WO2020221270A1

WO2020221270A1 - Liquid-powder mixing system for preparing beverages

Info

Publication number: WO2020221270A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/087654
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chi Leung LAW
Original assignee: Law Chi Leung
Priority date: 2019-05-02
Filing date: 2020-04-29
Publication date: 2020-11-05

Abstract

An automated liquid-powder mixing system for preparing beverages. The system is able to mix different beverage liquids and beverage powders together to produce beverages with different flavors in a fully automatic approach. The amount of different beverage liquids and powders used for producing the beverage can be precisely controlled. As the mixing of different beverage powders into the beverage liquids is simultaneously performed during the dispensing of different beverage powders into the mixing tank (110), the system has a self-cleaning function to clean the mixing tank (110) by itself to avoid contamination of a next beverage to be produced.

Description

LIQUID-POWDER MIXING SYSTEM FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES

TECHINCAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a liquid-powder mixing system for preparing beverages.

BACKGROUND

Currently, handmade beverage shops are getting more popular. Most of the beverages are produced by mixing different beverage liquids and beverage powders together, e.g., mixing creamer powder with black tea to create milk tea, mixing matcha powder and creamer to create matcha latte, etc. These beverages are able to provide customers with many choices of flavor to enhance the consumer experience.

Although the process of producing these beverages is repetitive, such process may become complex and time-consuming when the mixing is involved with a lot of combinations. In some cases, an operator may mix the beverage liquids and powders with wrong combinations during this repetitive process, thereby deteriorating the tastes of the beverages. Moreover, it is difficult for an operator to precisely control the amount of each beverage liquids and powders such that a good quality control cannot be guaranteed. This ultimately affects the consumer experience. The labor cost is also an important concern in this business.

A need therefore exists for a new liquid-powder mixing system for preparing beverages that eliminates or at least diminishes the disadvantages and problems described above.

SUMMARY

Provided herein is a liquid-powder mixing system for preparing a beverage, the beverage being formed by mixing one or more selected beverage liquids and one or more selected beverage powders based on a beverage recipe, the one or more selected beverage liquids being selected from one or more selectable beverage liquids, the one or more beverage powders being selected from a plurality of selectable beverage powders, the liquid-powder mixing system comprising: a mixing tank having an opening on top of the mixing tank; a mixing component used for stirring and mixing the one or more selected beverage liquids and the one or more selected beverage powders in the mixing tank thereby forming the beverage; a liquid dispensing station comprising one or more beverage liquid dispensers and having a liquid dispensing position, each beverage liquid dispenser being used for storing a respective selectable beverage liquid and dispensing the respective selectable beverage liquid into the mixing tank via the opening when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position; a powder dispensing station comprising a plurality of beverage powder dispensers and having a plurality of beverage powder collection positions, each beverage powder collection position corresponding to a respective beverage powder dispenser, each beverage powder dispenser being used for storing a respective selectable beverage powder and dispensing the respective selectable beverage powder into the mixing tank via the opening when the mixing tank is located at a respective beverage powder collection position; a tank transferring unit used for transferring the mixing tank and the mixing component to the liquid dispensing position and the plurality of beverage powder collection positions; a cleaning liquid dispenser used for storing a cleaning liquid and dispensing the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank via the opening when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position after the beverage in the mixing tank is transferred to a container such that a residue of the beverage in the mixing tank is mixed with the cleaning liquid thereby forming a residue mixture; and a liquid sucking unit configured to: transfer the beverage in the mixing tank into the container when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position; and remove the residue mixture in the mixing tank when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position thereby cleaning the mixing tank.

In certain embodiments, the liquid-powder mixing system further comprises a microprocessor configured to: control the mixing component to stir and mix the one or more selected beverage liquids and the one or more selected beverage powders in the mixing tank; control each of the one or more beverage liquid dispensers to dispense the respective selectable beverage liquid into the mixing tank; control each of the plurality of beverage powder dispensers to dispense the respective selectable beverage powder into the mixing tank; control the tank transferring unit to transfer the mixing tank and the mixing component to the liquid dispensing position and the plurality of beverage powder collection positions; control the cleaning liquid dispenser to dispense the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank; and control the liquid sucking unit to transfer the beverage in the mixing tank into the container and remove the residue mixture in the mixing tank.

