Beverage preparation systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12108906-B2
Application number	US-201916722902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2019
Priority date	Sep 18, 2015
Publication date	Oct 8, 2024
Grant date	Oct 8, 2024

Abstract

Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a container manipulation assembly having a support assembly and an elevator. The support assembly can be configured to receive a container. The elevator can be connected with the support assembly and can be configured to translate and/or rotate the support assembly. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes a wand manipulation assembly having a wand unit and a mechanical linkage. The linkage can be configured to move the wand unit into and out of engagement with the container on the support assembly. The wand unit can provide a flow of fluid, such as steam, to liquid in the container to heat and/or froth the liquid.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A system comprising:
an elongate wand unit configured to be inserted into a liquid to prepare a frothed beverage, the elongate wand unit having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer surface;
an apparatus configured to clean the elongate wand unit, the apparatus comprising:
an annular collar configured to receive a flow of cleaning fluid, the annular collar positioned around the outer surface of the upper end of the elongate wand unit, the annular collar comprising an outer face and an inner face, the inner face comprising one or more channels;
the annular collar configured to dispense, through the one or more channels, the cleaning fluid radially inwardly against the outer surface of the upper end of the elongate wand unit, at a radial distance from the elongate wand unit enabling the dispensed cleaning fluid to provide a continuous laminar flow down a longitudinal length of and clean the elongate wand unit,

wherein the outer surface of the elongate wand unit comprises features to promote flow of the cleaning fluid over the outer surface, wherein the features of the outer surface comprise longitudinal channels.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels comprise a plurality of holes.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels comprises a continuous gap around a circumference of the inner face.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the annular collar is positioned at an uppermost end of the elongate wand unit.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wand drain that is configured to receive the cleaning fluid that has flowed down the elongate wand unit.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical linkage that is connected to the elongate wand unit and configured to move the elongate wand unit.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical linkage that is connected to the collar and configured to move the collar.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical linkage that is connected to the elongate wand unit and the collar and configured to move the elongate wand unit and the collar as a unit.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to clean the elongate wand unit without submerging a tip of the elongate wand unit in a reservoir of cleaning fluid.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to clean the elongate wand unit and without spraying cleaning fluid directly on a tip of the elongate wand unit.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensed cleaning fluid provides the continuous laminar flow by force of gravity when the elongate wand unit is in a vertical orientation.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the dispensed cleaning fluid provides the continuous laminar flow around all of a circumference of the elongate wand unit.

13. A system comprising:
an elongate wand unit configured to be inserted into a liquid to prepare a frothed beverage, the elongate wand unit having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer surface;
an apparatus configured to clean an elongate wand unit, the apparatus comprising:
an annular collar configured to receive a flow of cleaning fluid, the annular collar positioned around the outer surface of the upper end of the elongate wand unit, the annular collar comprising an outer face and an inner face, the inner face comprising one or more channels;
the annular collar configured to dispense, through the one or more channels, the cleaning fluid radially inwardly against the outer surface of the upper end of the elongate wand unit, at a radial distance from the elongate wand unit enabling the dispensed cleaning fluid to provide a continuous laminar flow down a longitudinal length of and clean the elongate wand unit,

wherein the outer surface of the elongate wand unit comprises features to promote flow of the cleaning fluid over the outer surface, wherein the features of the outer surface comprise spiral channels.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more channels comprise a plurality of holes.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more channels comprises a continuous gap around a circumference of the inner face.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the annular collar is positioned at an uppermost end of the elongate wand unit.

17. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a wand drain that is configured to receive the cleaning fluid that has flowed down the elongate wand unit.

18. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a mechanical linkage that is connected to the wand unit and configured to move the elongate wand unit.

19. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a mechanical linkage that is connected to the collar and configured to move the collar.

20. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a mechanical linkage that is connected to the elongate wand unit and the collar and configured to move the elongate wand unit and the collar as a unit.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to clean the elongate wand unit without submerging a tip of the elongate wand unit in a reservoir of cleaning fluid.

22. The system of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to clean the elongate wand unit and without spraying cleaning fluid directly on a tip of the elongate wand unit.

23. The system of claim 13 , wherein the dispensed cleaning fluid provides the continuous laminar flow by force of gravity when the elongate wand unit is in a vertical orientation.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the dispensed cleaning fluid provides the continuous laminar flow around all of a circumference of the elongate wand unit.

Assignees

• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Apone Dan
• Koller Izaak
• Cummer Michael
• Crossland William George

Classifications

• A47J31/4485

  Nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk container, heated and foamed inside the device, and subsequently dispensed from the nozzle · CPC title

• A47J31/4496

  Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth · CPC title

• A23P30/40

  Foaming or whipping · CPC title

• A23C2210/30

  Whipping, foaming, frothing or aerating dairy products · CPC title

• A23L5/13

  using water or steam · CPC title