A pouring opening for frozen beverage maker, container and frozen beverage maker

Abstract

A pour opening for a frozen beverage maker is disclosed. The frozen beverage maker includes an agitator configured to rotate about a central axis within a mixing container. The pouring opening is positioned on a top rear portion of the mixing container. The pour-in opening includes a surface that is radially inclined with respect to a central axis of the agitator and an aperture positioned on the surface in fluid communication with an interior of the mixing vessel.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application is a partial continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 415,817, filed on January 18, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a beverage making machine, and more particularly to a pour opening for filling a container of a frozen beverage making machine. Background Art

[0004] Frozen beverage making machines, which may also be referred to as semi - frozen beverage making machines or slush beverage making machines, typically include a transparent tank or mixing container in which a beverage product is received and processed. The processing includes cooling, often transforming the beverage product from a pure liquid (or a combination of liquid and ice portions) into a frozen or semi - frozen product, such as a smoothie, slush drink, smoothie, ice cream, or other frozen or semi - frozen product, which is then dispensed. The cooled product is typically dispensed through a faucet, tap, or dispenser located near the front and bottom of the container. Thus, as used herein, the term "frozen beverage making machine" is not limited to a device that only makes beverages or frozen beverages, but includes a device that cools a received beverage product to produce a cooled output in any of a variety of frozen and semi - frozen forms. The beverage product typically consists of a mixture of water or milk, syrup, flavoring powder, or other additives that impart the desired taste and color to the beverage product.

[0005] Some existing frozen beverage making machines include a mixing system within the mixing container that has mixing blades or augers rotated by a motor via a drive shaft and drive assembly. Some existing frozen beverage making machines include a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator (i.e., a cooler) for receiving refrigerant from the compressor, where the evaporator is located near or within the mixing container to cool the beverage product during processing.

[0006] Some existing frozen beverage making machines include a controller that controls the operations of the frozen beverage making machine related to making the beverage product, including the temperature of the frozen food product during processing. Summary of the Utility Model

[0007] In various embodiments, the present application addresses deficiencies associated with the fluid inlet of a frozen beverage maker. Prior frozen beverage makers were typically sized for commercial applications. Commercial frozen beverage makers have a significant headspace above the slush in the container. In commercial frozen beverage makers, liquid ingredients can be roughly poured into the open top of the container without concern for loss of liquid due to splashing from the impact force or expansion of the ingredients.

[0008] The present application describes illustrative systems, methods, and devices for addressing the disadvantages of how to add liquid to the container of a frozen beverage maker. In particular, a pour opening for a frozen beverage maker is described that allows liquid ingredients to be added to the container in a controlled manner, thereby minimizing or preventing slush spillage. The disclosed pour opening can be used with commercial frozen beverage makers or residential frozen beverage makers having a smaller container capacity and less available headspace than commercial units. The pour opening advantageously avoids external splashing and spillage of liquid ingredients when added to the container and prevents finger insertion (to protect the user from moving parts within the container). The pour opening also prevents the slush contained within the container from being pushed out of the container.

[0009] In some aspects, a pour opening for a frozen beverage maker is described. The frozen beverage maker has a stirrer configured to rotate about a central axis within a mixing container. The pour opening includes a surface that is radially inclined relative to the central axis of the stirrer. The pour opening also includes an orifice positioned on the surface and in fluid communication with the interior of the mixing container. The surface can be inclined to direct fluid entering the mixing container to enter in the direction of rotation of the stirrer. In some embodiments, the orifice extends transversely along the surface in a direction parallel to the central axis of the stirrer. The orifice can be shaped as a slot. In some embodiments, the surface inclination directs the ingredient to enter the mixing container in the entry direction, and the entry direction is the same as the direction of rotation of the stirrer. In some such embodiments, when viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, the direction of rotation of the stirrer is clockwise. In these and other embodiments, when viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, the orifice is positioned on the right side of the mixing container. If desired, a grille can cover at least a portion of the orifice. In these and other embodiments, there can also be a cover that is movable between an open position in which the user can access the pour opening and a closed position in which the user cannot access the pour opening. In selected embodiments, the pour opening can also include a lip that extends upward from the perimeter of the surface to form a well that feeds into the orifice. When viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, the pour opening can be located near the rear of the mixing container. In these and other embodiments, the rotation of the stirrer moves the contents of the mixing container from the rear of the mixing container to the front of the mixing container.

[0010] In another aspect, a container for a frozen beverage maker is described. The container includes a chamber and a pour opening. The chamber is a substantially cylindrical chamber sized to receive a stirrer configured to rotate about a central axis within the container. The pour opening is located on a top section of the container. The pour opening includes a surface and an orifice. The surface is radially inclined relative to the central axis of the stirrer. The orifice is located on the surface and is in fluid communication with the chamber. In some embodiments, the pour opening is located at the rear of the container. In these and other embodiments, the surface of the pour opening is radially inclined to direct an incoming ingredient into the container in an incoming direction that is the same as the direction of rotation of the stirrer. In a selected embodiment, when viewed from the front of the container, the direction of rotation of the stirrer is clockwise and the orifice is located on the right side of the container. In some embodiments, the container further includes a cover located above the pour opening and the cover is movable between an open position in which the user can access the pour opening and a closed position in which the user cannot access the pour opening.