In certain embodiments, the liquid-powder mixing system further comprises a microprocessor configured to: a) control a first beverage liquid dispenser selected from the one or more beverage liquid dispensers to dispense a first beverage liquid into the mixing tank when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position, the first beverage liquid being selected from the one or more selected beverage liquids; b) optionally repeating the step (a) until that all of the one or more selected beverage liquids are dispensed into the mixing tank; c) control the mixing component to stir the one or more selected beverage liquids in the mixing tank; d) control the tank transferring unit to transfer the mixing tank to a first beverage powder collection position corresponding to a first beverage powder dispenser selected from the plurality of beverage powder dispensers, the first beverage powder dispenser storing a first beverage powder being selected from the one or more selected beverage powders; e) control the first beverage powder dispenser to dispense the first beverage powder into the mixing tank to mix with the stirred one or more selected beverage liquids; f) optionally repeating the steps (d) and (e) until that all of the one or more selected beverage powders are dispensed into the mixing tank and mixed with the stirred one or more selected beverage liquids thereby forming the beverage; g) control the tank transferring unit to transfer the mixing tank back to the liquid dispensing position; h) control the liquid sucking unit to transfer the beverage into the container; i) control the cleaning liquid dispenser to dispense the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank; j) control the liquid sucking unit to remove the residue mixture; and k) control the mixing component to stop stirring; wherein the mixing component stirs the one or more selected beverage liquids in the mixing tank at the same time of dispensing the one or more selected beverage powders into the mixing tank such that a mixing time for thoroughly mixing the one or more selected beverage liquids with the one or more selected beverage powders is substantially decreased.

In certain embodiments, the mixing tank has a cylindrical shape or a conical shape.

In certain embodiments, the mixing component comprises a stirrer and a rotor, the stirrer being located below the mixing tank, the rotor being located inside the mixing tank, the stirrer being a magnetic stirrer, an electrical stirrer or a mechanical stirrer.

In certain embodiments, the tank transferring unit comprises a motor, a gear and a belt, the motor connecting to the gear, the gear connecting to the belt, the mixing tank connecting to the belt, the motor being used for driving the gear to move the belt for transferring the mixing tank.

In certain embodiments, each of the one or more beverage liquid dispensers comprises a beverage liquid tank and a beverage liquid releaser, the beverage liquid tank being used for storing the respective selectable beverage liquid, the beverage liquid releaser being used for dispensing the respective selectable beverage liquid.

In certain embodiments, the beverage liquid releaser comprises a peristaltic pump and a pipe, the pipe connecting to the beverage liquid tank and having an outlet, the outlet being located above the opening when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position, the peristaltic pump being used for pumping the respective selectable beverage liquid from the beverage liquid tank into the mixing tank via the pipe.

In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of beverage powder dispensers comprises a beverage powder box and a beverage powder releaser, the beverage powder box being used for storing the respective selectable beverage powder, the beverage powder releaser being used for dispensing the respective selectable beverage powder.

In certain embodiments, the beverage powder releaser comprises a motor and a screw connecting to the motor, the motor being used for driving the screw to push the respective selectable beverage powder from the beverage powder box into the mixing tank.

In certain embodiments, the cleaning liquid dispenser comprises a cleaning liquid tank and a cleaning liquid releaser, the cleaning liquid tank being used for storing the cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid releaser being used for dispensing the cleaning liquid.

In certain embodiments, the cleaning liquid releaser comprises a peristaltic pump and a pipe, the pipe connecting to the cleaning liquid tank and having an outlet, the outlet being located above the opening when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position, the peristaltic pump being used for pumping the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank into the mixing tank via the pipe.

In certain embodiments, the liquid sucking unit comprises a motor, a screw, a peristaltic pump and a pipe, the motor being used for rotating the screw to drive the pipe to move into the mixing tank for sucking the beverage or the residue mixture and move out from the mixing tank after completing the sucking of the beverage or the residue mixture, the peristaltic pump being used for pumping the beverage in the mixing tank into the container or the residue mixture out from the mixing tank via the pipe.

In certain embodiments, the liquid dispensing position and the plurality of beverage powder collection positions are configured to be aligned on a same axis.

In certain embodiments, the liquid-powder mixing system further comprises a UV light lamp for disinfecting an interior of the mixing tank.

In certain embodiments, the liquid-powder mixing system further comprises a liquid level detecting unit for detecting a liquid level in the mixing tank.

In certain embodiments, the liquid-powder mixing system further comprises a camera for capturing images of the mixing tank for conducting a computer vision for detecting a liquid level in the mixing tank and checking cleanness of the mixing tank.

