Juicer control system having weight sensor mounted therein, and control method therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a juicer control system having a weight sensor mounted therein, and a control method therefor. The juicer control system having a weight sensor mounted therein, according to the present invention, comprises: a juicer that can squeeze an input material so as to extract juice from the material, and discharge juice residue; a weight detection unit capable of measuring, in real time, the weight of the material put into the juicer; and a control unit having a built-in automatic completion algorithm for performing a weight measurement step of measuring, in real time, the weight of the material put into the juicer by using the weight detection unit, and a weight monitoring step of monitoring the amount of change in a weight measurement value measured by the weight detection unit after the start of juicing, and determining, on the basis of the change amount of the weight measurement value, whether the juicing is complete, wherein the automatic completion algorithm further includes: a current measurement step of measuring the drive current of a motor according to the juicing of the material by using a current detection unit; and a current monitoring step of monitoring the amount of change of a current measurement value measured through the current detection unit after the start of juicing, and determining, on the basis of the change amount of the current measurement value, whether the juicing is complete.

Description

Juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor and control method thereof

[0001] The present invention relates to a juicer control system and control method equipped with a weight sensor, and more specifically, to a juicer control system and control method equipped with a weight sensor capable of automatically detecting the end of juicing by monitoring weight changes following the discharge of juice residue during the juicing process.

[0002] As the number of people making and consuming green juice or regular juice at home for health reasons increases, many devices are being introduced that allow for the simple extraction of juice from vegetables or fruits at home.

[0003] Conventionally, juicers produced juice by placing ingredients into an input port, crushing them with high-speed rotating blades, and separating them using a centrifugal method. However, the high-speed crushing process could destroy the ingredients' inherent flavors and nutrients. Furthermore, it was difficult to make green juice from vegetables consisting of stems or leaves, and not only was it difficult to make juice from viscous fruits like kiwis or strawberries, but it was also completely impossible to produce soy milk from soybeans.

[0004] In order to solve such problems, Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0793852, filed and registered by the present applicant, has a method of compressing and crushing materials between a mesh drum with mesh holes and a screw rotating at a low speed, and has the effect of making soy milk by utilizing the principle of grinding soybeans as if with a millstone and pressing them, and making juice by grating high-viscosity fruits such as tomatoes, kiwis, and strawberries and pressing them, thereby solving the problems of the conventional juicer as described above.

[0005] However, when using such a juicer, the user must manually operate a button to stop the operation after juicing is finished, and there is a problem in that the screw continues to spin idly if the user does not press the stop button.

[0006] There are also juicers equipped with a timer function for a set period, but they operate only for a pre-set time without considering the juicing status, so there is a problem where the operation stops before juicing is completed or continues to run idle for the timer set time even after juicing is completed.

[0007] The objective of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems by providing a juicer control system and a control method equipped with a weight sensor that can automatically detect the end of juicing by monitoring weight changes associated with the discharge of juice residue during the juicing process.

[0008] In addition, the invention provides a juicer control system and control method equipped with a weight sensor that can automatically detect the end-of-juice state by monitoring weight changes and the driving load amount resulting from juicing materials in real time, thereby enabling more precise detection of the end-of-juice state according to the juicing state of the materials.

[0009] Another objective is to provide a juicer control system and control method equipped with a weight sensor that can provide the user with consistent taste and nutrients during juicing by guiding the selection of a juicing menu according to a pre-specified recipe and accurately inputting the type and weight of ingredients according to the selected menu.

[0010] The above objective is achieved by a juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, comprising, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a juicer capable of compressing input materials to extract juice from materials and discharging juice residue; a weight sensing unit capable of measuring the weight of materials input into the juicer in real time; and a control unit having an automatic termination algorithm that performs a weight measurement step of measuring the weight of materials input into the juicer in real time using the weight sensing unit, and a weight monitoring step of monitoring the amount of change in the weight measurement value measured through the weight sensing unit after the start of juicing and determining whether to terminate juicing based on the amount of change in the weight measurement value.

