Producing solutions from concentrates

A localized solution production unit for producing a solution from a concentrate pod comprising:

• a mixing container including a mixing impeller rotatably coupled to the mixing container via an impeller shaft extending from a base of the mixing container, the mixing container including an opening at a neck of the mixing container;
• a pod dock configured to removably receive the concentrate pod, the pod dock including a dock outlet, the concentrate pod including a sealable spout portion configured to be positioned in the dock outlet and extend therethrough, the sealable spout portion configured to release a concentrate from the concentrate pod into the mixing container;
• a container dock coupled to the pod dock and configured to removably receive and engage the mixing container during a distribution of one or more of a base fluid flowing from a base fluid source and the concentrate released from the concentrate pod through the sealable spout portion of the concentrate pod, the container dock configured to retain the mixing container during a mixture of the base fluid and the concentrate, the container dock including an actuator and a rotatable coupling connected to the actuator, the rotatable coupling configured to rotatably actuate the impeller shaft to rotate the mixing impeller;
• and
• a controller communicably coupled to the actuator and the base fluid source, the controller configured to select a mixing profile from among a plurality of mixing profiles based on a solution identification, the controller configured to cause the actuator to rotate the impeller to generate a vortex for mixing the base fluid and the concentrate based on the selected mixing profile,
• wherein at least one of the pod dock and the container dock are configured to move with respect to one another so as to position the sealable spout portion into the opening at the neck of the mixing container to allow direct transfer of the concentrate from the concentrate pod into the mixing container.

A localized solution production unit for producing a solution comprising:

• a mixing container including a mixing impeller rotatably coupled to the mixing container via an impeller shaft extending from a base of the mixing container, the mixing container including an opening at a neck of the mixing container;
• a concentrate container;
• a concentrate spout coupled to the concentrate container, the concentrate spout configured to release a concentrate from the concentrate container into the mixing container;
• a container dock coupled to the concentrate container and configured to removably receive and engage the mixing container during a distribution of one or more of a base fluid flowing from a base fluid source and the concentrate released from the concentrate container, the container dock configured to retain the mixing container during a mixture of the base fluid and the concentrate, the container dock including an actuator and a rotatable coupling connected to the actuator, the rotatable coupling configured to rotatably actuate the impeller shaft to rotate the mixing impeller;
• and
• a controller communicably coupled to the actuator and the base fluid source, the controller configured to select a mixing profile from among a plurality of mixing profiles based on a solution identification, the controller configured to cause the actuator to rotate the impeller to generate a vortex for mixing the base fluid and the concentrate based on the selected mixing profile, wherein the container dock is configured to move with respect to the concentrate spout so as to position the concentrate spout into the opening at the neck of the mixing container to allow direct transfer of the concentrate from the concentrate container into the mixing container.

A localized solution production unit for producing a solution from a concentrate pod comprising:

• a mixing container including a mixing impeller rotatably coupled to the mixing container via an impeller shaft extending from a base of the mixing container, the mixing container including an opening at a neck of the mixing container;
• a pod dock configured to removably receive the concentrate pod, the pod dock including a dock outlet, the concentrate pod including a sealable spout portion configured to be positioned in the dock outlet and extend therethrough, the sealable spout portion configured to release a concentrate from the concentrate pod into the mixing container, the pod dock including at least one roller configured to move in the pod dock to squeeze the concentrate pod positioned in the pod dock and evacuate the concentrate from the concentrate pod;
• a container dock coupled to the pod dock and configured to removably receive and engage the mixing container during a distribution of one or more of a base fluid flowing from a base fluid source and the concentrate released from the concentrate pod through the sealable spout portion of the concentrate pod, the container dock configured to retain the mixing container during a mixture of the base fluid and the concentrate, the container dock including an actuator and a rotatable coupling connected to the actuator, the rotatable coupling configured to rotatably actuate the impeller shaft to rotate the mixing impeller;
• and
• a controller communicably coupled to the actuator and the base fluid source, the controller configured to select a mixing profile from among a plurality of mixing profiles based on a solution identification, the controller configured to cause the actuator to rotate the impeller to generate a vortex for mixing the base fluid and the concentrate based on the selected mixing profile.