Dispensing assembly for frozen beverage maker

Abstract

A dispensing assembly for a frozen beverage maker has a housing including a first portion attached to an outer surface of the frozen beverage maker adjacent a nozzle and a second portion spaced from the nozzle and extending outwardly from the outer surface. A lever attached to the second portion of the housing is rotatable relative to the second portion of the housing about a first pivot member. A seal operably coupled to the rod is configured to seal the nozzle in the closed position. Rotation of the rod moves the seal to an open position to enable dispensing of the beverage product through the nozzle.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application No. 18 / 415,817, filed on January 18, 2024, entitled "Removable Collection Tray for Beverage Making Machine," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The utility model relates to a frozen beverage making machine, and more particularly to a frozen beverage making machine comprising a low-maintenance dispensing system. Background Art

[0004] The frozen beverage making machine that can also be referred to as semi-frozen beverage making machine or crushed ice beverage making machine generally comprises transparent tank or mixing container that receives and processes (comprising cooling) beverage product, often beverage product is converted into subsequently distributed freezing or semi-frozen product from pure liquid (or the combination of liquid and part ice), such as for example shaved ice, slurry beverage, milk shake, ice cream or other freezing or semi-frozen product.The cooling product is distributed via the faucet, stopper or dispenser that are positioned near the front and bottom of container generally.Thus, term " frozen beverage making machine " used herein is not limited to the device that only makes beverage or frozen beverage, but comprises the device that cools the beverage product received thereby produces cooling output with any cooling, freezing or semi-frozen form.Beverage product is usually made of the mixture of water or milk, syrup, seasoning powder or other additives that make beverage product have desired taste and color.

[0005] Some existing frozen beverage making machines include a mixing system within a mixing container, the mixing system having a mixing blade or auger that is rotated by a motor via a drive shaft and a drive assembly. Some existing frozen beverage making machines include a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser for receiving refrigerant from the compressor, and an evaporator (i.e., a freezer), wherein the evaporator is located adjacent to or within the mixing container to cool the beverage product during processing. Typically, a dispensing mechanism on the frozen beverage making machine uses a plunger seal to open and close a nozzle to dispense the beverage product.

[0006] Some existing frozen beverage makers include a controller that controls the operation of the frozen beverage maker with respect to making the beverage product, including the temperature of the frozen product during processing. Utility Model Content

[0007] This disclosure describes a low-maintenance dispensing system for a frozen beverage maker that uses a lip seal instead of a plunger seal. The dispensing mechanism includes multiple pivoting links that swing the seal upward when the user actuates the dispense lever. In the open position, the seal is angled approximately 45 to 60 degrees relative to the nozzle, which helps direct the dispensed beverage product downward. The nozzle opening also includes a safety grille to prevent the user from accidentally inserting their finger into the nozzle.

[0008] This application describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a dispensing assembly for dispensing a beverage product through a nozzle of a frozen beverage maker.

[0009] In some exemplary embodiments, a dispensing assembly for a frozen beverage maker of the present disclosure includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being attached to an outer surface of the frozen beverage maker adjacent to a nozzle, and the second portion being spaced apart from the nozzle and extending outwardly from the outer surface. A rod is attached to the second portion of the housing. The rod can be rotatable relative to the second portion of the housing about a first pivot member. A seal is operably coupled to the rod. The seal is configured to seal the nozzle in a closed position. Rotation of the rod moves the seal to an open position, enabling dispensing of the beverage product through the nozzle.

[0010] In some embodiments, the link member is operably coupled to the rod. The link member may be rotatable relative to the rod about a second pivot member. The bracket member is operably coupled to the link member and attached to the first portion of the housing. The bracket member is rotatable relative to the link member about a third pivot member and rotatable relative to the first portion of the housing about a fourth pivot member. A seal is attached to the bracket member.

[0011] In some embodiments, the second pivot member is a pin extending through the rod and through the connecting rod member. In some embodiments, the third pivot member is a pin extending through the bracket member and through the connecting rod member. In some embodiments, the fourth pivot member is a pin extending through the first portion of the housing and through the bracket member. In some embodiments, when the seal is in the open position, the seal is at an angle of approximately 45 to 60 degrees relative to the nozzle. In some embodiments, the nozzle includes a grille that is configured to prevent a user from inserting a finger into the nozzle. In some embodiments, the first pivot member includes a pin extending through the second portion of the housing and through the rod. In some embodiments, the seal is a lip seal. In some embodiments, the bracket member is L-shaped. In some embodiments, the housing is L-shaped.

