Beverage mixing machine

Abstract

To provide a beverage preparation machine that automatically prepares a beverage and fills a cup with the beverage.SOLUTION: A beverage preparation machine 2 comprises: a weighing unit 21 on which a cup can be placed and which measures a weight of a body placed thereon; a mixing unit 22 that stirs the content therein and outputs the content to the cup; a material supply module 23 that supplies a material to the mixing unit 22; and a control unit 24. The control unit 24: controls the material supply module 23; supplies a predetermined amount of the material to the mixing unit 22 based on a preparation command related to the preparation of the beverage; controls the mixing unit 22; stirs the supplied material and outputs the material to the cup; determines a weight of the beverage in the cup based on the weight of the body measured by the weighing unit 21; and controls the mixing unit 22 and ends the output of the beverage based on the weight of the body and the predetermined weight indicated by the preparation command.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to beverage preparation equipment, and more particularly to beverage preparation equipment for automatically preparing beverages. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Beverages prepared on-site, such as in stores, are popular among the general public because they can offer customers a wide range of beverage customization options. However, business challenges in the sale of on-site prepared beverages include residual pesticides in materials, bacterial contamination of ice, quality control (flavor, ingredients, etc.), and a high turnover rate of employees. For example, conventional semi-automatic equipment such as the tea maker disclosed in Patent Document 1 may be introduced into stores to assist in beverage preparation and reduce labor, but conventional semi-automatic equipment still requires manual preparation of beverages. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0003】 【Patent Document 1】 Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. M622132 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0004】 Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage preparation device that can at least alleviate one of the drawbacks of the prior art. 【Means for Solving the Problems】 【0005】 According to the present invention, a beverage preparation device is for automatically preparing a beverage and filling a cup with the beverage, and includes a weighing unit on which a cup can be placed and configured to measure the weight of an object placed on it; a mixing unit configured to stir the contents contained therein into a mixture and to output the mixture to the cup; a material supply module configured to supply material to the mixing unit; and a control unit electrically connected to the weighing unit, the mixing unit, and the material supply module. The control unit is configured to control the material supply module and, based on preparation commands related to the preparation of a beverage, to supply a predetermined amount of material to the mixing unit, to control the mixing unit and stir the supplied material into a beverage, to output the beverage in the mixing unit to the cup, to determine the weight of the beverage in the cup based on the weight of an object measured by the weighing unit, and to control the mixing unit and stop outputting the beverage in the mixing unit to the cup when it is determined that the weight of the beverage in the cup has reached a predetermined weight indicated in the preparation command. [Effects of the Invention] 【0006】 The control unit controls the material supply module to supply a predetermined amount of material to the mixing unit based on the preparation command, and controls the mixing unit to stir the material inside and dispense the beverage into the cup. Furthermore, when it is determined that the beverage in the cup has reached a predetermined weight indicated in the preparation command, the control unit controls the mixing unit to stop dispensing the beverage into the cup. As a result, the beverage is automatically prepared and filled into the cup by the beverage preparation device. 【0007】 Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0008】 [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing a beverage preparation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a beverage preparation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing a beverage preparation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a beverage preparation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0009】 Before describing the present invention in more detail, it should be noted that, where appropriate, reference numerals or their terminology may be repeated between drawings to indicate corresponding or similar elements that may have similar characteristics. Furthermore, in this specification, directional terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "back" are used solely to illustrate the relative positions of multiple hardware components in embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 【0010】 In this specification, "connection" of one component to another indicates that the two components are in spatial communication. "Electrically connected" of one electrical component to another indicates that the two electrical components are directly connected via a conductive material (e.g., a wire), or indirectly connected via one or more other electrical components or wireless communication. Furthermore, "mechanically connected" of one component to another indicates that the two components are connected by mechanical means such as a linkage, gear set, or welding. 【0011】 Figure 1 shows a beverage preparation device 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention for automatically preparing a beverage and automatically filling a cup 1 with the beverage. The beverage preparation device 2 includes a weighing unit 21, a mixing unit 22, a plurality of material supply modules 23, and a control unit 24. The weighing unit 21 can have a cup 1 placed on it and is configured to measure the weight of the object placed on it. The mixing unit 22 is configured to stir the contents contained therein into a mixture and output the mixture to the cup 1. Each of the material supply modules 23 can store a specific material (e.g., juice, concentrated juice, syrup, tea, boiled water, water) and is configured to supply the material stored therein to the mixing unit 22. The control unit 24 is electrically connected to the weighing unit 21, the mixing unit 22, and the material supply modules 23, obtains the weight of the object from the weighing unit 21, and controls the operation of the mixing unit 22 and the material supply modules 23. 