Abstract:
An automatic flavor-injected blending apparatus includes a base, a processor, and a user input in signal communication with the processor. A blending spindle is rotatably affixed at an upper end to the base and is rotatable under processor control. A container support is movably affixed to the base and is movable between a lower position for placing a container thereon and an upper position closer to the spindle&#39;s upper end. A selected flavor is injectable into the container. Software is resident in the processor that is adapted to receive the flavor selection and actuate the injection. The software is further adapted to actuate the spindle rotation. Since the blending process is automated, the server can start the apparatus, step away and attend to other duties while the apparatus is functioning, and return at a later time after a timer has turned off the spindle rotator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/283,124, “Automatic Flavor-Injected Blending Apparatus and Method,” filed Apr. 11, 2001. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to the dispensing and mixing of multi-flavored drinks and semisolid foods such as milkshakes, frozen custards, slushes, slurries, and the like, and more particularly to an efficient and cost effective method of preparing a flavored shake or slurry. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Beverage dispensing systems are used to provide consumers with beverages that are typically a mixture of previously stored concentrate and water. Further, milk shake machines are available for use in fast-food-styled restaurants, but such machines are typically expensive. In addition, storage of product used is typically within the machine thus demanding expensive retail space for placement and convenient use. 
   By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,686 to Jarrett discloses a beverage dispensing system for providing different flavored drinks mixed from concentrate and water. Containers including the different flavors of concentrate are stored for pumping to a hand held, “bar-gun” styled, dispensing nozzle. Valves within the dispensing head control the concentrate discharge when a selected beverage is desired, and an appropriate amount of concentrate and water are discharged simultaneously to ensure that the end beverage contains the desired mixture. User operated vending machines, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,957 to Sizemore, discloses a cup-type vending system which includes a currency output device and automatically outputs a beverage into a cup in response to a payment and selection of a beverage. The vending machine includes a plurality of disposable containers of beverage syrup, such as “bag-in-box” packages, stored in an auxiliary cabinet. A dispensing system functions to draw syrup from the disposable containers and selectively dispense a predefined or selected amount of syrup into an awaiting cup. The system includes pumping stages wherein one stage draws a selected amount of syrup from a package through a feed conduit and discharges the selected amount through a nozzle into the cup. 
   By way of further example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,997 to Tomlinson et al. discloses a milk shake machine which include a mixer for reducing pre-frozen flavored ingredients stored within a container to a flavored milk shake with the addition of a preselected amount of milk supplied from a milk storage tank carried by the machine. U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,691 to Reese et al. discloses a frozen drink mixer for preparing blended beverages, particularly frozen drinks, in which an ice dispenser, liquid mix dispenser, and blender are combined into a single unit. The apparatus automatically delivers an appropriate amount of ice and liquid to the blender unit and turns on the blender at an appropriate time to prepare the frozen drink of desired size. A drink mixing and dispensing machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,007 stores a mix within a tank carried by the machine and pumps the mix through a freezing chamber prior to dispensing into a cup which is held under a mixing blade. Syrup pumps are also carried within the cabinet of the machine for dispensing one or two syrups into the cup before repositioning the cup under the mixer for dispensing and mixing the syrup with the milk shape styled mix. In the known prior art, such systems are calibrated to deliver a predetermined amount of flavoring, which obviates the possibility of serving different-volume containers. 
   While a variety of milk shake styled syrup dispensing and mixing devices and methods are known in the art, there remains a need for an economical method for efficiently and cost effectively providing a customer with a plurality of options for a milk shake flavored as desired by the customer, including varied sizes and flavors. Further, the currently known systems require manual holding and movement of the cup during the blending process, which in a fast-food-style environment is too time-intensive. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automatic flavor-injected blending apparatus and a method of use. 
   It is another object to provide such an apparatus and method for making a plurality of sized blended foodstuffs. 
   It is an additional object to provide such an apparatus and method that decreases human interaction time. 
   It is a further object to provide such an apparatus and method that includes an inventory function. 
   It is also an object to provide such an apparatus and method that includes an ability to monitor a temperature of a material to be used in the blended foodstuff. 
   It is yet an additional object to provide an apparatus and method for tracking consumption data on a foodstuff. 
   It is yet another object to provide such an apparatus and method for relaying tracked consumption data to a remote site. 
   These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, an automatic flavor-injected blending apparatus. The apparatus comprises a base, a processor, and user input means in signal communication with the processor. The input means has means for entering a flavor selection chosen from a plurality of flavor selections. 