In certain embodiments, the liquid-powder mixing system further comprises a user interface communicating with the microprocessor for inputting the beverage recipe.

In certain embodiments, the liquid-powder mixing system further comprises application software configured to be installed in a mobile device, input the beverage recipe and transmit the beverage recipe to the microprocessor through an internet.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects of the present invention are disclosed as illustrated by the embodiments hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The appended drawings, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements, contain figures of certain embodiments to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages and features of the present invention. It will be appreciated that these drawings depict embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a liquid-powder mixing system for preparing a beverage based on a beverage recipe according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 1B is a front view of the liquid-powder mixing system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional side view showing the beverage powder dispenser, the mixing tank and the mixing component of the liquid-powder mixing system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional side view showing the liquid sucking unit of the liquid-powder mixing system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1E shows a cross-sectional side view showing the UV light tube of the liquid-powder mixing system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting a method for preparing a beverage based on a beverage recipe by the liquid-powder mixing system described above, and the method is performed by a microprocessor of the liquid-powder mixing system according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 3A is cross-sectional front view showing the dispensing of beverage liquids into a mixing tank according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 3B is front view showing the moving of a mixing tank to a beverage powder collection position corresponding a beverage powder dispenser and the dispensing of a beverage powder into a mixing tank according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional side view showing a computer vision controlling the beverage liquid dispensing according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing a mixing tank having a cylindrical shape according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a mixing tank having a conical shape according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a liquid-powder mixing system for preparing different types of beverages according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 5B is a front view of the liquid-powder mixing system of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional side view showing the liquid sucking unit and the inner structure of the mixing tank of the liquid-powder mixing system of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5D shows a cross-sectional side view showing the beverage powder dispenser of the liquid-powder mixing system of FIG. 5A; and

FIG. 5E shows a cross-sectional front view showing the tank transferring unit of the liquid-powder mixing system of FIG. 5A.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been depicted to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications, including additions and/or substitutions, may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Specific details may be omitted so as not to obscure the invention; however, the disclosure is written to enable one skilled in the art to practice the teachings herein without undue experimentation.

As used herein, the term “beverage” refers to a beverage being formed by mixing one or more beverage liquids and one or more beverage powders.

As used herein, the term “beverage liquid” refers to a liquid for forming a beverage, e.g., black tea, oolong tea, green tea, syrup, juice, juice concentrate, milk, tea, water, etc. As used herein, the term “beverage powder” refers to a flavored powder for forming a beverage, e.g., milk powder, Nesquik, Ovaltine, taro powder, mango milk powder, coconut milk powder, matcha tea powder, etc.

As used herein, the term “beverage recipe” refers to a recipe containing types of the beverage liquid and the beverage powder and their corresponding amount used for preparing a beverage.

The present disclosure provides an automated liquid-powder mixing system for preparing various beverages. The automated liquid-powder mixing system is able to mix different beverage liquids and beverage powders together to produce beverages with different flavors in a fully automatic approach. The amount of different beverage liquids and powders used for producing the beverage can be precisely controlled. As the mixing of different beverage powders into the beverage liquid is simultaneously performed during the dispensing of different beverage powders into the mixing tank, the mixing time for thoroughly mixing the beverage is substantially shortened. In addition, the system has a self-cleaning function to clean the mixing tank by itself to avoid contamination of a next beverage to be produced.

According to certain embodiments, the liquid-powder mixing system comprises a mixing tank, a mixing component, a tank transferring unit, a liquid dispensing station, a powder dispensing station, a liquid sucking unit and a water dispenser.

In the powder dispensing station, each of beverage powders is contained in a powder box with a helix screwed installed inside. All the openings of the powder boxes are pointing downwards that guides the beverage powder falling into the mixing tank. The mixing tank and the mixing component are connected to the tank transferring unit that can slide between liquid dispensing station and the powder dispensing station.

In the liquid dispensing station, pumps and tubes are installed for the liquid tanks. The liquid tanks contain different beverage liquids to form the base of beverage. The pumps activate upon receiving a signal from a microprocessor. A beverage liquid from designated liquid tanks is pumped into the mixing tank. A peristaltic pump is used so that the beverage liquid can be precisely dispensed into the mixing tank in a correct amount. After the beverage liquid is dispensed, the mixing tank moves to the powder dispensing station and micro controller send a signal to designated powder box. The powder box then deposits the beverage powders into the mixing tank by revolving the helix screw.

