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US 11,478,766 B2Granted
Intelligent blending system
AssigneeVita-Mix Management Corporation
InventorsAnthony Ciepiel, David Kolar, Kang Zhang, Chad Markovich, Judson Cummins, Mark Fleming
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A blending system includes a blender base and a container. The blender base includes a housing that houses a motor. The container is attachable to the blender base. The blending system includes a user device that communicates with the blender base. The user device may communicate with a remote computing device. The user device generates instructions and recipes for the blender base.
Claims18
A blender system comprising:
- a blender base comprising a housing and a motor disposed within the housing;
- a container selectively connected to the blender base;
- and
- a user device operatively communicating with the blender base, wherein the user device comprises at least one sensor operatively capturing an image of at least one ingredient, an image of packaging of the at least one ingredient, a bar code associated with the at least one ingredient, or an identification code associated with the at least one ingredient,
- wherein the user device comprises a controller configured to operatively alter an inventory stored in a memory, wherein the inventory comprises a list of available ingredients and quantities of the available ingredients based on recognizing the available ingredients and monitoring use of the available ingredients, and wherein the controller identifies the at least one ingredient being blended based on output from the at least one sensor and alters quantities of the available ingredients in the inventory stored in the memory.
2 more elements
A blender system comprising:
- a blender base comprising a housing and a motor disposed within the housing;
- a container selectively connected to the blender base;
- a user device operatively communicating with the blender base, wherein the user device comprises at least one sensor operatively capturing an image of at least one ingredient, an image of packaging of the at least one ingredient, a bar code associated with the at least one ingredient, or an identification code associated with the at least one ingredient and wherein the user device comprises a controller configured to operatively alter an inventory stored in a memory;
- and
- a remote computing device communicating with the user device through a communication framework,
- wherein the user device comprises a controller generating instructions to the blender base to operate the motor to prepare foodstuff according to instructions received from the remote computing device and wherein the controller identifies the at least one ingredient being blended based on output from the at least one sensor and alters quantities of available ingredients in the inventory stored in the memory.
3 more elements
A blender system comprising:
- a point of sale device operatively receiving input defining an order of a product to be blended;
- a blender station comprising a blender base comprising a housing and a motor disposed within the housing;
- and
- at least one other station for preparing the product, wherein the at least one other station comprises at least one of a liquid dispensing station, a dry-goods dispensing station, and/or an ice dispensing station;
- wherein the point of sale device associates a blending container with the product and defines a set of instructions for preparing the product wherein a first portion of the set of instructions is to be performed by the blender station, and wherein a second portion of the set of instructions is to be performed by the at least one other station;
- wherein, in response to the at least one other station detecting the blending container, the at least one other station dispenses a predetermined quantity of at least one of a liquid, a dry-good, and/or ice based on the second portion of the set of instructions;
- and
- wherein, in response to the blender station detecting the blending container, the blender base identifies a blending program based on the first portion of the set of instructions.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.