【0012】 When the control unit 24 receives a preparation command related to the preparation of a beverage, it selects a material supply module 23 from among the material supply modules 23 that stores the beverage ingredients based on the preparation command (hereinafter referred to as the "selected material supply module"), controls each of the selected material supply modules 23 based on the preparation command to supply a predetermined amount of ingredients to the mixing unit 22, controls the mixing unit 22 to stir the supplied ingredients to make a beverage, and dispenses the beverage from the mixing unit 22 into the cup 1. The control unit 24 is further configured to determine the weight of the beverage in the cup 1 based on the weight of the object measured by the weighing unit 21. The control unit 24 is further configured to determine whether the weight of the beverage in the cup 1 has reached a predetermined weight indicated in the preparation command, and if the determination is positive, it is configured to control the mixing unit 22 to stop dispensing the beverage from the mixing unit 22 into the cup 1. 【0013】 For each of the selected material supply modules 23, if the control unit 24 determines that a predetermined amount of material supplied from the material supply module 23 to the mixing unit 22 has been completely dispensed from the mixing unit 22, and that the weight of the beverage in cup 1 has not reached a predetermined weight, the control unit 24 further controls each of the selected material supply modules 23 to continuously supply material to the mixing unit 22, control the mixing unit 22 to continuously stir the supplied material, and control the mixing unit 22 to continuously dispense the beverage into cup 1, until it determines that the weight of the beverage in cup 1 has reached a predetermined weight of material as indicated in the preparation command. This allows the beverage preparation device 2 to automatically fill cup 1 with a predetermined weight of beverage. The determination of whether the supplied predetermined material has been completely dispensed from the mixing unit 22 can be made by determining whether a predetermined time (e.g., 2 seconds) has elapsed since the mixing unit 22 started dispensing. 【0014】 Referring further to Figure 2, the weighing unit 21 includes a platform 211 on which a cup 1 can be placed, and a scale 212 positioned within the platform 211 and configured to measure the weight of an object placed on the platform 211. Since the weighing unit 21 provides the weight of the object to the control unit 24, the control unit 24 can obtain the weight of the beverage in the cup 1 based on the weight of the object. In some embodiments, the control unit 24 can pre-store the weight of the cup 1 placed on the platform 211 and obtain the weight of the beverage in the cup 1 by subtracting the weight of the cup 1 from the weight of the object. In some embodiments, the weighing unit 21 is configured to automatically reset the weight measurement after the cup 1 is placed on the platform 211, so that the weight of the object 212 measured by the scale 212 becomes the weight of the beverage in the cup 1. 【0015】 The mixing unit 22 includes a container 221 configured to contain the material, a motor 224 electrically connected to a control unit 24 and configured to operate under the control of the control unit 24, and a mixer mechanically connected to the motor 224 and configured to be driven by the motor 224 to agitate the material in the container 221. In this embodiment, the mixer includes, but is not limited to, a magnetic rod 222 and a magnet 223. The magnet 223 is located outside the container 221, is mechanically connected to the motor 224, and is configured to rotate when driven by the motor 224. The magnetic rod 222 is located inside the container 221, is magnetically attracted by the magnet 223, and rotates with the magnet 223 to agitate the material in the container 221. In some embodiments, the mixer may also include a mixing blade, which is driven by the motor 224 to rotate and agitate the material in the container 221. 【0016】 The container 221 includes an outlet 221a for dispensing beverage, and the mixing unit 22 further includes a first pipe unit 225 connected to the outlet 221a of the container 221 and adapted to dispense beverage from the container 221 to the cup 1. The first pipe unit 225 includes an input port 225a connected to the outlet 221a of the container 221, a connecting pipe 228, and first output ports 225b and second output ports 225c connected to each other via the connecting pipe 228 and spatially communicating with the input port 225a, and configured to dispense beverage input from the container 221 via the input port 225a. The first output port 225b is located above the weighing unit 21 and can therefore dispense beverage to the cup 1 placed on the weighing unit 21 via the first output port 225b. The second output port 225c may be used to discard any beverage remaining in the container 221 after the mixing unit 22 has stopped dispensing beverage to the cup 1. Furthermore, due to the arrangement of the first pipe unit 225 and gravity, the beverage can flow from the container 221 to the first output port 225b and the second output port 225c. 【0017】 The first pipe unit 225 further includes a first switch 226 controlled by a control unit 24 to allow a beverage to flow into the first pipe unit 225 through the input port 225a and to control the flow of the beverage to either the first output port 225b or the second output port 225c. The first pipe unit 225 further includes a second switch 227 controlled by the control unit 24 to allow the beverage to flow out of the first output port 225b. In this embodiment, the first switch 226 and the second switch 227 may, but are not limited to, solenoid valves. Specifically, the first switch 226 has three ports, one of which is connected to one end of the connecting pipe 228, and the remaining two of the three ports are connected to the input port 225a and the second output port 225c, respectively, or used as the input port 225a and the second output port 225c, respectively. The second switch 227 also has two ports, one of which is connected to the other end of the connecting pipe 228, and the other of which is connected to or used as the first output port 225b. 