[0012] In some embodiments, a method for dispensing a beverage product through a nozzle of a frozen beverage maker of the present disclosure includes rotating a lever relative to a second portion of a housing of a dispensing assembly about a first pivot member. The housing further includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being attached to an outer surface of the frozen beverage maker adjacent to the nozzle and the second portion being spaced apart from the nozzle and extending outwardly from the outer surface. Rotating the lever causes a seal operably coupled to the lever to move to an open position, thereby enabling dispensing of the beverage product through the nozzle. The seal is configured to seal the nozzle in a closed position.

[0013] In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly further comprises a link member operably coupled to the rod, and rotating the rod causes the link member to rotate relative to the rod about the second pivot member. In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly further comprises a bracket member operably coupled to the link member and attached to the first portion of the housing, and rotating the rod causes the bracket member to rotate relative to the link member about the third pivot member and relative to the first portion of the housing about the fourth pivot member. In some embodiments, a seal is attached to the bracket member.

[0014] Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be applied to the production and / or processing of other types of food products, such as, but not limited to, ice cream, frozen yogurt, other creams, and the like. While the present disclosure describes examples of beverage making machines that process various frozen and / or semi-frozen beverage products, the systems, apparatus, and methods described herein are not limited to such beverage products and are capable of processing and / or producing other types of beverage products, such as cooled beverage products and / or frozen beverage products. As used herein, the terms "mix," "mixed," or "mixing" are not limited to combining multiple ingredients, but also include mixing beverage products or liquids having a single or no added ingredients. For example, a beverage product may contain only water that is mixed by a blender during processing, i.e., a portion of the water is stirred and / or mixed as the blender rotates. This can advantageously enable the water and / or liquid as a whole to have a more uniform temperature within the mixing vessel by, for example, mixing portions of water and / or liquid having different temperatures.

[0015] These and other structural advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and reviewing the associated drawings.The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are intended to be explanatory only and not restrictive of the aspects of the disclosure as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present disclosure will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a frozen beverage maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 2 The embodiment according to the present disclosure is shown Figure 1 a view of various internal components within the housing and mixing container of a frozen beverage making machine;

[0019] Figure 3 Shown are some embodiments according to the present disclosure Figure 1 A front view of a frozen drink making machine;

[0020] Figure 4 According to some embodiments of the present disclosure Figure 1 a block diagram of an example of a control system for a frozen beverage making machine;

[0021] 5A to 5D A dispensing assembly for dispensing a beverage product from a frozen beverage maker is shown according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figures 6A to 6B shows a dispensing assembly for dispensing a beverage product from a frozen beverage maker according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0023] Figure 7A and Figure 7B An embodiment of the present disclosure is shown for covering 5A to 5D and Figures 6A to 6B The covering of the distribution component. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the following description, regardless of the different illustrated embodiments, like components have the same reference numerals. To illustrate the embodiments clearly and concisely, the drawings may not necessarily reflect proper scale and may have certain structures shown in some schematic form. The present disclosure may describe and / or illustrate structures in one embodiment, in one or more other embodiments, in the same or similar manner and / or in combination with or in place of structures from other embodiments.

[0025] In the specification and claims, for the purposes of illustrating and defining the present invention, the terms "approximately" and "substantially" represent the inherent degree of uncertainty attributable to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The terms "approximately" and "substantially" also represent the degree to which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated benchmark without causing a change in the basic function of the subject matter in question. Open-ended terms such as "includes," "comprising," and / or the plural form of each include the listed parts and may include unlisted additional parts, while terms such as "and / or" include one or more of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts. The use of the terms "top," "bottom," "above," "below," etc., merely aids in clarifying the present disclosure and does not in any way limit the structure, positioning, and / or operation of the present disclosure.

[0026] In various embodiments, the present application addresses drawbacks associated with plunger seals, including the known problem of seal failure caused by friction of the elastomeric seal in typical dispenser designs. These problems include the need to replace the seal and the constant application of lubricant to the seal, both of which are unacceptable to home users. Accordingly, a dispensing system that eliminates friction of the elastomeric seal is desired.

[0027] Figure 1 A perspective view of a frozen beverage making machine 100 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The frozen beverage making machine 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 making machine 100 and / or output or display information. The user interface 112 may include one or more buttons, dials, switches, a touch screen, indicators, LEDs, etc. The user interface 112 may display status information, such as the temperature of the beverage product in the mixing container 104, an indicator of the recipe and / or program currently being implemented, and a timer associated with the progress of the recipe and / or program in progress and / or currently being implemented. For example, when a recipe is completed or when the user is expected to perform an action associated with processing the beverage product, the user interface 112 may provide an indication and / or warning to the user. The user interface 112 may include a selectable menu of beverage types (e.g., recipes) and / or programs for different types of beverage products, such as, but not limited to, shaved ice, milkshakes, margaritas, daiquiris, pineapple juice and rum punch, smoothies, sorbet, juices, dairy products, milk ice cream, cold drinks, semi-frozen drinks, frozen drinks, etc.

