Patent Publication Number: US-2007119867-A1

Title: Chilled drink preparation control device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a control apparatus of a cold beverage blender.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
      Disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication NO 63-222655 is a soft ice beverage blender of the type which includes an ice cutting mechanism for slicing ice cubes to produce an amount of sliced ice and a mixing mechanism for mixing the sliced ice with an amount of beverage stored in a container to provide soft ice beverage. In the soft ice beverage blender, a cutting time of ice cubes in the ice cutting mechanism is adjusted by a timer in an electric control circuit. Accordingly, the amount of sliced ice formed in the ice cutting mechanism is determined by adjustment of the cutting time. For this reason, it is difficult to adjust the amount of sliced ice in accordance with user&#39;s taste. Even if the setting time of the timer in the electric control circuit was adjusted in accordance with user&#39;s taste, such adjustment of the timer would not be realistic in use of the soft ice beverage blender.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a control apparatus for a cold beverage blender capable of adjusting an amount of sliced ice in accordance with user&#39;s taste in a simple manner.  
      According to the present invention, the object is accomplished by providing an electric control apparatus for a cold beverage blender which comprises an ice cutting mechanism (SM) with a shaving motor (M 1 ) operated for slicing ice cubes, a mixing mechanism ( 60 ) with a mixing motor (M 2 ) operated for mixing sliced ice with beverage stored in a container to prepare an amount of cold beverage, means ( 80   a - 80   c ,  80 ) for setting an amount of ice cubes sliced in the cutting mechanism to a desired amount, means ( 90   a -  90   c ) for setting the number (N) of cups of cold beverage desired by a user, control means ( 170   a ,  390 ,  391 ,  440 - 461 ,  480 - 521 ) for controlling operation of the shaving motor in accordance with the set amount of ice cubes and the number of cups of cold beverage, and control means ( 170   b ,  364 ) for controlling operation of the mixing motor in accordance with the set amount of ice cubes and the number of cups of cold beverage.  
      In the control apparatus of the cold beverage blender, an amount of ice cubes to be sliced in the cutting mechanism is set in accordance with the number of cups of cold beverage for preparation of cold beverage suitable to user&#39;s taste. Thus, the setting means for the amount of sliced ice is useful for a user to adjust the amount of sliced ice to a desired amount. As the shaving and mixing motors are operated under control of the control means, an amount of cold beverage is prepared for the number of cups set by the user.  
      In the case that the control apparatus of the present invention is provided with means for setting viscosity of beverage, it is preferable that the control means of the mixing motor is arranged to decrease or increase operation time of the mixing means in accordance with the viscosity of beverage set by the setting means. With such arrangement of the control means, the mixing of beverage with sliced ice is effected in a good condition.  
      In the case that the means for setting an amount of ice cubes to be sliced is in the form of a plurality of switches ( 80   a - 80   c ) operated by a user for setting a different amount of ice cubes and that the shaving motor control means is arranged to control operation of the shaving motor in such a manner that a desired amount of ice cubes set by operation of either one of the switches is sliced in the cutting mechanism, the useful effects described above are attainable.  
      In the case that the means for setting a desired amount of ice cubes to be sliced is in the form of an analog setting device ( 80 ) for setting a desired amount of ice cubes in an analog amount and that the shaving motor control means is arranged to control operation of the shaving motor in such a manner that a desired amount of ice cubes set by operation of the analog setting device is sliced in the cutting mechanism, a desired amount of sliced ice can be finely determined by the user.  
      In the case that the viscosity setting means is in the form of a plurality of manual switches ( 100   a ,  100   b ) for setting a different viscosity in accordance with viscosity of the beverage and that the mixing motor control means is arranged to activate the mixing motor for a mixing time determined in accordance with the viscosity set by operation of either one of the manual switches, the useful effects can be attainable by operation of the manual switches.  