【0018】 In the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, the material is a liquid, and each material supply module 23 supplies the stored material using a mechanical pump. Since the material supply modules 23 in the first embodiment are similar to each other, only one material supply module 23 is shown in Figure 2 and described below. The material supply module 23 of the first embodiment includes a liquid storage unit 231 configured to store the material (e.g., juice, concentrated juice, syrup, tea, boiled water, water). The liquid storage unit 231 includes a liquid storage unit output port 231a for outputting the material stored in the liquid storage unit 231. The material supply module 23 further includes a liquid transport unit 232 configured to transport the material from the liquid storage unit 231 to a mixing unit 22. The liquid transport unit 232 includes a first pipe 236, a second pipe 237, a second pipe unit 238, a liquid pump 233, and a ballast 234. 【0019】 The liquid pump 233 is controlled by the control unit 24 and includes a liquid pump input port 233a connected to the liquid storage unit output port 231a via the first pipe 236, and a liquid pump output port 233b connected to one end of the ballast 234 via the second pipe 237. The liquid pump 233 is configured to send materials from the liquid storage unit 231 to the mixing unit 22 via the second pipe 237, the ballast 234, and the second pipe unit 238. 【0020】 The other end of the ballast 234 is connected to the container 221 via the second pipe unit 238. The ballast 234 is configured to stabilize the flow rate of the material flowing from the liquid pump 233 to the mixing unit 22. Since the inner diameter of the ballast 234 is uniform and smaller than the inner diameter of the first pipe 236, the ballast 234 can suppress the turbulent flow of the material flowing through the ballast 234 and maintain the flow rate of the material at a predetermined flow rate (for example, 100 milliliters per second). Note that the predetermined flow rate can be set according to the user's requirements and is not limited to the above example. 【0021】 The second pipe unit 238 includes a third pipe 238a connected to the other end of the ballast 234, a fourth pipe 238b connected to the mixing unit 22, and a third switch 235. One end of the third switch 235 is connected to the ballast 234 via the third pipe 238a (that is, the third pipe 238a is connected to one end of the ballast 234), and the other end of the third switch 235 is connected to the container 221 of the mixing unit 22 via the fourth pipe 238b (that is, the fourth pipe 238b is connected to the mixing unit 22). The third switch 235 is controlled by the control unit 24 to allow the material to flow into the container 221 through the second pipe unit 238. In this embodiment, the third switch 235 may be a solenoid valve having two ports respectively connected to the third pipe 238a and the fourth pipe 238b, but is not limited thereto. 【0022】 The control unit 24 is further configured to control the liquid pump 233 and send the material from the liquid storage unit 231 to the mixing unit 22 via the second pipe 237, the ballast 234, and the second pipe unit 238. For the material supply module 23, the control unit 24 can obtain the total amount of the material output from the liquid storage unit 231 to the container 221 based on a predetermined flow rate and the time during which the material is output from the second pipe unit 238, and can determine whether the obtained total amount has reached a predetermined amount of the material indicated in the preparation command. 【0023】 The control unit 24 may be a single-core processor, a multi-core processor, a dual-core mobile processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), a system on chip (SoC), etc. The control unit 24 is electrically connected to the scale 212 of the weighing unit 21, the motor 224, the first switch 226, and the second switch 227 of the mixing unit 22, and the liquid pump 233 and the third switch 235 of the material supply module 23 to control the operations of various components. 【0024】 Examples of preparation commands related to the preparation of beverages using various materials from each of a part (selected material supply module 23) of the material supply module 23 are shown below. Note that the predetermined amounts of the materials from each of the selected material supply modules 23 used in the preparation of beverages may be different. 【0025】 For example, when the control unit 24 controls the liquid pump 233 and the third switch 235 to supply material stored in the liquid storage unit 231 to the container 221 for each of the selected material supply modules 23, the control unit 24 further controls the motor 224 of the mixing unit 22 to drive the magnetic rod 222 to stir the material supplied from each selected material supply module 23 in the container 221, and controls the first switch 226 to prevent the beverage from flowing out of the outlet 221a of the container 221. For each selected material supply module 23, when the material supplied to the container 221 reaches a predetermined portion of a predetermined amount (the predetermined portion can be preset by the control unit 24), the control unit 24 controls the liquid pump 233 and the third switch 235 to stop supplying material from the liquid storage unit 231 to the container 221, controls the first switch 226 to allow the beverage to flow through the input port 225a into the first pipe unit 225 and only toward the first output port 225b, and controls the second switch 227 to allow the beverage to flow out of the first output port 225b and toward the cup 1 placed in the weighing unit 21. The control unit 24 can repeat the above operation multiple times until the total amount of material, accumulated from multiple supplies of the predetermined portion, reaches a predetermined amount indicated in the preparation command. This ensures that the material supplied to the container 221 is thoroughly mixed before being discharged from the outlet 221a. Furthermore, the above method allows the use of a container 221 with a small capacity (for example, less than 300 ml), so that the container 221 can be washed with a small amount of water. The washing water may be stored, for example, in one of the liquid storage units 231 of the material supply module 23. 