After adding the beverage liquid, the microprocessor activates the mixing component to mix the beverage liquids and the beverage powders. The mixing component comprises a magnetic stirrer that drives a rotor inside the mixing tank. Once thoroughly mixed, the mixing tank slides back to the liquid dispensing station and a metal pipe of the liquid sucking unit driven by an actuator moves into the mixing tank. A mixing tank-cup pump is activated and pumps away the beverage from the mixing tank into a plastic cup through the metal pipe.

To clean the mixing tank from the residue liquid and powder, clean water from the water dispenser is pumped into the mixing tank. The magnetic stirrer stirs to create a liquid current for mixing the residue liquid and powder with the clean water. Then, the residue is pumped by the liquid sucking unit into a separate tank that stores the used water.

FIGS. 1A-1E show a liquid-powder mixing system for preparing a beverage based on a beverage receipe according to certain embodiments. The liquid-powder mixing system 100 comprises a mixing tank 110, a mixing component 120, a liquid dispensing station 130, a powder dispensing station 140, a tank transferring unit 150, a cleaning liquid dispenser 160, a liquid sucking unit 170 and a controller 180.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the mixing tank 110 has an opening 111 on top of the mixing tank 110. The mixing component 120 stirs and mixes beverage liquids and beverage powders in the mixing tank 110 thereby forming the beverage. In this embodiment, the mixing component 120 comprises a stirrer 121 and a rotor 122. The stirrer 122 causes the rotor 121 to rotate thereby generating movements for mixing the beverage liquids and the beverage powders in the mixing tank 110.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the liquid dispensing station 130 includes two

beverage liquid dispensers

131a, 131b and has a liquid dispensing position 132. The beverage liquid dispenser 131a stores a first beverage liquid and dispenses the first beverage liquid into the mixing tank 110 via the opening 111 when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position 132. In this embodiment, the beverage liquid dispenser 131a comprises a beverage liquid tank 133a and a beverage liquid releaser, the beverage liquid tank 133a stores the first beverage liquid, and the beverage liquid releaser dispenses the first beverage liquid from the beverage liquid tank 133a into the mixing tank 110. In this embodiment, the beverage liquid releaser comprises a pump 134a and a pipe 135a, the pipe 135a connects to the beverage liquid tank 133a and has an outlet 136a, the outlet 136a is located above the opening 111 when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position 132, the pump 134a pumps the first beverage liquid from the beverage liquid tank 133a into the mixing tank 110 via the pipe 135a.

The beverage liquid dispenser 131b stores a second beverage liquid and dispenses the second beverage liquid into the mixing tank 110 via the opening 111 when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position132. In this embodiment, the beverage liquid dispenser 131b comprises a beverage liquid tank 133b and a beverage liquid releaser, the beverage liquid tank 133b stores the second beverage liquid, and the beverage liquid releaser dispenses the second beverage liquid from the beverage liquid tank 133b into the mixing tank 110. In this embodiment, the beverage liquid releaser comprises a pump 134b and a pipe 135b, the pipe 135b connects to the beverage liquid tank 133b and has an outlet 136b, the outlet 136b is located above the opening 111 when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position 132, the pump 134b pumps the second beverage liquid from the beverage liquid tank 133b into the mixing tank 110 via the pipe 135b.

The powder dispensing station 140 includes a plurality of beverage powder dispensers 141a-141f and has a plurality of beverage powder collection positions 142a-142f, each beverage powder collection position corresponds to a respective beverage powder dispenser, e.g., the beverage powder dispenser 141a corresponds to the beverage powder collection position 142a. Each beverage powder dispenser stores a respective selectable beverage powder and dispenses the respective selectable beverage powder into the mixing tank 110 via the opening 111 when the mixing tank 110 is located at a respective beverage powder collection position. In this embodiment, each of the beverage powder dispensers 141a-141f comprises a beverage powder box 143 and a beverage powder releaser, the beverage powder box stores a beverage powder, and the beverage powder releaser dispenses the beverage powder. In this embodiment, the beverage powder releaser comprises a motor 144 and a screw 145 connecting to the motor 144, the motor drives the screw 145 to push the beverage powder from the beverage powder box 143 into the mixing tank 110 via the opening 111. When the mixing tank 110 arrives at the beverage powder collection position, the motor 144 rotates to drives the screw 145 to pushes the beverage powder in the beverage powder box 143 to fall into the mixing tank 110 via the opening 111. The amount of the beverage powder dispensed into the mixing tank 110 depends on the time and speed of the rotation of the motor 144 such that the amount of the beverage powder dispensed can be precisely controlled.

