A drink mixing machine

Abstract

A drink mixing machine configured to mix one or more drinks from the contents of a plurality of liquid filled pods or capsules, each of which contains a liquid ingredient, and which are fed to the machine and combined into one or more mixtures, the drink mixing machine further comprising one or more vessel supports, each configured to support a vessel in a position in which it receives a mixture, and wherein the or each vessel support depends from an agitating mechanism.

Description

A DRINK MIXING MACHINEPRIORITY DOCUMENTS

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2024901589 titled “A DRINK MIXING MACHINE” and filed on 28 May 2024, and from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2024903707 titled “A DRINK MIXING MACHINE” and filed on 12 November 2024. The content of each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a drink mixing machine.BACKGROUND

[0003] A mixed drink is any beverage that combines two or more ingredients. A cocktail is a mixed drink traditionally defined as a combination of one or more liquors, a sweetener, bitters, and water (diluted ice). It follows then that a cocktail is a mixed drink, but a mixed drink may not always be considered a cocktail.

[0004] A majority of cocktail recipes call for the ingredients to be shaken using a cocktail shaker. If the correct amounts or proportions of ingredients are not used and / or the ingredients are not mixed correctly then the quality of the drink produced is adversely affected.

[0005] It is against this background that the present disclosure has been developed.SUMMARY

[0006] According to a first aspect, there is provided a drink mixing machine configured to mix one or more drinks from the contents of a plurality of liquid filled pods or capsules, each of which contains a liquid ingredient, and which are fed to the machine and combined into one or more mixtures, the drink mixing machine further comprising one or more vessel supports, each configured to support a vessel in a position in which it receives a mixture, and wherein the or each vessel support depends from an agitating mechanism.

[0007] Single-serve coffee containers are commonly referred to as ‘pods’, and they are used in coffee brewing to prepare individual or multi-serving portions. They help to provide consistency of productstrength and flavour. The applicant proposes to employ pods filled with mixed drink ingredients, be they alcoholic or non-alcoholic, with the machine disclosed herein.

[0008] In one form, the drink mixing machine comprises a head portion comprising a pod receiving structure, comprising a plurality of pod receptacles, where for each pod receptacle there is a pod piercer configured to pierce a respective pod and a chute formed to connect the pod receptacle to an outlet.

[0009] In one form, each pod piercer is fixedly positioned within each pod receptacle, wherein piercing of each pod is achieved by pushing the pod against the pod piercer.

[0010] In one form, the pod receiving structure is in the form of a tray, wherein the tray comprises the outlet, wherein the tray is tilted toward the outlet.

[0011] In one form, the tray is removable. This facilitates cleaning.

[0012] In one form, each pod piercer comprises a plurality of blades arranged radially with their cutting edges uppermost and converging at an uppermost central point.

[0013] In one form, each of the blades is substantially radially equispaced.

[0014] In one form, one of the blades of each pod piercer extends in a downstream direction of the chute and / or in the direction of the outlet.

[0015] In one form, at least two of the pod receptacles are arranged in a row which extends along a shared chute.

[0016] In one form, all of the pod receptacles are arranged into one or more rows, each row having its own chute, where the or each chute converges toward the liquid outlet.

[0017] In one form, there is a raised groove formed into the bottom of the funnel. This helps direct flow.

[0018] In one form, each of the piercers is detachable. This facilitates cleaning.

[0019] In one form, each pod piercer is movably positioned with respect to each pod receptacle, where it is moveable between a retracted position, and an extended position, wherein the pod piercer extends into the receptacle in order to pierce its respective pod.

[0020] In one form, each pod receptacle comprises a lip configured to engage with a flange provided on each pod.

[0021] In one form, each of the pod piercers are connected to one or more common shafts, each shaft configured to rotate about an axis, wherein when the or each shaft is rotated, the pod piercers sweep in an arc between their retracted and extended positions.

[0022] In one form, the one or more common shafts are actuated by a linkage arrangement manually operated by an external lever.

[0023] In one form, each piercer has a curved body with a tip, such that as the piercer moves towards its extended position, the tip will first come into contact with and pierce the pod, followed by the curved body of the piercer moving through the pod, to create an enlarged opening for liquid to drain from the pod.

[0024] In one form, the machine comprises a base, a body and a head, where the receiving structure is positioned with respect to the head, and the agitating mechanism is incorporated into the body of the machine.