【0026】 In some embodiments, the control unit 24 may control each of the selected material supply modules 23 to supply a predetermined amount of material indicated in a preparation command to the container 221 in one go (instead of supplying a predetermined portion multiple times), control the motor 224 to drive the magnetic rod 222 to stir the material in the container 221, and only after the material in the container 221 has been thoroughly stirred and made into a beverage, control the first switch 226 to direct the beverage out of the container 221 through the outlet 221a to the first output port 225b, and control the second switch 227 to direct the beverage out of the first output port 225b to flow into the cup 1 placed on the weighing unit 21. 【0027】 In some embodiments, the control unit 24 may control each of the selected material supply modules 23 to supply a predetermined amount of material indicated in a preparation command to the container 221 in one go (instead of supplying a predetermined portion multiple times), control the motor 224 to drive the magnetic rod 222 to stir the material in the container 221, and while the magnetic rod 222 is stirring the material in the container 221, the control unit 24 may simultaneously control a first switch 226 to direct the beverage out of the container 221 through the outlet 221a only to the first output port 225b, and control a second switch 227 to direct the beverage out of the first output port 225b to flow into the cup 1 placed on the weighing unit 21. More specifically, for each of the selected material supply modules 23, when it is determined that the total amount of material supplied to the container 221 by the material supply module 23 has reached a predetermined amount, the control unit 24 controls the selected material supply module 23 to stop supplying material to the container 221, and when all selected material supply modules 23 have stopped supplying material, the control unit 24 controls the magnetic rod 222 to stop stirring. 【0028】 When it is determined that the weight of the beverage in cup 1 has reached a predetermined weight, the control unit 24 controls the second switch 227 to stop the beverage from being output from the first output port 225b, controls the first switch 226 to direct the beverage from the outlet 221a to the second output port 225c, and controls one of the material supply modules 23 that store the water for washing to supply water to the container 221 to wash the container 221. The water used to wash the container 221 and the beverage remaining in the first pipe unit 225 are output from the second output port 225c and discarded. 【0029】 In this embodiment, the liquid storage unit 231 is a replaceable pouch, and the control unit 24 is further configured to determine whether there is a shortage of material in the liquid storage unit 231 by calculating the cumulative amount of material supplied from the liquid storage unit 231 for each of the material supply modules 23. If the control unit 24 determines that there is a shortage of material in the liquid storage unit 231, it further generates and outputs a first warning message related to the shortage of material in the liquid storage unit 231 and notifies the employee to replace the liquid storage unit 231 with a new pouch. 【0030】 In this embodiment, the beverage preparation device 2 further includes an imaging unit 25 positioned on the stand 211 and electrically connected to the control unit 24. The imaging unit 25 may be a camera configured to capture images of objects placed on the stand 211 and transmit the images to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 is further configured to identify objects in the images using an image recognition module (e.g., image recognition software written in Python® or another programming language, not shown) located therein. The control unit 24 is further configured to generate and output a second warning message related to the object if it determines, based on the image and the identified object, that either a first situation occurs where the object in the image is not a cup, or a second situation occurs where the object is not properly placed on the stand 211, and to notify an employee to replace the object on the stand 211 or adjust the position of the cup 1 to a proper position. 【0031】 In this embodiment, the beverage preparation device 2 further includes a code reader 26 electrically connected to a control unit 24. For each of the material supply modules 23, the code reader 26 is configured to obtain material information by reading a barcode 231b containing material information of the material located in and stored in the liquid storage unit 231, and to transmit the material information to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 is further configured to pre-store a plurality of preliminary information corresponding to each of the plurality of material supply modules 23, compare the obtained material information with the preliminary information corresponding to the material supply module 23 to which the obtained material information corresponds, and if it is determined that the obtained material information does not match the preliminary information (for example, the material name is different, the composition is different, or the expiration date is different), it is configured to generate and output a third warning message related to the material in the liquid storage unit 231, notifying the employee to reconfirm whether the material in the liquid storage unit 231 matches the material indicated in the preliminary information, thereby avoiding the use of material of unknown origin. 【0032】 The first warning message, the second warning message, and the third warning message may be in the form of messages or symbols that can be displayed on the screen of the beverage preparation device 2, light output by the light-emitting device of the beverage preparation device 2, sound output by the speaker of the beverage preparation device 2, or a combination thereof. 【0033】 In this embodiment, the beverage preparation device 2 further includes a touchscreen 27 electrically connected to a control unit 24. The control unit 24 is further configured to control the touchscreen 27 to display a user interface (not shown) that displays at least one choice associated with each of at least one beverage, based on material information of the materials stored in the material supply module 23. In this embodiment, the control unit 24 obtains material information from a code reader 26, but in some embodiments, the control unit 24 may obtain material information from user input. Once one of the at least one choice is selected, the control unit 24 generates a preparation command based on the selected at least one choice and prepares the beverage based on the generated preparation command. 