      In the case that the viscosity setting means is in the form of an analog setting device ( 100 ) for setting a viscosity in an analog amount in accordance with viscosity of the beverage and that the mixing motor control means is arranged to activate the mixing motor for a mixing time determined in accordance with the analog amount of viscosity set by operation of the analog setting device, the viscosity of cold beverage can be analogously defined, and the useful effects can be finely attainable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a cold beverage blender which is operated under control of an electric control apparatus in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cold beverage blender shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the control apparatus;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a rectifier mounted on the bottom of a cutting disk in the beverage blender;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a thrust force acting on ice cubes in a cutting mechanism of the beverage blender;  
       FIG. 6  is a front view of an operation panel shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
      FIGS.  7  to  11  illustrate a flow chart of a control program executed by a microcomputer shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a timing chart illustrating each operation of a shaving motor and a mixing motor activated in accordance with the number N of cups of beverage;  
       FIG. 13  is a front view of another embodiment of the operation panel;  
       FIG. 14  is a graph showing a mixing time in relation to viscosity of beverage; and  
       FIG. 15  is a front view of a modification of the operation panel. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.  
     First Embodiment  
      Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  is a first embodiment of an electric control apparatus E of a cold beverage blender B in accordance with the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cold beverage blender B is provided with an ice cutting mechanism SM which includes an upright machine frame W mounted on a base structure S, an upper hood  10  horizontally mounted within the upright frame W to be removable downwardly, and a cutting disk  20  coupled at its lower end periphery with the lower end outer periphery of upper hood  10  to be removable downwardly. The ice cutting mechanism SM further includes a rotary shaft  30  extended through the center of upper hood  10  and supported at its lower end on a boss portion formed on the head of cutting disk  20 , and rotary plates  31  driven by rotation of the rotary shaft  30  to rotate along the upper surface of cutting disk  20 .  
      The upper hood  10  has a downwardly inclined conical inner surface  10   a  and a cylindrical head portion  11  formed at its peripheral wall  11   a  with an inlet opening  12  through which a chute C 1  is inserted from upward to introduce ice cubes falling from an ice storage container C placed above the machine frame W. The cutting disk  20  has a downwardly inclined conical upper surface  21 . A pair of cutting blades  23  are mounted on the cutting disk in such a manner that the edges of the cutting blades are positioned upward at a pair of radial slits formed in the upper surface  21  of cutting disk  20 . In this embodiment, the inclined angle θ 1  of the conical upper surface is determined at 10° staking into account of the size of ice cubes supplied from the ice storage container  40 , while the inclined angle θ 2  of the conical inner surface of upper hood  10  is determined at 50° (see  FIG. 5 ) Such arrangement of the angles is effective to increase the component of a centrifugal force F acting on the ice cubes A caused by rotation of the rotary plates  31  (or a thrust force acting on the cutting blades  23  of ice cubes) in cutting operation.  
      The three rotary plates  31  are circumferentially equally spaced and mounted to the rotary shaft  30  for rotation along the conical upper surface  21  of cutting disk  20  in a condition where the bottoms of rotary plates  31  are spaced in a predetermined gap from the edges of cutting blades  23 . In this embodiment, an electric shaving motor M 1  is mounted on an upper portion of the machine frame at one side of the upper hood  10  to drive the rotary shaft  30  by way of a belt-transmission mechanism.  
      In addition, the cutting disk  20  is formed at its lower end outer periphery with circumferentially spaced flanges  24  which are coupled with circumferentially spaced flanges  14  formed on the lower end outer periphery of upper hood  10 . The flanges  24  of cutting disk  20  are fixed to a support member W 1  mounted on an upper portion of the inner wall of machine frame W together with circumferentially spaced flanges  44  formed on an upper end outer periphery of a lower hood  40  by means of screws  13 .  
