smooth propulsion of the material.

[0052] In another embodiment, the material storage portion 12 includes a plurality of propulsion plates 12 - 4 , and the first end portion of each propulsion plate 12 - 4 is respectively disposed at a corresponding position of the propulsion shaft 12 - 3 .

[0053] By dispersing the propulsion pieces 12-4, the position, quantity and angle of the propulsion pieces 12-4 can be flexibly adjusted according to the characteristics of the material and the pushing requirements to achieve the best pushing effect. In addition, the dispersed propulsion pieces 12-4 can contact the material in a larger range, reduce the accumulation and blockage of the material during the pushing process, and make the material pushing more uniform.

[0054] In this embodiment, the propulsion shaft 12-3 rotates under the drive of the first motor 12-6, thereby driving the various dispersed propulsion plates 12-4 to rotate together, thereby pushing the material from the first end close to the first motor 12-6 to the discharge port 12-5.

[0055] In a specific embodiment, the push piece 12-4 is disposed at the first end of the push shaft 12-3 close to the first motor 12-6. In this way, by reducing the number of push pieces 12-4, the structure of the material storage portion 12 can be greatly simplified, the manufacturing cost and maintenance difficulty can be reduced, and the raw materials stored in the second storage box 12-7 can also be pushed to the discharge port 12-5.

[0056] In addition, based on at least one of the shape and size of the second storage box 12-7, at least one of the shape, size and angle of the propulsion piece 12-4 is matched and determined.

[0057] Specifically, the shape of the push piece 12-4 is set according to the shape of the inner wall of the second storage box 12-7. If the second storage box 12-7 is cylindrical, the push piece 12-4 can be designed to be an arc or spiral shape that fits the inner wall of the cylinder. If the second storage box 12-7 is square, the push piece 12-4 can be designed to be a rectangle or other suitable shape that matches the square inner wall. In this way, the push piece 12-4 can better contact the inner wall of the second storage box 12-7 when rotating, reducing the accumulation and clogging of materials during the pushing process.

[0058] In addition, the size of the push piece 12-4 is set according to the capacity of the second storage box 12-7. If the capacity of the second storage box 12-7 is large, the push piece 12-4 can be designed to be relatively large to increase the contact area with the material and improve the pushing efficiency. At the same time, the size of the push piece 12-4 can also take into account the fluidity of the material. For materials with poor fluidity, a larger push piece 12-4 can provide a stronger driving force to ensure that the material can be pushed smoothly.

[0059] Furthermore, the angle of the push piece 12-4 is set according to the inclination angle of the second storage box 12-7. If the second storage box 12-7 is inclined, the angle of the push piece 12-4 should match the inclination angle to ensure that the material can flow smoothly to the discharge port 12-5 under the combined effect of gravity and the push piece 12-4.

[0060] The beverage making device 100 comprises a mixing chamber 13. The mixing chamber 13 is arranged downstream of the liquid outlet 11-3 and the material outlet 12-5, and is used for mixing the raw materials of the beverage with the liquid.

[0061] In one embodiment, the mixing chamber 13 includes a liquid inlet 13 - 3 and a material inlet 13 - 1 , the liquid inlet 13 - 3 is connected to the liquid outlet 11 - 3 in the liquid storage part 11 , and the material inlet 13 - 1 is connected to the material outlet 12 - 5 in the material storage part 12 .

[0062] In a specific embodiment, the mixing chamber 13 is a closed storage space, and the mixing chamber 13 is arranged below the material storage part 12 and / or the liquid storage part 11. In this way, when the material storage part 12 and the mixing chamber 13 are connected, the raw materials in the material storage part 12 can naturally fall into the mixing chamber 13 under the action of gravity. Similarly, when the liquid storage part 11 and the mixing chamber 13 are connected, the raw materials in the liquid storage part 11 can naturally flow into the mixing chamber 13 under the action of gravity, without the need for other driving components, thereby reducing costs.

[0063] Continue to refer to Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the beverage making device 100 may further include a stirring portion 14, one end of which extends vertically downward to the bottom of the mixing chamber 13. The stirring portion 14 is used to fully stir the beverage raw materials and liquid put into the mixing chamber 13 to prevent the beverage raw materials from being deposited at the bottom of the mixing chamber 13.

[0064] In a specific embodiment, the stirring speed of the stirring part is configured to be 50-70 rpm (Revolutions Per Minute).

