Integrated mixing and cleaning beverage assembly and method thereof

Abstract

An integrated beverage blending and cleaning includes at least one blender module comprising a housing, a spindle, at least one blade, a drain, and a cleaning assembly. The housing comprises a substantially vertically disposed wall. A controller which, upon completion of a blending or mixing sequence, activates a cleaning and/or sanitizing mode via said cleaning assembly to clean at least an interior of said housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated beverage blending and cleaning system comprising:
 at least one blender module comprising a housing, a spindle, at least one blade, a drain, and a cleaning assembly, said housing comprising a substantially vertically disposed wall; and   a controller which, upon completion of a blending or mixing sequence, activates a cleaning and/or sanitizing mode via said cleaning assembly to clean at least an interior of said housing.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said blender module further comprises: a lid assembly which is capable of contacting a top portion of said beverage container during blending and/or mixing, as well as preventing said beverage container from rotating thereabout; and a container holder. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said cleaning assembly comprises a water source and/or at least one cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source, wherein said water source and/or said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source are connected to at least one orifice disposed within said housing for cleaning and/or sanitizing at least said interior of said housing, said spindle, and said blade after use. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said blender module includes a variable speed motor to rotate said spindle and said blade in a radial direction. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said blender module further comprises a variable speed and direction motor to move said spindle. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing substantially prevents water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution from passing outside of said housing during said cleaning and/or sanitizing mode. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a container holder, wherein said container holder comprises at least one arm disposed about said beverage container and a plurality of orifices disposed thereon, wherein water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizer solution provided from a water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizer solution sources is/are supplied via said orifices into said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said dispensing of water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solutions is/are dispensed under pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said cleaning assembly further comprises a conduit in fluid communication with said container holder, whereby water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution from said water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution sources is/are supplied within said housing. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said water source comprises: a water storage container, at least one valve and at least one water conduit connecting said water storage container to said orifices under pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution sources further comprises: a cleaning solution storage container, one or more valves and at least one cleaning and/or sanitizing solution conduit connecting said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source to said one or more orifices under pressure, wherein said water conduit and said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution conduit are connected to an inlet of said one or more orifices via a fitting disposed downstream of said water source and said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said spindle and said blade are reversible so as to both blend said ice and said at least one ingredient when said spindle and blade are rotated in one direction and mixing into said beverage said at least one mixin when said spindle and blade are rotated in a second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said blade is an emulsifying blade. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said lid assembly comprises a lid portion and at least one alignment member, thereby preventing said ice and said other ingredients from splashing outside of said beverage container and/or preventing container rotation or other unwanted movement during the blending and/or mixing process. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a linear slide and stepper motor which move said spindle and said blade in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said controller is capable of determining the location of said blade within said beverage container, thereby allowing said ice and said at least one other ingredient to blend throughout said beverage container providing a uniform beverage each time a beverage is blended and/or mixed in said blender module. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one blender module further comprises a safety switch that disengages said blade or said blender motor. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a device in proximity with said housing which will prevent said housing from being opened when said spindle and/or said blade is engaged. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor which indicates the presence of said beverage container in said blender module. 
     
     
         20 . A method for producing at least one beverage in a blender module and cleaning and/or sanitizing said blender module subsequent to producing said beverage in said blender module, said method comprising:
 blending and/or mixing ice and at least one other ingredient, and/or at least one mixin in a beverage container, thereby producing said beverage; and   activating a cleaning and/or sanitizing mode upon completion of a blending or mixing sequence and subsequent to the removal of said beverage container from said interior of said blender module,   wherein said blending assembly is cleaned and/or sanitized for subsequent usage.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said blender module comprises:
 a housing; a spindle and blade used to blend and/or mix said ice and at least one other ingredient to form said beverage; a lid assembly which is capable of contacting a top portion of said beverage container during blending and/or mixing, as well as preventing said beverage container from rotating thereabout;   and a container holder.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said cleaning mode is performed by supplying water and/or at least one cleaning solution and/or at least one sanitizing solution via a cleaning assembly associated with said blending module, wherein said cleaning assembly comprises a water source and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source connected to at least one orifice in said disposed within said housing for cleaning and/or sanitizing at least said interior of said housing, said spindle, said blade and said lid assembly after completion of each blending and/or mixing for the preparation of completed beverage. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said cleaning assembly comprises a water source and/or at least cleaning solution and/or at least one sanitizing solution source connected to at least one orifice disposed within the housing for cleaning and/or sanitizing at least said interior of said housing, said spindle, said blade and said lid assembly after use. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said cleaning and/or sanitizing mode is activated upon completion of a blending or mixing sequence and subsequent to the removal of said beverage container from said interior of said housing. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said blending module includes a variable speed motor to rotate said spindle and said blade in a radial direction. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said blending module includes a variable speed motor to move said spindle. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said housing substantially prevents water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solutions from passing outside of said housing during said cleaning mode. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said container holder comprises at least one arm disposed about said beverage container and said at least one orifice disposed thereon, wherein water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solutions provided from said water source and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source is/are supplied via said at least one orifice into said housing. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said dispensing is performed under pressure. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said cleaning assembly further comprises a conduit in fluid communication with said container holder, whereby water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution from said water source and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source are supplied within said housing. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said water source comprises: a water storage container, a valve and at least one water conduit connecting said water storage container to said at least one orifice under pressure. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source further comprises: a cleaning and/or sanitizing storage container, a valve and at least one cleaning and/or sanitizing solution conduit connecting said cleaning and/or sanitizing storage container to said at least one orifice under pressure, wherein said water conduit and said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution conduit are connected to an inlet of said at least one orifice via a fitting disposed downstream of said water source and said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution source. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said spindle and said blade are reversible so as to both blend said ice and said at least one ingredient when said spindle and blade are rotated in one direction and mixing into said beverage said at least one mixin when said spindle and blade are rotated in a second direction. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said blade is an emulsifying blade. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said lid assembly comprises a lid portion and at least one alignment member. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising moving said spindle and said blade in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising controlling the location of said blade within said beverage container, thereby allowing said ice and said at least one other ingredient to blend throughout said beverage container providing a uniform beverage each time a beverage is blended and/or mixed in said blender module. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising a safety switch, wherein said method further comprises disengaging said blade when said housing is opened. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising a device in proximity with said housing which will prevent said housing from being opened when said spindle and/or said blade is engaged. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising detecting or sensing when said beverage container is positioned within said blending assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said cleaning mode is based upon instructions communicated from a controller. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said blender module blends and/or mixes said ice and at least one other ingredient, in said beverage container based upon instructions communicated from a controller. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 22 , said cleaning mode comprises: supplying said water and/or said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution into said housing of said blender module; energizing said spindle and said blade; reciprocally moving said energized spindle and said blade within said housing of said blender module; de-energizing said spindle and said blade; returning said spindle and said blade to its home position. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said other ingredient are at least one selected from the group consisting of: syrup, water, fruit juice, coffee, yogurt, tea, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, milk and cream. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said mixin is at least one selected from the group consisting of: candy, cookies, syrups, nuts, fruits or fruit pieces or purees, whipped cream, wheat grass, and neutriceuticals. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 43 , further comprising supplying air into said housing of said blender module to assist in the removal of residual water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution, said supplied air will also provide a positive pressure on the drain system to assist in the removal of residual beverage, ice, water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solutions. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said cleaning mode comprises: supplying said water and/or said cleaning and/or sanitizing solution into said housing of said blender module and spinning said blender blade.