# US 9,750,271 B2 · Apparatus for producing a drink, and the use of the apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,271 B2 - Document ID: US9750271B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/612,709 - Filed: 2015-02-03 - Published: 2015-06-04 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-04-16 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Anke Sinnema; Simon M. Oversteegen; Peter S. Viet; Bernardus L. Kuiper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750271B2 ## CPC - A23L 33/40: {Complete food formulations for specific consumer groups or specific purposes, e.g. infant formula} - A47J 31/404: {Powder dosing devices} - A47J 31/56: having water-level controls; having temperature controls - A47J 36/2433: {with electrical heating means} - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## Abstract A method for producing a drink, for example milk, from mixing a powder formula with a liquid, such as water, in an automated baby-milk machine. The method included preparing a drink concentrate by mixing the amount of formula necessary for the total amount of drink in a certain amount of hot liquid, and adding the right amount of liquid of a certain low temperature to the concentrate in order to reach the end volume of the drink at a safe drinking temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a drink in a container from mixing a powder formula with a hot liquid having a first temperature, the method comprising acts of: storing in a storage reservoir cold liquid having a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature; receiving by a heater the cold liquid from the storage reservoir and providing the hot liquid from the heater; providing the cold liquid to the container; preparing a drink concentrate by mixing an amount of the powder formula necessary for a total amount of drink in a certain amount of the hot liquid; and providing the drink concentrate to the container including the cold liquid to reach a drinking temperature between the first temperature and the second temperature, wherein the method further comprises one or more of (a) discharging the hot liquid into a mixing unit that comprises an act of cooling the hot liquid by a cooler to provide a cooled liquid to the mixing unit where the preparing act is performed, and (b) discharging the hot liquid by (i) placing the heater in a first state to discharge the hot liquid into the mixing unit where the preparing act is performed, and (ii) placing the heater in a second state to discharge the hot liquid into a return conduit coupled to the storage reservoir. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein discharging the hot liquid into the mixing unit comprises the act of cooling the hot liquid by the cooler to provide the cooled liquid to the mixing unit where the preparing act is performed, wherein the cooler comprises one of a heat exchanger, a Peltier element, a heat sink, a fan and a zeolite-system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein discharging the hot liquid comprises the acts of: placing the heater in the first state to discharge the hot liquid into the mixing unit where the preparing act is performed; and placing the heater in the second state to discharge the hot liquid into the return conduit, wherein the return conduit is configured to feed the hot liquid back to the storage reservoir. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising acts of: irradiating the cold liquid with UV radiation from a UV lamp; and providing an indication of a UV-dose of the UV radiation from a UV lamp. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising an act of pumping the cold liquid with a pump. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising acts of: filtering the cold liquid with a filter; measuring a lifetime of the filter; and generating a signal when the lifetime is reached. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising acts of: filtering the cold liquid with a filter; and providing an indication to change the filter when an automated baby-milk machine that includes the filter has not been used for a certain time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the preparing act includes an act of stirring the hot liquid and the powder formula while adding the powder formula to the hot liquid to prepare the drink concentrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the preparing act includes acts of: stirring the hot liquid in the mixing unit to create a water vortex; and adding the powder formula to the water vortex to prepare the drink concentrate. ### Claim 10 A method for producing a drink from mixing powder formula with a liquid, the method comprising acts of: storing in a liquid reservoir of an automated baby-milk machine a cold liquid at a temperature lower than 60 degrees Celsius; heating by a heater of the automated baby-milk machine the cold liquid from the liquid reservoir to form a hot liquid; providing the cold liquid to a container; preparing a drink concentrate by mixing an amount of the powder formula necessary for an end volume of the drink in an amount of the hot liquid from the heater having a temperature between 60 degrees Celsius and 80 degrees Celsius; and providing the drink concentrate to the container for mixing with the cold liquid in order to reach the end volume of the drink at a desired drinking temperature, wherein the method further comprises one or more of (a) discharging the hot liquid into a mixing chamber that comprises an act of cooling the hot liquid by a cooler to provide a cooled liquid to the mixing chamber where the preparing act is performed, and (b) discharging the hot liquid by (i) placing the heater in a first state to discharge the hot liquid into the mixing chamber where the preparing act is performed, and (ii) placing the heater in a second state to discharge the hot liquid into a return conduit coupled to the liquid reservoir. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein discharging the hot liquid comprises the acts of: placing the heater in the first state to discharge the hot liquid into the mixing chamber; and placing the heater in the second state to discharge the hot liquid into the return conduit, wherein the return conduit is configured to feed the hot liquid back to the liquid reservoir. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein discharging the hot liquid into the mixing chamber comprises the act of cooling the hot liquid by the cooler to provide the cooled liquid, wherein the cooler comprises one of a heat exchanger, a Peltier element, a heat sink, a fan and a zeolite-system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising acts of: irradiating the cold liquid with UV radiation from a UV lamp; and providing an indication of a UV-dose of the UV radiation from a UV lamp. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising an act of pumping the cold liquid with a pump. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising acts of: filtering the cold liquid with a filter; measuring a lifetime of the filter; and generating a signal when the lifetime is reached. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising acts of: filtering the cold liquid with a filter; and providing an indication to change the filter when the automated baby-milk machine that includes the filter has not been used for a certain time. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the preparing act includes an act of stirring the hot liquid and the powder formula while adding the powder formula to the hot liquid to prepare the drink concentrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the preparing act includes acts of: stirring the hot liquid in the mixing chamber to create a water vortex; and adding the powder formula to the water vortex to prepare the drink concentrate.