Beverage-making apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11129491-B2
Application number	US-201715598999-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2017
Priority date	May 18, 2016
Publication date	Sep 28, 2021
Grant date	Sep 28, 2021

Abstract

A beverage-making apparatus includes a water supply heater configured to heat water; an ingredient supplier connected to the water supply heater through a water supply channel, the ingredient supplier having an ingredient accommodation part formed therein; an air injector connected to the water supply channel; and a container connected to the ingredient supplier through a first channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage-making apparatus comprising:
a fermentation tank that defines a space therein;
a container configured to be accommodated in the space of the fermentation tank;
a fermentation tank lid configured to, when the container is accommodated in the space of the fermentation tank, close the fermentation tank;
an ingredient supplier located outside the fermentation tank;
a water supply channel that connects a water supply heater located outside the fermentation tank to the ingredient supplier;
a water tank configured to store water therein;
a water supply pump configured to pump the water out of the water tank towards the water supply heater;
an air injection channel that connects an air injection pump to the water supply channel;
a check valve configured to block the water from the water supply channel from being introduced into the air injection pump through the air injection channel;
a main channel that connects the water supply channel to the container through the ingredient supplier;
an extractor that is located between the ingredient supplier and the container, and that is connected to the main channel; and
a tube that is in communication with the main channel and that extends to an inside of the container,
wherein the water tank is located outside the fermentation tank and the water tank is spaced apart from the fermentation tank,
wherein the ingredient supplier is located between the fermentation tank lid and the water tank,
wherein the tube is configured to
guide air to a lower portion of an inside of the container to mix the air with a liquidized ingredient, and
guide a beverage fermented in the container to the extractor through the main channel.

2. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first valve configured to regulate a flow into and out of the container through the main channel; and
a second valve configured to regulate a flow into the ingredient supplier through the water supply channel,
wherein the first valve is located between the extractor and the container along the main channel.

3. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising: a bypass channel connected to the water supply channel and to the main channel by bypassing the ingredient supplier.

4. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a bypass valve configured to regulate a flow through the bypass channel.

5. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:
at least one processor configured to:
in a first state, open the first valve and the second valve and close the bypass valve to inject air into the container through the ingredient supplier, and
in a second state, open the first valve and the bypass valve and close the second valve to inject air into the container by bypassing the ingredient supplier.

6. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 5 ,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
in a third state, open the first valve and the bypass valve, close the second valve, and activate the water supply pump to supply water to the container by bypassing the ingredient supplier.

7. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a flow meter configured to measure a flow rate of water introduced into the water supply heater, the flow meter provided in a water supply pump outlet channel connecting the water supply pump and the water supply heater therethrough,
wherein the at least one processor configured to:
based on the flow rate measured by the flow meter being within a first range of flow rate values, activate the water supply heater.

8. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a thermistor configured to measure a temperature of water heated by the water supply heater, the thermistor provided in at least one of the water supply channel or the water supply heater,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
activate the water supply heater; and
based on the temperature measured by the thermistor being within a first range of temperature values, calculate an injection amount of hot water injected into the container.

9. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
based on the injection amount of hot water into the container exceeding a threshold injection amount, deactivate the water supply pump and the water supply heater.

10. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a gas discharger comprising:
a gas extraction channel connected to the container; and
a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flow through the gas extraction channel,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
open the gas extraction valve in the first state, and
close the gas extraction valve in the second state.

11. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the gas discharger further comprises a pressure sensor provided on the gas extraction channel, and
wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
based on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor exceeding a threshold pressure, open the gas extraction valve.

12. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
in a fourth state, open the first valve and the second valve, close the bypass valve, and activate the water supply pump to extract an ingredient accommodated in the ingredient supplier to the container with water.

13. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising: a gas discharger configured to discharge gas from inside the container to an outside of the container, the gas discharger comprising:
a gas extraction channel connected to the container; and
a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flow through the gas extraction channel,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
in the third state and the fourth state, open the gas extraction valve.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Sunyoung
• Kim Heeyeon
• Chong Chungook

Classifications

• C12C11/00 Primary

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

• A47J31/469

  Details of hydraulic circuits · CPC title

• A47J31/407 Primary

  with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means · CPC title

• A47J31/4403

  Constructional details · CPC title

• A47J31/465

  for the heated water · CPC title