[0011] Here, the weight monitoring step preferably compares the amount of change in the weight measurement of the material, based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time, with a first reference value, and determines that juicing should continue if the amount of change in the weight measurement is less than or equal to the first reference value, and determines that juicing should be terminated if the amount of change in the weight measurement exceeds the first reference value.

[0012] In addition, the weight monitoring step is preferably a second reference value for comparing the amount of change in the weight of the material, based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time, with the second reference value, and determining that the extraction is to continue if the amount of change in the weight measurement is greater than or equal to the second reference value, and determining that the extraction is to end if the amount of change in the weight measurement is less than the second reference value.

[0013] In addition, if it is determined in the weight monitoring step above that juicing should continue, it is desirable to reset the timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing the material, and if it is determined that juicing should end, it is desirable to continue juicing until the set time of the timer is reached and then end the juicing.

[0014] In addition, the above automatic termination algorithm preferably further includes a current measurement step for measuring the driving current of a motor according to the material juicing using a current sensing unit; and a current monitoring step for monitoring the amount of change in the current measurement value measured through the current sensing unit after the start of juicing and determining whether to terminate the juicing based on the amount of change in the current measurement value.

[0015] In addition, the current monitoring step compares the amount of change in the current measurement value of the juicer, based on the difference between the current measurement value and the past current measurement value prior to the second time, with a third reference value, and it is preferable to determine that the extraction is continued if the amount of change in the current measurement value is greater than or equal to the third reference value, and to determine that the extraction is terminated if the amount of change in the current measurement value is less than the third reference value.

[0016] In addition, if it is determined in the current monitoring step that juicing is to continue, it is desirable to reset the timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing the material, and if it is determined that juicing is to end, it is desirable to continue juicing until the set time of the timer is reached and then end the juicing.

[0017] Additionally, it is preferable to further include an input unit capable of selecting a juicing menu; and a display unit capable of displaying the material to be fed into the juicer, the amount fed, and the weight of the fed material measured through the weight sensing unit, wherein the control unit further includes a recipe menu operation algorithm capable of selecting a juicing menu, guiding the name and weight of the material to be fed according to the selected menu, and controlling the juicing operation according to the recipe of the selected menu when the input of the material is completed.

[0018] In addition, the recipe menu operation algorithm preferably includes a menu selection step of selecting a juicing menu through an input unit; a material input guidance step of guiding the materials and their input amounts to be fed into the juicer according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu through a display unit, and measuring the weight of the input materials with a weight detection unit and displaying it in real time through a display unit; a juicing step of operating the juicer to extract the materials after the input of materials according to the recipe is completed; and a juicing termination determination step of determining whether to terminate the juicing based on the juicing status of the materials.

[0019] In addition, the above ingredient input guidance step provides the names and input amounts of multiple different ingredients in sequence according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu, and it is desirable to measure the input weight of the ingredient in the corresponding sequence using a weight sensor and simultaneously display the measured weight value in real time through a display unit.

[0020] In addition, the above material input guidance step preferably guides the input of the next material when the weight of the material for the corresponding sequence, measured by the weight sensor, satisfies the guided input amount.

[0021] In addition, the above-mentioned juicing termination judgment step preferably terminates the juicing when a preset time has elapsed after entering the juicing step according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu.

[0022] Furthermore, the above objective is also achieved, according to a second aspect of the present invention, by a method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, comprising an automatic termination algorithm capable of determining whether to terminate juicing based on the juicing state of the material, wherein the automatic termination algorithm comprises: a weight measurement step of measuring the weight of the material fed into the juicer in real time using a weight detection unit; and a weight monitoring step of monitoring the amount of change in the weight measurement value measured through the weight detection unit after the start of juicing, and determining whether to terminate juicing based on the amount of change in the weight measurement value.

[0023] Here, the weight monitoring step preferably compares the amount of change in the weight measurement of the material, based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time, with a first reference value, and determines that juicing should continue if the amount of change in the weight measurement is less than or equal to the first reference value, and determines that juicing should be terminated if the amount of change in the weight measurement exceeds the first reference value.