【0034】 In some embodiments, once one of at least one options is selected, the control unit 24 generates a beverage barcode containing a preparation command based on the selected at least one option. The generated beverage barcode is presented via an output device (e.g., a printer, not shown), and the control unit 24 may read the presented beverage barcode using the code reader 26 of the beverage preparation machine 2 or another code reader to obtain a preparation command from the code reader 26 or other code reader that read the beverage barcode. The control unit 24 can then prepare the beverage based on the obtained preparation command. This allows the beverage preparation machine 2, for example, to print beverage barcodes according to customer orders, then read the beverage barcodes sequentially, and prepare one beverage for each order. 【0035】 In an embodiment in which materials are supplied in multiple batches, for example, when the option selected on the user interface is "black tea (500ml), half sweetness (10ml syrup)", the preparation command generated by the control unit 24 relates to instructing one of the material supply modules 23 that stores black tea to supply 500ml of black tea, and one of the material supply modules 23 that stores syrup to supply 10ml of syrup. The control unit 24 controls each of the two selected material supply modules 23 that store black tea and syrup, respectively, to supply a predetermined portion of the predetermined amount of material to the mixing unit 22 each time, for example, instructing the material supply module 23 that stores black tea to supply 100ml of black tea each time, and instructing the material supply module 23 that stores syrup to supply 2ml of syrup each time. The control unit 24 controls the mixing unit 22 to stir the supplied 100 ml of tea and 2 ml of syrup to make 102 ml of beverage (sweetened tea), and dispenses the beverage into cup 1. The control unit 24 controls the two selected material supply modules 23 to perform the above operation five times, dispensing 510 ml of sweetened tea into cup 1. 【0036】 Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a beverage preparation device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The beverage preparation device 2 of the second embodiment includes a weighing unit 21, a mixing unit 22, a control unit 24, and a plurality of material supply modules 28. The weighing unit 21, mixing unit 22, and control unit 24 of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but the material supply modules 28 of the second embodiment differ from those of the first embodiment in that they each supply the material (liquid) to be stored therein using atmospheric pressure. Each of the material supply modules 28 of the second embodiment includes a liquid storage section 281 configured to store the material, a liquid transport unit 282, and a holder 283. The liquid storage section 281 includes a liquid storage section output port 281a, a liquid storage section input port 281b, and a lid 281c. The holder 283 includes a connecting pipe 283a connected between the liquid storage section output port 281a and a container 221. The liquid storage unit output port 281a is located at the lower end of the liquid storage unit 281 and is attached to the holder 283, connecting to the connecting pipe 283a to output material from the liquid storage unit 281 to the mixing unit 22 via the connecting pipe 283a. The lid 281c is located at the upper end of the liquid storage unit 281, and the liquid storage unit input port 281b is located on the lid 281c and does not come into contact with the material inside the liquid storage unit 281. 【0037】 The liquid transport unit 282 includes a first pipe 289, a second pipe 280, a gas storage unit 284, a gas filter 285, a gas pump 286, a pressure gauge 287, and a third switch 288. The gas storage unit 284 is configured to store gas and includes a gas storage unit output port 284a connected to the liquid storage unit input port 281b via the first pipe 289, and a gas storage unit input port 284b connected to the gas pump 286 via the second pipe 280. The gas pump 286 is controlled by the control unit 24 and configured to supply gas to the gas storage unit 284. The gas filter 285 is located in the second pipe 280 and is configured to filter impurities and microorganisms from the gas supplied to the gas storage unit 284 by the gas pump 286. The pressure gauge 287 is located in the lid 281c of the liquid storage unit 281 and is electrically connected to the control unit 24. The pressure gauge 287 is configured to measure the pressure value of the gas in the liquid storage unit 281 and provide the pressure value to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 is further configured to determine, based on the pressure value measured by the pressure gauge 287, whether the gas pressure in the liquid storage unit 281 is maintained at a predetermined pressure level, and to control the gas pump 286 based on the pressure value controlled by the pressure gauge 287 to send gas to the gas storage unit 284 and operate to maintain the gas pressure in the liquid storage unit 281 at a predetermined pressure level. In this embodiment, the predetermined pressure level can be adjusted according to the various beverages prepared by the beverage preparation device 2, and may be, for example, in the range of 0.07 to 0.13 bar, but is not limited thereto. 【0038】 A third switch 288 is located between the liquid storage unit output port 281a and the container 221 and is electrically connected to the control unit 24. The third switch 288 causes the material stored in the liquid storage unit 281, which is controlled by the control unit 24, to flow from the liquid storage unit 281 to the container 221 of the mixing unit 22. For each of the material supply modules 28 that store the beverage materials indicated in the preparation command, the control unit 24 is further configured to control the material supply module 28 to supply the material to the container 221, specifically by controlling the gas pump 286 to send gas to the gas storage unit 284 so that the gas storage unit 284 supplies gas to the liquid storage unit 281, and further by controlling the third switch 288 so that the material flows from the liquid storage unit 281 to the container 221. 