      Mounted to the bottom of cutting disk  20  are rectifiers  50  which are formed respectively with a rectifying opening  51  for introducing ice pieces sliced by the cutting blade  23  toward the central portion of lower hood  40 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the width and length of a rectifying opening formed between the upper ends of both side walls  52  correspond with the length of cutting blades  23 . The height L 1  of the front ends of both side walls is determined lower than that of the rear ends thereof so that the rectifying opening  51  is formed shallow at its front end portion and deep at its rear end portion. Thus, the rear end wall of rectifying opening  51  is inclined at an angle θ 3  relative to the bottom of each slit  22 . (see  FIG. 4 ) Mounted to the outer periphery of cutting disk  20  is a drain pipe D the distal end of which is extended outward from the lower hood  40 .  
      The lower hood  40  is in the form of a cylindrical member which is made of stainless steel and provided with an elastic ring  45  of silicon rubber vertically movably coupled with an annular flange  41  formed on the lower end thereof. The elastic ring  45  is coupled with the upper end opening of a beverage container  70  in a liquid-tight manner. The beverage container  70  is detachably mounted on a clutch  61  of a mixing mechanism  60  assembled on the base structure S. An agitator  71  detachably coupled with the bottom of beverage container  70  is driven by rotation of a drive shaft when the beverage container  70  has been put on the clutch  61  of the mixing mechanism for engagement therewith. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the input member of clutch  61  is driven by an electric mixing motor M 2  mounted on the base structure S at one side of the beverage container  60 . The drive shaft rotated by engagement of the clutch  51  is arranged in coaxial with the rotary shaft  30  of the rotary plates  31 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , an electric control apparatus E of the beverage blender is provided with three size button switches  80   a ˜ 80   c , three drink button switches  90   a ˜ 90   c , two viscosity button switches  100   a ,  100   b , a start button switch  110 , a stop button switch  120 , a shaving button switch  130 , a mixing button switch  140  and a reset button switch  150 . These button switches each are in the from of a normally open switch and mounted on an operation panel P of the beverage blender. (see  FIG. 2 ) The operation panel P is mounted on the outer face of ice storage container C.  
      The size button switches  80   a ˜ 80   c  are operated by a user when it is desired to slice ice cubes A. The size button switch  80   b  is operated to adjust the slice amount of ice cubes in a medium amount. The size button switch  80   a  is operated to adjust the slice amount of ice cubes in a smaller amount than the medium amount. The size button switch  80   c  is operated to adjust the slice amount of ice cubes larger than the medium amount. The drink button switch  90   a  is operated to prepare one cup of cold beverage, the drink button switch  90   b  is operated to prepare two cups of cold beverage, and the drink button switch  90   c  is operated to prepare three cups of cold beverage.  
      The viscosity button switches  100   a ,  100   b  are provided to adjust the viscosity of condensed fruit juice to be mixed with sliced ice pieces. The button switch  100   a  is operated when the viscosity of condensed fruit juice is low, and the button switch  100   b  is operated when the viscosity of condensed fruit juice is high. The start button switch  110  is operated to activate the shaving motor M 1  and mixing motor M 2 . The stop button switch  120  is operated to deactivate the shaving motor M 1  and mixing motor M 2 . The shaving button switch  130  is operated to compensate for shortage of the amount of sliced ice pieces after preparation of cold beverage. The mixing button switch  140  is operated to compensate for shortage of the mixed degree of condensed fruit juice after preparation of cold beverage. The reset button switch  150  is temporarily operated to deactivate the motors M 1  and M 2 .  
      When applied with the alternating current voltage from a commercial power source PS through a source switch SW of the normally open type, a microcomputer  160  executes a control program shown by a flow chart in FIGS.  7 ˜ 11 . During execution of the control program, the computer  160  acts in response to selective operation of the button switches to control operation of the motors M 1 , M 2  through driving circuits  170   a ,  170   b  and to control activation of light emitting diodes  180 ˜ 270  (hereinafter called LED  180 ˜ 270 ) through driving circuits  180   a ˜ 270   a  for various processing required for preparation of cold beverage. The microcomputer  160  converts the alternating current voltage to a constant voltage of direct current and is activated under the constant voltage of direct current. The control program is preliminarily stored in a ROM of computer  160  in a readable manner.  