[0024] In addition, the weight monitoring step is preferably a second reference value for comparing the amount of change in the weight of the material, based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time, with the second reference value, and determining that the extraction is to continue if the amount of change in the weight measurement is greater than or equal to the second reference value, and determining that the extraction is to end if the amount of change in the weight measurement is less than the second reference value.

[0025] In addition, if it is determined in the weight monitoring step above that juicing should continue, it is desirable to reset the timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing the material, and if it is determined that juicing should end, it is desirable to continue juicing until the set time of the timer is reached and then end the juicing.

[0026] In addition, the above automatic termination algorithm preferably further includes: a current measurement step for measuring the driving current of a motor according to the material extraction using a current sensing unit; a current monitoring step for monitoring the amount of change in the current measurement value measured through the current sensing unit after the start of extraction; and a current monitoring step for determining whether to terminate extraction based on the amount of change in the current measurement value due to the driving load of the motor according to the material extraction.

[0027] In addition, the current monitoring step compares the amount of change in the current measurement value of the juicer, based on the difference between the current measurement value and the past current measurement value prior to the second time, with a third reference value, and it is preferable to determine that the extraction is continued if the amount of change in the current measurement value is greater than or equal to the third reference value, and to determine that the extraction is terminated if the amount of change in the current measurement value is less than the third reference value.

[0028] In addition, if it is determined in the current monitoring step that juicing is to continue, it is desirable to reset the timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing the material, and if it is determined that juicing is to end, it is desirable to continue juicing until the set time of the timer is reached and then end the juicing.

[0029] In addition, it is desirable to further include a recipe menu operation algorithm that guides the selection of a juicing menu, the names and weights of ingredients to be added according to the selected menu, and controls the juicing operation according to the recipe of the selected menu once the ingredient addition is complete.

[0030] In addition, the recipe menu operation algorithm preferably includes a menu selection step of selecting a juicing menu through an input unit; a material input guidance step of guiding the materials and input amounts to be input into the juicer according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu through a display unit, and measuring the weight of the input materials with a weight detection unit and displaying it in real time through a display unit; a juicing step of operating the juicer to extract the materials after the input of materials according to the recipe is completed; and a juicing termination determination step of determining whether to terminate the juicing based on the juicing status of the materials.

[0031] In addition, the above ingredient input guidance step provides the names and input amounts of multiple different ingredients in sequence according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu, and it is desirable to measure the input weight of the ingredient in the corresponding sequence using a weight sensor and simultaneously display the measured weight value in real time through a display unit.

[0032] In addition, the above material input guidance step preferably guides the input of the next material in sequence when the weight of the material in the corresponding sequence, measured by the weight sensor, satisfies the guided input amount.

[0033] In addition, the above-mentioned juicing termination judgment step preferably terminates the juicing when a preset time has elapsed after entering the juicing step according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu.

[0034] According to the juicer control system and control method equipped with a weight sensor of the present invention as described above, the state of completion of juicing can be automatically detected by monitoring the weight change resulting from the discharge of juice residue during the juicing process, so that the user can complete the juicing without pressing a stop button. This prevents unnecessary motor operation and further ensures the safety and efficiency of using the juicer.

[0035] In addition, by monitoring weight changes and the driving load resulting from juicing in real time, the juicing end state can be automatically detected, allowing for more precise detection of the juicing end state based on the juicing status of the material.

[0036] In addition, users can select a juicing menu based on a pre-specified recipe, and by guiding the accurate input of the type and weight of ingredients according to the selected menu, consistent taste and nutrients can be provided to the user during juicing.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a juicer equipped with a weight sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0038] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of FIG. 1,

[0039] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an automatic termination algorithm of a juicer control method equipped with a weight sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recipe menu operation algorithm of a juicer control method equipped with a weight sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the recipe menu operation UI of a juicer control method equipped with a weight sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the contents described in the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited or restricted by the exemplary embodiments. Identical reference numerals in each drawing indicate components that perform substantially the same function.