The tank transferring unit 150 transfers the mixing tank 110 and the mixing component 120 to the liquid dispensing position 132 for receiving the beverage liquid and the beverage powder collection positions 142a-142f for receiving the beverage powders. Once the beverage liquids are dispensed into the mixing tank 110, the mixing component 120 starts to stir the beverage liquids in the mixing tank 110. During the moving of the mixing tank 110 together with the mixing component 120 and the dispensing of the beverage powders into the mixing tank 110, the mixing component 120 keeps stirring the beverage liquids and the beverage powders in the mixing tank such that the mixing time for thoroughly mixing the beverage liquids and the beverage powders is substantially decreased.

The cleaning liquid dispenser 160 stores a cleaning liquid and dispenses the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank 110 via the opening 111 when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position 132 after the beverage is transferred to a container such that a residue of the beverage in the mixing tank 110 is mixed with the cleaning liquid thereby forming a residue mixture. In this embodiment, the beverage liquid dispenser 160 comprises a cleaning liquid tank 161 and a cleaning liquid releaser, the cleaning liquid tank 161 stores the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid releaser dispenses the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 161 into the mixing tank 110. In this embodiment, the cleaning liquid releaser comprises a pump 162 and a pipe 163, the pipe 163 connects to the cleaning liquid tank 162 and has an outlet 164, the outlet 164 is located above the opening 111 when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position 132, the pump 162 pumps the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 133b into the mixing tank 110 via the pipe 163.

As shown in FIG. 1D, after the beverage liquids and the beverage powders are mixed in the mixing tank 110 to form a beverage, the liquid sucking unit 170 transfers the beverage in the mixing tank 110 into a container when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position 132. In addition, after the residue mixture is formed in the mixing tank 110, the liquid sucking unit 170 removes the residue mixture in the mixing tank 110 when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position 132 thereby cleaning the mixing tank 110. In this embodiment, the liquid sucking unit 170 comprises a linear actuator (including a motor 171 and a screw 172) , a pump 173 and a pipe 174, the motor 171 rotates the screw 172 to drive the pipe 174 to move into the mixing tank 110 for sucking the beverage or the residue mixture and move out from the mixing tank 110 after completing the sucking of the beverage or the residue mixture, the pump 173 pumps the beverage or the residue mixture out from the mixing tank via the pipe 174.

The controller 180 comprises a user interface 181 and a microprocessor. The user interface 181 is used for inputting the beverage recipe. The microprocessor is configured to: control the mixing component 120 to stir and mix the beverage liquids and the beverage powders in the mixing tank 110; control each of the

beverage liquid dispensers

131a, 131b to dispense the respective selectable beverage liquid into the mixing tank 110; control each of the plurality of beverage powder dispensers 141a-141f to dispense the respective selectable beverage powder into the mixing tank 110; control the tank transferring unit 150 to transfer the mixing tank 110 and the mixing component 120 to the liquid dispensing position 132 and the beverage powder collection positions142a-142f; control the cleaning liquid dispenser 160 to dispense the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank 110; and control the liquid sucking unit 170 to transfer the beverage in the mixing tank 110 into the container and remove the residue mixture in the mixing tank 110.

In this embodiment, the liquid-powder mixing system 100 further comprises a camera 190 located near the liquid dispensing position 132 for capturing images of the mixing tanks 110 such that a computer vision based on the images is performed to determine a liquid level in the mixing tank 110 during the dispensing of the beverage liquids and sucking of the beverage or the residue mixture. The computer vision is also used for checking the cleanness of the mixing tank 110 after the cleaning process.

In this embodiment, the liquid-powder mixing system 100 further comprises an UV light tube 191 located near the liquid dispensing position 132 and above the opening 111 of the mixing tank 110 when the mixing tank 110 is located at the liquid dispensing position 132 such that the interior of the mixing tank 110 can be disinfected by UV light from the UV light tube.

In certain embodiments, the mixing tank is made of a plastic, a glass or a metal.

In certain embodiments, the mixing component comprises a magnetic stirrer, an electrical stirrer or a mechanical stirrer. The mixing component may have a rotational speed between 1 rpm and 4000 rpm.