[0011] In a further aspect, a frozen beverage maker is described. The frozen beverage maker includes: a mixing container having a substantially cylindrical chamber; a stirrer configured to rotate about a central axis within the mixing container; and a pour opening located on top of the mixing container. The pour opening has a surface that is radially inclined relative to the central axis of the stirrer and an orifice located on the surface that is in fluid communication with the chamber. In some embodiments, the central axis of the stirrer extends in a horizontal direction. In these and other embodiments, the orifice extends laterally along the surface in a direction parallel to the central axis of the stirrer. The surface is radially inclined to direct an incoming ingredient into the mixing container in an incoming direction that is the same as the direction of rotation of the stirrer. In a selected embodiment, when viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, the direction of rotation of the stirrer is clockwise and when viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, the orifice is located on the right side of the mixing container.

[0012] One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the systems, methods, and apparatuses described herein are applicable to other types of food products, such as, for example, making and / or processing (without limitation) ice cream, frozen yogurt, other creams, and the like. Although this disclosure describes examples of beverage machines that process various frozen and / or semi-frozen beverage products, the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein are not limited to such beverage products and are capable of processing and / or making other types of beverage products, such as cold beverage products and / or chilled beverage products. As used herein, the terms "mixing," "mixed," or "mix" are not limited to combining multiple ingredients together, but also include mixing a beverage product or liquid having a single ingredient or no added ingredients. For example, a beverage product can consist solely of water that is mixed by a blender during processing, i.e., the portion of water that is agitated and / or blended as the blender rotates. This can advantageously achieve a more uniform temperature of the water and / or liquid as a whole within the mixing container, for example, by mixing portions of water and / or liquid having different temperatures.

[0013] Reading the following detailed description and reviewing the associated drawings will make the advantages of these and other structures apparent. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely explanatory and do not limit the aspects of the claimed disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present disclosure will be more fully understood in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 A perspective view of a frozen beverage machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0016] Figure 2 Shows a Figure 1 view of various internal components within the housing and mixing container of a frozen beverage machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 3 Shows a Figure 1 front view of a frozen beverage machine according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 4 Is a Figure 1 block diagram of an example of a control system of a frozen beverage machine according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 5A A perspective view of a sample pour opening for a frozen beverage machine according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0020] Figure 5B Shows a Figure 5A front view of the pour opening shown in

[0021] Figure 5C shows Figure 5A a left perspective view of the pouring opening shown in

[0022] Figure 6 a perspective view of a sample cover for a pouring opening according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 7 a perspective view of a sample pouring opening according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 8A a perspective view of a sample pouring opening according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 8B shows Figure 8A an isometric view of a prototype of the pouring opening of

[0026] Figure 8C shows Figure 8B a side view of the pouring opening prototype in

[0027] Figure 8D shows a photograph of the pouring opening prototype shown in Figure 8B attached to a mixing container according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0028] Figure 9 shows a sample method of using the pouring opening according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In the following description, like components have like reference numerals regardless of the different illustrated embodiments. For clarity and conciseness in illustrating the embodiments, the drawings may not necessarily reflect proper scale and may show some structures in a slightly schematic form. The present disclosure may describe and / or illustrate a structure in one embodiment and describe and / or illustrate the structure in the same or a similar manner and / or in combination with or in place of the structures of one or more other embodiments.

[0030] In the specification and claims, for the purpose of describing and defining the present application, the terms "about" and "substantially" represent the inherent degree of uncertainty attributable to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. In addition, the terms "about" and "substantially" represent the degree to which a quantitative representation can differ from the stated reference without causing a fundamental change in the basic function of the subject matter being discussed. Open-ended terms such as "comprise / include" and / or the plural form of each term include the listed parts and may include additional parts that are not listed, while terms such as "and / or" include one or more of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts. The use of terms such as "top", "bottom", "above", "below", etc. is only for the purpose of clearly describing the present disclosure and does not limit the structure, orientation, and / or operation of the present disclosure in any way.

[0031] In various embodiments, the present application addresses deficiencies associated with controlling how liquids are added to a container for a frozen beverage maker. Prior art frozen beverage makers are sized for commercial applications. Thus, commercial frozen beverage makers can be extremely tall with significant headspace in the container. When the slush rises within the container, there is some room for the slush to rise before contacting the top of the container and / or the lid of the container. However, even in commercial frozen beverage makers, if liquid ingredients are forcefully added to the container, the slush may still expand too quickly, causing the slush to overflow the container.

[0032] Accordingly, there is a need for a pour opening for a frozen beverage maker to ensure that fluids can be added to the device's container in a more controlled manner to minimize or prevent slush overflow. This is particularly important for residential frozen beverage makers that have a smaller container capacity and less available headspace than commercial units. Also, since dairy-based formulations can expand in volume by up to three times, controlling slush expansion and preventing overflow is critical for these types of formulations. Additionally, the pour opening advantageously avoids external splashing and spilling of the liquid ingredients when adding them to the container and prevents fingers from being inserted when the agitator is rotating within the mixing container to protect the user from harm by the agitator.