   The apparatus further comprises a blending spindle that is rotatably affixed at an upper end to the base. The spindle has a blending blade adjacent a lower end thereof. Means for rotating the spindle is under processor control. A container support, which is adapted to hold, for example, a cup, is movably affixed to the base. The container support has a support surface adapted to hold a container thereon. The container support is movable between a lower position for placing the container thereon and an upper position wherein the support surface is closer to the spindle&#39;s upper end. 
   Means under processor control inject the selected flavor into the container. 
   Software means are resident in the processor that is adapted to receive the flavor selection and actuate the injecting means. The software means is further adapted to actuate the spindle rotating means and lower the container support from the upper position to the lower position. 
   The method of the present invention is for automatically preparing a flavor-blended comestible responsive to an order therefor. The method comprises the steps of 
   This system achieves an automatic process and apparatus therefor for mixing a comestible product in a container such as a cup, for example. The comestible may comprise, but is not intended to be limited to, a milk shake, fruit shake, smoothie, or frozen dessert. Since the blending process is automated, the server can start the apparatus, step away and attend to other duties while the apparatus is functioning, and return at a later time after the timer has turned off the spindle rotator. Further, an improved quality and perception of improved quality are both achieved, since the blending occurs at the time of order, and the consumer is served a freshly prepared product. 
   As an additional feature of the present invention, the software means is also adapted to track consumption data based upon operator input. An output in signal communication with the processor provides means for relaying consumption information tracked by the processor to a remote site. Such a feature is not intended to be limited to the beverage apparatus aspect of the present invention, and will be seen by one of skill in the art to provide benefit for inventorying and tracking consumption data from any point-of-sale outlet. 
   The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the blending apparatus. 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the blending apparatus. 
       FIG. 3  is a top side view of the cup holder. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the cup holder bracket. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the selection touch screen. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be presented with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 . 
   Front and side views of the apparatus  10  of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and a schematic diagram in FIG.  7 . The functions of the apparatus  10  are under control of a processor  30 , which has resident thereon software  53  for performing the control calculations and functions (FIG.  10 ). 
   A base of the apparatus  10  comprises a housing  11  that has a substantially horizontal bottom  12  positionable on a serving surface such as a counter. A substantially vertical back  13  extends upward from a back edge of the bottom  12 . A shelf  14  extending substantially horizontally forward of the back  13  and above the bottom  12  forms a space  50  enclosed on three sides. Depending from the underside of the shelf  14  at its upper end  151  is a rotatable spindle  15  that has a plurality of blending blades  16  adjacent a lower end  152 . The spindle  15  is rotatable by a motor  52 , the actuation of which is under processor  30  control, as will be discussed in the following. 
   Through the shelf  14  extend a plurality of ports  17  for injecting flavoring therethrough from a plurality of reservoirs  33 . Each reservoir  33  holds a unitary flavoring in a flowable state. A pump  32  is in fluid communication with a line  321  leading from each reservoir  33  to an inlet  171  of a respective port  17 . Each port  17  further has an outlet  172 , the outlets  172  positioned adjacent and in surrounding relation to the spindle&#39;s top end  151 . 
   Affixed to the back  13  within the space  50  is a cup holder bracket  18  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) having a holder stop  56  positioned within a groove  181  in the bracket  18 . The holder stop  56  comprises a switch in signal communication with the processor  30 . Slidably affixed to the bracket  18  is a cup holder  19  that comprises a traveling attachment portion  20  having a slider  201  that is insertable into the bracket  18  and is slidable relative thereto and a support surface  21  extending generally horizontally outward from the attachment portion  20 . The holder stop  56  serves to limit the upward motion of the cup holder  19  and thereby define the upper position of the cup holder  19 . 
   The support surface  21  has a generally circular hole  22  therethrough that is dimensioned to hold a bottom portion of a cup  23 . A handle  24  depends downward from the front of the support surface  21 . In a preferred embodiment the cup  23  will contain a frozen neutral-flavored product, and a generally dome-shaped lid  25  is placed thereatop that has a hole  26  dimensioned to permit the spindle blades  16  therethrough and to permit an injection of flavoring through the ports  17 . 
   An actuator  27  such as is known in the art is affixed at a bottom end  271  to the bottom  12  adjacent the back  13 . The actuator  27  has a movable arm  28  extending from the top  272  thereof that is attached to a protrusion  29  extending from the cup holder&#39;s attachment portion  20 . In this application the user places a cup  23  in the hole  26  when the cup holder  19  is in the lower position and lifts the handle  24  until the attachment portion  20  reaches the holder stop  56 , with the cup holder  19  in the upper position. 