[0065] Continue to refer to Figure 1As shown, in a specific embodiment, the stirring part 14 includes a stirring shaft 14-2 and a stirring blade 14-3, the first end of the stirring shaft 14-2 is connected to the second motor 14-1, and the second end of the stirring shaft 14-2 is connected to the stirring blade 14-3.

[0066] In this embodiment, the second motor 14-1 is arranged outside the mixing chamber 13 to prevent liquid from splashing onto the second motor 14-1 during the mixing process and damaging the normal operation of the second motor 14-1; at the same time, the second motor 14-1 can also be prevented from affecting the hygiene of the beverage.

[0067] In other embodiments, when the second motor 14 - 1 has waterproof or moisture-proof properties, the second motor 14 - 1 may also be disposed in the mixing chamber 13 . In this way, the space occupied by the mixing chamber 13 may be saved.

[0068] like Figure 3 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the second end of the stirring shaft 14-2 is connected to the stirring blade 14-3 via a snap connection 14-4. In other words, the stirring blade 14-3 and the stirring shaft 14-2 can be connected in a separate manner.

[0069] In other embodiments, other connection methods may be used between the second end of the stirring shaft 14-2 and the stirring blade 14-3, such as a screw connection, specifically including providing a threaded groove (or called internal thread) on the stirring blade 14-3, and the second end of the stirring shaft 14-2 is provided as a threaded protrusion (or called external thread). During installation, the external thread of the stirring shaft 14-2 is rotated and screwed into the internal thread of the stirring blade 14-3 to achieve a tight connection between the two. It may also be a snap-on type, using a locking structure such as a spring lock, a snap ring, etc. to fix the stirring shaft 14-2 and the stirring blade 14-3.

[0070] In another specific embodiment, the second end of the stirring shaft 14-2 is fixedly connected to the stirring blade 14-3. In other words, the stirring blade 14-3 and the stirring shaft 14-2 can also be connected in an integrated manner.

[0071] In addition, the structure and shape of the stirring blade 14-3 are not particularly limited, for example, it can be as follows: Figure 3 The symmetrical type shown may also be continuously distributed in a spiral shape at the second end of the stirring shaft 14 - 2 .

[0072] Continue to refer to Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the beverage making device 100 may further include a temperature control component, which includes a heat conducting plate 15 and a heating wire 16. The heat conducting plate 15 is disposed at the bottom of the mixing chamber 13, and the heating wire 16 is disposed below the heat conducting plate 15.

[0073] On the one hand, the heating wire 16 provides heat, and the heat conducting plate 15 is responsible for evenly transferring the heat to the beverage solution in the mixing chamber 13 to ensure the quality and taste of the beverage.

[0074] On the other hand, when the beverage making device 100 is in the cleaning state, the heating wire 16 can be used to heat the injected clean water, and the hot water can be used to clean the mixing chamber, which is helpful for sterilization and disinfection; at the same time, the mixing chamber 13 can also be heated and dried after cleaning to completely eliminate moisture and prevent bacteria from growing.

[0075] In a specific embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, the temperature control assembly is arranged on the bottom inner wall of the mixing chamber 13. Specifically, the heat conducting plate 15 and the heating wire 16 are both arranged in the mixing chamber 13, the heat conducting plate 15 is arranged at the bottom of the mixing chamber 13, and the heating wire 16 is arranged below the heat conducting plate 15.

[0076] In a specific embodiment, the temperature control component is disposed on the bottom outer wall of the mixing chamber 13. In this embodiment, the temperature control component includes a housing, a heat conducting plate 15 and a heating wire 16. The heat conducting plate 15 is disposed in the housing, and the heating wire 16 is disposed below the heat conducting plate 15.

[0077] In one embodiment, the mixing chamber 13 further includes an exhaust hole 13-2, which is disposed at the top of the mixing chamber 13 and is used to modulate the air pressure in the mixing chamber 13. On the one hand, it facilitates the liquid in the liquid storage part 11 to flow smoothly into the mixing chamber 13. On the other hand, it prevents the heating wire 16 from exploding due to excessive air pressure when heating the solution in the mitigation chamber 13.

[0078] Continue to refer to Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the beverage making device 100 may further include a storage component 17. The storage component 17 is located below the liquid outlet 13-6 of the mixing chamber 13.