      The driving circuit  170   a  is applied with the alternating current voltage from the commercial power source PS through the power switch SW under control of the computer  160  to activate the electric shaving motor M 1 . Similarly, the driving circuit  170   b  is applied with the alternating current voltage from the commercial power source PS through the power switch SW under control of the computer  160  to activate the electric mixing motor M 2 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , the LED  180 ,  190  and  200  are mounted on the operation panel P at each position near the size button switches  80   a ,  80   b ,  80   c  to be lighted for visual indication when operated. The LED  210 ,  220  and  230  are mounted on the operation panel P at each position near the drink button switches  90   a ,  90   b ,  90   c  to be lighted for visual indication when operated. The LED  240 ,  250 ,  260  and  270  are mounted on the operation panel P at each position near the button switches  110 ,  120 ,  130  and  140  to be lighted for visual indication when operated.  
      In use of the cold beverage blender, an amount of beverage such as condensed fruit juice is poured in the beverage container  70  in condition where ice cubes produced in an ice maker have been stored in the ice storage container. The beverage container  70  is put on the clutch  61  on the base structure S for engagement therewith in such a manner that the elastic ring  45  is lifted by the upper end of container  70  and coupled therewith. When the power switch SW has been turned on in such a condition, the computer  160  starts to execute the control program as in the flow chart shown in  FIG. 7 ˜ 11  and determines at step  300  whether either one of the size button switches  80   a ˜ 80   c  has been turned on or not. If a medium amount Me of sliced ice pieces is desired, the size button switch  80   b  is operated by a user. If a small amount S of sliced ice pieces is desired by a woman, the size button switch  80   a  is operated. If a large amount L of sliced ice pieces is desired by a man, the size button switch  80   c  is operated.  
      When determined a “Yes” answer at step  300 , the computer  160  executes at step  301  processing for activating either one of the LED  80   a  ˜ 80   c  corresponding with one of the size button switches operated by the user. Thus, one of the LED  80   a ˜ 80   c  is lighted by activation of the driving circuit for light emission so that the operated condition of the size button switch can be visually recognized by the user. After processing at step  301 , the computer  160  determines at step  302  the amount of sliced ice pieces defined by selective operation of the size button switches. Accordingly, the small amount S of sliced ice pieces is determined by operation of the size button switch  80   a , and the medium amount Me of sliced ice pieces is determined by operation of the size button switch  80   b . Similarly, the large amount L of sliced ice pieces is determined by operation of the size button switch  80   c.    
      Successively, the computer  160  determines at step  310  whether either one of the drink button switches  90   a ˜ 90   c  has been turned on or not. When it is desired to prepare one cup of cold beverage, the drink button switch  90   a  is operated by the user. If it is desired to prepare two cups of cold beverage, the drink button switch  90   b  is operated by the user. If it is desired to prepare three cups of cold beverage, the drink button switch  90   c  is operated by the user. When determined a “Yes” answer at step  310 , the computer  160  executes at step  311  processing for activating either one of the LED corresponding with one of the drink button switches operated by the user. Thus, one of the LED is lighted by activation of the driving circuit for light emission so that the operated condition of the drink button switch can be visually recognized by the user. After processing at step  311 , the computer  160  determines at step  312  the number of cups of cold beverage desired by the user. Accordingly, one cup of cold beverage is determined by operation of the drink button switch  90   a , two cups of cold beverage are determined by operation of the drink button switch  90   b , and three cups of cold beverage are determined by operation of the drink button switch  90   c.    