【0039】 In this embodiment, the third switch 288 is a cutoff device positioned on the outer surface of the connecting pipe 283a. The connecting pipe 283a is an elastic pipe that is compressed when an external force is applied. The third switch 288 includes a block component 288a positioned on one side of the connecting pipe 283a and a cutoff component 288b positioned on the other side of the connecting pipe 283a and opposite to the block component 288a. The cutoff component 288b may be a pneumatic cylinder having a piston. The cutoff component 288b is controlled by a control unit 24 and is configured to move toward the block component 288a and compress the connecting pipe 283a, thereby blocking the flow of material through the connecting pipe 283a to the container 221, or to move toward the block component 288a, thereby allowing the material to flow through the connecting pipe 283a to the container 221. Specifically, the piston of the cutoff component 288b moves toward the block component 288a, pushing the connecting pipe 283a and crushing the connecting pipe 283a together with the block component 288a. Thus, the third switch 288 can avoid contact with or contamination of the material. In some embodiments, the third switch 288 may be a pinch valve controlled by the control unit 24 and configured to crush the connecting pipe 283a. Once the material begins to flow through the connecting pipe 283a, the material stored in the liquid storage unit 281 flows from the liquid storage unit 281 to the container 221 due to the pressure in the liquid storage unit 281. Because the pressure in the liquid storage unit 281 is maintained at a predetermined pressure level, the output flow rate of the material at the liquid storage unit output port 281a is maintained at a constant flow rate (e.g., 100 milliliters per second). This allows the control unit 24 to obtain the total amount of material output from the liquid storage unit 281 to the container 221 based on a constant flow rate and the time the material is output from the liquid storage unit output port 281a. The constant flow rate can be set according to the user's requirements and is not limited to the example described above. 【0040】 Each of the material supply modules 28 further includes a level sensor 239 located in the liquid storage unit 281 and electrically connected to the control unit 24. The level sensor 239 is configured to detect a level value of the liquid level of the material in the liquid storage unit 281 and send the level value to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 is further configured to generate and output a fourth warning message related to the liquid level of the material if it determines, based on the level value, that the liquid level of the material in the liquid storage unit 281 is outside a predetermined range, and to notify employees to replace or replenish the liquid storage unit 281 if there is a shortage of material in the liquid storage unit 281, or to stop replenishing the liquid storage unit 281 if there is an excess of material in the liquid storage unit 281. 【0041】 For example, the control unit 24 determines that there is insufficient material in the liquid storage unit 281 when the liquid level is below a predetermined range, and determines that there is an excess of material in the liquid storage unit 281 when the liquid level exceeds a predetermined range. 【0042】 In some embodiments, the liquid storage unit 281 is a replaceable storage container, and the fourth warning message can notify an employee to replace the liquid storage unit 281 with a new storage container. 【0043】 In some embodiments, the lid 281c of the liquid storage unit 281 further includes a supply port 281d (as shown in Figure 4) located on the lid 281c, and the liquid storage unit 281 may be replenished by other material supply modules. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the material supply module 23 of the first embodiment may be connected to the liquid storage unit 281 and replenished by connecting the second pipe unit 238 of the material supply module 23 to the supply port 281d of the liquid storage unit 281 of the second embodiment. The fourth warning message may be a replenishment command instructing the material supply module 23 to resupply material to the liquid storage unit 281. Furthermore, material information of the material stored in the material supply module 28 is obtained by reading a barcode on the material supply module 23 used to replenish the material supply module 28. The fourth warning message may be in the form of a message or symbol that can be displayed on the screen of the beverage preparation device 2, light output by the light-emitting device of the beverage preparation device 2, sound output by the speaker of the beverage preparation device 2, or a combination thereof. 【0044】 Note that, apart from the material supply module 28 of the beverage preparation device 2 in the second embodiment, the other components are configured to operate in the same manner as in the first embodiment and are not described in detail in this specification for the sake of brevity. 【0045】 In practice, the beverage preparation device 2 may include either the material supply module 23 of the first embodiment or the material supply module 28 of the second embodiment, depending on the viscosity of the material to be supplied. For example, if the viscosity of the material to be supplied is less than 820 centipoise (cP), the beverage preparation device 2 may supply the material to the container 221 using the material supply module 23 of the first embodiment, and if the viscosity of the material to be supplied is less than 1200 cP and 820 cP or greater, the beverage preparation device 2 may supply the material to the container 221 using the material supply module 28 of the second embodiment. 【0046】 In some embodiments, the control unit 24 may further communicate with a cloud database (not shown) which stores recipes corresponding to multiple beverages and sets of operating parameters associated with the preparation of each of the multiple beverages. Employees can control the control unit 24 via a user interface to download recipes and sets of operating parameters from the cloud database, generate preparation commands based on the downloaded recipes and sets of operating parameters, and upload business data (e.g., sales volume for each beverage type, popular flavors, need for replenishment of ingredients, equipment usage, parts operating hours, etc.) to the cloud database. 