[0033] Figure 1A perspective view of a frozen beverage maker 100 showing an illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure is presented. The frozen beverage maker 100 includes a housing 102 and a mixing container 104. The housing 102 may include a user interface 112 for receiving user input to control the frozen beverage maker 100 and / or output or display information. The user interface 112 may include one or more buttons, dials, switches, touchscreens, indicators, LEDs, and the like. The user interface 112 may display status information, including, for example, the temperature of the beverage product within the mixing container 104, an indicator of the current recipe and / or program being implemented, and a timer associated with the progress of the ongoing and / or currently implemented recipe and / or program. The user interface 112 may provide the user with an indicator and / or warning regarding, for example, when the recipe is complete or when the user is expected to perform an action associated with processing the beverage product. The user interface 112 may include an optional menu for beverage types (e.g., recipes) and / or programs for different types of beverage products, such as, but not limited to, smoothies, milkshakes, margaritas, daiquiris, piña coladas, slushes, cocktails, shaved ice drinks, juices, dairy products, milkshakes, cold drinks, semi-frozen drinks, frozen drinks, and the like.

[0034] The housing 102 may include a panel (e.g., a removable panel) 114 along one side of the housing 102. The panel 114 may include a plurality of openings that facilitate airflow to help cool the components within the housing 102. The housing 102 may include an upper housing section 122 that is arranged to couple with the rear end of the mixing container 104 when the mixing container 104 is attached to the housing 102. The mixing container 104 may include a wall or a portion thereof that is transparent to enable an observer to see the beverage product within the mixing container 104 during processing. The mixing container 104 may include a pour opening 106 through which the mixing container 104 can receive ingredients for processing the beverage product within the mixing container 104. Figure 1 The pour opening 106 is shown in a closed configuration with a lid covering the sealed opening 106. The lid may be removably removable or movable in a detachable manner to open or close the opening 106. The pour opening 106 may include a grille that prevents the user from reaching into the mixing container 104 when the pour opening 106 is open, i.e., when the lid is not installed. The mixing container 104 may include a dispenser assembly 108 having a user handle 120, a spout (not shown), and a spout guard and / or lid 116. The dispenser assembly 108 enables the user to open the spout connected to the wall of the mixing container 104 by pulling down on the handle 120 to dispense the processed (e.g., cooled) beverage product from the mixing container 104. The user can close the spout by pushing the handle 120 back to its upright position ( Figure 1 as shown in) and thereby stop dispensing the processed beverage product.

[0035] The frozen beverage maker 100 can include a lever 110 that effectuates a locking connection of the mixing container 104 to a housing 102 that includes an upper housing section 122. Figure 1 The lever 110 is shown in a locked and / or closed position whereby the mixing container 104 engages and / or is coupled to the housing 102 and the upper housing section 122. In the closed and / or engaged position, the lever 110 ensures that a watertight seal exists to prevent leakage of the beverage product from the mixing container 104. The lever 110 can be placed in the closed, coupled, and / or engaged position by sliding the mixing container 104 against the upper housing section 122 and then rotating the lever 110 in a clockwise direction until its handle rests on or around the top surface of the upper housing section 122. The lever 110 can be released from the mixing container 104 by pulling and / or rotating the lever 110 in a counterclockwise direction (from Figure 1 the perspective) toward the front of the mixing container 104, which disengages and / or separates the mixing container 104 from the housing 102 and the upper housing section 122. Once released and / or separated, the mixing container 104 can be slid in a forward direction (away from the upper housing section 122) to be fully disassembled and / or removed from the housing 102. The mixing container 104 can include a radial seal and / or a face seal. The face seal can provide an improved seal based on the compression provided by the lever 110 laterally pushing the mixing container 104 against the wall of the upper housing section 122. The mixing container 104 can include a circular and / or cylindrical opening at its rear end that couples the mixing container 104 to the upper housing section 122. An interlock switch can be implemented at the upper housing section 122 that is activated when the mixing container 104 is coupled to the upper housing section 122, which prevents activation of the drive motor 208 unless the container 104 is coupled to the upper housing section 122. This ensures that the user is not exposed to the moving agitator 204. The frozen beverage maker 100 can also include a drip tray 118 that is positioned below the dispenser assembly 108 and is arranged to collect any beverage product that is not properly dispensed from the mixing container 104 into, for example, a user cup. The drip tray 118 can be removably attached from its operating position as shown in Figure 1 . For example, the water tray 118 can be mounted and / or stored on a side panel of the housing 102 as shown as the water tray 304 in Figure 3 .

[0036] Figure 2 Shown is Figure 1View of various internal components within the housing 102 and the mixing container 104 of the frozen beverage maker 100. The frozen beverage maker 100 includes a cylindrical evaporator 202, which is surrounded by an auger and / or agitator 204. The agitator 204 may include one or more mixing blades and / or protrusions that extend helically around the evaporator and / or cooler 202. The agitator 204 can be driven to rotate by a central drive shaft (not shown) within the mixing container 104. The drive shaft can be surrounded by the evaporator 202. However, in various embodiments, the evaporator 202 does not rotate. The drive shaft can be coupled to the drive motor 208 via a gear assembly 210. In some embodiments, the drive motor 208 is an AC motor, but another type of motor can be used, such as but not limited to a DC motor. The drive motor 208 can include a motor fan 212, which is arranged to provide air cooling to the motor 208. Although Figure 2 An embodiment is shown in which the drive motor 208 is not coaxially aligned with the drive shaft for rotating the agitator 204, but in other embodiments, the motor 208 can be coaxially aligned with the drive shaft. During the processing of the beverage product, the motor 208 can operate continuously at one or more speeds to drive the continuous rotation of the agitator 204, and thereby provide continuous mixing of the beverage product within the mixing container 104. In some embodiments, the rotation of the agitator 204 causes the helically arranged blades to push the cooled beverage product to the front of the mixing container 104. During processing, portions of the beverage product may freeze on the surface of the evaporator due to being cooled by the evaporator. In some embodiments, the blades of the rotating agitator 204 scrape the frozen portions of the beverage product from the surface of the evaporator while mixing the cooled beverage product and pushing the cooled beverage product towards the front of the mixing container 104.