[0025] In one form, the base of the machine comprises a forward extending ledge and the head comprises an overhang which extends over the ledge.

[0026] In one form, the vessel support is configmed to support the or each vessel in a position in which the or each vessel receives liquid from a corresponding outlet.

[0027] In one form, the agitating mechanism comprises a shaking mechanism.

[0028] In one form, the agitating mechanism is configmed to shake the or each vessel support up and down.

[0029] According to a further aspect, there is provided a method for using the drink mixing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of choosing one or more desired drinks and then selecting a plurality of pods, where each pod contains one of the liquid ingredients of the desired one or more drinks, positioning one or more open cocktail mixer vessels in the or each vessel support, and inserting each pod into a pod receptacle and piercing each of these pods with their respective piercers.

[0030] In one form, the method further comprises the further step of putting a lid on the or each cocktail mixer vessel and seeming it, and then activating the agitation mechanism.

[0031] For ease of description, a drink mixing machine embodying the present featmes is described below in its usual assembled position as shown in the accompanying drawings and terms such as front,rear, upper, lower, horizontal, longitudinal etc., may be used with reference to this usual position.However, the drink mixing machine may be manufactured, transported, sold, or used in orientations other than that described and shown here.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] Aspects of the present disclosure will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0033] Figure 1 is a front isometric view of a drink mixing machine;

[0034] Figure 2 is a rear isometric view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 1;

[0035] Figure 3 is a side view of the drink mixing machine;

[0036] Figure 4 is a top view of the drink mixing machine;

[0037] Figure 5 is a front view of the drink mixing machine;

[0038] Figure 6 is a front isometric view of a tray from the machine;

[0039] Figure 7 is a rear isometric view of the tray from the machine;

[0040] Figure 8 is a top view of the tray;

[0041] Figure 9 is a cross-section taken through the tray at A-A;

[0042] Figures 10 through 13 are isometric views of a pod piercer from the machine;

[0043] Figure 14 is a top view of the pod piercer;

[0044] Figure 15 is a bottom view of the pod piercer;

[0045] Figures 16 through 19 are side views of the pod piercer;

[0046] Figure 20 is a detail view of a pair of pod receptacle ports on the tray;

[0047] Figure 21 is a front isometric view of a base and an agitating mechanism from the machine;

[0048] Figure 22 is a rear isometric view of the base and the agitating mechanism;

[0049] Figure 23 is a top view of the base and the agitating mechanism;

[0050] Figure 24 is a side view of the base and the agitating mechanism;

[0051] Figure 25 is a front view of the base and the agitating mechanism;

[0052] Figure 26 is a front isometric view of a drink mixing machine, according to an alternate embodiment;

[0053] Figure 27 is a side view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 26;

[0054] Figure 28 is a top view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 26;

[0055] Figure 29 is a front view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 26;

[0056] Figure 30 is a front isometric exploded view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 26;

[0057] Figure 31 is a rear isometric view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 26 with a portion of its outer housing removed to reveal the pod piercing arrangement;

[0058] Figure 32 is a front isometric view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 26 with a portion of its outer housing and pod retaining structure removed to reveal the pod piercing arrangement;

[0059] Figure 33 is a front isometric view of a drink mixing machine, according to a further alternate embodiment;

[0060] Figure 34 is a side view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 33;

[0061] Figure 35 is a top view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 33;

[0062] Figure 36 is a front view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 33;

[0063] Figure 37 is a front isometric exploded view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 33;

[0064] Figure 38 is a rear isometric view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 33 with its outer housing removed to reveal the rinsing arrangement; and

[0065] Figure 39 is a front isometric view of the drink mixing machine of Figure 33 with a portion of its outer housing and pod receiving structure removed to reveal the pod piercing arrangement and the rinsing arrangement.

[0066] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0067] Referring now to Figures 1 through 5, there is illustrated a drink mixing machine 1 according to an aspect of this disclosure. The drink mixing machine 1 comprises a base 2, a body 4 and a head 6. The body 4 extends upward from the base 2, and the head 6 is positioned atop of the body 4.

[0068] The base 2 comprises a plurality of feet 3 on which the base 2 stands. The feet 3 are adjustable in and out of the base 2 so that the machine 1 can be levelled, and each foot 3 comprises a vibration dampening portion of an elastomeric material such as a rubber or a synthetic equivalent.

