Beverage making apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11168290-B2
Application number	US-201815999439-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2018
Priority date	May 18, 2016
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage-making apparatus comprising:
a first container that is configured to store first ingredients; and
at least one first channel configured to supply the first ingredients from the first container to a second container that is configured to regulate a fermentation process using a mixture comprising the first ingredients,
wherein the second container comprises:
a fermentation tank having an opening;

a fermentation tank cover configured to cover the opening of the fermentation tank; and
a brewing container accommodated in the fermentation tank and having an interface portion,
wherein the at least one first channel comprises:
a main channel that is connected to the first container and that is disposed outside the second container; and
a sub channel configured to supply the first ingredients from the main channel to the brewing container,
wherein the beverage-making apparatus further comprises:
a flow path body in which the sub channel is defined;
an air pump configured to pump air;
an air supply flow path that connects the air pump and an inside of the fermentation tank;
an extractor that is located between the first container and the second container, and that is connected to the main channel; and
a lower sealing member mounted to the flow path body,
wherein the air pump is configured to inject air between the brewing container and the fermentation tank to pressurize liquid in the brewing container,
wherein the pressurized liquid in the brewing container is extracted to an outside of the brewing container through the main channel and the extractor,
wherein the brewing container includes an inner hollow portion,
wherein, based on the lower sealing member being adhered to the brewing container, the sub channel of the flow path body is connected to the inner hollow portion of the brewing container, and, based on the lower sealing member being spaced apart from the brewing container, the sub channel of the flow path body is separated from the inner hollow portion of the brewing container,
wherein a sealing member mounting groove portion on which a lower portion of the lower sealing member is inserted is provided at a top surface of the interface portion and is recessed downward from the top surface of the interface portion,
wherein a lower end of the lower sealing member is placed on the sealing member mounting groove portion, and
wherein a lower end of the sub channel is inserted in the inner hollow portion.

2. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first container provides at least one capsule accommodation portion configured to accommodate at least one capsule.

3. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a channel connecting portion connected to the at least one first channel is provided in the fermentation tank cover.

4. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an extraction channel connected to the at least one first channel.

5. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an extraction channel connected to the main channel.

6. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second container is further configured to store second ingredients and regulate the fermentation process using a mixture comprising the first ingredients and the second ingredients.

7. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first ingredients comprise hops and the second ingredients comprise yeast.

8. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sub channel provides (i) an upper flow path portion protruding at an upper portion of the flow path body and (ii) a lower flow path portion protruding at a lower portion of the flow path body.

9. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower sealing member is a hollow elastic member, and
wherein the lower sealing member is configured to accommodate a lower flow path portion provided at the sub channel.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Chong Chungook
• Kim Heeyeon
• Park Sunyoung

Classifications

• A47J31/4403

  Constructional details · CPC title

• B67D2210/00031

  Housing · CPC title

• C12C13/00 Primary

  Brewing devices, not covered by a single group of C12C1/00 - C12C12/04 · CPC title

• B67D2001/0091

  Component storage means · CPC title

• B67D1/0462

  Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers · CPC title