[0037] The frozen beverage maker 100 can include a refrigeration circuit and / or system to provide cooling of the beverage product and / or control the temperature of the beverage product within the mixing container 104. The refrigeration circuit can include a compressor 214, an evaporator 202, a condenser 216, a condenser fan 218, a bypass valve, and conduits that carry refrigerant in a closed loop between the refrigeration circuit components to facilitate cooling and / or temperature control of the beverage product in the mixing container 104. The operation of the refrigeration circuit can be controlled by a controller, such as by the controller 402, as further described herein with respect to Figure 4 The frozen beverage maker 100 can also include a condensate collection tray 220, which is arranged to collect any liquid condensate caused by the cooling from the evaporator 202. Figure 2Shows the tray 220 in the inserted position. The tray 220 can be removably inserted from a slot within the housing 102 to collect condensed liquid when inserted into the slot and then effectively removed to an empty tray 220, and then re-inserted into the slot for subsequent liquid collection.

[0038] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A front view of the frozen beverage maker 100. The frozen beverage maker 100 can include a user interface 112 on the front surface of the housing 102. In other embodiments, the user interface 112 can be located on the side, top, or back of the housing 102. The frozen beverage maker can include a mounting member 302 on one side of the housing 102, where the drip tray 118 can be mounted to the mounting member when not in use (shown as drip tray 304 in Figure 3 ), for example, during transportation of the frozen beverage maker 100. The frozen beverage maker 100 can include a power interface arranged to receive AC power from a power outlet (not shown). In some embodiments, the frozen beverage maker 100 can include one or more batteries housed within the housing 102 and arranged to provide power to various components of the frozen beverage maker 100. The frozen beverage maker 100 can also include a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 222 within the housing 102. As will be explained with respect to Figure 4 , the PCBA 222 can include a control system 400 arranged to automatically control certain operations of the frozen beverage maker 100.

[0039] Figure 4 Is a block diagram showing an example of the control system 400 of the frozen beverage maker 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The control system 400 can include a microcontroller, a processor, a system on a chip (SoC), a client device, and / or a physical computing device, and can include hardware and / or virtual processors. In some embodiments, as Figure 4 shown, the control system 400 and its elements each relate to physical hardware, while in some embodiments, one, more, or all elements can be implemented using an emulator or virtual machine. In any case, the electronic control system 400 can be implemented on physical hardware, such as in the frozen beverage maker 100.

[0040] Similarly as Figure 4As shown, the control system 400 may include a user interface 212 and / or 112, which may have, for example, a keyboard, keypad, one or more buttons, dials, touchpads, or sensor readouts (e.g., biometric scanners) and one or more output devices, such as a display, speakers for audio, LED indicators, and / or light indicators. The control system 400 may also include a communication interface 410, such as a network communication unit that may include wired communication components and / or wireless communication components, which may be communicatively coupled to the controller and / or processor 402. The network communication unit may utilize any of a variety of proprietary or standardized network protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP / IP (to name just a few of the many protocols), to enable communication between the processor 402 and another device, network, or system. The network communication unit may also include one or more transceivers that utilize Ethernet, power line communication (PLC), Wi-Fi, cellular, and / or other communication methods. For example, the control system 400 may send one or more communications associated with the status of the frozen beverage maker 100 to the user's mobile device, such as sending a warning to the mobile device when a recipe is complete and / or the beverage product is ready to be dispensed, or indicating a shortage or absence of beverage product in the mixing container.

[0041] The control system 400 may include processing elements, such as a controller and / or processor 402, which may include one or more hardware processors, where each hardware processor may have a single or multiple processor cores. In one embodiment, the processor 402 includes at least one shared cache that stores data (e.g., computing instructions) utilized by one or more other components of the processor 402. For example, the shared cache may be local cache data stored in memory for more rapid access by components that make up the processing elements of the processor 402. Examples of processors include, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU) and / or a microprocessor. The controller and / or processor 402 may utilize a computer architecture based on (but not limited to) the Intel® 8051 architecture, Motorola® 68HCX, Intel® 80X86, and the like. The processor 402 may include, but is not limited to, an 8-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, or 64-bit architecture. Although Figure 4 not shown, the processing elements that make up the processor 402 may also include one or more other types of hardware processing components, such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or a digital signal processor (DSP).