[0044] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. Such terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. The terms used in this application are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0045] The terms used in this invention have been selected based on currently widely used general terms, taking into account their functions within the invention; however, these terms may vary depending on the intent of those skilled in the art, case law, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Additionally, in specific cases, terms have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the relevant description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in this invention must be defined not merely by their names, but based on their meanings and the overall content of the invention.

[0046] When a part of a specification is described as "including" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a juicer to which a juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention can be applied, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] As illustrated in the drawing above, a juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention can be broadly divided into a main body (10) having a built-in motor unit (12) and a drum housing (20) that is detachably assembled to the upper side of the main body (10) and receives driving force from the motor unit (12) to extract juice from the input material.

[0049] The main body (10) secures the drum housing (20) and receives external power to drive the internal motor unit (12), thereby providing a driving force to rotate the screw inside the drum housing (20).

[0050] The drum housing (20) may be configured to include a hopper, a juicing drum, a juice separation filter, and a screw. The drum housing (20) may be seated on the main body (10) with the lower juicing drum and the upper hopper connected, and operates by receiving power from a drive shaft protruding from the bottom surface of the upper part of the main body (10). That is, by receiving rotational force from the drive shaft, the screw inside the juicing drum and the cutting part inside the hopper are rotated to cut and compress the input juicing material to produce juice, and the produced juice and residue are separated and discharged.

[0051] Specifically, the main body (10) may include a power supply unit (11), a motor unit (12), a display unit (13), an input unit (14), a current detection unit (15), a weight detection unit (16), and a control unit (17) as shown in FIG. 3.

[0052] The above power supply unit (11) is for supplying power required for the main body (10) and may be in the form of a power cable connected to the main body (10) and to which commercial power is applied.

[0053] The above motor unit (12) can use an AC motor, but is not limited to this and can be implemented with various motors such as AC, BLDC, and DC motors.

[0054] The above input unit (14) is for selecting a juicing menu, juicing volume, etc., and can be formed in the form of a button, dial, touchpad, etc. that can be operated by the user.

[0055] The above display unit (13) may be composed of a display element capable of displaying various information to the user, such as a juicing menu, juicing capacity, name of the material to be input, weight of the material to be input, and juicing operation time. In addition, it is also possible to configure it to provide related information in the form of light or sound.

[0056] The above current sensing unit (15) is for measuring the amount of current in real time according to the material extraction of the motor unit (12), and may include a CT (Current Trans) or a current sensor (Current IC).

[0057] The weight sensing unit (16) is for measuring the weight of the juice material fed into the drum housing (20) in real time, and may include a plurality of weight sensors (load cells) installed on the bottom surface of the main body (10) and in contact with the bottom surface.

[0058] The above control unit (17) incorporates an automatic termination algorithm and a recipe menu operation algorithm.

[0059] For example, a juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor according to the present embodiment can operate in a general mode in which a user can arbitrarily input desired juicing ingredients, and in a recipe mode in which the type and weight of juicing ingredients determined for each juicing ingredient recipe can be input. The general mode and the recipe mode can be selected by the user.

[0060] The above automatic termination algorithm monitors in real time the weight change resulting from the discharge of the juice residue and the driving load of the motor unit (12) resulting from the juicing of the material through the current detection unit (15) and the weight detection unit (16) in general mode or recipe mode, and based on this, determines whether to terminate the juicing operation according to the juicing state of the material. Therefore, the juicing operation can be terminated without the user pressing a stop button to terminate the juicing, thereby preventing unnecessary operation of the motor unit (12) and further ensuring the safety and efficiency of the juicer.

[0061] The above recipe menu operation algorithm provides a recipe menu operation UI to the user through the display unit (13) to guide the selection of the juicing menu and juicing volume, guides the name and amount of ingredients to be added according to the selected menu and volume, and controls the operation of the drive unit to extract the ingredients added according to the selected menu and volume. Therefore, the type and weight of ingredients can be accurately added according to the pre-specified recipe for each selected juicing menu, enabling extraction at an accurate ratio, thereby providing the user with a consistent taste and nutrients.

