Integrated system for dispensing and blending/mixing beverage ingredients
View Patent ↗An integrated beverage blending system comprising: a controller for menu selection; an ice portion control module; an ingredient module; a dispensing apparatus in communication with the ice portion control module and the ingredient module, wherein the ice and the ingredient are dispensed into a beverage container via the dispensing apparatus; and at least one blender module which blends and/or mixes the ice and the ingredient in the beverage container, thereby producing the beverage; wherein, upon removal of the beverage container from the blender module, the blender module initiates a cleaning mode.
1. An integrated beverage blending system comprising:
at least one system controller;
an ice portioning module;
an ingredient module; and
a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and/or said ingredient module;
a plurality of blender modules each with an integrated cleaning apparatus; said plurality of blender modules being controlled by said system controller to operate either simultaneously or separately, each of said plurality of blender modules has a spindle and a blade that are raised or lowered to a position for a predetermined period of time, said position and said predetermined period of time being controlled by said system controller.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein ice from said ice portioning module and at least one ingredient from said ingredient module are dispensed into a beverage container via said dispensing apparatus; and wherein said beverage container with said ice and said ingredient is placed in one of said plurality of blender modules for blending and/or mixing said ice and said ingredient in said beverage container, thereby producing said beverage.
3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein, upon removal of said beverage container after last blending and/or mixing cycle from said blender module, the system initiates a cleaning mode of said one of said plurality of blender modules via said cleaning apparatus.
4. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an ice maker which is in communication with said ice portion control module.
5. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an ice crusher/grinder which is communication with said ice portion control module.
6. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an ice shaver which is communication with said ice portion control module.
7. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a flake ice or nugget ice apparatus which is in communications with said ice portion control module.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said ingredient module dispenses at least one beverage flavor and/or other ingredient.
9. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said beverage container is a single serving cup.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said system controller comprises a menu selection controller with a touch screen display allowing for the customizing of a beverage selection.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said ingredient module comprises: a housing, at least one ingredient container disposed within said housing, an ingredient conduit disposed between said ingredient container and said dispensing apparatus, and an acuator that moves said ingredient from said ingredient container, through said ingredient conduit and into said dispensing apparatus under pressure and/or gravity.
12. The system according to claim 1 , further comprises at least one beverage container holder.
13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said system controller provides integrated control between said ice portioning module, said ingredient module, and said plurality of blender modules, based upon a menu selection from said system controller.
14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said system controller further activates said cleaning apparatus.
15. The system according to claim 1 , further comprises a point-of-sale device which is in communication with said system controller, whereby beverage orders taken at said point-of-sale device initiate a menu selection within said system controller.
16. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said blender module blends and/or mixes said ice and said ingredient in said beverage container based upon blending and/or mixing instructions communicated from said system controller.
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein said beverage container is a single serving cup.
18. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of said dispensing apparatus with said integrated cleaning apparatus which can operate either simultaneously or separately.
19. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an indicator which is capable of generating a signal indicative of which blender module of said plurality of blender modules is in use or not in use.
20. A refrigerated beverage and blending system comprising:
a controller for system operation;
an ice portioning module utilizing a positive displacement method that portions said ice;
an ingredient module for dispensing of at least one ingredient;
a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and said ingredient module, wherein said ice and said ingredient are dispensed into a beverage container via said dispensing apparatus; and
at least one blender module with integrated cleaning apparatus which blends and/or mixes said ice and said ingredient in said beverage container, thereby producing said beverage,
wherein said controller provides integrated control between said ice portioning module, said ingredient module, and blender module, based upon a menu selection from said controller,
wherein said blender module has a spindle and a blade that are raised or lowered to a position for a predetermined period of time, and wherein said position and said predetermined period of time are controlled by said controller.
21. An integrated beverage blending system comprising:
a controller for system operation;
an ice portioning module for portioning and dispensing of ice;
an ingredient module for portioning and dispensing of at least one ingredient;
a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and/or said ingredient module for dispensing said ice and said ingredient into a single serving container; and
a blender module with integrated cleaning apparatus, wherein said blender module blends and/or mixes said ice and said ingredient in said single serving container to deliver to said consumer,
wherein said controller provides integrated control between said ice portioning module, said ingredient module, and blender module, based upon a menu selection from said controller,
wherein said blender module has a spindle and a blade that are raised or lowered to a position for a predetermined period of time, and wherein said position and said predetermined period of time are controlled by said system controller.