      Subsequently, the computer  160  determines at step  320  whether either one of the viscosity button switches  100   a  and  100   b  has been turned on by the user or not. If the viscosity of beverage in container  70  is low, the viscosity button switch  100   a  is operated. If the viscosity of beverage is high, the viscosity button switch  100   b  is operated. When determined a “Yes” answer at step  320 , the computer  160  executes at step  321  processing for determination of a mixing time Tmix of the beverage. The mixing time Tmix represents a continual driving time of the electric mixing motor M 2  and is determined taking into account the amount of sliced ice, the number of cups N−1 and the viscosity of beverage as follows. When the medium amount Me of sliced ice is mixed with beverage of low viscosity, the mixing time Tmix is determined, for example, for 10 minutes. When the small amount S of sliced ice is mixed with the beverage, the mixing time Tmix is determined to be shorter than 10 minutes. When the large amount L of sliced ice is mixed with the beverage, the mixing time Tmix is determined to be longer than 10 minutes. When the medium amount Me of sliced ice is mixed with beverage of high viscosity, the mixing time Tmix is determined for 20 minutes. When the small amount S of sliced ice is mixed with the beverage of high viscosity, the mixing time Tmix is determined shorter than 20 minutes. When the large amount L of sliced ice pieces is mixed with the beverage of high viscosity, the mixing time Tmix is determined to be longer than 20 minutes. As described above, one cup of beverage is defined as a standard volume for determination of the mixing time Tmix. When the sliced ice is mixed with two or three cups of beverage, the mixing time Tmix is determined to be two or three times.  
      When the mixing time Tmix is determined by processing at step  321 , the computer determines at step  330  whether an amount of beverage mixed with sliced ice is in an allowable amount or not. In this instance, the amount of beverage is defined in accordance with the amount of sliced ice and the number N of cups of beverage respectively specified by operation of the size button switches and the drink button switches. If the amount of beverage is not in the allowable amount, the computer determines a “No” answer at step  330  and executes processing at step  331  and  332  for intermittent activation of the LED  80   a ,  80   b  or  80   c  and the LED  90   a ,  90   b  or  90   c . With the processing at step  331 , and  332 , the LED  80   a ,  80   b  or  80   c  and the LED  90   a ,  90   b  or  90   c  are intermittently lighted by activation of the driving circuit for light emission corresponding therewith under control of the computer so as to visually indicate the fact that the amount of sliced ice is not in the allowable amount.  
      When the answer at step  330  is “Yes”, the computer determines at step  340  in  FIG. 8  whether the start button switch  240  has been turned on or not. If the answer at step  340  is “Yes”, the computer executes processing at step  341  for activating the driving circuit  240   a  for light emission of the LED  240 . With the processing at step  341 , the LED  240  is lighted to visually indicate the operated condition of start button switch  240 . After processing at step  340 , the computer causes a timer housed therein to reset and start for measurement of a time at step  342 .  
      Successively, the computer determines at step  350  whether the stop button switch  120  has been turned on or not. If the answer at step  350  is “No”, the computer determines at step  360  lapse of a predetermined waiting time measured by the timer. The waiting time is determined to avoid an error in setting the amount of beverage. During lapse of the waiting time, the computer determines a “No” answer at step  360  and determines at step  350  whether the stop button switch  120  has been turned on or not. If there is an error in setting the amount of beverage, the stop button switch  120  is turned on by the user. In such an instance, the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  350  and executes processing at step  361  for activating the driving circuit  250   a  of the LED  250 . With the processing at step  361 , the LED  250  is lighted to visually indicate the fact that the stop button switch  120  was turned on due to an error in the set amount of beverage. After processing at step  361 , the computer deletes the data previously set at step  300 ˜ 330  and repeats the processing at step  300 ˜ 321 . When determined a “Yes” answer at step  360  upon lapse of the waiting time, the computer executes processing at step  363  for activating the driving circuit  170   a  of electric saving motor M 1  and processing at step  364  for activating the driving circuit  170   b  of electric mixing motor M 2 .  