[0069] The base 2 of the machine 1 comprises a forward extending ledge 8. An upper surface of the ledge 8 incorporates a grill 10 through which any spilled liquid can pass for collection in a sump below the grill 10.

[0070] The head 6 portion of the machine 1 comprises an overhang 12 which extends out over the ledge 8 of the base 2. A tray 20 is positioned atop of the head 6 portion of the machine 1. A plurality of pod receptacle ports 22 are formed into the tray 20. A removable vanity cover 23 is provided to cover all but the pod receptacle ports of the tray when the machine is in use.

[0071] For each pod receptacle port 22 there is a pod piercer 30 and a chute 24 formed into the tray to connect the pod receptacle port 22 to a tray outlet 26. The tray outlet comprises a funnel 26 which extends through the overhang 12 to an outlet nozzle 28 located in the underside of the overhang 12.

[0072] Referring now to Figures 6 through 9, where in the illustrated embodiment, all of the pod receptacle ports 22 are arranged into two rows of three pod receptacle ports 22, each row having its own chute 24, where each chute 24 converges toward the tray outlet 26.

[0073] As can be seen in Figures 10 through 19, each pod piercer 30 comprises a plurality (three in this case) of blades 32 arranged radially with their cutting edges E uppermost and converging at an uppermost central point P. Each of the pod piercers 30 is positioned with respect to the tray 20 so that one of these blades 32 extends in a downstream direction of the chute 24. This promotes a flow of liquid from a pod which is disposed on the pod piercer 30 in the direction of the tray outlet.

[0074] Each pod piercer 30 comprises a hub 34 which provides strength. The hub 34 further provides a means of attachment. In this case a threaded blind hole 36 is provided in an underside of the hub 34 for receiving a fastener.

[0075] Each pod piercer 30 is an integral item, and each is separable from the remainder of the machine for cleaning. Pod piercers 30 could be made from stainless steel, or a suitable engineering plastic.

[0076] The drink mixing machine 1 further comprises a vessel support 40 which is configured to support a vessel 200 (also referred to as a cocktail mixer or cocktail shaker) for the drink in a position in which it can receive liquid directly from the nozzle of the tray outlet. In the illustrated embodiment, the vessel is a mixing container with a lid of the kind referred to as a cocktail shaker. It will be understood that other types of vessels could be catered for and accommodated by the machine.

[0077] The vessel support 40 depends from an arm 62 which extends from an agitating mechanism 50 housed within the body 4 of the machine 1, through a slot in a housing for the body 4 to the vessel support 40.

[0078] The vessel support 40 comprises an upper support 44, a lower support 42, and a post 46 extending between these. The post 46 is connected to the end of the arm. The lower support 42 provides a ring 43 in which a bottom of the mixing container is located. The upper support 44 provides a pair of fingers 45 which converge at the post 46, and between which a neck of the mixing container is located once the bottom is located in the ring 43.

[0079] The agitating mechanism 50 is configured to shake the vessel support 40 up and down.

[0080] Referring now to Figures 21 through 25, the arm 62 which supports the vessel support 40 is a load arm 62 of a bellcrank 60 which further comprises a lever arm 64. This bellcrank 60 consists of an L- shaped crank pivoted where the two arms 62 and 64 of the L meet.

[0081] The agitating mechanism 50 comprises a motor 52 having an output shaft and a drive pulley 54 keyed to the output shaft. The agitating mechanism 50 converts the rotary motion of the motor 52 into a reciprocation of the vessel support 40 in a vertical plane.

[0082] A drive belt extends around both the drive pulley 54 and a driven reduction pulley 56 which is of larger diameter than the drive pulley 54. The reduction pulley 56 is supported on a transfer shaft 58 that extends transversely across the body of the machine. A first drive link 57 is eccentrically mounted with respect to the transfer shaft 58, and the first drive link 57 is pivotally connected to a second drive link 59. The second drive link 59 extends to and is pivotally connected to the lever arm 64 of the bellcrank 60.

[0083] In use, a user of the drink mixing machine 1 will choose a desired drink and then select a plurality of pods, where each pod contains one of the liquid ingredients of the desired drink. The user might refer to a recipe to assist them with selecting the correct ingredient pods.