[0028] Continue to refer Figure 1, the housing 102 may include a panel (e.g., a removable panel) 114 along a side of the housing 102. The panel 114 may include a plurality of openings that facilitate air flow to help cool the components within the housing 102. The housing 102 may include an upper housing portion 122 that is configured to couple with a 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 of a wall that is transparent to enable a viewer to see the beverage product within the mixing container 104 during processing. The mixing container 104 may include a pour opening 106 so that 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 sealing the opening 106. The lid may be removably removable or movable to open or close the opening 106. The pour opening may include a safety grille (not shown) to prevent a user from reaching into the mixing container 104 when the lid is not installed. The mixing container 104 may include a container having a user handle 120, a nozzle 502 ( Figure 5A ), and a nozzle cap or cover 116. The dispenser assembly 108 enables a user to open a nozzle connected to the wall of the mixing container 104 by pulling down a handle 120 to dispense a processed (e.g., cooled) beverage product from the mixing container 104. The user can open the dispenser assembly 108 by pushing the handle 120 back to its upright position ( Figure 1 ) to close the nozzle, thereby stopping the dispensing of the processed beverage product.

[0029] Continue to refer Figure 1 The frozen beverage maker 100 may include a lever 110 that enables locking coupling of the mixing container 104 with the housing 102 including the upper housing portion 122 . Figure 1 12. The lever 110 is shown in a locked and / or closed position in which the mixing container 104 is engaged and / or coupled to the housing 102 and the upper housing portion 122. In the closed and / or engaged position, the lever 110 ensures a watertight seal to prevent leakage of the beverage product from the mixing container 104. The lever 110 can be placed in the closed, coupled, or engaged position by sliding the mixing container 104 against the upper housing portion 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 portion 122. The lever 110 can be placed in the closed, coupled, or engaged position by rotating the lever 110 in a counterclockwise direction (from the top) toward the front of the mixing container 104. Figure 1By pulling and / or rotating the rod 110 (from a perspective), the mixing container 104 can be disengaged and / or separated from the housing 102 and the upper housing portion 122, causing the rod 110 to release the mixing container 104. Once released and / or separated, the mixing container 104 can be slid forward (away from the upper housing portion 122) to be completely disassembled and / or removed from the housing 102. The mixing container 104 may include radial seals and / or face seals. The face seals provide an improved seal based on the compression provided by the rod 110 pushing the mixing container 104 laterally against the wall of the upper housing portion 122. The mixing container 104 may include a circular and / or cylindrical opening at its rear end that couples the mixing container 104 to the upper housing portion 122. An interlock switch may be implemented on the upper housing portion 122. When the mixing container 104 is coupled to the upper housing portion 122, the interlock switch is activated, preventing activation of the drive motor 208 unless the container 104 is coupled to the upper housing portion 122. This ensures that the user is not exposed to the moving blender 204. The frozen beverage maker 100 may also include a drip tray 118 positioned below the dispenser assembly 108 and configured to collect any beverage product that is not properly dispensed from the mixing container 104 into, for example, a user's cup. The drip tray 118 may be removed from the dispenser assembly 108. Figure 1 Its operative position shown can be attached and removed. Figure 3 As shown, the water tray 118 may be mounted and / or stored on a side panel of the housing 102 as a water tray 304 .

[0030] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 200 of the various internal components within the housing 102 and mixing vessel 104 of the frozen beverage maker 100. The frozen beverage maker 100 includes a cylindrical evaporator 202 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 freezer 202. The agitator 204 may be driven in rotation by a central drive shaft (not shown) within the mixing vessel 104. The drive shaft may be surrounded by the evaporator 202. However, in various embodiments, the evaporator 202 does not rotate. The drive shaft may be coupled to a drive motor 208 via a gear assembly 210. In some embodiments, the drive motor 208 is an AC motor, but another type of motor such as, but not limited to, a DC motor may also be used. The drive motor 208 may include a motor fan 212 configured to provide air cooling to the motor 208. At the same time Figure 2Shown is an embodiment in which the drive motor 208 is not coaxially aligned with the drive shaft for rotating the agitator 204, 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 continuously operate to drive the continuous rotation of the agitator 204 at one or more speeds, thereby providing the continuous mixing of the beverage product in the mixing vessel 104. In some embodiments, the rotation of the agitator 204 causes the blades of the spiral configuration to push the cooling beverage product to the front of the mixing vessel 104. During the processing, owing to being cooled by the evaporator, the part of the beverage product may freeze on the surface of the evaporator. In some embodiments, the blades of the rotating agitator 204, while simultaneously mixing the cooling beverage product and pushing the cooling beverage product to the front of the mixing vessel 104, scrape off the frozen part of the beverage product from the evaporator surface.

