Container-less Custom Beverage Vending Invention

• US 20120035761A1
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MYX Drinks LLC
• Original Assignee: Ecowell Co.
• Inventors: Tilton, Donald Edward, Wheeler, Cameron Todd, Boler, Brian Lee, Whitaker, Andrew Craig, Schilperoort, Reid Andrew, David, Preston Fitzjarrell
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/233
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4403 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0041 Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0857 Cooling arrangements cooling systems per se F25B
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0882 Devices for controlling the dispensing conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0895 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/075 Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0001 for liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00013 Sterilising means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00015 UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus describing a convenience beverage vending machine and its operation are described. An embedded computer interface allows consumers to create their own drinks or choose from a menu of drinks. Drinks are dispensed in a re-usable container. The beverages may be made from hot water, cold water or carbonated water that is mixed with various flavors of syrup, sweeteners and nutritional supplements. Identification may be presented and the computer recognizes the consumer and pulls up that consumer'"'"'s account to determine funds available and previous drink selections and mixtures. The machine may incorporate an automatic cleaning cycle for both the valves and the dispense area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

under control of a container-less custom beverage vending system having a program stored in memory and executable by one or more processors;

receiving an identification of a user;

requesting attributes of the user;

receiving the attributes of the user; and

displaying a personalized beverage menu on a user interface based on the received attributes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested attributes of the user comprise a beverage history, beverage preferences, and beverage names.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed personalized beverage menu displays a beverage history, drink recommendations, beverage names, favorite beverages, and recently vended beverages based on the received attributes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the program receives the identification of the user from an authentication device, a user name, a user password, a magnetic stripe card, or a smart card.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the program requests the attributes of the user from an authentication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the authentication device is a near field radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to read an RFID tag comprising the attributes of the user.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the authentication device is configured to communicate with a mobile phone comprising the attributes of the user or a digital audio player comprising the attributes of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the program requests the attributes of the user from a central database storing the attributes of the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the program requests the attributes of the user from a web site comprising the attributes of the user.

10. The method of claim 1, displaying a personalized advertisement on the user interface based on the received attributes.

11. A container-less custom beverage vending system comprising:

a plurality of reservoirs holding separate ingredients to be used in beverage recipes;

a mixing manifold interconnected with the plurality of reservoirs;

a processor to control the mixing manifold to mix any combination of the plurality of separate ingredients;

a user interface to display a beverage creation menu to a user, the beverage creation menu configured to receive mixing instructions from the user to mix a beverage recipe.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the beverage creation menu is a personalized beverage menu, the personalized beverage menu being based on received attributes of the user.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface is a touch screen display.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the beverage recipe received by the user is a custom beverage recipe.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the beverage creation menu comprises:

a volume selection;

a popular size selection;

a popular bottle selection;

a temperature selection; and

a carbonation selection.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the beverage creation menu comprises:

an add a flavor option;

a flavor volume option;

a flavor strength option;

a flavor strength indicator; and

a proportion of flavors indicator.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the beverage creation menu comprises:

an add a sweetener option;

a sweetener type option;

a sweetener strength option; and

a sweetener strength indicator.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the beverage creation menu comprises:

an add a supplement option;

a supplement volume option; and

a supplement volume indicator.

19. A container-less custom beverage vending system comprising:

a mixing manifold interconnected, via one or more fluid paths, with a plurality of separate ingredients to mix beverage recipes;

a plurality of valves interconnected, via the one or more fluid paths, with the mixing manifold;

a dispensing nozzle interconnected, via the one or more fluid paths, with a valve of the plurality of valves for dispensing a beverage;

a dispense area exposed to the dispensing nozzle for housing a beverage container; and

an automatic cleaning cycle stored in memory and executable by one or more processors comprising computer readable instructions to clean the mixing manifold, the plurality of valves, the one or more fluid paths, the dispensing nozzle, and the dispense area.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the automatic cleaning cycle is executed based on a number of dispensed beverages or a flow characterization.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the automatic cleaning cycle comprises circulating water having a temperature of approximately 190 degrees Fahrenheit, circulating a sanitizing fluid, circulating an ozone gas (O₃), and/or activating an ultra violet (UV) sanitizing light.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the automatic cleaning cycle cleans the mixing manifold, the plurality of valves, the one or more fluid paths, and the dispensing nozzle with the water having the temperature of approximately 190 degrees Fahrenheit, the sanitizing fluid, and/or with the ozone gas (O₃).

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the automatic cleaning cycle cleans the dispense area with UV sanitizing light.