[0084] The user will also position an open cocktail mixer 200 in the vessel support 40, so that an opening to the cocktail mixer 200 is below the outlet nozzle 28 of the tray 20.

[0085] The user will insert a pod with its lid downward into a pod receptacle port 22 and dispose each of these pods over one of the pod piercers 30. The pod piercer 30 will pierce a lid of the pod and the contents of the pod will spill over the pod piercer 30 and into the chute 24 in which that pod piercer 30 is located. The contents of each of the pods will run down the chutes 24 to the tray outlet funnel 26, through the outlet nozzle 28 and into the open cocktail shaker vessel. The cocktail shaker 200 will then contain the desired mixture.

[0086] The user will then put the lid on the cocktail shaker vessel 200 and secure it.

[0087] The agitation mechanism might then activate automatically, or agitation might be initiated via a user operated switch. The duration of agitation might be preset, or adjustable by the user via a control setting.

[0088] Once agitation is complete, the user can remove the cocktail shaker vessel 200, remove the lid from the vessel 200, and pour their drink.

[0089] Advantageously, use of the drink mixing machine 1 will ensure that the correct amounts and proportions of ingredients have been used, and that the ingredients are properly mixed.

[0090] Referring now to Figures 26 through 32, there is illustrated a drink mixing machine 101 according to a further aspect of this disclosure. The drink mixing machine 101 is configured to mix two drinks from the contents of a plurality of liquid filled pods or capsules. The drink mixing machine 101 is also configmed to simultaneously pierce the plurality of pods, as will be described in further detail below.

[0091] It can be seen that the drink mixing machine 101 comprises a base 102, a body 104 and a head 106. The base 102 comprises a plurality of feet 103 on which the base stands 102. The base 102 comprises a forward extending ledge 108. An upper surface of the ledge 108 incorporates a grill 110 through which any spilled liquid can pass for collection in a sump below the grill 110.

[0092] The head portion 106 of the machine 101 comprises an overhang 112 which extends out over the ledge 108 of the base 102. A pod receiving structure 120 is provided on a front angled face 107 of theoverhang 112. A plurality of pod receptacles 122 are formed in the receiving structure 120. In the embodiment shown, the pod receiving structure 120 comprises twelve pod receptacles 122 (six for each drink), however it will be appreciated that any number of receptacles may be provided.

[0093] For each receptacle 122 there is a curved lip 123 configured to engage with a flange provided on each pod so as to retain the pod in the receptacle 122. Each receptacle 122 is also provided with an aperture 121 located adjacent to the lip 123, through which a pod piercer 130 (described in further detail below) is configmed to extend, and through which liquid is able to flow from a pierced pod through to a corresponding chute 124.

[0094] It will be appreciated that the receiving structure 120 is provided on the front angled face 107 of the overhang 112 at such an angle that when the pods that are retained in the receptacles 122 are pierced, liquid is able to freely drain from the pierced pods through their respective apertures 121 and chutes 124.

[0095] With reference to Figure 30, it can be seen that the receiving structure 120 is removably attached to the front angled face 107 of the overhang by virtue of a pair of receiving slots 109 provided on the front angled face 107. It will be appreciated that enabling removal of the receiving stmcture 120 allows the part to be removed for cleaning, as well as providing access to internal components of the drink mixing machine 101. It will however be appreciated that in an alternate form, the receiving structure 120 may be fixedly attached to the front angled face, or form part of a unitary structure with the machine. It will also be appreciated that alternate means of facilitating removable attachment of the receiving structure 120 are also intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0096] Referring now to Figures 31 and 32, where the drink mixing machine is shown with a portion of its outer housing removed in order to reveal the pod piercing arrangement. It can be seen that for each receptacle 122 and aperture 121, there is provided a corresponding pod piercer 130. Each pod piercer 130 is configured to simultaneously move from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position where, a tip 133 of each piercer 130 extends through a respective aperture provided in each receptacle in order to pierce its respective pod.

[0097] In the embodiment shown, it can be seen that there are two rows of piercers 130 (top and bottom rows) where each row of piercers 130 are connected to a common shaft 135, configured to rotate about an axis. When each shaft 135 is rotated, the piercers 130 sweep in an arc as they move between retracted and extended positions. It can further be seen that each of the shafts 135 is connected to a linkage arrangement 137 manually operated by an external handle or lever 138, wherein when the lever 138 is pulled forward toward an operator of the machine, the linkage arrangement 137 will simultaneously rotate each shaft 135, such that each of the piercers 130 is actuated simultaneously. The lever 138 would then returnrearward away from the operator of the machine, either being pushed manually by an operator or via a biasing means, such as a torsion spring acting on the linkage arrangement 137.