[0042] Figure 4It is also shown that the memory 404 can be operatively and communicatively coupled to the controller 402. The memory 404 can be a non-transitory medium configured to store various types of data. For example, the memory 404 can include one or more storage devices 408, which include non-volatile storage devices and / or volatile memories. Volatile memories such as random access memory (RAM) can be any suitable non-permanent storage device. The non-volatile storage device 408 can include one or more disk drives, optical drives, solid state drives (SSDs), tape drives, flash memories, read-only memories (ROM), and / or any other type of memory designed to maintain data for a certain duration after a power-off or shutdown operation. In some configurations, if the allocated RAM is not sufficient to hold all working data, the non-volatile storage device 408 can be used to store overflow data. The non-volatile storage device 408 can also be used to store programs that are loaded into the RAM when these programs are selected for execution. The data storage area and / or the storage device 408 can be arranged to store a plurality of beverage product making and / or processing instruction programs associated with a plurality of beverage product processing sequences (i.e., recipes). Such beverage making and / or processing instruction programs can include instructions for the controller and / or the processor 402 to perform the following operations: start or stop one or more motors and / or compressors 414 (e.g., motor 208 and / or compressor 214), start or stop the compressor 214 to adjust the temperature of the beverage product being processed in the mixing container 104, operate one or more motors 414 (e.g., motor 208 and / or compressor 214) during certain periods of a particular beverage product processing sequence, operate the motor 208 at certain speeds during certain time periods of the recipe, issue one or more prompt instructions to the user interface 412 and / or 112, and the one or more prompt instructions are output to the user to illicit a response, action, and / or input from the user.

[0043] As is known to those of ordinary skill in the art, software programs can be developed, coded, and compiled in various computing languages for various software platforms and / or operating systems, and then loaded and executed by the processor 402. In one embodiment, the compilation process of a software program can transform program code written in one programming language into another computer language such that the processor 402 can execute the programming code. For example, the compilation process of a software program can generate an executable program that provides encoded instructions (e.g., machine code instructions) to the processor 402 to implement a specific non-generic specific computing function.

[0044] After the compilation process, the encoded instructions can be loaded as computer-executable instructions or process steps from the storage device 408, from the memory 404, into the processor 402, and / or embedded within the processor 402 (e.g., via a cache or on-board ROM). The processor 402 can be configured to execute the stored instructions or process steps to perform the instructions or process steps to transform the electronic control system 400 into a non-generic, specific, specially programmed machine or device. The stored data, such as the data stored by the data storage area and / or the storage device 408, can be accessed by the processor 402 during the execution of the computer-executable instructions or process steps to indicate one or more components within the control system 400 and / or other components or devices external to the system 400. For example, a recipe can be arranged in a lookup table and / or database within the data storage area 408 and accessed by the processor 402 when executing a specific recipe selected by the user via the user interface 412 and / or 112.

[0045] The user interface 412 and / or 112 can include a display, a position input device (such as a mouse, a touchpad, a touch screen, or the like), a keyboard, a keypad, one or more buttons, one or more dials, a microphone, a speaker, or other forms of user input and output devices. The user interface components can be communicatively coupled to the processor 402. When the user interface output device is or includes a display, the display can be implemented in various ways, including by a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a light-emitting diode (LED) display, such as an OLED display.

[0046] The sensor 406 can include one or more sensors that detect and / or monitor the condition of the beverage product within the mixing container 104, the conditions associated with components of the frozen beverage maker 100, and / or the condition of the refrigerant within the refrigeration system. The conditions can include (but are not limited to) the rotation, rotational speed, and / or movement of a device or component (e.g., a motor), the rate of such movement, the frequency of such movement, the direction of such movement, motor current, motor voltage, motor power, motor torque, temperature, pressure, the fluid content in the container 104, the position of a device or component (e.g., whether the pour opening 106 is open or closed), and / or the presence of a device or component (e.g., whether the guard 116 is installed). The types of sensors can include, for example, an electrical metering chip, a Hall sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an optical sensor, a current sensor, a torque sensor, a voltage sensor, a camera, other types of sensors, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The frozen beverage maker 100 can include one or more temperature sensors positioned at various locations within the mixing container 104, such as on or around the lower front region within the mixing container 104, on or around the upper front region within the mixing container 104, on or around the upper rear region within the container 104, within one or more coils of the evaporator 202, and / or within the housing 102.

[0047] The sensor 406 can also include one or more safety and / or interlock switches that prevent or enable the operation of certain components, such as a motor, when certain conditions are met (e.g., enabling the activation of the motors 208 and / or 414 when a lid or cover for the opening 106 is attached or closed and / or when there is a sufficient content of beverage product in the container 104). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the electronic control system 400 can include other components well known in the art, such as Figure 4 a power supply and / or an analog / digital converter not explicitly shown herein.

[0048] In some embodiments, controller 400 and / or processor 402 includes a System-on-Chip (SoC) having multiple hardware components, including but not limited to: a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) core and / or a Multi-Processor System-on-Chip (MPSoC) having more than one processor core; memory blocks, including a series of Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), and Flash memory; a timing source, including oscillators and phase-locked loops; peripherals, including counter timers, real-time timers, and power-on reset generators; external interfaces, including industry standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire, Ethernet, Universal Synchronous / Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter (USART), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), etc.; analog interfaces, including Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC) and Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC); and voltage regulators and power management circuits.