      With the processing at step  363  and  364 , the electric shaving motor M 1  and mixing motor M 2  are activated to rotate the rotary plates  31  and agitator  71 . Then, ice cubes A falling into the inlet opening  12  of upper hood  10  through the chute C 1  are stirred by rotation of the rotary plates  13 , moved by a centrifugal force F acting thereon toward the outer periphery of cutting disk  20 , and thrusted to the conical inner surface of upper hood  10 . Thus, the ice cubes are thrusted by a component F 1  of the centrifugal force toward the edges of cutting blades  23  and sliced by the cutting blades  23 . The sliced ice pieces are discharged from the slits  22  into the central portion of beverage container  70  through the rectifiers  50 . In such an instance, the rectifiers  50  are useful to prevent the sliced ice from flying across the slits  22  and to restrict the discharging direction of sliced ice. On the other hand, the beverage stored in the container  70  is stirred with the sliced ice introduced by the rectifiers  50  during rotation of the agitator  7   a  and prepared as an amount of desired frozen cold beverage. In such operation, the elastic ring  45  is useful to prevent the prepared frozen cold beverage from flowing out the upper end opening of the container  70 .  
      After the processing at step  364 , the computer resets the timer at step  365  to measure lapse of a time and determines at step  370  whether the electric shaving motor M 1  is locked or not. If the answer at step  370  is “Yes”, the computer executes at step  371  processing for stopping the electric shaving motor M 1 . When the reset button switch  150  is temporarily turned on after the processing at step  371  to reset the start button switch  110  , the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  372  and executes the processing at step  340 . If the answer at step  370  is “No”, the computer determines the number N of cups. When the number N of cups is “1”, the computer causes the program to proceed to step  390  from step  380 . While lapse of a time T measured by the timer is less than a predetermined period of time T 1  (for instance, 5 minutes), the computer determines a “No” answer at step  390 . During lapse of the time, the electric shaving motor M 1  is continually driven so that the ice cubes are continually sliced by the cutting blades  23 .  
      When determined a “Yes” answer at step  390 , the computer executes processing for deactivating the electric shaving motor M 1  at step  391 . After the processing at step  391 , the computer determines whether lapse of the time T measured by the timer is a predetermined mixing time Tmix or not. In this embodiment, the mixing time Tmix is determined for ten or twenty minutes. While lapse of the time T is less than the mixing time Tmix, the computer determines a “No” answer at step  400 . During lapse of the time T, the electric mixing motor M 2  is continually driven so that the beverage is stirred by the agitator  71  and mixed with the sliced ice pieces. (see  FIG. 12 ) When determined a “Yes” answer at step  400 , the computer executes processing for deactivating the electric mixing motor M 2  at step  401 . Thus, a cup of frozen cold beverage is prepared by the beverage mixed with the sliced ice.  
      In the case that the medium amount Me of sliced ice pieces is mixed with a cup of low viscosity beverage, the mixing time Tmix is adjusted to ten minutes for preparation of the cold beverage. When the medium amount Me of sliced ice pieces is mixed with a cup of high viscosity beverage, the mixing time Tmix is adjusted to twenty minutes for preparation of the cold beverage. When a small amount S of sliced ice pieces or a large amount L of sliced ice pieces is mixed with the beverage, the mixing time Tmix is adjusted in accordance with the amount of sliced ice pieces. With such adjustment of the mixing time Tmix, the cold beverage can be prepared in a desired condition. In addition, the amount of sliced ice pieces can be adjusted to a desired amount by selective operation of the size button switches  80   a ˜ 80   c.    
      After the processing at step  401 , the computer determines at step  410  whether the shaving button switch  130  is turned on or not. If the answer at step  401  is “Yes”, the computer executes processing for activating the LED  260  and the electric shaving motor M 1  at step  411 . This activates the driving circuit  260   a  for light emission for lighting the LED  260  and causes the driving circuit  170   a  to activate the electric shaving motor M 1 . Thus, the ice cubes are further sliced by rotation of the electric shaving motor M 1  in a condition where the turned on condition of shaving button switch  130  is visually recognized by the user.  