【0047】 In summary, according to the present invention, the control unit 24 is configured to control selected material supply modules 23 and 28 to supply a predetermined amount of material to the container 221 based on a preparation command, to control the mixing unit 22 to stir the material in the mixing unit 22 and dispense the beverage into the cup 1, and to determine whether the weight of the beverage in the cup 1 has reached a predetermined weight indicated in the preparation command. Furthermore, if the determination is positive, the control unit 24 controls the mixing unit 22 to stop dispensing the beverage into the cup 1. Thus, the beverage is automatically prepared and filled into the cup 1 by the beverage preparation device 2. 【0048】 In the above description, numerous specific details have been given to provide a complete understanding of the embodiments for explanatory purposes. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that one or more other embodiments can be implemented without specific details. Furthermore, in descriptions of "one embodiment" or "one example" in this specification, it should be understood that all descriptions accompanied by ordinal numbers or other designations may be included in specific implementations of the invention having a particular aspect, structure, or feature. Moreover, in this specification, sometimes multiple variations are incorporated into a single embodiment, drawing, or description thereof. This is for the purpose of streamlining this specification and to help understand the multifaceted nature of the invention, and one or more features or specific examples in one embodiment may, where appropriate, be implemented in conjunction with one or more features or specific examples in other embodiments of the invention. 【0049】 Although embodiments and variations of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and all modifications and equivalent configurations are included as various configurations that fall within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation. [Explanation of symbols] 【0050】 1 cup 2 Beverage preparation equipment 21 Weighing Units 211 units 212 scales 22 Mixing Units 221 Container 221a Outlet 222 Magnetic Rods 223 Magnets 224 Motor 225 First pipe unit 225a Input Port 225b First output port 225c Second output port 226 First switch 227 The second switch 228 connecting pipes 23 Material supply module 231 Liquid Storage Section 231a Liquid storage unit output port 231b Barcode 232 Liquid Transport Units 233 Liquid pump 233a Liquid pump input port 233b Liquid pump output port 234 Ballast 235 The third switch 236 First pipe 237 The second pipe 238 Second pipe unit 238a Third pipe 238b The fourth pipe 239 Level Sensor 24 Control Units 25 Imaging Unit 26 Code Readers 27 Touchscreen 28 Material supply module 280 Second pipe 281 Liquid Storage Section 281a Liquid storage tank output port 281b Liquid storage tank input port 281c lid 281d supply port 282 Liquid transport unit 283 Holder 283a Connecting pipe 284 Gas Storage Section 284a Gas storage unit output port 284b Gas storage unit input port 285 Gas filter 286 Gas pump 287 Pressure gauge 288 The third switch 288a Block component 288b Cutoff component 289 First pipe

Claims

[Claim 1] A beverage preparation device for automatically preparing a beverage and filling a cup with the beverage, A weighing unit on which the aforementioned cup can be placed and configured to measure the weight of the object placed on it, A mixing unit configured to stir the contents contained therein into a mixture and to output the mixture to the cup, A material supply module configured to supply a liquid material to the mixing unit, The system includes a control unit electrically connected to the weighing unit, the mixing unit, and the material supply module, The material supply module includes a liquid storage section configured to store the material and a liquid transport unit, The liquid storage unit includes a liquid storage unit output port located at the lower end of the liquid storage unit for outputting the material from the liquid storage unit to the mixing unit, and a liquid storage unit input port located at the upper end of the liquid storage unit. The liquid transport unit includes a first pipe, a gas storage section configured to store gas, and a first switch electrically connected to the control unit. The gas storage unit includes a gas storage unit output port connected to the liquid storage unit input port via the first pipe, The first switch is positioned between the liquid storage unit output port and the mixing unit, and controls the material stored in the liquid storage unit to flow from the liquid storage unit to the mixing unit, The control unit is By controlling the material supply module so that the gas storage unit supplies gas to the liquid storage unit, and by controlling the first switch so that the material flows from the liquid storage unit to the mixing unit, a predetermined amount of the material is supplied to the mixing unit based on a preparation command related to the preparation of a beverage. The mixing unit is controlled to stir the supplied materials to make the beverage, and the beverage in the mixing unit is dispensed into the cup. Based on the weight of the object measured by the weighing unit, the weight of the beverage in the cup is determined. When it is determined that the weight of the beverage in the cup has reached a predetermined weight indicated in the preparation command, the mixing unit is controlled to stop dispensing the beverage from the mixing unit into the cup. The gas storage unit further includes a gas storage unit input port, The aforementioned liquid transport unit is The second pipe, A gas pump is connected to the input port of the gas storage unit via the second pipe and configured to supply gas to the gas storage unit, The system further includes a pressure gauge that is electrically connected to the control unit, positioned in the liquid storage section, measures the pressure value of the gas in the liquid storage section, and provides the pressure value to the control unit, The control unit is further configured to control the gas pump to deliver the gas to the gas storage unit and to operate to maintain the pressure of the gas in the liquid storage unit based on the pressure value measured by the pressure gauge. Beverage preparation equipment. [Claim 2] The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the material supply module to continuously supply the material to the mixing unit, control the mixing unit to continuously stir the supplied material, and control the mixing unit to continuously dispense the beverage into the cup, when it is determined that a predetermined amount of the material supplied from the material supply module to the mixing unit has been completely dispensed from the mixing unit and the weight of the beverage in the cup has not reached the predetermined weight, until it is determined that the weight of the beverage in the cup has reached the predetermined weight. [Claim 3] The aforementioned mixing unit is A container configured to contain the aforementioned material, A motor electrically connected to the control unit and operated under the control of the control unit, A mixer, which is mechanically connected to the motor and is configured to be driven by the motor to stir the material in the container, is included. