Automated beverage preparation apparatus capable of preparing layered drink

An automated beverage preparation apparatus (100), comprising:

• multiple pumps (221, 223, 225, 227), respectively utilized for extracting multiple fluid materials (301, 303, 305, 307) stored in multiple material containers (271, 273, 275, 277), and utilized for pushing corresponding fluid materials to move forward;
• a fluid output device (230), comprising multiple fluid outlets (231, 233, 235, 237), wherein the multiple fluid outlets (231, 233, 235, 237) are respectively coupled with the multiple pumps (221, 223, 225, 227), and are respectively utilized for dispensing a corresponding fluid material to a beverage container (102);
• a user control interface (110), arranged to operably generate a control command according to a user's manipulation;
• a processing circuit (240), coupled with the user control interface (110), and arranged to operably generate a corresponding control signal according to the control command;
• and
• a pump control circuit (250), coupled with the processing circuit (240) and the multiple pumps (221, 223, 225, 227), and arranged to operably control the multiple pumps (221, 223, 225, 227) according to the control signal;
• wherein when the control command requests the automated beverage preparation apparatus (100) to prepare a predetermined layered drink, the pump control circuit (250) conducts a layered drink making operation under control of the processing circuit (240) to cause the fluid output device (230) to dispense different fluid materials to the beverage container (102), so as to automatically form a layered drink having at least two color layers within the beverage container (102);
• wherein the layered drink making operation comprises:
• actuating a first target pump subset in the multiple pumps (221, 223, 225, 227) to cause the fluid output device (230) to dispense a first set of target fluid materials (510) having a density which is less than 110% of the density of water, so as to form a buffer layer (520) within the beverage container (102);
• after forming the buffer layer (520), actuating a second target pump subset to cause the fluid output device (230) to dispense a second set of target fluid materials (610;
• 1010) comprising at least two fluid materials, so that the second set of target fluid materials (610;
• 1010) and the buffer layer (520) are mixed to form a first target fluid layer (620;
• 1020) within the beverage container (102);
• and
• after forming the first target fluid layer (620;
• 1020), actuating a third target pump subset to cause the fluid output device (230) to dispense a third set of target fluid materials (710) having a color different from a color of the first target fluid layer (620;
• 1020) and having a density greater than a density of the first target fluid layer (620;
• 1020), so as to form a second target fluid layer (720) having a color different from the color of the first target fluid layer (620;
• 1020) beneath the first target fluid layer (620;
• 1020).