Beverage maker and method for controlling beverage maker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11292996-B2
Application number	US-201916695314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2019
Priority date	Nov 27, 2018
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A beverage maker may include a fermentation tank having a space formed therein to make a beverage; a temperature controller configured to control a temperature of the fermentation tank; an air pump configured to supply air into the fermentation tank; a gas discharge channel connected with the fermentation tank and configured to discharge a portion of the air supplied into the fermentation tank; a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the fermentation tank; and a controller configured to control the temperature controller to cool the fermentation tank accommodating a mixture including ingredients of the beverage while making the beverage, sense the temperature of the fermentation tank using the temperature sensor, terminate cooling of the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a reference temperature, and control the air pump to supply air into the fermentation tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage maker, comprising:
a fermentation tank having a space formed therein to make a beverage;
a temperature controller configured to control a temperature of the fermentation tank;
an air pump configured to supply air into the fermentation tank;
a gas discharge channel connected with the fermentation tank and configured to discharge a portion of the air supplied into the fermentation tank;
a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the fermentation tank;
a controller configured to control the temperature controller to cool the fermentation tank accommodating a mixture including ingredients of the beverage while making the beverage, sense the temperature of the fermentation tank using the temperature sensor, terminate cooling of the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a reference temperature, and control the air pump to supply air into the fermentation tank;
an ingredient supplier configured to accommodate an additive to be introduced into the fermentation tank while making the beverage, wherein the controller is configured to control introduction of the additive into the fermentation tank before the air is supplied into the fermentation tank; and
a pump configured to supply fluid, wherein the controller is configured to control the pump to supply the fluid into the ingredient supplier to introduce the additive accommodated in the ingredient supplier into the fermentation tank.

2. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the pump to introduce the additive into the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a first reference temperature, and terminate cooling of the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a second reference temperature which is lower than the first reference temperature.

3. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the pump to introduce the additive into the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to the reference temperature.

4. The beverage maker of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first channel disposed between the pump and the ingredient supplier;
an ingredient supply valve disposed in the first channel;
a second channel connected with the pump and the air pump;
a bypass valve disposed in the second channel;
a third channel configured to connect the second channel and the ingredient supplier to the fermentation tank; and
a main valve disposed in the third channel.

5. The beverage maker of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to open the ingredient supply valve and the main valve and close the bypass valve to introduce the additive accommodated in the ingredient supplier into the fermentation tank.

6. The beverage maker of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to open the bypass valve and the main valve and close the ingredient supply valve to supply air to the fermentation tank.

7. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein temperature controller comprises:
an evaporator that surrounds a portion of an outer surface of the fermentation tank; and
a compressor configured to supply refrigerant to the evaporator.

8. The beverage maker of claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the fermentation tank spaced apart from the evaporator.

9. A beverage maker, comprising:
a fermentation tank having a space formed therein to make a beverage;
an evaporator that surrounds a portion of an outer surface of the fermentation tank;
a compressor configured to supply refrigerant to the evaporator;
an air pump configured to supply air into the fermentation tank;
a gas discharge channel connected with the fermentation tank and configured to discharge a portion of the air supplied into the fermentation tank;
a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the fermentation tank;
a controller configured to control the compressor to cool the fermentation tank accommodating a mixture including ingredients of the beverage while making the beverage, sense the temperature of the fermentation tank using the temperature sensor, terminate cooling of the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a reference temperature, and control the air pump to supply air into the fermentation tank;
an ingredient supplier configured to accommodate an additive to be introduced into the fermentation tank while making the beverage, wherein the controller is configured to control introduction of the additive into the fermentation tank before the air is supplied into the fermentation tank; and
a pump configured to supply fluid, wherein the controller is configured to control the pump to supply the fluid into the ingredient supplier to introduce the additive accommodated in the ingredient supplier into the fermentation tank, wherein the controller is configured to control the pump to introduce the additive into the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a first reference temperature, and terminate cooling of the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a second reference temperature which is lower than the first reference temperature.

10. The beverage maker of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first channel disposed between the pump and the ingredient supplier;
an ingredient supply valve disposed in the first channel;
a second channel connected with the pump and the air pump;
a bypass valve disposed in the second channel;
a third channel configured to connect the second channel and the ingredient supplier to the fermentation tank; and
a main valve disposed in the third channel, wherein the controller is configured to open the ingredient supply valve and the main valve and close the bypass valve to introduce the additive accommodated in the ingredient supplier into the fermentation tank, and wherein the controller is configured to open the bypass valve and the main valve and close the ingredient supply valve to supply air to the fermentation tank.

11. The beverage maker of claim 9 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the fermentation tank spaced apart from the evaporator.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Daewoong
• Kim Yongbum
• Hong Jinpyo

Classifications

• C12C13/10 Primary

  Home brew equipment · CPC title

• C12C11/006 Primary

  Fermentation tanks therefor · CPC title

• B67D1/0425

  comprising an air pump system · CPC title

• B67D1/0884

  Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure · CPC title

• A47J31/40

  Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea · CPC title