      After the processing at step  411 , the computer determines at step  420  whether the mixing button switch  140  has been turned on or not. If the answer at step  420  is “Yes”, the computer executes processing for activating the LED  270  and the electric mixing motor M 2 . This activates the driving circuit  270   a  for light emission for lighting the LED  270  and causes the driving circuit  170   b  to activate the electric mixing motor M 2 . Thus, the sliced ice is mixed with the beverage by rotation of the electric mixing motor M 2  in a condition where the turned on condition of mixing button switch  140  is visually recognized by light of the LED  270 . When the stop button switch  120  is turned on in such a condition, the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  430  and executes processing for deactivating both the electric motors M 1  and M 2 . Thus, fine adjustment of the prepared condition of cold beverage is carried out by operation of the stop button switch  120  at a proper timing.  
      When determined two cups of cold beverage at step  380  (see  FIG. 8 ), the computer causes the program to proceed to step  440  shown in  FIG. 10 . At step  440  and  441 , the computer executes the same processing as that at step  390  and  391 . (see  FIG. 12 ) In this instance, the electric shaving motor M 1  is activated while lapse of the time T measured by the timer is less than the predetermined time T 1 . Upon lapse of the predetermined time T 1 , the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  400  and executes the processing for deactivating the electric shaving motor M 1  at step  441 . After the processing at step  441 , the computer executes processing at step  450  and  451  as follows.  
      At step  450 , the computer determines whether a predetermined time T 2  has lapsed or not. While the answer at step  450  is “No”, the electric shaving motor M 1  is maintained in a deactivated condition. (see  FIG. 12 ) Upon lapse of the predetermined time T 2 , the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  450  and executes at step  451  processing for activating the electric shaving motor M 1 . Then, the electric shaving motor M 1  is driven for a predetermined time T 3 . During operation of the electric shaving motor M 1 , ice cubes A are sliced by the cutting blades  23 , and the sliced ice pieces fall into the beverage container  70 . The sliced ice pieces are mixed with the beverage in container  70  and stirred by the agitator during operation of the electric mixing motor M 2 . Upon lapse of the predetermined time T 3 , the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  460  and executes processing for deactivating the electric shaving motor M 1  at step  461 . Upon lapse of a predetermined time 2Tmix after stopping of the electric shaving motor M 1 , the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  470  and executes processing for deactivating the electric mixing motor M 2  at step  471 .  
      In the case that two cups of cold beverage are prepared as described above, the amount of sliced ice pieces and beverage becomes two times in comparison with preparation of one cup of cold beverage, and the mixing time Tmix becomes two times. Accordingly, two cups of cold beverage can be prepared in the same manner as in the preparation of one cup of cold beverage.  
      When determined three cups of cold beverage at step  380 , the computer causes the program to proceed to step  480  shown in  FIG. 11 . In this instance, the computer executes at step  480  and  481  the same processing as that at step  440  and  441  shown in  FIG. 10 , executes at step  490  and  491  the same processing as that at step  450  and  451  and executes at step  500  and  501  the same processing as that at step  460  and  460   a . After the processing at step  501 , the computer determines whether lapse of the time T is a predetermined time T 4  or not. When determined a “Yes” answer at step  510 , the computer executes processing for activating the electric shaving motor M 1  at step  511 . (see  FIG. 12 ) Thus, the electric shaving motor M 1  is driven so that ice cubes are sliced by the cutting blades in the same manner as described above.  
      Subsequently, the computer determines at step  520  whether a predetermined time T 5  has lapsed or not. Upon lapse of the predetermined time T 5 , the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  520  and executes processing for deactivating the electric shaving motor M 1  at step  521 . After the processing at step  521 , the computer determines whether a predetermined time 3Tmix has lapsed or not at step  530 . Upon lapse of the predetermined time 3Tmix, the computer determines a “Yes” answer at step  530  and executes processing for deactivating the electric mixing motor M 2  at step  531 .  