[0079] In a specific embodiment, the beverage making device 100 also includes a second pipe 13-4, a first end of the second pipe 13-4 is connected to the liquid outlet 13-6 of the mixing chamber 13, and a second end of the second pipe 13-4 is connected to the vessel container 18, for introducing the prepared beverage in the mixing chamber 13 into the vessel container 18.

[0080] In a specific embodiment, a second valve is provided at the liquid outlet 13 - 6 of the mixing chamber 13 for opening or closing the liquid flow path from the mixing chamber 13 to the second pipe 13 - 4 , thereby controlling whether the prepared beverage can be smoothly introduced from the mixing chamber 13 into the vessel container 18 .

[0081] Modern homes have limited space, and the beverage making device 100 can be integrated into the refrigerator, which can greatly save additional space and make the kitchen or living room appear more tidy and orderly. In addition, placing the beverage making device 100 inside the refrigerator can ensure that the beverage ingredients maintain their freshness and taste in a low temperature environment.

[0082] like Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator is provided, comprising a door body, wherein a beverage making device is arranged inside the door body.

[0083] In one embodiment, the beverage making device can be used Figure 1 And the beverage making device 100 described in any embodiment or specific embodiment described above.

[0084] like Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, a control method for a beverage making device is provided.

[0085] The control method of a beverage making device is applied to a beverage making device.

[0086] In one embodiment, the beverage making device can be configured as described above, and the corresponding technical solution is referenced in the control method provided by the present invention.

[0087] like Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, a control method for a beverage making device is provided, comprising the following steps.

[0088] Step S1, in response to a beverage preparation signal, controlling the liquid storage part to flow liquid into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet;

[0089] Step S2, controlling the material storage part to use the push piece to put the beverage raw materials into the mixing chamber through the material outlet, and controlling the stirring part to perform stirring operation.

[0090] In this way, the propulsion shaft is driven by the motor, which in turn drives the propulsion sheet to automatically push the beverage ingredients to the discharge port, and mix them with the clean water flowing out of the liquid outlet in the mixing chamber, thereby realizing the automation of beverage production. This method reduces the steps of manually obtaining beverage ingredients and manually mixing, and reduces the complexity of operation. At the same time, since the pushing and mixing of beverage ingredients are completed by machinery, it also reduces the errors caused by improper manual operation, and improves the accuracy and consistency of beverage production.

[0091] like Figure 6 As shown, in one embodiment, the control method of the present invention may further include the following steps.

[0092] Step N1, in response to a device cleaning signal, controlling the liquid storage part to flow the liquid into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet;

[0093] Step N2, controlling the stirring part to perform a stirring operation.

[0094] Thus, the water in the mixing chamber is sprayed onto the inner wall of the mixing chamber through the stirring operation of the stirring part, which helps to evenly and comprehensively clean the inner wall of the mixing chamber and effectively remove stains and residues on the inner wall.

[0095] In step S2, the stirring part can be controlled to perform stirring operation (i.e., stirring while adding) during the process of controlling the storage part to add the beverage raw materials. The stirring part can also be controlled to perform stirring operation in response to the first signal, and the first signal indicates that the storage part completes the operation of adding the beverage raw materials.

[0096] In a specific embodiment, the stirring part is controlled to perform the stirring operation until the stirring time meets the preset time, so that the liquid and the raw materials of the beverage are mixed to obtain the target beverage.

[0097] Similarly, in step S4, the stirring part can be controlled to perform stirring operation (i.e., stirring while adding water) while the liquid storage part is controlled to add clean water, so that cleaning can be performed during the water addition process. The stirring part can also be controlled to perform stirring operation in response to the second signal, and the second signal directs the liquid storage part to complete the operation of adding clean water.

[0098] In a specific embodiment, the above two embodiments can be used in combination, that is, in response to the beverage preparation signal and the device cleaning signal, the above steps S1-S2 and steps N1-N2 are respectively executed, so that the beverage preparation and cleaning services can be realized at the same time.

[0099] In one embodiment, in response to a cleaning instruction, the heating wire is controlled to heat the clean water in the mixing chamber, and the stirring part is controlled to perform a stirring operation, so that the water in the mixing chamber is sprayed onto the inner wall of the mixing chamber through the stirring operation. In this way, the water is heated by the heating wire, and the hot water is used for cleaning, sterilization and disinfection.

[0100] In a specific embodiment, in response to the cleaning completion instruction, the heating wire is controlled to heat the mixing chamber for a preset time, so that bacteria can be prevented from growing by drying the mixing chamber.

