Fluid mixing apparatus and methods
AssigneeRoasting Plant, Inc.
InventorMichael R. Caswell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for making a beverage or providing a liquid. First and second liquids may be mixed to form a mixed liquid. The mixed liquid may be passed through a frothing head and/or may be combined with a coffee product and optionally dispensed into a cup. Examples of first and second liquids can include, but are not limited to various dairy products, enzymes and flavoring liquids. According to one example implementation, a first liquid is a reduced fat milk, such as skim milk, and a second liquid is whole milk, thereby enabling the creation of dairy product varieties including one percent and two percent milk to be created by the appropriate mixture combination of the skim milk and whole milk.
Claims22
An apparatus for providing a liquid, comprising:
- a water input;
- a first liquid input in fluid communication with a first liquid storage;
- a second liquid input in fluid communication with a second liquid storage;
- a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the first liquid input and second liquid input and adapted to provide a mixture of the first liquid and the second liquid;
- and
- a frothing head in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, the frothing head adapted to receive the mixture;
- wherein the water input is in fluid communication with a dispenser and the dispenser and the frothing head are configured to output into a liquid container.
An apparatus for providing a liquid, comprising:
- a frothing head;
- a first liquid pump having a first output coupled to the frothing head and having a first input coupled to a first refrigerated liquid container;
- and
- a second liquid pump having a second output coupled to the frothing head and having a second input coupled to a second refrigerated liquid container.
-23. (canceled)
A method of making a beverage, the method comprising:
- obtaining a first liquid dairy product;
- obtaining a second liquid dairy product;
- receiving an instruction to specify a mixture of the first liquid dairy product and the second liquid dairy product;
- automatically mixing the first liquid dairy product and the second liquid dairy product to form a mixed dairy product;
- dispensing the mixed diary product into a cup;
- and
- dispensing a coffee product into the cup.
A method of making a beverage, the method comprising:
- receiving an instruction to specify a mixture of a first liquid dairy product and an enzyme;
- mixing the first liquid dairy product and the enzyme according to the instruction;
- dispensing the mixed first liquid diary product and the enzyme into a cup;
- and
- dispensing a coffee product into the cup.
A method of making a beverage, the method comprising:
- receiving an instruction to specify a mixture of a first liquid dairy product and a flavoring liquid;
- mixing the first liquid dairy product and the flavoring liquid according to the instruction;
- dispensing the mixed first liquid diary product and the flavoring liquid into a cup;
- and
- dispensing a coffee product into the cup.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.