Beverage-making apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508257-B2
Application number	US-201715598617-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2017
Priority date	May 18, 2016
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

A beverage making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein, a fermentation tank cover covering the opening, and a heat exchange element arranged in contact with the fermentation tank. The beverage making apparatus also includes a first channel including a first end that is connected to the fermentation tank assembly; and a second end connected to: a second channel connected to a water tank, and a third channel connected to a dispenser of the beverage making apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage making apparatus comprising:
a fermentation tank assembly comprising a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein, a fermentation tank cover covering the opening, and a heat exchange element arranged in contact with the fermentation tank; and
a first channel comprising:
a first end that is connected to the fermentation tank assembly; and
a second end connected to:
a second channel connected to a water tank, and
a third channel connected to a dispenser of the beverage making apparatus,

wherein the first channel is configured to selectively provide unidirectional flow into the fermentation tank assembly and unidirectional flow out of the fermentation tank assembly,
wherein the second channel is configured to provide unidirectional flow from the water tank to the first channel, and
wherein the third channel is configured to provide unidirectional flow from the first channel to the dispenser.

2. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first channel is configured to transport a first liquid unidirectionally into the fermentation tank assembly, and transport a second liquid unidirectionally out of the fermentation tank assembly.

3. The beverage making apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first liquid comprises water, and the second liquid comprises a beverage product produced from the water and beverage ingredients held in the fermentation tank assembly.

4. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first channel is connected to the second channel and the third channel by being configured to split into the second channel and third channel.

5. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first valve configured to selectively control a direction of flow in the first channel as being one of the unidirectional flow into the fermentation tank assembly or the unidirectional flow out of the fermentation tank assembly; and
a second valve configured to selectively block the unidirectional flow in the second channel.

6. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second channel is configured to transport both a first liquid and a gas, and the third channel is configured to transport a second liquid.

7. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first channel is connected to the fermentation tank assembly by connecting to the fermentation tank cover.

8. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first channel is configured to be communicative with a beverage ingredient pack mounted inside the fermentation tank of the fermentation tank assembly.

9. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second channel is connected to the water tank by being directly coupled with the water tank.

10. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second channel is connected to the water tank via an ingredient container that is connected to the water tank.

11. A beverage making apparatus comprising:
a fermentation tank assembly comprising a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein, a fermentation tank cover covering the opening, and a heat exchange element arranged in contact with the fermentation tank;
a first channel comprising:
a first end that is connected to the fermentation tank assembly; and
a second end connected to:
a second channel connected to an ingredient container, and
a third channel connected to a dispenser of the beverage making apparatus,

wherein the second channel is connected to the ingredient container via a plurality of outlet channels that connect to the ingredient container.

12. The beverage making apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first end of the first channel is connected to the fermentation tank assembly by connecting to the fermentation tank cover.

13. The beverage making apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first channel is configured to transport a first liquid unidirectionally into the fermentation tank assembly, and transport a second liquid unidirectionally out of the fermentation tank assembly.

14. The beverage making apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:
the first liquid comprises a mixture of water and ingredients from the ingredient container, and
the second liquid comprises a beverage product produced from the mixture of the water and the ingredients from the ingredient container.

15. The beverage making apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second channel is configured to transport both a first liquid and a gas, and the third channel is configured to transport a second liquid.

16. The beverage making apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the first channel is configured to selectively provide unidirectional flow into the fermentation tank assembly and unidirectional flow out of the fermentation tank assembly,
the second channel is configured to provide unidirectional flow from the ingredient container to the first channel, and
the third channel is configured to provide unidirectional flow from the first channel to the dispenser.

17. The beverage making apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first end of the first channel is connected to the fermentation tank assembly by connecting to the fermentation tank cover.

18. The beverage making apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first end of the first channel is configured to be communicative with a beverage ingredient pack mounted inside the fermentation tank of the fermentation tank assembly.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Sunyoung
• Chong Chungook
• Kim Heeyeon

Classifications

• C12C11/006 Primary

  Fermentation tanks therefor · CPC title

• C12C11/00 Primary

  Fermentation processes for beer (preparation of wine C12G1/00) · CPC title