[0101] Understandably, the temperature required for preparing the target beverage is determined based on at least one of the properties of the target beverage, personal taste preference, and external environment. Specifically, for brewing milk powder or soy milk, a suitable temperature is required so as to maintain a good taste without destroying its nutritional components, while for beverages such as cold brew coffee and cold brew tea, heating may not be required.

[0102] Based on this, in one embodiment, before step S2, the method may further include: in response to a first signal for making a target beverage, controlling the heating wire to continuously heat the clean water in the mixing chamber until the water temperature falls within a preset temperature range, and the first signal directs the liquid storage part to release water into the mixing chamber.

[0103] In this embodiment, when the target beverage needs to maintain a certain temperature, the liquid already put into the mixing chamber can be heated before the raw materials of the beverage are put into the mixing chamber. In response to the heating completion signal, the material storage part is controlled to put the raw materials of the beverage into the mixing chamber, and the stirring part is controlled to perform the stirring operation.

[0104] In addition, when there are many target beverages in the mixing room, it may not be possible to finish drinking the target beverages at one time. In order to maintain its taste and temperature, the target beverages in the mixing room are kept warm by using heating wires and heat conducting plates.

[0105] Based on this, Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment, the method may further include the following steps.

[0106] Step M1, obtaining a first preset temperature value and a second preset temperature value corresponding to a target beverage, wherein the first preset temperature value is less than the second preset temperature value;

[0107] Step M2, when the actual temperature of the target beverage in the mixing room is less than the first preset temperature, controlling the heating wire to heat the target beverage in the mixing room;

[0108] Step M3: when the actual temperature of the target beverage in the mixing chamber is greater than the second preset temperature, the heating wire stops heating the target beverage in the mixing chamber.

[0109] In this way, the method of dynamically adjusting the heating strategy according to the comparison result between the actual temperature value of the beverage and the preset temperature value effectively maintains the beverage within the ideal temperature range and improves the user's drinking experience.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the lower first preset temperature value and the higher second preset temperature value are used as reference benchmarks for temperature control. When the actual temperature of the beverage is lower than the first preset temperature value, the system will automatically start the heating wire to heat it to ensure that the beverage is not too cold; and when the actual temperature of the beverage exceeds the second preset temperature value, the heating operation will stop in time to prevent the beverage from overheating.

[0111] In a specific embodiment, the first preset temperature value is 40°C, and the second preset temperature value is 60°C.

[0112] In one embodiment, steps M1 to M3 can be arranged between steps S1 and S2. That is, after the liquid is added into the mixing chamber, the heating wire and the heat conducting plate are controlled to heat the liquid; after the temperature of the liquid meets the preset conditions, the material storage part is controlled to add a corresponding amount of beverage raw materials into the mixing chamber, and the stirring part is controlled to perform stirring operation, so that the liquid and the beverage raw materials are evenly mixed to make the target beverage. Such an order of addition makes it easy for the beverage raw materials to dissolve quickly in the liquid and is not easy to precipitate.

[0113] In other embodiments, steps M1 to M3 may also be arranged after S2, that is, the heating operation is performed after the liquid and raw materials are added to the mixing chamber. In addition, there is no specific restriction on the order of adding the liquid storage part and the material storage part, which can be freely selected according to the characteristics of the target beverage.

[0114] In the process of making drinks, the ratio between liquid and drink ingredients has a significant impact on the success rate of preparing the target drink. When more liquid is added, the corresponding drink ingredients will also increase, and conversely, when less liquid is added, the corresponding drink ingredients will also decrease.

[0115] In one embodiment, after the liquid storage part is controlled to flow water into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet in step S1, the control method may further include the following steps.

[0116] Step P21, obtaining the current liquid storage volume in the mixing room;

[0117] Step P22, when the liquid storage volume is greater than or equal to the standard liquid storage volume, controlling the motor to drive the propulsion shaft at a first speed;

[0118] Step P23, when the liquid storage volume is less than the standard liquid storage volume, control the motor to drive the propulsion shaft at a second speed, and the first speed is greater than the second speed.

[0119] In this way, the speed of adding beverage ingredients is adjusted by controlling the motor speed to match the current amount of liquid stored in the mixing chamber. When the liquid storage is sufficient, the motor drives the propulsion shaft at a higher first speed to speed up the speed of adding ingredients and improve the preparation efficiency; when the liquid storage is insufficient, the motor decelerates to the second speed and reduces the amount of raw materials added accordingly to ensure a reasonable ratio of liquid to raw materials, thereby effectively improving the preparation success rate and quality of the target beverage.