      In the case that three cups of cold beverage are prepared as described above, the amount of sliced ice pieces and beverage becomes three times in comparison with the preparation of one cup of cold beverage, and the mixing time Tmix becomes three times. Accordingly, three cups of cold beverage can be prepared in the same manner as in the preparation of one cup of cold beverage.  
      In the first embodiment described above, the following useful effects are attainable. The ice cubes falling from the chute C 1  are introduced into a space between the downwardly inclined conical inner surface  10   a  of upper hood  10  and the downwardly inclined conical upper surface  21  of cutting disk  20  and thrusted toward the cutting blades  23  under the component F 1  of a centrifugal force F caused by rotation of rotary shaft  30 . Thus, the ice cubes are sliced by the cutting blades  23  positioned in the radial direction across the axis of rotary shaft  30 . This is effective to decrease cutting noises of the ice cubes in operation and to slice the ice cubes in a short period of time. With arrangement of the plural cutting blades about the rotary shaft  30 , the cutting mechanism SM can be constructed small in size, and the ice cubes A can be sliced in a shorter period of time. In the case that the chute C 1  is inserted into the inlet opening  12  formed in the cylindrical head portion of upper hood  10  to introduce the ice cubes falling from the ice storage container C toward the rotary shaft  30 , ice cubes in the ice storage container C can be prevented from rotation with the rotary shaft  30  to decrease noises in operation.  
      As the cutting disk  20  and lower hood  40  in the cold beverage blender are mounted to the lower end outer periphery of upper hood  10  by means of common screws, the cutting blades  23  assembled with the cutting disk  20  and the rotary wing  31  can be removed downwardly in a simple manner for washing.  
     Second Embodiment  
      Illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14  is a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein an analog setting device  100  such as an analog resistor is replaced with the viscosity button switches  100   a ,  100   b  in the first embodiment.(see  FIG. 13 ) The analog setting device  100  is provided with a scale corresponding with viscosity of different beverage. In the analog setting device  100 , a manual lever  101  is operated for setting each viscosity of beverage with the scale in an analog amount. In  FIG. 13 , the lowest viscosity of beverage is represented by the reference character L, while the highest viscosity of beverage is represent by the reference character H.  
      In the graph of  FIG. 14 , the mixing time Tmix is defined as Tmix-viscosity data in relation to each viscosity of beverage. In the graph of  FIG. 14 , each viscosity of grapefruit juice and margarita juice is defined by points a and b, and each viscosity of banana juice, strawberry juice and milk is defined by points c, d and e. In addition, each viscosity of other fruit juice may be defined in the graph of  FIG. 14 .  
      In this embodiment, the scale of the analog setting device  100  is utilized to set each viscosity of various beverages in an analog amount thereby to determine the mixing time at step  321  of  FIG. 7 . Other construction is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.  
      With the second embodiment described above, each viscosity of various beverages can be analogously defined by manipulation of the analog setting device  100 . Accordingly, each viscosity of various beverages can be properly set by a user, and the mixing time Tmix can be finely determined in accordance with the set value of viscosity on a basis of the Tmix-viscosity data.  
     Third Embodiment  
      Illustrated in  FIG. 15  is a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein an analog setting device  80  for setting an amount of sliced ice is replaced with the size button switches  80   a ˜ 80   c  in the first embodiment. In the analog setting device  80 , a manual lever  81  is operated by a user for setting an analog amount corresponding with a desired amount of sliced ice. In  FIG. 15 , the reference character S represents a small amount of sliced ice, and the reference character L represents a large amount of sliced ice.  
      In the third embodiment described above, an amount of sliced ice is determined by processing at step  302  on a basis of an analog amount set by operation of the analog setting device  80 . Accordingly, a desired amount of sliced ice can be finely determined by the user. Other construction and useful effects are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment.