Apparatus for foaming a beverage
AssigneeStarbucks Corporation
InventorsIzaak Koller, Joshua Kruger, Timothy Hurd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various automated and semi-automated beverage preparation systems and methods are shown. The beverage preparation system can include a container assembly configured to receive beverage, such as a milk. The container assembly can be configured to receive a flow of steam, air, or additional gasses and vapors to heat and/or aerate the beverage residing therein. The container assembly can include a temperature sensor configured to monitor the rate of heating, and automatically adjust the heating and aeration parameters accordingly.
Claims14
A beverage foaming system comprising:
- a container assembly having an interior configured to receive a volume of a liquid;
- a steam supply unit in communication with the interior of the container assembly;
- one or more valves configured to control a flow from the steam supply unit to the interior of the container assembly;
- a sensor for measuring a characteristic of the liquid within the container assembly, the characteristic excluding a mass of the liquid within the container assembly;
- and
- a control system operatively connected to a user interface, the one or more valves, and the sensor;
- wherein the control system is configured to receive a user selection and, in response to at least one signal from the sensor indicative of the characteristic of the liquid, estimate a volume of fluid within the container assembly based upon the at least one signal from the sensor and control an amount of steam from the steam supply unit delivered to the interior of the container assembly based on the user selection and the estimated volume of fluid.
A beverage preparation system comprising:
- a container assembly including:
- a first upper end;
- a second lower end;
- and
- an interior;
- a characteristic sensor in communication with the interior of the container assembly configured to provide a signal indicative of a characteristic of a liquid in the container assembly, the characteristic excluding a mass of the liquid within the container assembly;
- a steam supply system in communication with the interior of the container assembly;
- a user interface including a plurality of selection points;
- and
- a control system operatively connected to the user interface and the characteristic sensor;
- the control system configured to estimate a volume of fluid residing within the interior of the container assembly based on at least one signal received from the characteristic sensor and control an amount of steam from the steam supply system delivered to the interior of the container assembly based on a user selection and the estimated volume of fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.