Fermentation and aging apparatus

A fermentation and aging apparatus, comprising:

• a fermentation tank, into which a fermentation container is put, an object to be fermented being accommodated in the fermentation container;
• a first channel connected with the fermentation tank and opened and closed by a first valve;
• a second channel connected with the fermentation tank and opened and closed by a second valve;
• a pressure sensor provided in the first channel;
• an air pump configured to supply air to the fermentation tank;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• close the first valve and the second valve based on a beverage making start request;
• drive the air pump;
• and
• detect whether the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, based on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor, wherein the first channel is connected with an internal space of the fermentation container when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, wherein the second channel is connected with a space between the fermentation container and the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank and is connected with an internal space of the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank, wherein air supplied by the air pump is injected into the fermentation container when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, wherein air supplied by the air pump is injected into the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank, and wherein the controller is configured to:
• periodically or continuously measure the pressure through the pressure sensor;
• and
• detect that the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank when the measured pressure does not reach a predetermined reference pressure within a reference time from a driving start time of the air pump.

A fermentation and aging apparatus, comprising:

• a fermentation tank, into which a fermentation container is put, an object to be fermented being accommodated in the fermentation container;
• a first channel connected with the fermentation tank and opened and closed by a first valve;
• a second channel connected with the fermentation tank and opened and closed by a second valve;
• a pressure sensor provided in the first channel;
• an air pump configured to supply air to the fermentation tank;
• a controller configured to:
• close the first valve and the second valve based on a beverage making start request;
• drive the air pump;
• and
• detect whether the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, based on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor, wherein the first channel is connected with an internal space of the fermentation container when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, wherein the second channel is connected with a space between the fermentation container and the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank and is connected with an internal space of the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank;
• a third channel connected with the fermentation tank and opened and closed by a third valve;
• and
• a fourth channel connected with the second channel and opened and closed by a fourth valve, wherein the air pump includes:
• a first air pump connected with the third channel;
• and
• a second air pump connected with the fourth channel, wherein the controller is configured to drive the first air pump and not to drive the second air pump, in order to detect whether the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank.

A fermentation and aging apparatus, comprising:

• a fermentation tank configured to selectively receive an object to be fermented or a fermentation container containing an object to be fermented;
• a plurality of channels in communication with the fermentation tank;
• a pressure sensor in communication with one of the plurality of channels;
• an air pump configured to supply air to the fermentation through the plurality of channels;
• and
• a controller configured to detect that the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, based on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor, wherein the plurality of channels includes a first channel connected with an internal space of the fermentation container when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, and a second channel connected with a space between the fermentation container and the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank and connected with an internal space of the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank, wherein air supplied by the air pump is injected into the fermentation container when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, wherein air supplied by the air pump is injected into the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank, and wherein the controller is configured to:
• periodically or continuously measure the pressure through the pressure sensor;
• and
• detect that the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, when the measured pressure reaches a predetermined reference pressure within a reference time from a driving start time of the air pump.

A fermentation and aging apparatus, comprising:

• a fermentation tank configured to selectively receive an object to be fermented or a fermentation container containing an object to be fermented;
• a plurality of channels in communication with the fermentation tank;
• a pressure sensor in communication with one of the plurality of channels;
• an air pump configured to supply air to the fermentation tank through the plurality of channels;
• and
• a controller configured to detect whether the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, based on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor, wherein the plurality of channels includes a first channel connected with an internal space of the fermentation container when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, and a second channel connected with a space between the fermentation container and the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank and connected with an internal space of the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank, wherein air supplied by the air pump is injected into the fermentation container when the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, wherein air supplied by the air pump is injected into the fermentation tank when the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank, and wherein the controller is configured to:
• periodically or continuously measure the pressure through the pressure sensor;
• and
• detect that the fermentation container is not put into the fermentation tank, when the measured pressure does not reach a predetermined reference pressure within a reference time from a driving start time of the air pump.