[0049] The SoC includes the hardware described above, as well as software that controls the microcontroller, microprocessor, and / or DSP core, peripherals, and interfaces. Most SoCs are developed from pre-certified hardware blocks of hardware components (e.g., referred to as modules or components, which represent IP cores or IP blocks) and software drivers that control their operation. The above list of hardware components is not exhaustive. The SoC may include protocol stacks that drive industry standard interfaces, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB).

[0050] Once the overall architecture of the SoC has been defined, the individual hardware components can be described in an abstract language called RTL, which represents the Register Transfer Level. RTL is used to define the behavior of the circuit. The hardware components are connected together in the same RTL language to produce a complete SoC design. In digital circuit design, RTL is a design abstraction that models synchronous digital circuits based on the flow of digital signals (data) between hardware registers and the logical operations performed on those signals. RTL abstractions are used in hardware description languages (HDLs) such as Verilog and VHDL to create a high-level representation of a circuit from which lower-level representations and ultimately the actual wiring can be derived. Design at the RTL level is a typical practice in modern digital design. Verilog is standardized as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1364 and is an HDL used to model electronic systems. Verilog is most commonly used for the design and verification of digital circuits at the RTL abstraction level. Verilog can also be used to verify analog circuits and mixed-signal circuits, as well as for the design of genetic circuits. In some embodiments, the various components of control system 400 are implemented on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), such as PCB 222.

[0051] In operation in certain embodiments, a user fills the mixing container 104 with ingredients associated with a beverage product via the pour opening 106. The user selects the type of beverage product to be processed via the user interface 112. For example, the user selects a recipe for a "Margarita". In some embodiments, the user selects the product type and / or recipe before filling the mixing container 104, and the user interface 112 provides one or more indicators or queues (visible and / or audible) indicating to the user to add ingredients to the mixing container 104. The mixing container 104 may include one or more fill sensors that detect when there is a sufficient amount or content of ingredients and / or fluid within the mixing container 104. The one or more fill sensors may provide a signal to the processor 402 indicating when the container 104 is fully filled or not filled. If the fill sensor 406 indicates that the container 104 is not fully filled, the processor 402 may prevent operation of the frozen beverage maker 100 (e.g., prevent activation of the motor 208 and / or other components). A lid sensor may be associated with the opening 106, whereby the lid sensor sends an open and / or closed signal to the processor 402 indicating whether the opening 106 is open or closed. If the lid sensor indicates that the opening 106 is open and / or not closed, the processor 402 may prevent operation of the frozen beverage maker 100. Depending on the sensed condition, the user interface 112 may provide an indication of the condition, e.g., the container 104 is fully filled or not fully filled and / or the opening 106 is not closed, to enable the user to take appropriate action.

[0052] Once the mixing container 104 is filled with ingredients, the user can provide an input, such as a button press, to start processing the beverage product based on the selected recipe. Processing may include activating the motor 208 to drive the rotation of the agitator 204 and / or the blade 206 to effect mixing of the ingredients of the beverage product. Processing may also include activating the refrigeration system, including activating the compressor 214 and the condenser fan 218. The compressor 214 facilitates the flow of refrigerant through one or more coils of the evaporator 202 and through the condenser 216 to provide cooling and / or temperature control of the beverage product within the mixing container 104. The processor 402 may control the operation of various components such as the motor 208 and the compressor 214. To adjust the temperature at a particular setting associated with the recipe, the processor 402 may activate / start and / or deactivate / stop the compressor 214 to start or stop the flow of refrigerant through the coils of the evaporator 202 and thereby start or stop cooling of the beverage product within the mixing container 104.

[0053] By cooling the beverage product to a specific temperature, slush and / or ice particles can be formed within the beverage product. Generally, the amount of particles and / or texture of the beverage product corresponds to the temperature of the beverage product, i.e., the lower the temperature, the greater the amount of particles (and / or the larger the size of the particles) and / or the more viscous the beverage product. The user interface 112 can enable a user to fine-tune and / or adjust a preset temperature associated with a recipe to enable the user to adjust the temperature and / or texture of the beverage product to a more desired temperature and / or texture.

[0054] The processor 402 can perform the processing of the beverage product in one or more stages and / or for a set period of time until a desired temperature and / or texture is determined. The processor 402 can receive one or more temperature signals from one or more temperature sensors 408 within the mixing container 104 to determine the temperature of the beverage product. The processor 402 can determine the temperature of the beverage product by determining the average temperature of the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors 408. The processor 402 can determine the temperature of the beverage product based on the detected temperature from one sensor 408 within the mixing container 104 and / or based on the temperature of the refrigerant detected by the refrigerant temperature sensor 408. Once the processor 402 has completed the determination of the stage and / or sequence of the recipe, the processor 402 can provide a visual and / or audio indication via the user interface 116 that the recipe is complete and ready for dispensing. In response, the user can place a cup or container beneath the dispenser assembly 108 and pull the handle 120 downwardly and rotatably toward the user to open a spout located at the lower front wall of the mixing container 104, thereby dispensing the beverage product into the cup or container. Once filled, the user can close the spout by pushing the handle 120 upwardly and rotatably away from the user back to Figure 2 its upright position as shown. In an embodiment where the handle 120 is spring-biased to the closed position, the user can release their hold on the handle 120 and thereby allow the spring force to move the handle 120 upwardly and rotatably away from the user back to the upright and closed position.