[0120] In step P21, the liquid storage volume refers to the total volume of liquid put into the mixing chamber by the liquid storage part. The standard liquid storage volume can represent the amount of liquid that should be contained in the mixing chamber in order to prepare a beverage that meets the expectations under specific conditions. The standard liquid storage volume is determined based on at least one of the formula of the target beverage and the capacity of the mixing chamber. Different types of target beverages have different corresponding standard liquid storage volumes. For example, one spoon of milk powder is added to every 30 ml of water when preparing milk powder.

[0121] For example, Figure 2 Taking the spiral propulsion blade shown as an example, when the first motor is powered on and rotates at a low speed in a clockwise direction (for example, at a speed between 10-30 rpm), it drives the propulsion shaft to rotate, thereby driving the propulsion blade to rotate. The speed of the motor determines the number of times the spiral propulsion blade rotates per unit time, thereby affecting the speed and amount of milk powder being pushed.

[0122] Specifically, each time the spiral propulsion blade rotates one circle, a certain amount of milk powder will be pushed forward to the milk powder outlet. Therefore, the number of rotations directly reflects the number of times and the total amount of milk powder pushed. The more rotations, the more times the milk powder is pushed, and thus the greater the amount of milk powder delivered. Conversely, the fewer rotations, the smaller the amount of milk powder delivered.

[0123] The above-mentioned various implementation modes, embodiments or specific examples provided by the present invention can be combined with each other to finally form multiple better implementation modes.

[0124] For example, as shown in Figures 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c), a smart refrigerator including a beverage making device and using the device to make a milk beverage are taken as an example. The working process of the beverage making device and the cleaning process of the device are described below in conjunction with Figures 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c).

[0125] As shown in Figure 8(a), the user first sends a milk-making instruction to the IoT (Internet of Things) cloud service through the refrigerator smart screen or a dedicated program on the smartphone. The instruction is then received by the cloud service and forwarded to the product making device.

[0126] After receiving the instruction from the cloud service, the beverage making device immediately starts the preset milk making program and starts to automatically mix the milk powder. When the milk making process is completed, the beverage making device will send a completion instruction to the IoT cloud service through the program.

[0127] After receiving the completion instruction, the cloud service will immediately forward it to the refrigerator smart screen or smartphone. After receiving this feedback, the user device will display or prompt the user that the milk making operation has been completed. In this way, a closed-loop, efficient and intelligent interactive process is formed between the refrigerator smart screen or smartphone, the cloud service and the milk maker.

[0128] As shown in FIG8(b), in response to the milk making instruction, the preset milk making program is started, which specifically includes controlling the liquid storage part to inject pure water into the mixing chamber, and starting the heating wire to heat the pure water after the water injection operation is completed, and detecting whether the water temperature meets the preset temperature range (for example, 40-60°C); if so, the material storage part is controlled to put milk powder into the mixing chamber, and the stirring part is controlled to perform stirring operation at the same time, so that the milk powder and water are fully stirred to ensure that the milk powder and water are fused and evenly heated to make liquid milk.

[0129] As shown in FIG8(c), in response to the cleaning instruction, the preset cleaning program is started, which specifically includes controlling the liquid storage part to inject pure water into the mixing chamber. After the water injection operation is completed, the stirring part is controlled to perform a stirring and cleaning operation to effectively remove the residual stains and impurities. In order to ensure the cleaning effect, it is also possible to wash and rinse multiple times (such as one wash and two rinses), use clean water to further rinse away all detergent residues, discharge the sewage through the liquid outlet of the mixing chamber, and control the heating wire to heat and dry the mixing chamber to completely eliminate moisture and prevent bacterial growth. This process can ensure the thorough cleaning and hygiene of the mixing chamber, providing users with a safer and more reliable use experience.

[0130] One embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium.

[0131] In one embodiment, a computer readable storage medium stores a computer program executed by the processor mentioned above, or a control method of a beverage making device in any of the technical solutions mentioned above.

[0132] When the processor executes the computer program, it can execute the control method of the beverage making device described in any of the above technical solutions, so it will not be repeated here. In addition, the description of the beneficial effects of the same method will not be repeated.