[0098] It can be seen that each piercer 130 has a curved body 131 with a tip 133, such that as the piercer 130 moves toward its extended position, the tip 133 will first come into contact with and pierce a lid of a respective pod, followed by the body 131 of the piercer 130 moving through the lid, creating an enlarged opening for liquid to drain from the pod.

[0099] It will be appreciated that the above-described piercing arrangement is just one solution, and that many alternative solutions capable of simultaneously actuating each piercer are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. For example, in an alternative embodiment, rather than the piercers being manually operable using a lever, the actuation arrangement may instead be driven by a motor. In yet a further embodiment, rather than the piercers sweeping in an arc between their first and second positions, an alternative piercer arrangement may instead be driven linearly using an alternate actuation mechanism.

[0100] Referring to Figure 31 where the rear of the pod receiving structure is shown, it can be seen that each pod receptacle aperture 121 fluidly connects to a corresponding chute 124, which in turn drains into a funnel structure 129 comprising a pair of outlets 126 which extend through to a pair of outlet nozzles 128 located in the underside of the funnel structure 129. In the embodiment shown, it can be seen that the funnel structure 129 and its outlets 128 and nozzles 129 are configured such that liquid that has drained from all of the pods collects in the funnel structure and drains into both vessels 200 arranged below the nozzles 128. In an alternate arrangement (not shown) the funnel structure may instead be configured such that a divider or similar separates the two outlets, such that liquid from half of the pods drain into one vessel and fluid from the remaining pods drains into the other vessel. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement allows for two different drinks to be mixed at the same time.

[0101] With reference to Figure 30, it can be seen that similarly to the pod receiving structure 120, the funnel structure 129 is also removably attached to an underside of the overhang 112 by virtue of a pair of receiving slots 111 provided on the underside of the overhang 112. It will be appreciated that enabling removal of the funnel structure 129 allows the part to be removed for cleaning, as well as providing access to internal components of the drink mixing machine 101. It will however be appreciated that in an alternate form, the funnel structure 129 may be fixedly attached to the underside of the overhang 112, or form part of a unitary structure with the machine 101. It will also be appreciated that alternate means of facilitating removable attachment of the funnel structure are also intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0102] The drink mixing machine 101 further comprises a pair of vessel supports 140 similar to those described in relation to the first drink mixing machine 1. Each vessel support 140 is configured tosupport a respective vessel 200 in a position in which each vessel can receive liquid directly from a respective outlet nozzle 128.

[0103] As per the first embodiment, the vessel supports 140 are connected with respect to an agitating mechanism (not shown) housed within the body of the machine 101, similar to that described in relation to the first machine 1.

[0104] In use, a user of the drink mixing machine 101 will choose one or two desired drinks and then select a plurality of pods, where each pod contains one of the liquid ingredients of the desired drinks. The user might refer to a recipe to assist them with selecting the correct ingredient pods.

[0105] The user will also position an open cocktail mixer 200 in the or each vessel support 140 so that an opening to each cocktail mixer is below a respective outlet nozzle 128.

[0106] The user will insert each of the pods into a respective pod receptacle 122 where the pods containing ingredients for the first and second drinks will be inserted into the receptacles corresponding to the first and second vessels respectively.

[0107] The user will then actuate the pod piercing mechanism by pulling the lever 138 toward them, wherein each pod piercer 130 will extend through a respective aperture 121 provided in a corresponding pod receptacle 122 in order to pierce a lid of the pod, and the contents of the pod will spill through the aperture 121. The contents of each of the pods will run down a corresponding chute 124 to the funnel structure 129, and through their respective outlet nozzles 128 and into the open cocktail shaker vessels 200. The cocktail shaker vessels 200 will then contain the desired mixture.

[0108] The user will then put the lid on each cocktail shaker vessel 200 and secure it.

[0109] The agitation mechanism might then activate automatically, or agitation might be initiated via a user operated switch. The duration of agitation might be preset, or adjustable by the user via a control setting.

