APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREPARING A LIQUID MIXTURE

• US 20160346743A1
• Filed: 05/26/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Formulanow, LLC
• Original Assignee: Formulanow, LLC
• Inventors: Snider, Douglas, Lamb, Nikki, Lamb, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 10,213,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/221 comprising constructions for blocking or redispersing undissolved solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/4021 in the form of tablets stored in containers, canisters or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/70 Pre-treatment of the materials to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/711 Heating materials, e.g. melting
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2207 Use of data, i.e. barcodes, 3D codes or similar type of tagging information, as instruction or identification codes for controlling the computer programs, e.g. for manipulation, handling, production or compounding in mixing plants B01F33/848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2209 Controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and controlling of the mixing process during the whole mixing cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7131 Breaking or perforating packages, containers or vials
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/06 Arrangements on packages concerning bar-codes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8043 Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06

Abstract

A mixing apparatus, puncturing mechanism, and cartridge are disclosed. The mixing apparatus has a housing and a drawer with a recess. Corresponding cartridges may be inserted into the drawer and slid into the housing to facilitate mixing a liquid with contents of the cartridge. The liquid may originate from a reservoir in the mixing apparatus or a direct line. Also inside the housing of the mixing apparatus is the puncturing mechanism. The puncturing mechanism has a nozzle configured to puncture a lid of a cartridge and inject liquid to mix with the contents of the cartridge. The puncturing mechanism is further configured to drive an internal puncturing unit inside of the cartridge through a lower portion of the cartridge to allow liquid from the nozzle and contents of the cartridge to be dispensed into a receptacle.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A mixing apparatus comprising:

a first recess configured to accept a cartridge;

a puncturing system comprising;

a nozzle configured to puncture a lid of the cartridge when positioned in the first recess and further configured to provide liquid to an internal puncture unit of the cartridge; and

a mechanism configured to move the nozzle between a plurality of positions with respect to the cartridge;

a second recess configured to receive a receptacle to receive a mixture including the liquid from beneath the cartridge; and

a processor operatively coupled to an interface module, wherein the interface module is configured to store information about mixtures dispensed by the mixing apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to determine a correct mixing ratio between contents of the cartridge and the liquid provided by the nozzle.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a product reader configured to determine at least one characteristic about contents of the cartridge responsive to analyzing the cartridge.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a reservoir configured to store the liquid;

a heating mechanism configured to heat the liquid to be provided by the nozzle.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the nozzle is further configured to interact with the internal puncture unit of the cartridge to puncture a second membrane responsive to being moved by the nozzle.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first recess is configured to accept and position cartridges of various shapes, volumes, dimensions, or combinations thereof.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first recess is configured to position the cartridge in a predetermined orientation.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the interface module comprises memory removably coupled to the apparatus.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the memory comprises USB flash memory.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the interface module comprises a wireless transceiver.

30. A method for combining a mixture and a liquid, comprising:

placing a cartridge within a first recess of a mixing apparatus;

moving a nozzle of the mixing apparatus to a first position adjacent to a lid of the cartridge;

puncturing the lid of the cartridge using the nozzle;

moving the nozzle to a second position to cause an internal puncture unit of the cartridge to puncture a lower portion of the cartridge;

providing a liquid into the cartridge for dispensing a mixture from the cartridge; and

storing information about mixtures dispensed by the mixing apparatus.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

after said puncturing the lid, measuring a temperature of contents of the cartridge.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

heating a liquid to be provided into the cartridge to a temperature based at least in part on the temperature of the contents of the cartridge.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining at least one characteristic of contents of the cartridge responsive to reading a feature of the cartridge.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein moving the nozzle to a first position and moving the nozzle to the second position comprise using a solenoid of the mixing apparatus to move the nozzle.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

updating programming of the mixing apparatus based on information stored on an interface module removably coupled to the mixing apparatus.