In certain embodiments, the tank transferring unit has a transferring speed between 0.05 m/sand 1 m/s.

In certain embodiments, the liquid dispensing station has 5-15 liquid dispensers.

In certain embodiments, the powder dispenser station has 8-20 beverage powder dispensers.

In certain embodiments, the time for forming a beverage is between 15s and 45s.

In certain embodiments, the time for cleaning the mixing tank is between 10s and 20s.

In certain embodiments, each beverage liquid dispenser further comprises a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of the selectable beverage liquid.

In certain embodiments, the system further comprises a liquid level detecting unit for detecting a liquid level in the mixing tank.

In certain embodiments, the system further comprises application software configured to be installed in a mobile device, input the beverage recipe and transmit the beverage recipe to the microprocessor through an internet.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting a method for preparing a beverage based on a beverage recipe by the liquid-powder mixing system described above, and the method is performed by a microprocessor of the liquid-powder mixing system according to certain embodiments. The microprocessor is configured to perform steps as follows: S201: control a beverage liquid dispenser to dispense a beverage liquid into the mixing tank; S202: optionally repeat S201 for other beverage liquids; S203: control the mixing component to stir the beverage liquids in the mixing tank; S204: control the tank transferring unit to transfer the mixing tank and the mixing component to a beverage powder collection position; S205: control the beverage powder dispenser to dispense the beverage powder into the mixing tank to mix with the stirred beverage liquids; S206: optionally repeat S204 and S205 for other beverage powders; S207: control the tank transferring unit to transfer the mixing tank back to the liquid dispensing position; S208: control the liquid sucking unit to transfer the beverage into the container; S209: control the cleaning liquid dispenser to dispense the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank; S210: control the liquid sucking unit to remove the residue mixture; and S211: control the mixing component to stop stirring.

As shown in FIG. 3A, a beverage liquid releaser comprises a pump and a pipe 310. An outlet 311 of the pipe 310 is located above an opening 321 of a mixing tank 320. After inputting a beverage recipe to the controller, the pump pumps a beverage liquid stored in the liquid tank into the mixing tank 320 via the opening 321. During dispensing the beverage liquid, a camera can be used to capture images of the mixing tanks 320 for conducting the computer vision to monitor the liquid level in the mixing tank 320.

After completing the dispensing of the beverage liquids into the mixing tank 320, the mixing tank 320 together with a mixing component 330 is transferred to a beverage powder collection position 340 by a tank transferring unit 350 as shown in FIG. 3B such that the opening 321 of the mixing tank 320 is located below an outlet 342 of a beverage powder releaser 341 to receive a beverage powder.

After the beverage is formed in the mixing tank 320, the mixing tank 320 is transferred back to the liquid dispensing position. A pipe 351 of a liquid sucking unit 350 is inserted into the bottom of the mixing tank 320 to suck the beverage and transfer it to a container as shown in FIG. 3C. During the sucking process, a camera 360 located near the mixing tank 320 is used to capture images for conducting the computer vision by the microprocessor to monitor the liquid level in the mixing tank. After the cleaning process, the camera 360 can be used to capture images for conducting the computer vision by the microprocessor to check the cleanness of the mixing tank 320.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a mixing tank 41 has a cylindrical shape.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a mixing tank 42 has a conical shape, which allows water spout to occur when rotating the rotor in order to shorten the mixing time, thoroughly mix the beverage powders and beverage liquids, and avoid the splitting of the beverage liquids.

FIGS. 5A-5E show a liquid-powder mixing system for preparing different types of beverages according to certain embodiments. Powder boxes 501 stores different types of beverage powders. A mixing tank 507a is placed on top of a magnetic stirrer 507b with a rotor 507c placed inside it. The magnetic stirrer 507b is connected to a belt 504. When the microprocessor sends a signal to the system, a peristaltic pump 508a draws liquid into the mixing tank 507a through a metal tube 513.

Referring to FIG. 5E, when the liquid is drawn into the mixing tank 507a, a motor 505 rotates a gear 511 and the belt 504 drives the magnetic stirrer 507b with the mixing tank 507a to a desired powder box 501.