[0062] A more detailed and specific control method for the automatic termination algorithm and recipe menu operation algorithm described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0063] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an automatic termination algorithm of a juicer control method equipped with a weight sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recipe menu operation algorithm of a juicer control method equipped with a weight sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a recipe menu operation UI according to the recipe menu operation algorithm of a juicer control method equipped with a weight sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] First, the automatic termination algorithm (S100) includes, as shown in FIG. 4, a material input stabilization step (S101), a weight measurement step (S102), a current measurement step (S103), a current monitoring step (S104), a weight monitoring step (S105), a timer initialization step (S106), a timer setting time verification step (S107), and a juicing termination guidance step (S108).

[0065] The above material input stabilization step (S101) is intended to secure time for the material fed into the hopper after the juicing drive starts to be fed into the screw inside the drum. If weight and current are measured immediately after the material is fed into the hopper, there is a high possibility that the current monitoring step (S104) and weight monitoring step (S105) will incorrectly determine that the process has ended automatically. Therefore, current and weight are not measured for approximately 10 seconds to allow the material fed into the hopper to be fed into the screw inside the drum. Here, the measurement waiting time specified as 10 seconds can be changed depending on the juicing method or the characteristics of the material.

[0066] The above weight measurement step (S102) measures the weight of the material fed into the juicer in real time using the weight sensing unit (16).

[0067] The above current measurement step (S103) measures the driving current of the motor unit (12) in real time according to the material extraction using the current detection unit (15).

[0068] The above current monitoring step (S104) monitors the amount of change in the current measurement value measured through the current detection unit (15) after the start of juicing, and can determine whether to end juicing based on the amount of change in the current measurement value.

[0069] Specifically, in the current monitoring step (S104), the amount of change in the current measurement value of the juicer, based on the difference between the current measurement value and the past current measurement value prior to the second time (-1 second), is compared with a third reference value. If the amount of change in the current measurement value is 6 or more, which is the third reference value, it is determined that the driving load of the motor unit (12) is large because the extraction is in progress. If the amount of change in the current measurement value is less than 6, which is the third reference value, it is determined that the driving load of the motor unit (12) is not large because there is no material in the screw and the extraction is completed. Here, the third reference value '6' represents the microcomputer AD conversion value, which can be changed as needed and can also be changed according to the microcomputer AD conversion method.

[0070] The above weight monitoring step (S105) monitors the amount of change in the weight measurement value measured through the weight detection unit (16) after the start of juicing, and determines whether to end juicing based on the amount of change in the weight measurement value.

[0071] Specifically, in the weight monitoring step (S105), the amount of change in the weight measurement of the material based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time (-6 seconds) can be compared with the first reference value (-3g or less) and the second reference value (+20g).

[0072] Here, the first reference value is for detecting weight loss caused by the discharge of juice residue. If the amount of change in the weight measurement value during the first time period is less than or equal to -3g, which is set as the first reference value, for example -5g, -8g, etc., it is determined that the juice is in progress, and if it exceeds the first reference value, for example 0g, -1g, etc., it is determined that the juice is completed.

[0073] In addition, the second reference value is intended to detect the additional input of materials. If the amount of change in the weight measurement during the first time is greater than or equal to the second reference value, it is determined that the extraction is not completed because the weight is increasing due to the additional input of new materials, and if it is less than the second reference value, it is determined that no new materials are additionally input.

[0074] The timer initialization step (S106) is intended to initialize a timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing the material, and is performed when it is determined that juicing is in progress during the current monitoring step (S104) or the weight monitoring step (S105). After this timer initialization step (S106), the process returns to the weight measurement step (S102).

[0075] The above timer setting time checking step (S107) is for checking whether the timer has reached a preset setting time (20 seconds). If the timer has not exceeded the setting time, the process moves to the weight measurement step (S102) to continue juicing, and if the timer has exceeded the setting time, the process moves to the automatic stop alarm step. Here, the 20 seconds set as the setting time can be changed depending on the juicing method and the characteristics of the material.

[0076] The above juicing end guidance step (S108) is intended to provide a juicing end alarm to the user, and may output a guidance screen through the display unit (13) or output a sound through a separate buzzer, etc.