[0055] As previously mentioned, the frozen beverage maker 100 can include a pour opening 106 through which the mixing container 104 can receive ingredients to be mixed to produce a beverage product. Figures 5A to 5C An illustrative pour opening 106 for the frozen beverage maker 100 is shown in. The frozen beverage maker 100 includes a mixing container 104 having a substantially cylindrical chamber and a housing 102 having an upper housing section 122. Figure 5A A perspective side view of the pour opening 106 is shown. Figure 5B is shown Figure 5A a front view of the pour opening 106, and Figure 5C is shown from the left side of the mixing container 104 (when viewed from the front view) of Figure 5APerspective view of the pouring opening 106. The pouring opening 106 can facilitate the addition of fluids, liquids, slushes, or other ingredients to the mixing container 104 during the operation of the agitator 204, as well as minimize spillage and prevent finger insertion during use.

[0056] In some embodiments, the pouring opening 106 can include a cover 111 to seal the pouring opening 106, as Figure 5A and 5C shown. Figure 6 A detailed perspective view of the sample cover 111 for the pouring opening 106 is shown. If present, the cover 111 can be hingedly attached to the upper section of the mixing container 104. The cover 111 can move between an open position where the user can access the pouring opening 106 and a closed position where the user cannot access the pouring opening 106. Although not shown in the drawings, the pouring opening 106 can also include a grille to restrict objects from entering the orifice 109. If present, the grille can reduce the risk of solids greater than a certain size and / or having one or more certain shapes entering the mixing container 104, which entry may cause damage.

[0057] Figure 7 A perspective view of the sample pouring opening 106 is shown. The pouring opening 106 includes a surface 107 that is radially inclined relative to the central axis of the agitator 204 (shown as axis "A" in Figure 5A ). When the container is filled, the inclination 107 reduces possible splashing. The inclination 107 also prevents the slush contained in the mixing container 104 from being pushed out of the pouring opening 106. The surface 106 has an orifice 109. Although Figure 7 only one orifice 109 is shown, additional orifices can also be present. The orifice 109 is in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the mixing container 104. In some embodiments, the orifice 109 extends laterally along the surface 107 in a direction parallel to the central axis "A" of the agitator 204. The orifice 109 can be shaped as a slot, as Figure 7 shown, or can have a different shape. If shaped as a slot, the orifice 109 can be longer or wider than Figures 5A to 5C shown, and / or can have a length-to-width ratio different from that shown. Additionally, as a slot or another oblong shape, the major axis of the orifice 109 can be aligned parallel or perpendicular to the axis of the mixing container 104, or at any other angle relative to the axis of the mixing container 104. For example, the orifice 109 in the form of a slot can be small enough (at least in width) not to allow a human finger to pass through, at least not the entire length of a human finger, thus preventing the user from inserting one or more fingers into the mixing container 104.

[0058] The pour opening 106 may optionally include one or more lips 113a, 113b extending upward from the periphery of the surface 107 to form a well that feeds into the orifice 109, as Figure 7 shown. When liquid is poured into the mixing container 104, the one or more lips 113a, 113b may reduce spillage over the rim. If desired, the pour opening 106 may also include a grille (not shown) covering at least a portion of the orifice 109. For safety reasons, the user should not contact the blender 204 while it is rotating. The geometry of the pour opening 106 (including the orifice 109 as described above) may inhibit or prevent the user from reaching into the mixing container 104 even when the lid 111 is in the open position and / or the blender 204 is rotating.

[0059] The pour opening 106 may be located on the top of the mixing container 104, near its rear end, as Figures 5A to 5C shown, opposite the dispenser assembly. Locating the pour opening 106 near the rear of the mixing container 104 avoids interfering with the slush cycle in the front of the frozen beverage machine 100, which interference could result in waste and non-uniform texture. With the pour opening 106 located at the rear of the mixing container 104, the front two-thirds of the container has a continuous and smooth internal shape to provide good slush flow and minimize slush migration out of the top. By locating the pour opening 106 near the rear of the container 104, the opening 106 is in a location where there is less likelihood of freezing and / or slush material accumulation, enabling less obstructed pouring during processing and reducing the possible accumulation of ice and / or slush material at the opening 106.

[0060] The surface 107 of the pour opening 106 is inclined to direct the incoming ingredients into the mixing container 104 in an inlet direction that is the same as the direction in which the blender 204 rotates. This prevents the rotating frozen mixture from leaving the container 104 through the pour opening 106. In some embodiments, the opening 106 is located on the right side of the container 104 when the blender 204 rotates clockwise as viewed from the front of the frozen beverage machine 100. The orifice 109 may be positioned to extend transversely along the surface 107 in a direction parallel to the central axis (A) of the blender 204, while in other embodiments, the opening 106 is located on the left side of the container 104 when the blender 204 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front of the frozen beverage machine 100.

[0061] Figures 8A to 8DThe sample pouring opening 106 is shown, wherein the surface 107 of the pouring opening is shaped to slope downwardly toward the rear of the mixing container. In some such embodiments, one or more orifices 109 may be positioned at the bottom portion of the surface 107. Shaping the surface 107 to include a rearward slope can increase the volume capacity of the pouring opening 106 and reduce spillage. In embodiments where the surface 107 of the pouring opening 106 is inclined relative to the central axis (A) of the agitator 204, the surface 107 may be shaped such that the section of the surface 107 closest to the front of the mixing container is positioned further from the central axis (A) of the agitator 204 than the section of the surface 107 closest to the rear of the mixing container.

