REFRIGERATOR WITH POD-BASED BEVERAGE DISPENSER
Systems and methods for dispensing beverages, such as beverages based on pods of various mixtures (e.g., smoothies based on smoothie pods) are described. The systems and methods described herein provide a refrigerator integrated with a pod-based beverage dispenser, such as a smoothie dispenser, that makes beverages using the contents of a pod or cartridge, as well as water and/or ice from the refrigerator.
1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
a dispenser unit configured to dispense a beverage, the dispenser unit including:
a pod opening configured to receive a smoothie pod into the dispenser unit;
a pod opener configured to open a received smoothie pod;
a pod shuttle configured to position the opened smoothie pod within a pod chamber of the dispenser unit; and
a pod chamber configured to:
mix contents extracted from the opened smoothie pod with water or ice supplied to the pod chamber from the refrigerator; and
dispense a mixture of the smoothie pod contents and the water or ice into a cup positioned within the dispenser unit.
2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit that:
receives instructions associated with making the beverage from a cloud-based smoothie network component; and
controls operation of the dispenser unit based on the received instructions.
3 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit that:
receives instructions associated with making the beverage from a mobile device associated with a user; and
controls operation of the dispenser unit based on the received instructions.
4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit that:
receives instructions associated with making the beverage from a local database of the refrigerator; and
controls operation of the dispenser unit based on the received instructions.
5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the pod opening is configured to receive an additional pod of ingredients, wherein the pod opener is configured to open the additional pod of ingredients, wherein the pod shuttle is configured to position the opened additional pod of ingredients within a pod chamber of the dispenser unit.
6 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the smoothie pod includes a mixture of one or more freeze dried fruits and one or more freeze dried vegetables.
7 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the smoothie pod includes a mixture of one or more freeze dried fruits and one or more additive ingredients.
8 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the smoothie pod includes a mixture of one or more freeze dried vegetables and one or more additive ingredients.
9 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the pod chamber is configured to blend the contents extracted from the opened smoothie pod with water and ice.
10 . A refrigerator, comprising:
a dispenser unit configured to make a smoothie for a user, the dispenser unit including:
a pod chamber configured to:
mix contents extracted from a smoothie pod with water or ice supplied to the pod chamber from the refrigerator; and
dispense a mixture of the smoothie pod contents and the water or ice into a cup positioned within the dispenser unit proximate to the pod chamber; and
a control unit configured to:
receive instructions associated with making the smoothie from a cloud-based smoothie recommendation system;
control operation of the dispenser unit based on the received instructions.
11 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the dispenser unit further comprises:
a pod opening configured to receive the smoothie pod into the dispenser unit;
a pod opener configured to open the received smoothie pod;
a pod shuttle configured to position the opened smoothie pod within a pod chamber of the dispenser unit.
12 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the dispenser unit further comprises:
a pod selector configured to select the smoothie pod from a stock of smoothie pods stored in the refrigerator and position the selected smoothie pod into the dispenser unit;
a pod opener configured to open the selected smoothie pod;
a pod shuttle configured to position the opened smoothie pod within a pod chamber of the dispenser unit.
13 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the smoothie pod includes a mixture of one or more freeze dried fruits and one or more freeze dried vegetables.
14 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the smoothie pod includes a mixture of one or more freeze dried fruits and one or more additive ingredients.
15 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the smoothie pod includes a mixture of one or more freeze dried vegetables and one or more additive ingredients.
16 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the pod chamber is configured to blend the contents extracted from the opened smoothie pod with water and ice.
17 . A beverage dispenser configured to be housed by a refrigerator, the beverage dispenser comprising:
a dispenser unit configured to dispense a beverage that is made from contents obtained from a beverage pod and water or ice supplied to the dispenser unit from the refrigerator; and
a control unit configured to:
receive instructions associated with making the beverage from a cloud-based beverage recommendation system; and
control operation of the dispenser unit based on the received instructions.
18 . The beverage dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the dispenser unit includes:
a pod opening configured to receive the beverage pod into the dispenser unit;
a pod opener configured to open the received beverage pod;
a pod shuttle configured to position the opened beverage pod within a pod chamber of the dispenser unit; and
a pod chamber configured to:
mix contents extracted from the opened beverage pod with the water or ice supplied to the pod chamber from the refrigerator; and
dispense the mixture of the smoothie pod contents and the water or ice into a cup positioned within the dispenser unit.
19 . The beverage dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the beverage pod includes a mixture of one or more freeze dried fruits and one or more freeze dried vegetables.
20 . The beverage dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the beverage pod includes a mixture of one or more freeze dried fruits and one or more additive ingredients.