[0077] After this juicing termination guidance step (S108), the juicing drive is stopped and the juicing is terminated.

[0078]

[0079] Next, the recipe menu operation algorithm (S200) includes a menu selection step (S210), a capacity selection step (S220), an ingredient input guidance step (S230), a juicing step (S240), and a juicing end determination step (S250), as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0080] The above recipe menu operation algorithm (S200) can provide a recipe menu operation UI to the user at each step through the display unit (13) as shown in FIG. 6.

[0081] The recipe menu operation algorithm (S200) can be performed when a recipe mode is selected by the user.

[0082] The above menu selection step (S210) allows selecting any one of a plurality of pre-set juicing menus, and displays a plurality of juicing menus on the display unit (13) to guide the user in selecting the juicing menu.

[0083] The above capacity selection step (S220) can select any one of a plurality of pre-set juicing capacities, and displays a plurality of juicing capacities on the display unit (13) to guide the user in selecting the juicing capacities.

[0084] After receiving guidance on the juicing menu and juicing volume displayed through the display unit (13) in the menu selection step (S210) and volume selection step (S220), the user can select the desired juicing menu and juicing volume by operating the input unit (14).

[0085] In this embodiment, the juicing menu is set to ABC juice and CCA juice, and the juicing volume is set to 200ml and 400ml, respectively, as an example. Here, ABC juice is made by juicing apples, beets, and carrots, and CCA juice is made by juicing carrots, cabbage, and apples.

[0086] Accordingly, in the menu selection step (S210), ABC juice and CCA juice, which are juice menus, are displayed through the display unit (13) for selecting the juice menu, and whether ABC juice or CCA juice is selected is confirmed through the input unit (14).

[0087] In the volume selection step (S220) performed after the selection of the juicing menu is completed, the juicing volumes of 200ml and 400ml are displayed respectively through the display unit (13) for juicing volume selection, and the selection of either 200ml or 400ml of the juicing volume is confirmed through the input unit (14).

[0088] The above material input guidance step (S230) guides the materials to be input into the juicer and the amount to be input according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu through the display unit (13), and measures the weight of the materials to be input using the weight detection unit (16) and displays it in real time through the display unit (13).

[0089] Specifically, in the material input guidance step (S230), the weight detection unit (16) is activated to start weight measurement, and the names and weights of the materials to be input according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu and juicing volume are displayed on the display unit (13) in the order of input, and it is checked whether the weight of the materials input by the user meets the target weight.

[0090] For example, if the user selects ABC juice and 200ml as the juicing menu and juicing volume, a message to input 200g of apple is displayed through the display unit (13), and the weight of the input material is measured through the weight detection unit (16), and the measured weight value is displayed in real time through the display unit (13), thereby guiding the input of the material in a precise amount.

[0091] Next, if the weight measurement of the corresponding ingredient in sequence, measured through the weight detection unit (16), satisfies the target weight value indicated through the display unit (13), the input of the next ingredient in sequence is indicated. That is, after the input of 200g of apple is confirmed, the input of 200g of beet and 200g of carrot is indicated in sequence in the same manner as above, and the weight measurement of the ingredients being input is indicated, and at the same time, the weight measurement of the input ingredients is checked to see if it satisfies the target weight value, thereby guiding the quantitative input of each ingredient.

[0092] The above juicing step (S240) starts juicing by driving the juicer and simultaneously activates the timer.

[0093] The above juicing termination determination step (S250) checks the operating time of the timer after entering the juicing step (S240) according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu, and terminates the juicing when the preset juicing time has elapsed.

[0094] For example, the extraction time for 200ml of ABC juice can be set to 1 minute 40 seconds, the extraction time for 400ml of ABC juice to 3 minutes 20 seconds, the extraction time for 200ml of CCA juice to 1 minute 50 seconds, and the extraction time for 400ml of CCA juice to 3 minutes 40 seconds, and these extraction times can be changed as needed.

