Patent ID: 9731254
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: B01F

Claim:
1. A localized solution production unit for producing a solution from a concentrate pod comprising: a mixing container including a mixing impeller rotatably coupled to the container via an impeller shaft extending from a base of the mixing container, the mixing container including an opening at a neck of the container; a pod dock configured to removably receive the concentrate pod, the pod dock including a dock outlet, the concentrate pod including a sealable spout portion configured to be positioned in the dock outlet and extend therethrough, the sealable spout portion configured to release a concentrate from the concentrate pod into the mixing container, the pod dock configured to move the sealable spout portion of the concentrate pod into the opening at the neck of the mixing container for a direct transfer of the concentrate from the concentrate pod into the mixing container; a container dock coupled to the pod dock and configured to removably receive and engage the mixing container during a distribution of one or more of a base fluid flowing from a base fluid source and the concentrate released from the concentrate pod through the sealable spout portion of the concentrate pod, the container dock configured to retain the mixing container during a mixture of the base fluid and the concentrate, the container dock including an actuator and a rotatable coupling connected to the actuator, the rotatable coupling configured to rotatably actuate the impeller shaft to rotate the mixing impeller of the mixing container; and a controller communicably coupled to the actuator and the base fluid source, the controller configured to select a mixing profile from among a plurality of mixing profiles based on a solution identification, the controller configured to cause the actuator to rotate after the impeller is submerged by the distribution of the base fluid to generate a vortex in the mixing container prior to distribution of the concentrate and to mix the base fluid and the concentrate based on the selected mixing profile.