[0031] Continue to refer Figure 2 , the frozen beverage maker 100 may 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 may include a compressor 214, an evaporator 202, a condenser 216, a condenser fan 218, a bypass valve, and conduits that carry a refrigerant in a closed loop among 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 may be controlled by a controller, such as controller 402, as described with respect to Figure 4 As further described. The frozen beverage maker 100 may also include a removable collection tray 220 configured to collect any liquid condensate from the evaporator 202 resulting from the cooling. Figure 5A and Figure 5B As described, the tray 220 can be removed from the slot in the housing 102 in an insertable manner so that condensed liquid can be collected while inserted into the slot and then efficiently removed to an empty tray 220 and then reinserted into the slot for subsequent liquid collection. The frozen beverage maker 100 can also include a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 222 within the housing 102. As will be described with reference to Figure 4 As explained, PCBA 222 may include a control system 400 configured to automatically control certain operations of the frozen beverage maker 100 .

[0032] Figure 3 Shown Figure 13. A front view 300 of the frozen beverage making machine 100 is shown. The frozen beverage making machine 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 rear of the housing 102. The frozen beverage making machine can include a mounting portion 302 on the side of the housing 102, where a drip tray 304, such as one not used during transport of the frozen beverage making machine 100, can be mounted. The frozen beverage making machine 100 can include a power interface configured to receive AC power from an electrical outlet (not shown). In some embodiments, the frozen beverage making machine 100 can include one or more batteries housed within the housing 102 and configured to power various components of the frozen beverage making machine 100.

[0033] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control system 400 for a frozen beverage maker 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The control system 400 may include a microcontroller, a processor, a system on a chip (SoC), a client device, and / or a physical computing device, and may include hardware and / or virtual processors. In some embodiments, the control system 400 and its associated processors may be configured to: Figure 4 The elements shown are each associated with physical hardware, and in some embodiments, one, more, or all of the elements may be implemented using a simulator or virtual machine. In any case, the electronic control system 400 may be implemented on physical hardware, such as in the frozen beverage making machine 100.

[0034] like Figure 4As shown, control system 400 may include a user interface 212 and / or 112 having, for example, a keyboard, keypad, one or more buttons, a dial, a touchpad, or a sensor reader (e.g., a biometric scanner), as well as one or more output devices, such as a display, an audio speaker, an LED indicator, and / or a light indicator. Control system 400 may also include a communication interface 410, such as a network communication unit that may include wired and / or wireless communication components, that can be communicatively coupled to 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, though few of these protocols affect communication between 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 networks, and / or other communication methods. For example, the control system 400 may send one or more communications to the user's mobile device associated with the status of the frozen beverage maker 100, such as sending an alert to the mobile device when a recipe is complete and / or a beverage product is ready to be dispensed, or indicating that the mixing container is low or out of beverage product.

[0035] The control system 400 may include a processing element such as a controller and / or processor 402, which includes one or more hardware processors, each of which 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., computational instructions) utilized by one or more other components of the processor 402. For example, a shared cache may be local cached data stored in a memory for faster access by the components that make up the processing element 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, or 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 not described herein, the processor 402 may include, but is not limited to, an 8-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, or 64-bit architecture. Figure 4 Although shown in FIG, the processing elements constituting processor 402 may also include one or more other types of hardware processing components, such as a graphics processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or a digital signal processor (DSP).

[0036] Figure 4Also illustrated is a memory 404 operatively and communicatively coupled to the controller 402. The memory 404 may be a non-transitory medium configured to store various types of data. For example, the memory 404 may include one or more storage devices 408, including non-volatile storage devices and / or volatile memory. Volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), may be any suitable non-permanent storage device. The non-volatile storage device 408 may include one or more disk drives, optical drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), tape drives, flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), and / or any other type of memory designed to retain data for a period of time after a power outage or shutdown. In some configurations, if the allocated RAM is insufficient to retain all job data, the non-volatile storage device 408 may be used to store overflow data. The non-volatile storage device 408 may also be used to store programs that are loaded into the RAM when such programs are selected for execution. The data storage and / or memory device 408 may be configured to store multiple beverage product preparation and / or processing instruction programs associated with multiple beverage product processing sequences (i.e., recipes). Such a beverage product preparation and / or processing instruction program may include instructions for the controller and / or processor 402 to: start or stop one or more motors and / or compressors 414 (e.g., such as motor 208 and / or compressor 214); start or stop compressor 214 to regulate 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) at specific time periods during a beverage product processing sequence; operate motor 208 at a specific speed during a specific time period of a recipe; and issue one or more prompt instructions to the user interface 412 and / or 112 that are output to the user to prohibit a response, action and / or input from the user.