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1. [Claim 4] The aforementioned mixer is, A magnet is positioned outside the container, mechanically connected to the motor, and configured to rotate when driven by the motor. The container includes a magnetic rod that is placed inside the container, is magnetically attracted by the magnet, and rotates in conjunction with the magnet to stir the material inside the container. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 3. [Claim 5] The container of the mixing unit includes an outlet for dispensing the beverage, The mixing unit further includes a first pipe unit connected to the container and adapted to dispense the beverage from the container into the cup, a second switch, and a third switch. The first pipe unit includes a first input port connected to the outlet of the container, a connecting pipe, and a first output port and a second output port connected to each other via the connecting pipe, spatially communicating with the first input port, and configured to output the beverage input from the container via the first input port, wherein the first output port is located on the weighing unit, The second switch is controlled by the control unit to allow the beverage to flow into the first pipe unit via the first input port, and to direct the flow of the beverage towards either the first output port or the second output port. The third switch is controlled by the control unit to allow the beverage to flow out of the first output port. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 3. [Claim 6] The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid transport unit further includes a gas filter disposed in the second pipe and configured to filter impurities and microorganisms from the gas delivered to the gas storage unit by the gas pump. [Claim 7] The liquid transport unit further includes a holder, the liquid storage unit output port is attached to the holder, and the holder includes a connecting pipe connected between the liquid storage unit output port and the mixing unit. The liquid storage unit further includes a lid, and the liquid storage unit input port is located on the lid. The first switch includes a block component located on one side of the connecting pipe and a cutoff component located on the other side of the connecting pipe, the cutoff component being controlled by the control unit to move toward the block component to block the material from flowing through the connecting pipe to the mixing unit, or to move toward the block component to allow the material to flow through the connecting pipe to the mixing unit. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1. [Claim 8] The material supply module further includes a level sensor that is electrically connected to the control unit, positioned in the liquid storage section, and configured to detect the level value of the liquid level of the material in the liquid storage section and send the level value to the control unit. The control unit is further configured to generate and output a warning message when it is determined, based on the level value, that the liquid level of the material in the liquid storage unit is outside a predetermined range. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1. [Claim 9] The control unit further includes a code reader that is electrically connected to the control unit, The code reader is located in the liquid storage unit and is configured to obtain the material information by reading a barcode containing material information of the material stored in the liquid storage unit. The control unit is configured to pre-store preliminary information corresponding to the material supply module, compare the obtained material information with the preliminary information, and generate and output a warning message if it is determined that the obtained material information does not match the preliminary information. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1. [Claim 10] The system further includes an imaging unit electrically connected to the control unit, The weighing unit includes a platform on which the cup can be placed, and a scale positioned within the platform and configured to measure the weight of the object placed on the platform. The imaging unit is positioned on the platform and is configured to capture an image of the object placed on the platform and transmit the image to the control unit. The control unit is further configured to identify the object in the image and, based on the image and the identified object, to generate and output a warning message if it determines that either a first situation occurs where the object is not a cup, or a second situation occurs where the object is not properly placed on the stand. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1. [Claim 11] The control unit further includes a touchscreen that is electrically connected to the control unit, The control unit is further configured to control the touchscreen to display a user interface that shows at least one option related to the beverage based on material information of the materials stored in the material supply module, and to generate the preparation command based on one of the selected at least one option. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1. [Claim 12] The control unit further includes a touchscreen that is electrically connected to the control unit, The control unit is further configured to control the touchscreen to display a user interface that shows at least one option related to the beverage based on material information of the materials stored in the material supply module, to generate a barcode containing the preparation command based on one of the selected at least one option, to present the generated barcode via an output device, and to obtain the preparation command from a code reader that reads the presented barcode. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1.

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