[0110] Once agitation is complete, the user can remove each cocktail shaker vessel 200, remove the lid from each vessel, and pour their drinks.

[0111] While not shown, it is also envisaged that the drink mixing machine 101 would be provided with a water tank, pump and distribution arrangement which would facilitate rinsing of the machine between operations. It is envisaged that the water tank and pump would be provided within the body of the machine, adjacent the agitating mechanism, and the distribution arrangement would beprovided with a plurality of nozzles fluidly connected to the pump and configured to rinse components such as the piercers, chutes and funnel structure, in order to remove any liquid residue from preceding operations.

[0112] Referring now to Figures 33 to 39, there is illustrated a drink mixing machine 301 according to a further aspect of this disclosure. The drink mixing machine 301 is also configured to mix two drinks from the contents of a plurality of liquid filled pods or capsules. The drink mixing machine 301 is also configured to simultaneously pierce the plurality of pods, as will be described in further detail below.

[0113] It can be seen that the drink mixing machine 301 represents an improvement to the drink mixing machine 101 of Figures 26 through 32. When compared with the above-described drink mixing machine, it can be seen that a pod receiving structure 320 is also provided on a front angled face 307 of the overhang 312 where the front angled face 307 is further reclined (55 degrees from horizontal, compared to 75 degrees from horizontal) in order to better facilitate draining of the pierced pods, and to reduce the overall height of the machine 301. It will of course be appreciated that alternate angles to those shown and described are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0114] It can also be seen that the pod receiving structure 320 has been modified. For each receptacle 322 there is a curved lip 323 configured to engage with a flange provided on each pod, as well as a curved protrusion 325 also configured to engage with the flange, so as to retain the pod in the receptacle 322. Each receptacle 322 is also provided with an aperture 321 located adjacent to the lip 323, through which a pod piercer 330 is configured to extend, and through which liquid is able to flow from a pierced pod.

[0115] It can also be seen that the forward extending ledge 308 extends out further so as to more centrally align the outlet nozzles 328 with the grill 310.

[0116] With reference to Figure 37, it can again be seen that the receiving structure 320 is removably attached to the front angled face 307 of the overhang 312 by virtue of a pair of receiving slots 309 provided on the front angled face 307. The receiving structure 320 is provided with a plurality of removable securing pins 426 which extend through the receiving structure 320 and into apertures 410 provided in the front angled face 307 of the body of the machine 301, the securing pins 426 being configured to prevent movement of the receiving structure 320 during the pod piercing process.

[0117] With reference to Figure 38, it can be seen that the receiving structure 320 is positioned with respect to the funnel structure 329 such that liquid exiting the upper row of apertures 321 is able to flow directly into the funnel structure 329, and where the lower row of apertures 321 are provided withrespective lower chutes 324 so as to facilitate flow of liquid from the lower row of apertures 321 into the funnel structure 329.

[0118] With reference again to Figures 38 and 39, it can be seen that the shape of the piercers 331 and the tips 333 have been updated to be sharper, which helps reduce the surface area of each piercer 331, and therefore improves piercer efficiency.

[0119] With reference to Figures 38 and 39, it can be seen that the drink mixing machine 301 is provided with a water tank 370, pump 373 and distribution arrangement 374 which facilitates rinsing of the machine 301 between operations. The water tank 370 and pump 373 are provided within the body of the machine 301, with a filler opening 371 and cap 372 formed in the body of the machine 301. The distribution arrangement is provided with a plurality of nozzles 375 fluidly connected to the pump 373 and configured to rinse components such as the piercers 331, chutes 324 and funnel structure 329, in order to remove any liquid residue from preceding operations.

[0120] While various examples of a drink mixing machine are shown and described, it will be appreciated that aspects of each machine may be incorporated in one another. For example, the first machine 1 may also be configmed to make two or more drinks, and conversely, the second machine 101 and third machine 301 may be configured to only make one drink.

[0121] Furthermore, while in the embodiments shown in Figures 26 through 39, there are a total of 12 receptacles formed out of an upper and a lower row or receptacles, it is envisaged that alternative embodiments having an alternate number of receptacles are also intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. For example, in an alternate embodiment, a drink mixing machine may instead be provided with a single row of receptacles (for example, a single row of 8 receptacles) as opposed to the two rows illustrated. It will be appreciated that by providing a drink mixing machine with a single row of receptacles that the resulting machine which will be wider, but substantially shorter, and with reduced internal complexity.