[0037] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, software programs can be developed, coded, and compiled in various computing languages ​​for various software platforms and / or operating systems, and subsequently loaded and executed by processor 402. In one embodiment, the compilation process of a software program can convert program code written in a programming language into another computer language, enabling the program code to be executed by processor 402. For example, the compilation process of a software program can generate an executable program that provides coded instructions (e.g., machine code instructions) for processor 402 to perform specific, non-general, specialized computing functions.

[0038] After the compilation process, the coded instructions can be loaded from storage device 408, memory 404, and / or embedded within processor 402 (e.g., via cache or onboard ROM) as computer-executable instructions or processing steps. Processor 402 can be configured to execute the stored instructions or processing steps to perform the instructions or processing steps, thereby transforming electronic control system 400 into a non-general purpose, specialized, specifically programmed machine or device. Stored data, such as data stored by data storage area and / or data storage device 408, can be accessed by processor 402 during execution of the computer-executable instructions or processing steps to instruct one or more components within control system 400 and / or other components or devices external to system 400. For example, recipes can be configured in a lookup table and / or database within data storage area 408 and accessed by processor 402 when executing a particular recipe selected by a user via user interface 412 and / or 112.

[0039] The user interface 412 and / or 112 may include a display, a position input device (such as a mouse, touchpad, touch screen, etc.), 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 may be communicatively coupled to the processor 402. When the user interface output device is or includes a display, the display may 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.

[0040] The sensors 406 may include one or more sensors that detect and / or monitor conditions of the beverage product within the mixing container 104, conditions associated with components of the frozen beverage maker 100, and / or conditions of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system. The conditions may include, but are not limited to, rotation, rotational speed, and / or movement of a device or component (e.g., a motor), rate of such movement, frequency of such movement, direction of such movement, motor current, motor voltage, motor power, motor torque, temperature, pressure, liquid level within the container 104, position of the device or component (e.g., whether the pour opening 106 is open or closed), and / or presence of the device or component (e.g., whether the cover 116 is installed). The types of sensors may include, for example, electrical meter chips, Hall sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, optical sensors, current sensors, torque sensors, voltage sensors, cameras, other types of sensors, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The frozen beverage maker 100 may include one or more temperature sensors positioned at various locations within the mixing container 104, such as on or around a lower front region within the mixing container 104, on or around an upper front region within the mixing container 104, on or around an upper rear region within the container 104, within one or more coils of the evaporator 202, and / or within the housing 102.

[0041] The sensor 406 may also include one or more safety switches and / or interlock switches that prevent or enable certain components, such as the motor, from operating when certain conditions are met (e.g., when a cover or lid for the opening 106 is attached or closed and / or when there is a sufficient level of beverage product in the container 104 to enable activation of the motor 208 and / or 414). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the electronic control system 400 may include other components known in the art, such as Figure 4 Power supplies and / or analog-to-digital converters not explicitly shown.

[0042] In some embodiments, the control system 400 and / or processor 402 includes a SoC having multiple hardware components, including but not limited to: a microcontroller; a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) core and / or a multi-processor SoC (MPSoC) having more than one processor core; memory blocks including a series of read-only memories (ROMs), random-access memories (RAMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), and flash memories; timing sources including oscillators and phase-locking loops; peripheral devices including count-up timers, real-time timers, and reset generators; external interfaces including industry standards such as universal serial bus (USB), FireWire, Ethernet, universal synchronous / asynchronous receiver / transmitter (USART), and serial peripheral interface (SPI); analog interfaces including analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs); voltage regulators, and power management circuits.

[0043] SoCs include both the aforementioned hardware and the software that controls microcontroller, microprocessor, and / or DSP cores, peripherals, and interfaces. Most SoCs are developed from predefined hardware blocks for hardware elements (e.g., modules or components representing IP cores or blocks), along with software drivers that control their operation. The above list of hardware elements is not exhaustive. SoCs may also include protocol stacks that drive industry-standard interfaces such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB).

[0044] Once the overall architecture of the SoC has been defined, individual hardware components can be described using an abstract language called RTL, which stands for Register Transfer Level. RTL is used to define circuit behavior. Hardware components are connected together using the same RTL language to create the complete SoC design. In digital circuit design, RTL is a design abstraction that models synchronous digital circuits in terms of the flow of digital signals (data) between hardware registers and the logical operations performed on those signals. RTL abstraction is 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 a standard of the 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 level of abstraction. Verilog can also be used for the verification of analog and mixed-signal circuits, as well as genetically designed circuits. In some embodiments, various components of control system 400 are implemented on a PCB, such as PCB 222.