   When activated, the arm  28  moves up and down for a predetermined amount of time while the spindle  15  is rotating, thereby moving the cup holder bracket  18  and the cup  23  for a predetermined time to sufficiently blend the selected product. Preferably the arm  28  moves over a sufficient vertical range in order to translate the spindle blades  16  from adjacent the cup&#39;s bottom  231  to adjacent a fill level  232  of the cup  23 , in order to achieve a desired complete mixing of the flavoring into the neutral-flavored product. The software  53  thus is adapted to direct a repetitive vertical movement of the cup holder bracket  18  relative to the spindle  15  in a range of motion between a first blending position and a second blending position, wherein the upper position is contained within that range of motion. 
   A substantially transparent shield  55  is affixed to the housing  11  depending from the shelf  14 . The shield  55  forms a three-sided protective guard around the spindle  15  in order to prevent splash and also to minimize user contact with the spindle  15  during operation. 
   Housed atop the shelf  14  is the processor  30  that, with the resident software  53 , controls the functions and timing of the apparatus  10 . The processor  30  is in signal communication with a plurality of relays  31  that in turn control a plurality of pumps  32 . Each pump  32  is in fluid communication with a reservoir  33  of flavoring, such as a syrup. Fluid lines  321  lead from each reservoir  33  to the ports  17  to deliver the flavoring to the cup  23 . 
   The software  53  is in communication with a timer  54  housed with the processor  30  and is adapted to receive a signal entered by the user, for example, for determining which reservoir  33  to tap, and for how long to run the pump  32 , comprising a first predetermined time. The type of flavoring is based upon the selected product flavor, and the amount of flavoring is based upon the selected product volume. The signal also determines blending duration, which is dependent, for example, upon such criteria as the product size and type selected and product viscosity (FIG.  6 ). The blending duration comprises a second predetermined time. 
   An input signal is entered by the user via a touch screen  34  such as depicted in  FIG. 9 , although this configuration and the selections thereon are not intended as limitations. The touch screen  34  is in signal communication with the processor  30 . The touch screen  34  is a preferred, although not exclusive, input device because it is readily adaptable and reprogrammable to different situations as desired. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , three flavors  35  and three sizes  36  are available. In addition, prompts to the user are provided to permit different screens to be displayed on a menu  37 , select a flavor  38 , clean the apparatus  39 , cancel an order  40 , change language  41 , and turn the apparatus off  42 . These choices are exemplary and not intended to be limiting, and one of skill in the art will recognize that any configuration and arrangement of selections is possible. As the apparatus  10  is under processor  30  control, it will be seen that a virtually limitless array of options can be programmed, which is important in being adaptable to different settings, and, make allowances for viscosity of the product and a tested required blending time for certain flavorings that require a longer blending time than others. The processor  30  also controls the speed of the actuator&#39;s travel up and down, which is programmable for desired product. 
   An additional feature of the invention comprises means for tracking a temperature of a freezer  44  in which the cup of neutral-flavored product is stored prior to blending. A sensor  45  in the freezer  44  has an output leading to an input to the processor  30 , where the software  53  is also adapted to monitor the temperature to assure that it stays within a predetermined acceptable range. If the temperature falls out of that range, an alarm is sent to the screen  34  for viewing by the user. 
   The present apparatus  10  has in an exemplary embodiment been tested to require approximately 7 sec to set up and 3 sec to release the completed product, a total of 10 sec operator time, which makes possible the use of this apparatus  10  in settings wherein minimizing operator intervention time is a critical, such as fast food and other take-out-type restaurants. 
   In an alternate embodiment, the desired product may require no flavoring to be added by the apparatus  10 . For example, in the type of product having a nonfluid additive such as crushed cookies or small candies, the operator would add the additive to the cup  23  prior to positioning the cover  25  and placing the cup  23  in the holder&#39;s hole  26 . Then the automatic blending process can ensue. 
   Another aspect of the present invention, which may be considered distinct from the blending apparatus milieu, comprises means for tracking product consumed, with all the associated data such as flavors, sizes, alarm status, etc. The software  53  tracks these data and is adapted to output them to a remote site  43 , whether at the same location but a different computer or a distant central data processing center, such as a corporate headquarters. A modem  46  in electronic communication with the processor  30  provides an exemplary channel for outputting these data, which, as will be understood by one of skill in the art, is readily configurable to a desired functionality. 
   In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction. 
   Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims. A timer that is under processor control times an activation of the rotating means based upon the product flavor and the product volume while the support is in the upper position.