[0062] Figure 9 A sample method 800 of using the pouring opening 106 for a frozen beverage maker is shown. As Figure 9 shown, the method 800 includes optionally opening the cover of the frozen beverage maker to provide access to the pouring opening (block 802). The method 800 also includes introducing one or more liquid ingredients into the mixing container of the frozen beverage maker via the pouring opening (block 804). The one or more liquid ingredients may be added to the mixing container while the container is actively mixing (e.g., while the agitator is rotating). The method 800 further includes dispensing a beverage product from the frozen beverage maker (block 806). If desired, the beverage product may be dispensed while the agitator is rotating.

[0063] It should be understood that the various embodiments described herein are not limited to making frozen or semi-frozen beverages, but may be applied to producing cold and / or chilled beverage products that are colder than the received beverage product, but not frozen or semi-frozen. For example, in some embodiments, the same or similar mechanisms and / or techniques may be used as part of a cold drink machine and / or chilled beverage maker to produce, maintain, and dispense cold drinks.

[0064] As discussed with respect to Figure 4 the actions associated with configuring or controlling a frozen beverage maker such as the frozen beverage maker 100 and the processes described herein may be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to control or perform all or some of the operations described herein. All or part of the frozen beverage maker 100 system and process may be configured or controlled by dedicated logic circuitry such as an FPGA and / or ASIC or an embedded microprocessor localized to the instrument hardware.

[0065] A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data includes all forms of non-volatile storage areas, including, for example, semiconductor storage devices such as EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) and DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory).

[0066] Elements of the described different embodiments can be combined to form other embodiments not specifically set forth previously. Elements can be omitted from the previously described systems without adversely affecting their operation or the operation of the overall system generally. Additionally, various individual elements can be combined into one or more individual elements to perform the functions described in this specification.

Claims

1. An inlet opening for a frozen beverage maker, characterized in that, The frozen beverage maker has an agitator configured to rotate about an axis within a mixing container, and the pour opening includes: a surface that is inclined relative to the axis; and an orifice positioned on the surface and in fluid communication with the interior of the mixing container.

2. The pouring opening for a frozen beverage maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The orifice extends laterally along the surface in a direction parallel to the axis of the agitator.

3. The pouring opening for a frozen beverage maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface is radially inclined to direct incoming ingredients into the mixing container in an entry direction, and wherein the entry direction is the same as the direction of rotation of the agitator.

4. The pouring opening for a frozen beverage making machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, When viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, the direction of rotation of the agitator is clockwise.

5. The pouring opening for a frozen beverage maker according to claim 4, characterized in that, When viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, the orifice is positioned on the right side of the mixing container.

6. The pour opening for a frozen beverage maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, Further includes a grille covering at least a portion of the orifice.

7. The pouring opening for a frozen beverage maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, Further includes a cover that is movable between an open position where a user can access the pour opening and a closed position where the user cannot access the pour opening.

8. The pour opening for a frozen beverage maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, Further includes a lip that extends upward from the perimeter of the surface to form a well for feeding into the orifice.

9. The pour opening for a frozen beverage maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, When viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, the pour opening is positioned close to the rear of the mixing container.

10. The pouring opening for a frozen beverage making machine according to claim 9, characterized in that, Rotation of the agitator moves the contents of the mixing container from the rear of the mixing container to the front of the mixing container.

11. A container, characterized in that, Comprises: a chamber sized to accommodate an agitator configured to rotate about an axis within the container; and a pour opening positioned on the top section of the container, wherein the pour opening includes: a surface that is inclined relative to the axis; and an orifice positioned on the surface and in fluid communication with the chamber.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein, The pour opening is positioned at the rear of the container.

13. The container according to claim 12, characterized in that, The surface of the pour opening is radially inclined to direct incoming ingredients into the container in an entry direction, and wherein the entry direction is the same as the direction of rotation of the agitator.

14. The container according to claim 13, characterized in that, When viewed from the front of the container, the direction of rotation of the agitator is clockwise.

15. The container according to claim 14, characterized in that, When viewed from the front of the container, the orifice is positioned on the right side of the container.

16. A frozen beverage manufacturing machine, characterized in that, Comprises: a mixing container having a chamber; an agitator configured to rotate about an axis within the mixing container; and a pour opening positioned on the top of the mixing container, the pour opening including: a surface that is inclined relative to the axis; and an orifice positioned on the surface and in fluid communication with the chamber of the mixing container.

17. The frozen beverage making machine according to claim 16, wherein The axis of the agitator extends in a horizontal direction.

18. The cold drink manufacturing machine according to claim 16, characterized in that, The orifice extends laterally along the surface in a direction parallel to the axis of the agitator.

19. The cold drink manufacturing machine according to claim 16, characterized in that, The surface is radially inclined to direct incoming ingredients into the mixing container in an entry direction, and wherein the entry direction is the same as the direction of rotation of the agitator.

20. The cold drink manufacturing machine according to claim 19, characterized in that, When viewed from the front of the cold drink making machine, the rotation direction of the agitator is clockwise, and when viewed from the front of the cold drink making machine, the orifice is located on the right side of the mixing container.

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