Beverage-making apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11224306-B2
Application number	US-201715598941-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2017
Priority date	May 18, 2016
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

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; a container connected to the ingredient supplier through a first channel; a first valve configured to regulate a flow through the first channel; and a beverage extractor connected to the first channel at a location between the ingredient supplier and the first valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage-making apparatus comprising:
a fermentation tank that includes an opening at an upper portion of the fermentation tank and that defines a space in the fermentation tank;
a fermentation tank lid configured to cover the opening of the fermentation tank;
a pack that is accommodated in the space of the fermentation tank and that is configured to be inserted into the fermentation tank through the opening;
an ingredient supplier located outside of the fermentation tank;
a first channel that connects the ingredient supplier to the pack based on the fermentation tank lid closing the opening of the fermentation tank;
a water supply module including a water supply heater connected to the ingredient supplier through a water supply channel, the water supply module being configured to supply washing water to the first channel via the ingredient supplier;
a first valve configured to regulate a flow through the first channel; and
a beverage extractor connected to the first channel,
wherein the first channel comprises:
a second channel located between the ingredient supplier and the beverage extractor; and
a third channel located between the pack and the beverage extractor, the first valve being located at the third channel,
wherein the third channel is configured to guide a beverage from the pack to the beverage extractor and guide the washing water into the pack,

wherein the beverage extractor comprises:
a beverage extraction channel connected to the first channel at a location between the ingredient supplier and the first valve, and
a beverage extraction valve configured to regulate a flow through the beverage extraction channel, and

wherein the beverage-making apparatus further comprises an air pump configured to supply air in a space between an inside wall of the fermentation tank and an outside surface of the pack accommodated inside the fermentation tank.

2. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:
in a first state, open the first valve and the beverage extraction valve such that the beverage (i) sequentially passes through the third channel and the beverage extraction channel and (ii) discharges through the beverage extraction valve; and
in a second state, close the first valve and open the beverage extraction valve such that the washing water (i) sequentially passes through the second channel and the beverage extraction channel and (ii) discharges through the beverage extraction valve.

3. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
in a third state, open the first valve and close the beverage extraction valve such that the washing water (i) sequentially passes through the second channel and the third channel and (ii) flows into the pack.

4. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate a water supply heater in the second state and the third state.

5. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the water supply module further comprises:
a water tank configured to store water therein; and
a water supply pump configured to pump the water out of the water tank towards the water supply heater,
wherein the controller is further configured to activate the water supply pump and the water supply heater in the second state and the third state.

6. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the water supply module further comprises 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 that connects the water supply pump and the water supply heater,
wherein the controller is further configured to activate the water supply heater based on the flow rate measured by the flow meter being within a first range of flow rate values and based on activation of a cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus.

7. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the water supply module further comprises a thermistor configured to measure a temperature of the water that is 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 controller is further configured to, based on a first duration of time elapsing after a determination that the temperature measured by the thermistor is within a first range of temperature values, deactivate the water supply heater.

8. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bypass channel that connects the water supply channel to the first channel by bypassing the ingredient supplier; and
a bypass valve configured to regulate a flow through the bypass channel.

9. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an air injection channel configured to be joined to the water supply channel; and
an air injection pump configured to pump air into the air injection channel.

10. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gas discharger configured to discharge gas from inside the pack to an outside of the pack,
wherein the gas discharger comprises:
a gas extraction channel connected to the pack based on the fermentation tank lid closing the opening of the fermentation tank, and
a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flow through the gas extraction channel.

11. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:
in a first state, open the first valve and the beverage extraction valve, and activate the air pump such that the pack is contracted and the beverage contained in the pack (i) sequentially passes through the third channel and the beverage extraction channel and (ii) discharges through the beverage extraction valve.

12. A beverage-making apparatus comprising:
a fermentation tank that includes an opening at an upper portion of the fermentation tank and that defines a space in the fermentation tank;
a fermentation tank lid configured to cover the opening of the fermentation tank;
a pack that is accommodated in the space of the fermentation tank and that is configured to be inserted into the fermentation tank through the opening;
an ingredient supplier located outside of the fermentation tank;
a first channel that connects the ingredient supplier to the pack based on the fermentation tank lid closing the opening of the fermentation tank;
a first valve configured to regulate a flow through the first channel;
a water tank configured to store water therein;
a water supply heater that is configured to heat water and that is connected to the ingredient supplier through a water supply channel;
a water supply pump configured to pump the water out of the water tank towards the water supply heater;
a beverage extraction channel connected to the first channel at a location between the ingredient supplier and the first valve; and
a beverage extraction valve configured to regulate a flow through the beverage extraction channel,
wherein the first channel comprises:
a second channel located between the ingredient supplier and the beverage extraction channel; and
a third channel located between the pack and the beverage extraction channel, the first valve being located at the third channel,
wherein the third channel is configured to guide a beverage from the pack to the beverage extraction channel and guide the water into the pack,

wherein the beverage-making apparatus further comprises:
an air pump configured to supply air in a space between an inside wall of the fermentation tank and an outside surface of the pack.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Heeyeon
• Park Sunyoung
• Chong Chungook

Classifications

• C12C11/07

  Continuous fermentation · CPC title

• C12C11/00

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

• C12C9/00

  Methods specially adapted for the making of beerwort · CPC title

• C12C7/28

  After-treatment {, e.g. sterilisation (C12C11/00 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C12C7/00

  Preparation of wort (malt extract C12C1/18) · CPC title