# US 11,111,467 B2 · Beverage making apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,467 B2 - Document ID: US11111467B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/598,681 - Filed: 2017-05-18 - Published: 2017-11-23 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-18 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Chungook Chong; Heeyeon Kim; Sunyoung Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111467B2 ## CPC - C12C 13/00: Brewing devices, not covered by a single group of C12C1/00 - C12C12/04 - A47J 31/4403: {Constructional details} - B67B 7/26: {combined with spouts} - B67D 1/0078: {Ingredient cartridges} - B67D 1/0462: {Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers} - B67D 1/0858: {using compression systems} - F25D 31/003: {with immersed cooling element} - B67D 1/0016: {the beverage being stored in an intermediate container before dispensing, i.e. pre-mix dispensers} - B67D 1/0431: {power-operated} - B67D 1/0804: {Shape or materials} - B67D 1/0884: {Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure} - B67D 1/0895: {Heating arrangements} - B67D 1/127: {Froth control (B67D1/1411 takes precedence)} - B67D 1/1466: {the valve shutter being opened in a direction opposite to the liquid flow} - B67D 2001/0091: {Component storage means} - B67D 2001/075: {Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus} - B67D 2210/00026: Heaters - B67D 2210/00031: Housing - B67D 2210/00118: Heating and cooling - B67D 2210/0012: related to concentrate handling - B67D 2210/00128: relating to outdoor use; movable; portable - C12C: BEER; PREPARATION OF BEER BY FERMENTATION (ageing or ripening by storing C12H1/22; methods for reducing the alcohol content after fermentation C12H3/00; methods for increasing the alcohol content after fermentation C12H6/00; venting devices for casks, barrels or the like C12L9/00); PREPARATION OF MALT FOR MAKING BEER; PREPARATION OF HOPS FOR MAKING BEER - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D) - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beverage-making apparatus comprising: a fermentation tank that has an opening and that defines a space therein; a beverage ingredient pack configured to be selectively accommodated in the space of the fermentation tank through the opening; a fermentation tank cover configured to, based on the beverage ingredient pack being accommodated in the space of the fermentation tank, close the opening of the fermentation tank; a supplier located outside the fermentation tank and configured to supply an additive; a water supply flow path that is located outside the fermentation tank and that is connected to the supplier; a main flow path that connects the supplier to the beverage ingredient pack; a main valve installed in the main flow path; a beverage extraction path branched from the main flow path; an air pump configured to supply air in a space between an inside wall of the fermentation tank and an outside surface of the beverage ingredient pack; a refrigerant tube wound around an outer surface of the fermentation tank; and a heat insulating wall that surrounds the fermentation tank and the refrigerant tube, wherein the beverage extraction path has a first connecting part that is connected to the main flow path, wherein the main flow path has a second connecting part that is connected to the beverage ingredient pack, wherein the main valve is provided between the first connecting part and the second connecting part, and wherein the main valve is opened based on a liquid being extracted from the beverage ingredient pack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beverage ingredient pack accommodates beverage-making ingredients therein. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a seat part, formed in the fermentation tank, configured to mount the beverage ingredient pack. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: an air supply flow path connecting the air pump and the inside of the fermentation tank; and an air control valve installed in the air supply flow path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 4, wherein a through-hole is formed, in the heat insulating wall, through which the air supply flow path passes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a water tank configured to hold water therein; a water supply pump configured to pump water from the water tank; and a water supply heater configured to heat the water pumped by the water supply pump, wherein the supplier is connected to the water supply heater through the water supply flow path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a base; and a water tank supporter disposed at the base and configured to support the water tank to be spaced apart from the base, wherein at least one of the water supply heater, or the water supply pump is disposed between the base and the water tank. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a compressor connected to the refrigerant tube; a condenser connected to the compressor; and an expansion device connected to both the condenser and the refrigerant tube, wherein a space is formed between the heat insulating wall and the water tank, and wherein the space faces the condenser. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6, wherein the water tank is spaced apart from the heat insulating wall in a horizontal direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6, wherein the supplier is disposed between the fermentation tank cover and the water tank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supplier comprises: a capsule accommodation body comprising at least one capsule accommodation part in which a capsule containing the additive is attachably and detachably accommodated; and a lid module covering the capsule accommodation part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a bypass flow path, connected to the water supply flow path and the main flow path, through which water bypasses the capsule accommodation part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lid module comprises: a lid that is hinge-connected to the capsule accommodation body; and at least one water supply body disposed at the lid, wherein an inner water supply flow path connected to the water supply flow path through a supplier entrance flow path is formed in the water supply body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 13, comprising: a valve installed in the supplier entrance flow path and configured to open and close the supplier entrance flow path, the valve located under the capsule accommodation body; and a center cover configured to cover a front of the valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an air injection flow path connected to at least one of the water supply flow path or the main flow path; and an air injection pump configured to pump air to the air injection flow path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a beverage extraction valve configured to regulate a flow within the beverage extraction path, wherein the beverage extraction path is connected to the main flow path and the beverage extraction valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a gas extraction flow path connected to the fermentation tank cover; a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure in the gas extraction flow path; and a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flow within the gas extraction flow path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat insulating wall comprises: a lower heat insulating wall having an opened top surface, the lower heat insulating wall having a space formed therein; and an upper heat insulating wall disposed at a top of the lower heat insulating wall, the upper heat insulating wall having a top surface in which a heat insulating wall opening surrounding an upper portion of the fermentation tank is formed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heat insulating wall cover surrounding a circumferential surface and a top surface of the heat insulating wall, wherein an upper through-hole is formed at an upper portion of the heat insulating wall cover, and wherein a portion of the fermentation tank cover passes through the upper through-hole. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 19, wherein the fermentation tank cover is located on top of the heat insulating wall cover. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 19, wherein the fermentation tank cover is connected to the heat insulating wall cover via a hinge. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant tube is in contact with the outer surface of the fermentation tank. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant tube is wrapped around the outer surface of the fermentation tank a plurality of times.