[0133] The computer-readable storage medium may include: a flash drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, etc.

[0134] In summary, the beverage making device and its control method, refrigerator and medium provided by the present invention. The propulsion shaft is driven by a motor, which in turn drives the propulsion sheet to automatically push the beverage raw materials to the discharge port, and mix them evenly with the liquid flowing out of the liquid outlet in the mixing chamber, thereby realizing the automation of beverage making. The device helps to reduce the steps of manually obtaining beverage raw materials and manually mixing, and reduces the cumbersomeness of operation. At the same time, since the pushing and mixing of beverage raw materials are all done by machinery, it can also reduce the errors caused by improper manual operation, and improve the accuracy and consistency of beverage making.

[0135] It should be understood that although this specification is described according to implementation modes, not every implementation mode contains only one independent technical solution. This description of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each implementation mode may also be appropriately combined to form other implementation modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0136] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of the present invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent implementation methods or changes that do not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A beverage making device, characterized in that: include: A liquid storage portion, including a liquid outlet; The material storage part includes a material discharge port, a propulsion shaft and a propulsion sheet, wherein the first end of the propulsion shaft is connected to the first motor, the second end of the propulsion shaft is arranged at the material discharge port, and the propulsion sheet is arranged on the propulsion shaft; under the drive of the first motor, the propulsion sheet moves from the first end thereof to the second end through the propulsion shaft; The mixing chamber is arranged at the downstream of the liquid outlet and the material outlet, and is used for mixing the raw materials of the beverage with the liquid.

2. The beverage making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device further comprises a stirring portion, one end of which extends downwardly in a vertical direction to the bottom of the mixing chamber.

3. The beverage making device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The stirring part includes a stirring shaft and a stirring blade. The first end of the stirring shaft is connected to the second motor, and the second end of the stirring shaft is connected to the stirring blade.

4. The beverage making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device further comprises a heat conducting plate and a heating wire, wherein the heat conducting plate is arranged at the bottom of the mixing chamber, and the heating wire is arranged below the heat conducting plate.

5. The beverage making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The propulsion sheets are distributed on the propulsion shaft in a spiral manner.

6. The beverage making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mixing chamber comprises an exhaust hole, and the exhaust hole is arranged at the top of the mixing chamber.

7. The beverage making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device further comprises a storage component, which is located below the liquid outlet of the mixing chamber.

8. The beverage making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid storage portion comprises a liquid inlet and a valve, and the valve is arranged at the liquid inlet.

9. A control method for a beverage making device, characterized in that: The control method is applied to the beverage making device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and the control method comprises at least one of the following steps: In response to the beverage preparation signal, the liquid storage part is controlled to flow the liquid into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet; the material storage part is controlled to use the propulsion sheet to put the raw materials of the beverage into the mixing chamber through the material outlet, and the stirring part is controlled to perform stirring operation; In response to the device cleaning signal, the liquid storage part is controlled to flow the liquid into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet, and the stirring part is controlled to perform a stirring operation.

10. The control method according to claim 9, characterized in that: Before controlling the material storage part to use the push piece to put the beverage raw materials into the mixing chamber through the material outlet, the method further includes: In response to a first signal for making a target beverage, the heating wire is controlled to heat the liquid in the mixing chamber until the temperature of the liquid falls within a preset temperature range, and the first signal directs the liquid storage part to add liquid to the mixing chamber.

11. The control method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The control method further comprises: Obtaining a first preset temperature value and a second preset temperature value corresponding to a target beverage, wherein the first preset temperature value is less than the second preset temperature value; When the actual temperature of the target beverage in the mixing room is lower than the first preset temperature, the heating wire is controlled to heat the target beverage in the mixing room; When the actual temperature value of the target beverage in the mixing chamber is greater than the second preset temperature value, the heating wire stops heating the target beverage in the mixing chamber.

12. The control method according to claim 9, characterized in that: After the control liquid storage part allows water to flow into the mixing chamber through the liquid outlet, the control method further includes: Obtain the current storage volume in the mixing room; When the liquid storage volume is greater than or equal to the standard liquid storage volume, controlling the motor to drive the propulsion shaft at a first speed; When the liquid storage volume is less than the standard liquid storage volume, the motor is controlled to drive the propulsion shaft at a second rotational speed, and the first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.

13. A refrigerator, comprising a door body, characterized in that: The beverage making device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is arranged inside the door body.

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