[0045] In operation of 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) instructing 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 level 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 cover sensor may be associated with the opening 106, whereby the cover sensor sends an open and / or closed signal to the processor 402 indicating that the opening 106 is open or closed. If the cover 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, such as whether 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.

[0046] Once the mixing container 104 is filled with ingredients, the user can provide input, such as pressing a button, to begin processing the beverage product based on the selected recipe. Processing can include activating the motor 208 to drive the agitator 204 and / or blades 206 to rotate to achieve mixing of the ingredients of the beverage product. Processing can also include activating the refrigeration system, which includes 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 in the mixing container 104. The processor 402 can control the operation of various components such as the motor 208 and the compressor 214. In order to regulate the temperature of a specific setting associated with the recipe, the processor 402 can activate / start and / or deactivate / stop the compressor 214 to start and / or stop the flow of refrigerant through the coils of the evaporator 202, thereby starting or stopping the cooling of the beverage product in the mixing container 104.

[0047] By cooling a beverage product to a specific temperature, slurry and / or ice particles can be formed within the beverage product. Generally, the amount of particles and / or the mouthfeel of the beverage product corresponds to the temperature of the beverage product; that is, the lower the temperature, the greater the amount of particles (and / or the larger the particle size) and / or the smoother the beverage product. The user interface 112 can enable a user to fine-tune and / or adjust a preset temperature associated with a recipe, thereby enabling the user to adjust the temperature and / or mouthfeel of the beverage product to a more desired temperature and / or mouthfeel.

[0048] The processor 402 can process the beverage product in one or more stages and / or until the desired temperature and / or mouthfeel is determined, within a set time period. The processor 402 can receive one or more temperature signals from one or more temperature sensors 408 in 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 among the temperatures detected by the multiple temperature sensors 408. The processor 402 can determine the temperature of the beverage product based on the temperature detected by one of the sensors 408 in the mixing container 1104 and / or based on the temperature of the refrigerant detected by the refrigerant temperature sensor 408. Once the stage and / or sequence of the recipe to be completed by the processor 402 is determined, the processor 402 can provide a visual and / or audio indication via the user interface 116 that the recipe is complete and ready for distribution. In response, the user can place a cup or container below the dispenser assembly 108 and pull the handle 120 downwardly, rotationally, toward the user to open the nozzle located at the lower front wall of the mixing container 104, causing the beverage product to be distributed into the cup or container. Once filled, the user can rotate the handle 120 upwards and away from the user to return it to the Figure 2 In the embodiment where the handle 120 is resiliently biased to the closed position, the user can release their grip on the handle 120, thereby allowing the resilient force to rotate the handle 120 upward away from the user to return to the upright and closed position.

[0049] 5A to 5D A dispensing assembly 500 for dispensing a beverage product from a frozen beverage maker 100 is shown in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5AAs shown, the dispensing assembly 500 can include a dispenser housing 504 for housing the components of the dispensing assembly 500. The housing 504 can have a first portion 504a attached to an outer surface of the frozen beverage maker 100 adjacent the nozzle 502, and a second portion 504b spaced apart from the nozzle 502 and extending outwardly from the outer surface. In some embodiments, the housing 504 can have an inverted L-shape. However, the present disclosure contemplates other suitable shapes for the housing 504. The handle 120 of the frozen beverage maker 100 can have an upper portion 120a in the form of a user-actuable lever 506 and a lower portion 120b attached to the second portion 504b of the housing 504.

[0050] like Figure 5B and Figure 5CAs shown, the rod 506 can rotate relative to the second portion 504b of the housing 504 about a first pivot member 508. In some embodiments, the first pivot member 508 can be a rod or pin 510 extending through the second portion 504b of the housing 504 and the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. However, the present disclosure contemplates other suitable types of pivot members 508. A linkage member 512 can be operably coupled to the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. In some embodiments, the linkage member 512 can be insertable into the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. The linkage member 512 can be rotatable relative to the rod 506 about a second pivot member 514. In some embodiments, the second pivot member 514 can be a rod or pin 516 extending through the linkage member 512 and through the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. However, the present disclosure contemplates other suitable types of pivot members 516. The bracket member 518 can be operably coupled to the linkage member 512 and can be attached to the first portion 504a of the housing 504. In some embodiments, the linkage member 512 can be partially insertable into the bracket member 518. The bracket member 518 can be rotatable relative to the linkage member 512 about a third pivot member 520. In some embodiments, the third pivot member 520 can be a rod or pin 522 extending through the bracket member 518 and the linkage member 512. However, the present disclosure contemplates other suitable types of pivot members 520. The bracket member 518 can also be rotatable relative to the first portion 504a of the housing 504 about a fourth pivot member 524. In some embodiments, the fourth pivot member 524 can be a rod or pin 526 extending through the first portion 504a of the housing 504 and the bracket member 518. However, the present disclosure contemplates other suitable types of pivot members 524. A seal 528 can be attached to the bracket member 518. The seal 528 can be configured to seal the nozzle 502 to prevent inadvertent dispensing of the beverage product. In some embodiments, the seal 528 can be a lip seal that covers the nozzle 502. However, the present disclosure also contemplates other suitable types of seals 528. For example, in some embodiments, the seal 528 can be or include a plug made of one or more relatively dense materials with a relatively high hardness that extends into the nozzle 502 to seal the nozzle 502. The nozzle 502 can include a safety grille 530 or other mechanism to prevent a user from accidentally inserting his or her finger into the nozzle 502 ( Figure 5D ).

