Method for controlling the blending of drinks

• US 7,264,187 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
• Inventors: Kolar, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Francis; Faye
• Application Number:
  US11/132,867
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 241/30, 241/DIG.17, 241/199.12, 241/282.1, 366/206, 993/48, 993/42, 994/68, 995/10, 992/75, 426/231
• US Class Current: 241/30
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/045 of slush-ice, e.g. semi-frozen beverage
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/228 Arrangement and mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/17 Ice crushers

Abstract

A method of operating a drink-blending machine to change the operational speed of an ice-shaver motor initiates operation of an ice-shaving process to supply a portion of shaved ice to a pitcher. Accordingly, the ice is moved past a blade to produce shaved ice. According to the rate of ice-shaving, the operational speed of the ice-shaver motor is adjusted. In doing so, the method compensates for dullness of the blade to maintain rate of ice-shaving with a specified range.

Claims

1. A method of operating a drink-blending machine to change the operational speed of an ice-shaver motor comprising the steps of:

initiating operation of an ice-shaving process;

providing shaved ice to a pitcher;

setting the operational speed of the ice-shaver motor to a default speed plus a potential adjustment factor;

determining an ice-shaving rate for the ice-shaving process;

if the ice-shaving rate is not within a specified range, then determining the adjustment factor; and

using the adjustment factor in repeat operations of the drink-blending machine.

2. A method of operating a drink-blending machine according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

before said step of providing shaved ice to the pitcher, determining a tare weight for the pitcher and liquid contained therein;

after said step of providing shaved ice to the pitcher, if a weight difference is not greater than or equal to a specified weight of shaved ice, then iteratively performing the following steps a and b;

a. determining a current sample weight;

b. subtracting the tare weight from the current sample weight to determine the weight difference; and

deactivating the ice-shaving process.

3. A method of operating a drink-blending machine according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

initiating operation of a blending process after said step of deactivating the ice-shaving process.

4. A method of operating a drink-blending machine to change the operational speed of an ice-shaver motor comprising the steps of:

initiating operation an ice-shaving process;

providing shaved ice to a pitcher;

setting the operational speed of the ice-shaver motor to a default speed plus an adjustment factor;

iteratively repeating steps a, b, c, and d until a weight difference is greater than a specified weight of shaved ice;

a. determining an ice-shaving rate per cycle;

b. determining a current sample weight;

c. subtracting the tare weight from the current sample weight to determine the weight difference;

d. if the ice-shaving rate per cycle is not within a specified range, then determining an intermediary adjustment factor;

determining the adjustment factor using the intermediary adjustment factors;

using the adjustment factor in repeat operations of the drink-blending machine; and

deactivating the ice-shaving process.

5. A method of operating a drink-blending machine according to claim 4, further comprising:

initiating operation of a blending process after said step of deactivating the ice-shaving process.

6. A method of operating a drink-blending machine to change the operational speed of an ice-shaver motor comprising the steps of:

initiating operation an ice-shaving process;

providing shaved ice to a pitcher;

setting the operational speed of the ice-shaver motor;

iteratively repeating steps e, f, g, and h until a weight difference is greater than a specified weight of shaved ice;

e. determining an ice-shaving rate per cycle;

f. determining a current sample weight;

g. subtracting the tare weight from the current sample weight to determine the weight difference;

h. continually adjusting the operational speed of the ice-shaver motor according to an amount of ice-shaving rate error per cycle;

deactivating the ice-shaving process.

7. A method of operating a drink-blending machine according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

before continually adjusting the operational speed of the ice-shaver motor, determining the amount of ice-shaving rate error per cycle by subtracting the ice-shaving rate per cycle from a desired cycle ice-shaving rate.

8. A method of operating a drink-blending machine according to claim 7, wherein the step of continually adjusting the operational speed of the ice-shaver motor minimizes the amount of ice-shaving rate error per cycle.

9. A method of operating a drink-blending machine according to claim 8, further comprising:

initiating operation of a blending process after said step of deactivating the ice-shaving process.