Referring to FIG. 5D, once the mixing tank 507a arrives at the desired powder box 501, a motor 502a drives a screw 503 inside the powder box 501. The screw 503 pushes a beverage powder out of the powder box 501 and falls into the mixing tank 507a. Simultaneously, the magnetic stirrer 507b drives the rotor 507c inside the mixing tank 507a to rotate and mix the beverage liquids and beverage powders. The amount of beverage powder dispensed depends on the operating time of the motor 502a. When the amount of beverage powder dispensed reaches a targeted amount, the motor 502a stops and the motor 505 drives the mixing tank 507a to the next powder box 501 or back to the liquid dispensing position. For the former situation, the process of dispensing beverage powders repeats until that all of the desired powders are dispensed. For the later situation, the motor 510 rotates and drives the helical screw 512, which move a metal tube 509 into the mixing tank 507a. When the metal tube 509 reaches the lowest location inside the mixing tank 507a, a peristaltic pump 508b sucks the powder-liquid mixture to a desired location through the metal tube 509. After the powder-liquid mixture is transferred to the destinated location, the peristaltic pump 508c draws water into the mixing tank 507a to conduct the cleaning procedure. After water mixes with the mixture residue, the peristaltic pump 508d sucks the mixture away from the mixing tank 507a. When the mixture is sucked away, the magnetic stirrer 507b stops.

Thus, it can be seen that an improved liquid-powder mixing system for preparing beverages and method have been disclosed which eliminates or at least diminishes the disadvantages and problems associated with prior art processes. The liquid-powder mixing system is able to mix different beverage liquids and beverage powders together to produce beverages with different flavors in a fully automatic approach. The amount of different beverage liquids and powders used for producing the beverage can be precisely controlled. As the mixing of different beverage powders into the beverage liquids is simultaneously performed during the dispensing of different beverage powders into the mixing tank, the mixing time for thoroughly mixing the beverage is substantially shortened. In addition, the system has a self-cleaning function to clean the mixing tank by itself to avoid contamination of a next beverage to be produced.

Although the invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is intended to be defined only by the claims which follow.

Claims

A liquid-powder mixing system for preparing a beverage, the beverage being formed by mixing one or more selected beverage liquids and one or more selected beverage powders based on a beverage recipe, the one or more selected beverage liquids being selected from one or more selectable beverage liquids, the one or more beverage powders being selected from a plurality of selectable beverage powders, the liquid-powder mixing system comprising:

a mixing tank having an opening on top of the mixing tank;

a mixing component used for stirring and mixing the one or more selected beverage liquids and the one or more selected beverage powders in the mixing tank thereby forming the beverage;

a liquid dispensing station comprising one or more beverage liquid dispensers and having a liquid dispensing position, each beverage liquid dispenser being used for storing a respective selectable beverage liquid and dispensing the respective selectable beverage liquid into the mixing tank via the opening when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position;

a powder dispensing station comprising a plurality of beverage powder dispensers and having a plurality of beverage powder collection positions, each beverage powder collection position corresponding to a respective beverage powder dispenser, each beverage powder dispenser being used for storing a respective selectable beverage powder and dispensing the respective selectable beverage powder into the mixing tank via the opening when the mixing tank is located at a respective beverage powder collection position;

a tank transferring unit used for transferring the mixing tank and the mixing component to the liquid dispensing position and the plurality of beverage powder collection positions;

a cleaning liquid dispenser used for storing a cleaning liquid and dispensing the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank via the opening when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position after the beverage in the mixing tank is transferred to a container such that a residue of the beverage in the mixing tank is mixed with the cleaning liquid thereby forming a residue mixture; and

a liquid sucking unit configured to:

transfer the beverage in the mixing tank into the container when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position; and

remove the residue mixture in the mixing tank when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position thereby cleaning the mixing tank.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor configured to:

control the mixing component to stir and mix the one or more selected beverage liquids and the one or more selected beverage powders in the mixing tank;

control each of the one or more beverage liquid dispensers to dispense the respective selectable beverage liquid into the mixing tank;

control each of the plurality of beverage powder dispensers to dispense the respective selectable beverage powder into the mixing tank;

control the tank transferring unit to transfer the mixing tank and the mixing component to the liquid dispensing position and the plurality of beverage powder collection positions;

control the cleaning liquid dispenser to dispense the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank; and

control the liquid sucking unit to transfer the beverage in the mixing tank into the container and remove the residue mixture in the mixing tank.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor configured to:

a) control a first beverage liquid dispenser selected from the one or more beverage liquid dispensers to dispense a first beverage liquid into the mixing tank when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position, the first beverage liquid being selected from the one or more selected beverage liquids;

b) optionally repeating the step (a) until that all of the one or more selected beverage liquids are dispensed into the mixing tank;

c) control the mixing component to stir the one or more selected beverage liquids in the mixing tank;

d) control the tank transferring unit to transfer the mixing tank to a first beverage powder collection position corresponding to a first beverage powder dispenser selected from the plurality of beverage powder dispensers, the first beverage powder dispenser storing a first beverage powder being selected from the one or more selected beverage powders;

e) control the first beverage powder dispenser to dispense the first beverage powder into the mixing tank to mix with the stirred one or more selected beverage liquids;

f) optionally repeating the steps (d) and (e) until that all of the one or more selected beverage powders are dispensed into the mixing tank and mixed with the stirred one or more selected beverage liquids thereby forming the beverage;

g) control the tank transferring unit to transfer the mixing tank back to the liquid dispensing position;

h) control the liquid sucking unit to transfer the beverage into the container;

i) control the cleaning liquid dispenser to dispense the cleaning liquid into the mixing tank;

j) control the liquid sucking unit to remove the residue mixture; and

k) control the mixing component to stop stirring;

wherein the mixing component stirs the one or more selected beverage liquids in the mixing tank at the same time of dispensing the one or more selected beverage powders into the mixing tank such that a mixing time for thoroughly mixing the one or more selected beverage liquids with the one or more selected beverage powders is substantially decreased.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein the mixing tank has a cylindrical shape or a conical shape.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein the mixing component comprises a stirrer and a rotor, the stirrer being located below the mixing tank, the rotor being located inside the mixing tank, the stirrer being a magnetic stirrer, an electrical stirrer or a mechanical stirrer.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein the tank transferring unit comprises a motor, a gear and a belt, the motor connecting to the gear, the gear connecting to the belt, the mixing tank connecting to the belt, the motor being used for driving the gear to move the belt for transferring the mixing tank.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more beverage liquid dispensers comprises a beverage liquid tank and a beverage liquid releaser, the beverage liquid tank being used for storing the respective selectable beverage liquid, the beverage liquid releaser being used for dispensing the respective selectable beverage liquid.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 7, wherein the beverage liquid releaser comprises a peristaltic pump and a pipe, the pipe connecting to the beverage liquid tank and having an outlet, the outlet being located above the opening when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position, the peristaltic pump being used for pumping the respective selectable beverage liquid from the beverage liquid tank into the mixing tank via the pipe.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of beverage powder dispensers comprises a beverage powder box and a beverage powder releaser, the beverage powder box being used for storing the respective selectable beverage powder, the beverage powder releaser being used for dispensing the respective selectable beverage powder.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 9, wherein the beverage powder releaser comprises a motor and a screw connecting to the motor, the motor being used for driving the screw to push the respective selectable beverage powder from the beverage powder box into the mixing tank.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid dispenser comprises a cleaning liquid tank and a cleaning liquid releaser, the cleaning liquid tank being used for storing the cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid releaser being used for dispensing the cleaning liquid.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid releaser comprises a peristaltic pump and a pipe, the pipe connecting to the cleaning liquid tank and having an outlet, the outlet being located above the opening when the mixing tank is located at the liquid dispensing position, the peristaltic pump being used for pumping the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank into the mixing tank via the pipe.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein the liquid sucking unit comprises a motor, a screw, a peristaltic pump and a pipe, the motor being used for rotating the screw to drive the pipe to move into the mixing tank for sucking the beverage or the residue mixture and move out from the mixing tank after completing the sucking of the beverage or the residue mixture, the peristaltic pump being used for pumping the beverage in the mixing tank into the container or the residue mixture out from the mixing tank via the pipe.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1, wherein the liquid dispensing position and the plurality of beverage powder collection positions are configured to be aligned on a same axis.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1 further comprising a UV light lamp for disinfecting an interior of the mixing tank.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1 further comprising a liquid level detecting unit for detecting a liquid level in the mixing tank.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 1 further comprising a camera for capturing images of the mixing tank for conducting a computer vision for detecting a liquid level in the mixing tank and checking cleanness of the mixing tank.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 2 further comprising a user interface communicating with the microprocessor for inputting the beverage recipe.
The liquid-powder mixing system of claim 2 further comprising application software configured to be installed in a mobile device, input the beverage recipe and transmit the beverage recipe to the microprocessor through an internet.