[0051] In order to dispense the beverage product, in some embodiments, the user's actuation of the rod 506 can cause the connecting rod member 512 to move upward relative to the housing 504. Since the bracket member 518 is both attached to the connecting rod member 512 and attached to the housing 504, a portion of the bracket member 518 can move upward together with the connecting rod member 512, while the remainder of the bracket member 518 is forced to pivot around the fourth pivot member 524. This in turn can cause the seal 528 to move to the open position. When the seal 528 moves to the open position, the seal 528 can expose the nozzle 502 to dispense the beverage product. Advantageously, in the open position, the seal 528 can be at an angle of approximately 45 to 60 degrees relative to the nozzle 502 to guide the beverage product downward toward the drink cup. The user's release of the rod 506 can cause the part to return to its unactivated position, thereby allowing the seal 528 to close the nozzle 502 again.

[0052] Figure 6A and Figure 6B A dispensing assembly 600 for dispensing a beverage product from a frozen beverage maker 100 is shown according to a second illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. The dispensing assembly 600 may be substantially similar to the dispensing assembly 500. For example, Figure 6A As shown, the dispensing assembly 600 may include a dispenser housing 604 for housing the components of the dispensing assembly 600. The housing 604 may have a first portion 604a attached to an outer surface of the frozen beverage maker 100 adjacent to the nozzle 602, and a second portion 604b spaced apart from the nozzle 602 and extending outwardly from the outer surface. The handle 120 may have an upper portion 120a in the form of a user-actuable lever 606 and a lower portion 120b attached to the second portion 604b of the housing 604. The lever 606 may be rotatable relative to the second portion 604b of the housing 604 about a first pivot member 608. A linkage member 612 may be operably coupled to the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. The linkage member 612 may be rotatable relative to the lever 606 about a second pivot member 614.

[0053] like Figure 6BAs shown, the bracket member 618 can be operably coupled to the linkage member 612 and can be attached to the first portion 604a of the housing 604. In some embodiments, the bracket member 618 can have an inverted L-shape, as shown. However, the present disclosure contemplates other suitable shapes for the bracket member 618. The bracket member 618 can be rotatable relative to the linkage member 612 about a third pivot member 620. The bracket member 618 can also be rotatable relative to the first portion 604a of the housing 604 about a fourth pivot member 624. A seal 628 can be attached to the bracket member 618. The seal 628 can be configured to seal the nozzle 602 in the closed position. In some embodiments, the seal 628 can be a lip seal covering the nozzle 602. However, in some embodiments, the seal 628 can be or include a plug made of one or more relatively dense materials having a relatively high hardness and extending into the nozzle 602 to seal the nozzle 602.

[0054] In order to dispense the beverage product, in some embodiments, the user's actuation of the rod 606 can cause the connecting rod member 612 to move upward relative to the housing 604. Since the bracket member 618 is both attached to the connecting rod member 612 and attached to the housing 604, a portion of the bracket member 618 can move upward together with the connecting rod member 612, while the remaining portion of the bracket member 618 is forced to pivot around the fourth pivot member 624. This in turn can cause the seal 628 to move to the open position. When the seal 628 moves to the open position, the seal 628 can expose the nozzle 602 to dispense the beverage product. Advantageously, in the open position, the seal 628 can be at an angle of approximately 45 to 60 degrees relative to the nozzle 602 to guide the beverage product downward toward the drink cup. The user's release of the rod 606 can cause the part to return to its unactivated position, thereby allowing the seal 628 to close the nozzle 602 again.

[0055] Advantageously, unlike other dispenser mechanisms, the dispensing assemblies 500, 600 of the present disclosure do not rely on a lever force against an exterior surface of the frozen beverage maker 100 to open the seals 528, 628. This can reduce wear on the components of the dispensing assemblies 500, 600 and on the exterior surfaces of the frozen beverage maker 100. Furthermore, because the seals 528, 628 both move horizontally and vertically relative to the nozzles 502, 606 to release the seal from the nozzles 502, 606, the open position of the seals 528, 628 can provide less obstruction to the flow of beverage product from the nozzles 502, 608.

