# US 10,245,571 B2 · Smoothie machine and methods of making smoothies

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- Number: US 10,245,571 B2
- Document ID: US10245571B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/155,714
- Filed: 2016-05-16
- Published: 2016-11-17
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-15
- Assignees: Ugo Smoothies Incorporated
- Applicants: UGo Smoothies, Inc.
- Inventors: Morgan Abraham; Mitch Schwartz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245571B2

## CPC

- B01F 33/846: {using stored recipes for determining the composition of the mixture to be produced, i.e. for determining the amounts of the basic components to be dispensed from the component receptacles}
- A23G 9/045: {of slush-ice, e.g. semi-frozen beverage}
- A23G 9/12: using means for stirring the contents in a non-moving container
- A23G 9/228: {Arrangement and mounting of control or safety devices}
- B01F 27/805: wherein the stirrers or the receptacles are moved in order to bring them into operative position; Means for fixing the receptacle
- B01F 33/841: with component receptacles fixed in a circular configuration on a horizontal table, e.g. the table being able to be indexed about a vertical axis
- B01F 35/1452: {using fluids}
- B01F 35/146: {Working under sterile conditions; Sterilizing the mixer or parts thereof}
- B01F 35/2205: {Controlling the mixing process from a remote server, e.g. by sending commands using radio, telephone, internet, local network, GPS or other means}
- B01F 35/92: for heating the outside of the receptacle, e.g. heated jackets or burners
- B08B 3/104: {using propellers}
- B01F 2035/98: {Cooling}
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Methods and systems for conveniently producing fresh smoothies, which can be tailored to the particular nutritional requirements and desires of the individual customer. The system is typically a semi-automatic or fully automatic system and may be in the form of a vending machine for smoothies. It allows a consumer to select ingredients and other options, and provides a freshly-made smoothie in a short amount of time. The system generally includes a user input apparatus for receiving orders and customer preferences, and then makes a smoothie to order, delivers the smoothie to the customer, and cleans the blending, device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for producing a smoothie, the system comprising, in combination:
a refrigerated enclosure;
a solid food compartment for storing a solid food ingredient disposed within the enclosure;
a liquid compartment for storing a liquid ingredient;
a blender shaft disposed vertically within the enclosure and having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the blender shaft comprises a blender head at its bottom end;
a staging area supporting a cup; and
a computer system comprising a processor coupled to a memory device;
wherein the computer system:
causes the liquid ingredient to be transferred into the cup;
causes the solid food ingredient to be transferred into the cup;
causes the blender head to be lowered into the cup; and
causes the solid food ingredient and the liquid ingredient to be blended in the cup into a smoothie.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a refrigeration unit connected to the enclosure and the liquid ingredient compartment, and wherein the refrigeration unit maintains a temperature within at least a portion of the enclosure between about −18 and −23 degrees C., and to maintain a temperature within the liquid ingredient compartment between about 0 and about 4 degrees C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the solid food compartment comprises an auger for conveying the solid food out of the solid food compartment and into the staging area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of solid food compartments arranged concentrically around the blender shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid ingredient compartment transfers is configured to transfer the liquid ingredient into the cup via a funnel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the liquid ingredient compartment transfers is configured to transfer the liquid ingredient into the cup without the liquid contacting the funnel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a compartment for storing a nutritional supplement, and wherein the computer system causes the nutritional supplement to dispense from the compartment for storing the nutritional supplement into the cup.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a rotating vending door.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a robotic arm in the staging area, the robotic arm configured to position the cup in the staging area and transfer the cup to the rotating vending door.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a rotary conveyor in the staging area, the rotary conveyor configured to position the cup in the staging area and transfer the cup to the rotating vending door.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning mechanism disposed beneath the staging area, the cleaning mechanism comprising a cleaning reservoir.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an interactive touchscreen:
displaying options for operating the system; and
accepting an input from a user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system:
measures ingredient levels and system status;
determines when a refill or maintenance is needed; and
sending a signal to a server to initiate the refill or maintenance.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system:
communicates electronically with a smartphone to receive data from a user;
designs a smoothie recipe based on the data; and
produces the smoothie according to the recipe.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the computer system:
stores payment information from the user;
calculates a fee based on the recipe; and
charges the fee to the user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a second solid food compartment for storing a second solid food ingredient disposed within the enclosure;
wherein the computer system causes said second solid food ingredient to be transferred into the cup and to be blended into the smoothie in the cup.