[0095] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, although it was described that the extraction is terminated when the timer's operating time in the extraction termination judgment step (S250) exceeds a preset extraction time, it would also be possible to set the extraction to automatically terminate while monitoring the weight change and current change using an automatic termination algorithm (S100).

[0096]

[0097] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but may be implemented in various forms of embodiments within the scope of the appended claims. It is deemed that the scope of the claims of the present invention includes various modifications that are possible by anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the invention pertains, without departing from the essence of the invention claimed in the claims.

Claims

1. A juicer capable of compressing input materials to extract juice from them and discharging the pulp; A weight sensing unit capable of measuring the weight of materials fed into a juicer in real time; and A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, comprising a control unit having an automatic termination algorithm that performs a weight measurement step of measuring the weight of a material fed into the juicer in real time using a weight sensing unit, and a weight monitoring step of monitoring the amount of change in the weight measurement value measured through the weight sensing unit after the start of juicing and determining whether to terminate juicing based on the amount of change in the weight measurement value.

2. In Paragraph 1, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the weight monitoring step compares the amount of change in the weight measurement of a material, based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time, with a first reference value, and determines that juicing is to continue if the amount of change in the weight measurement is less than or equal to the first reference value, and determines that juicing is to be terminated if the amount of change in the weight measurement exceeds the first reference value.

3. In Paragraph 2, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the weight monitoring step compares the amount of change in the weight measurement of a material, based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time, with a second reference value, and determines that juicing is to continue if the amount of change in the weight measurement is greater than or equal to the second reference value, and determines that juicing is to be terminated if the amount of change in the weight measurement is less than the second reference value.

4. In Paragraph 2 or 3, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized by initializing a timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing of the material when it is determined in the weight monitoring step to continue juicing, and continuing juicing until the set time of the timer is reached when it is determined to end juicing, and then ending juicing.

5. In Paragraph 1, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above automatic termination algorithm further includes: a current measurement step for measuring the driving current of a motor according to the material extraction using a current detection unit; and a current monitoring step for monitoring the amount of change in the current measurement value measured through the current detection unit after the start of extraction and determining whether to terminate the extraction based on the amount of change in the current measurement value.

6. In Paragraph 5, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above current monitoring step compares the amount of change in the current measurement value of the juicer, based on the difference between the current measurement value and the past current measurement value prior to the second time, with a third reference value, and determines that juicing is to continue if the amount of change in the current measurement value is greater than or equal to the third reference value, and determines that juicing is to be terminated if the amount of change in the current measurement value is less than the third reference value.

7. In Paragraph 6, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized by initializing a timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing the material when it is determined in the current monitoring step that juicing is to continue, and continuing juicing until the set time of the timer is reached when it is determined that juicing is to end, and then ending the juicing.

8. In any one of Paragraphs 1 through 3 and Paragraphs 5 through 7, Input section for selecting a juicing menu; and It further includes a display unit capable of displaying the material to be fed into the juicer, the amount fed, and the weight of the fed material measured through the weight sensing unit, The above control unit is a juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor that further includes a recipe menu operation algorithm capable of selecting a juicing menu, guiding the name and weight of the ingredients to be input according to the selected menu, and controlling the juicing operation according to the recipe of the selected menu when the input of ingredients is completed.

9. In Paragraph 8, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized by the above recipe menu operation algorithm including a menu selection step for selecting a juicer menu through an input unit, a material input guidance step for guiding the material and amount to be input into the juicer according to the recipe of the selected juicer menu through a display unit, and measuring the weight of the input material with a weight detection unit and displaying it in real time through a display unit, a juicer operation step for operating the juicer to extract the material after the input of the material according to the recipe is completed, and a juicer termination determination step for determining whether to terminate the juicer based on the juicer's extraction status.

10. In Paragraph 9, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above-mentioned ingredient input guidance step sequentially guides the names and input amounts of multiple different ingredients according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu, while simultaneously measuring the input weight of the ingredient in the corresponding sequence using a weight detection unit and displaying the measured weight value in real time through a display unit.

11. In Paragraph 9, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above material input guidance step guides the input of the next material when the weight of the material in the corresponding sequence, measured by the weight detection unit, satisfies the guided input amount.