[0056] Figure 7A and Figure 7B The nozzle cap or cover 116 for covering a portion of the dispensing assembly 500, 600 is shown in greater detail according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7A As shown, the cover 116 can include a first panel section 702a and a second panel section 702b that extend substantially parallel to each other. A front section 704 can extend between the panel sections 702a, 702b. In some embodiments, the panel sections 702a, 702b can be substantially flat, while the front section 704 can be curved, as shown. In some embodiments, the front section 704 can include a curved upper edge 706 that is configured to not interfere with actuation of the handle 120. However, the present disclosure contemplates other suitable shapes for the upper edge 706, such as Figure 1 As shown in the straight line shape. Figure 7B As shown, the panel sections 702a, 702b can be configured to form a removable snap fit with the dispenser housing 504, 604. The length of the cover 116 can be selected to cover the components of the dispensing assembly 500, 600 except the handle 120 to improve the aesthetic appearance of the frozen beverage maker 100. The cover 116 can also help guide the beverage product downward toward the drinking cup. The cover 116 can be made of a dishwasher-safe material to facilitate cleaning.

[0057] In some embodiments, at least the front section 704 of the cover 116 can be vertically movable relative to the dispensing assembly 500, 600. For example, in some embodiments, the front section 704 can be movable relative to the first panel section 702a and the second panel section 702b. In some embodiments, the front section 704 can be hingedly connected to the first panel section 702a and the second panel section 702b, or can slide vertically relative to the first panel section 702a and the second panel section 702b. When dispensing non-frozen water-based beverages, such movement may be useful to prevent the beverage from being dispensed from the nozzle 502, 602 in an excessively lateral trajectory. Such a lateral trajectory may cause at least a portion of the beverage to not be dispensed into the receiving container located below the nozzle 502, 602.

[0058] It should be understood that the various embodiments described herein are not limited to making frozen or semi-frozen beverages, but can be applied to producing cold beverage products and / or cooled beverage products that are colder than the received beverage product, but not frozen or semi-frozen beverage products. For example, in some embodiments, the same or similar mechanisms and / or technologies can be used as part of a cold beverage machine and / or a cold beverage making machine to produce, maintain, and dispense cold beverages.

[0059] As about Figure 4As discussed, actions associated with constructing 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 systems and processes of the frozen beverage maker 100 may be constructed or controlled by dedicated logic circuitry, such as an FPGA and / or an ASIC or embedded microprocessor located in the instrument hardware.

[0060] Non-transitory machine-readable storage media suitable for containing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory areas, including, by way of example: semiconductor memory area 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; CD-ROMs (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), and DVD-ROMs (Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory).

[0061] The elements of the various embodiments described can be combined to form other embodiments not previously specifically described. Elements can be omitted from the aforementioned system without generally adversely affecting their operation or the operation of the system. In addition, various separate elements can be combined into one or more separate elements to perform the functions described in this specification.

Claims

1. A dispensing assembly for a frozen beverage making machine, characterized in that The dispensing assembly comprises: Housing, including: a first portion attached to an exterior surface of the frozen beverage maker adjacent the nozzle; and a second portion spaced apart from the nozzle and extending outwardly from the outer surface; a lever attached to the second portion of the housing, the lever being rotatable relative to the second portion of the housing about a first pivot member; and a seal operably coupled to the stem, the seal configured to seal the nozzle in a closed position; wherein rotation of the stem moves the seal to an open position to enable dispensing of a beverage product through the nozzle.

2. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein Also includes: a link member operatively coupled to the rod, the link member being rotatable relative to the rod about a second pivot member; as well as a bracket member operatively coupled to the link member and attached to the first portion of the housing, the bracket member being rotatable relative to the link member about a third pivot member and rotatable relative to the first portion of the housing about a fourth pivot member; wherein the seal is attached to the support member.

3. The dispensing assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that The second pivot member includes a pin extending through the rod and through the link member.

4. The dispensing assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that The third pivot member includes a pin extending through the bracket member and through the link member.

5. The dispensing assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that The fourth pivot member includes a pin extending through the first portion of the housing and through the bracket member.

6. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein When the seal is in the open position, the seal is angled at approximately 45 to 60 degrees relative to the nozzle.

7. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The nozzle includes a grille configured to prevent a user from inserting a finger into the nozzle.

8. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein The first pivot member includes a pin extending through the second portion of the housing and through the rod.

9. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The seal is a lip seal.

10. The dispensing assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The bracket member is L-shaped.

11. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein The housing is L-shaped.

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