Blending station apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A blending apparatus, comprising:
- a blending container;
an ice processor to selectively and automatically introduce ice to the blending container upon request;
at least one foodstuffs pump to selectively and automatically introduce foodstuffs to the blending container upon request;
wherein the ice processor and the at least one foodstuffs pump are both driven by a single motor shaft.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A blending station apparatus and method includes a foodstuffs storage location where a plurality of individual foodstuffs storage containers are held, a control panel for inputting information into the blending station so that the beverage size and one or more of the various types of foodstuffs, as well as other ingredients such as ice, water, supplements, etc., can be selected to make a drink, a blending container to hold the various ingredients, a mixing location for blending the ingredients to achieve a uniform drink consistency, and a cleaning location to clean the blending container after the blended contents have been dispensed into a container for consumption.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A blending apparatus, comprising:
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a blending container; an ice processor to selectively and automatically introduce ice to the blending container upon request; at least one foodstuffs pump to selectively and automatically introduce foodstuffs to the blending container upon request; wherein the ice processor and the at least one foodstuffs pump are both driven by a single motor shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A blending apparatus, comprising:
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a blending container; an ice auger and ice chipper to selectively and automatically introduce ice to the blending container upon request; at least one foodstuffs pump to introduce foodstuffs to the blending container upon request; a motor having a drive shaft, the drive shaft comprising; first, second, and third drive sprockets; wherein the first drive sprocket is operatively connected to a jack shaft sprocket, the second drive sprocket is operatively connected to an auger sprocket, and the third drive sprocket is operatively connected to an ice chipper sprocket. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A blending apparatus, comprising:
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a blending container; an ice auger and an ice chipper adjacent to the blending container; at least one foodstuffs pump fluidly connected to the blending container; a motor having a drive shaft; wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the ice auger, the ice chipper, and the at least one foodstuffs pump. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A blending apparatus comprising:
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a blending container; an ice processor to process ice and transport ice to the blending container; a plurality of ingredients; at least one pump configured to transport the ingredients to the blending container; a drive operatively coupled to the ice processor and the at least one pump. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for blending ingredients using a single drive system, comprising:
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providing a blending container; chipping ice into substantially smaller dimensions; transporting chipped ice into the blending container; pumping selected ingredients into the blending container; blending the selected ingredients and the chipped ice in the blending container. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for blending ingredients, comprising:
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receiving a request for a particular mixture; providing a blending container; chipping a selected amount of ice into substantially smaller dimensions with a single drive system, wherein the selected amount of ice is related to the particular mixture requested; putting the selected amount of chipped ice into the blending container; pumping selected ingredients into the blending container with the single drive system, wherein the selected ingredients are related to the particular mixture requested; blending the selected ingredients and the selected amount of chipped ice in the blending container so as to produce a consistent mixture of the particular requested mixture.
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18. A blending apparatus comprising:
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a blending container; an ice hopper which is in operative communication with the blending container to allow ice from the ice hopper to move to the blending container; a plurality of ingredients which are in operative communication with the blending container to allow the plurality of ingredients to move to the blending container; and a motor configured to drive the movement of the ice from the ice hopper to the blending container and to drive the movement of at least one ingredient from the plurality of ingredients to the blending container. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification