Method and apparatus for controlling the blending of drinks
First Claim
1. A method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender and a source of ice comprising the steps of placing a quantity of liquid in the pitcher of a blender, and transferring ice from the source of ice to the pitcher until a predetermined weight of ice is received by the pitcher to make a liquid and ice drink.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drink-blending machine (10) includes an ice-shaving unit (11) and a blender assembly (12). The ice-shaving unit (11) is adapted to transfer ice from a bin (15) to the pitcher (18) of the blender assembly (12). A weighing mechanism (31) includes a deflection beam (33), one end of which carries the pitcher (18). The deflection beam (33) includes a strain gauge (34) which provides a signal proportional to weight to a control circuitry box (30). In operation of the machine (10), a quantity of liquid is placed in the pitcher (18) and dependent upon the weight of ice or liquid-to-ice ratio predetermined by depressing a selected button (44), ice from the ice-shaving unit (11) is transferred to the pitcher (18) until the predetermined weight of ice is received by the pitcher (18).
61 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender and a source of ice comprising the steps of placing a quantity of liquid in the pitcher of a blender, and transferring ice from the source of ice to the pitcher until a predetermined weight of ice is received by the pitcher to make a liquid and ice drink.
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13. A method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender and an ice dispenser comprising the steps of weighing an empty pitcher of the blender, placing an arbitrary amount of liquid in the pitcher, selecting a desired liquid-to-ice ratio for the drink, starting the blender, weighing the pitcher with the liquid therein, determining the weight of the liquid by subtracting the weight of the empty pitcher from the weight of the pitcher with the liquid therein, initiating the transfer of ice from the dispenser to the pitcher, terminating the transfer of ice when the liquid-to-ice ratio matches the selected liquid-to-ice ratio, and stopping the blender.
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14. A method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender and an ice dispenser comprising the steps of placing a quantity of liquid in the pitcher of the blender, selecting a weight of ice to be added to the pitcher, weighing the pitcher and liquid to determine an initial weight, initiating the transfer of ice from the dispenser to the pitcher, weighing the pitcher with the liquid therein as the ice is being transferred to determine a current weight, subtracting the initial weight from the current weight to determine the weight of the ice, stopping the transfer of ice when the weight of the ice matches the selected weight, and operating the blender to mix the drink.
- 15. Apparatus for controlling the amount of ice for a drink comprising a blender having a pitcher, an ice dispenser for transferring ice to said pitcher, and a weighing mechanism to determine the weight of the transferred ice, said weighing mechanism initiating the stopping of the transfer of the ice to said pitcher when a predetermined weight of ice is in said pitcher.
Specification