12. In Paragraph 9, A juicer control system equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above-mentioned juicing termination determination step terminates juicing when a preset time elapses after entering the juicing step according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu.

13. A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, comprising an automatic termination algorithm capable of determining whether to terminate juicing based on the juicing state of the material, The above automatic termination algorithm is A weight measurement step for measuring the weight of materials fed into a juicer in real time using a weight sensing unit; and A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, comprising a weight monitoring step of monitoring the amount of change in a weight measurement value measured through a weight detection unit after the start of juicing, and determining whether to end juicing based on the amount of change in the weight measurement value.

14. In Paragraph 13, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the weight monitoring step compares the amount of change in the weight measurement of a material, based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time, with a first reference value, and if the amount of change in the weight measurement is less than or equal to the first reference value, it is determined that the juicing is to continue, and if the amount of change in the weight measurement exceeds the first reference value, it is determined that the juicing is to be terminated.

15. In Paragraph 14, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the weight monitoring step compares the amount of change in the weight measurement of a material, based on the difference between the current weight measurement and the past weight measurement prior to the first time, with a second reference value, and determines that juicing is to continue if the amount of change in the weight measurement is greater than or equal to the second reference value, and determines that juicing is to be terminated if the amount of change in the weight measurement is less than the second reference value.

16. In Paragraph 14 or Paragraph 15, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized by initializing a timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing the material when it is determined in the weight monitoring step to continue juicing, and continuing juicing until the set time of the timer is reached when it is determined to end juicing.

17. In Paragraph 13, The above automatic termination algorithm further comprises: a current measurement step for measuring the driving current of a motor according to the material extraction using a current detection unit; a current monitoring step for monitoring the amount of change in the current measurement value measured through the current detection unit after the start of extraction; and a current monitoring step for determining whether to terminate extraction based on the amount of change in the current measurement value due to the driving load of the motor according to the material extraction, wherein the method of controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor.

18. In Paragraph 17, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above-mentioned current monitoring step compares the amount of change in the current measurement value of the juicer, based on the difference between the current measurement value and the past current measurement value prior to the second time, with a third reference value, and determines that juicing is to continue if the amount of change in the current measurement value is greater than or equal to the third reference value, and determines that juicing is to be terminated if the amount of change in the current measurement value is less than the third reference value.

19. In Paragraph 18, In the above current monitoring step If it is determined that juicing is to continue, the timer that operates simultaneously with the start of juicing the material is reset, and A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized by continuing the juicing until the set time of the timer is reached when it is determined that the juicing is to be terminated, and then terminating the juicing.

20. In any one of Paragraphs 13 through 15 and Paragraphs 17 through 19, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, further comprising a recipe menu operation algorithm that selects a juicing menu, guides the name and weight of the ingredients to be input according to the selected menu, and controls the juicing operation according to the recipe of the selected menu once the input of ingredients is complete.

21. In Paragraph 20, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above recipe menu operation algorithm includes: a menu selection step for selecting a juicing menu through an input unit; a material input guidance step for guiding the material and amount to be input into the juicer according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu through a display unit, and measuring the weight of the input material with a weight detection unit and displaying it in real time through a display unit; a juicing step for operating the juicer to extract the material after the input of the material according to the recipe is completed; and a juicing termination determination step for determining whether to terminate the juicing based on the juicing status of the material.

22. In Paragraph 21, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above-mentioned ingredient input guidance step provides the names and input amounts of multiple different ingredients in sequence according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu, while simultaneously measuring the weight of the ingredient input in the corresponding sequence using a weight detection unit and displaying the measured weight value in real time through a display unit.

23. In Paragraph 21, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above-mentioned material input guidance step guides the input of the next material when the weight of the material in the corresponding sequence, measured by the weight sensor, satisfies the guided input amount.

24. In Paragraph 21, A method for controlling a juicer equipped with a weight sensor, characterized in that the above-mentioned juicing termination determination step terminates juicing when a preset time elapses after entering the juicing step according to the recipe of the selected juicing menu.

Images