[0122] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0123] It will be understood that the terms “comprise” and “include” and any of their derivatives (e.g. comprises, comprising, includes, including) as used in this specification, and the claims that follow, is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which the term refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied.

[0124] In some cases, a single embodiment may, for succinctness and / or to assist in understanding the scope of the disclosure, combine multiple features. It is to be understood that in such a case, these multiple features may be provided separately (in separate embodiments), or in any other suitable combination. Alternatively, where separate features are described in separate embodiments, these separate features may be combined into a single embodiment unless otherwise stated or implied. This also applies to the claims which can be recombined in any combination. That is a claim may be amended to include a feature defined in any other claim. Further a phrase referring to “at least one of’ a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c.

[0125] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosure is not restricted in its use to the particular application or applications described. Neither is the present disclosure restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and / or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drink mixing machine configured to mix one or more drinks from the contents of a plurality of liquid filled pods or capsules, each of which contains a liquid ingredient, and which are fed to the machine and combined into one or more mixtures, the drink mixing machine further comprising one or more vessel supports, each configured to support a vessel in a position in which it receives a mixture, and wherein the or each vessel support depends from an agitating mechanism.

2. The drink mixing machine of claim 1, further comprising a head portion comprising a pod receiving structure, comprising a plurality of pod receptacles, where for each pod receptacle there is a pod piercer configured to pierce a respective pod and a chute formed to connect the pod receptacle to an outlet.

3. The drink mixing machine of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each pod piercer is fixedly positioned within each pod receptacle, wherein piercing of each pod is achieved by pushing the pod against the pod piercer.

4. The drink mixing machine of claim 3, wherein the pod receiving structure is in the form of a tray, wherein the tray comprises the outlet, wherein the tray is tilted toward the outlet.

5. The drink mixing machine of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each pod piercer comprises a plurality of blades arranged radially with their cutting edges uppermost and converging at an uppermost central point.

6. The drink mixing machine of claim 5, wherein each of the blades is substantially radially equispaced.

7. The drink mixing machine of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein one of the blades of each pod piercer extends in a downstream direction of the chute and / or in the direction of the outlet.

8. The drink mixing machine as in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein all of the pod receptacles are arranged into one or more rows, each row having its own chute, where the or each chute converges toward the liquid outlet.

9. The drink mixing machine of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each pod piercer is movably positioned with respect to each pod receptacle, where it is moveable between a retracted position, and an extended position, wherein the pod piercer extends into the receptacle in order to pierce its respective pod.

10. The drink mixing machine of claim 9, wherein each pod receptacle comprises a lip configured to engage with a flange provided on each pod.

11. The drink mixing machine of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein each of the pod piercers are connected to one or more common shafts, each shaft configured to rotate about an axis, wherein when the or each shaft is rotated, the pod piercers sweep in an arc between their retracted and extended positions.

12. The drink mixing machine of claim 11, wherein the one or more common shafts are actuated by a linkage arrangement manually operated by an external lever.

13. The drink mixing machine of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein each piercer has a curved body with a tip, such that as the piercer moves towards its extended position, the tip will first come into contact with and pierce the pod, followed by the curved body of the piercer moving through the pod, to create an enlarged opening for liquid to drain from the pod.

14. The drink mixing machine as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine comprises a base, a body and a head, where the receiving structure is positioned with respect to the head, and the agitating mechanism is incorporated into the body of the machine.

15. The drink mixing machine of claim 14, wherein the base of the machine comprises a forward extending ledge and the head comprises an overhang which extends over the ledge.

16. The drink mixing machine as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vessel support is configured to support the or each vessel in a position in which the or each vessel receives liquid from a corresponding outlet.

17. The drink machine as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the agitating mechanism comprises a shaking mechanism.

18. The drink mixing machine as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the agitating mechanism is configured to shake the or each vessel support up and down.

19. A method for using the drink mixing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of choosing one or more desired drinks and then selecting a plurality of pods, where each pod contains one of the liquid ingredients of the desired one or more drinks, positioning one or more open cocktail mixers in the or each vessel support, and inserting each pod into a pod receptacle and piercing each of these pods with their respective piercers.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising the further step of putting a lid on the or each cocktail mixer vessel and securing it, and then activating the agitation mechanism.

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