Device for preparation of gelatin-based products

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for preparing a gelatin-based product. In one example, a device for preparing the gelatin-based product includes a mixing chamber for mixing a gelatin based powder with one or more liquids to form a liquid gelatin mixture, a chilling module for cooling the mixture, and a dispensing system for serving the hardened mixture. In some examples, the device may include a first mixing chamber for mixing the gelatin based powder with heated water to form a first liquid mixture, a second mixing chamber for mixing the first liquid mixture with an alcoholic beverage to form a second liquid mixture, a first chilling module for cooling the second liquid mixture prior to dispensing the second liquid mixture, and a second cooling module for hardening the second liquid mixture after it has been dispensed into one or more serving cups.

1 . A device for preparing a gelatin-based product, comprising:
 a pod receptacle adapted to receive a removable consumable pod and including a door with a needle coupled to an interior surface of the door;
 a mixing chamber spaced away from the pod receptacle and fluidly coupled to the needle and a first liquid reservoir; 
 a first chilling module fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber; 
   a slideable drawer including a tray including a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of fluid vessels; and   a dispensing manifold fluidly coupled to the first chiller module and positioned vertically above the drawer.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second chilling module positioned below the drawer and including a chilling device and a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first chilling module includes a chilling device and a heat exchanger, where the heat exchanger is positioned on a first side of the chilling device and where the chilling device is positioned between the heat exchanger and a liquid gelatin interface on a second side of the chilling device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the chilling device includes a plurality of thermoelectric chips. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first chilling module further includes a first pump fluidly coupled with the mixing chamber and a second pump fluidly coupled with the dispensing manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a hot water tank positioned on a side of the mixing chamber opposite the first chilling module. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pod receptacle is rotatable via a motor coupled to the pod receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing enclosing the pod receptacle, mixing chamber, first chilling module, drawer, and dispensing manifold within an interior of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing manifold is removable from the device via a front access door positioned above the drawer. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a user interface coupled to an exterior wall of housing. 
     
     
         11 . A method for preparing a gelatin-based product, comprising:
 injecting heated water into a consumable pod pre-loaded into a pod receptacle of a device and mixing the injected heated water with gelatin contents of the consumable pod to form a first liquid gelatin mixture;   transporting the first liquid gelatin mixture and a first liquid through a first chilling module to form a chilled second liquid gelatin mixture;   transporting the chilled second liquid gelatin mixture to a dispensing manifold of the device, the dispensing manifold including one or more dispensing heads;   injecting, via the dispensing manifold, the chilled second liquid gelatin mixture into a plurality of cups; and   chilling the plurality of cups with a second chilling module to form a hardened gelatin mixture within each cup of the plurality of cups.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, before transporting the first liquid gelatin mixture and the first liquid through the first chilling module, transporting the first liquid gelatin mixture and the first liquid into a mixing chamber and mixing to form a mixed second liquid gelatin mixture, and then transporting the second liquid gelatin mixture through the first chilling module. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein transporting the second liquid gelatin mixture through the first chilling module is performed via a first pump and wherein transporting the chilled second liquid gelatin mixture to the dispensing manifold is performed via a second pump. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, prior to injecting the heated water into the consumable pod, puncturing a top surface of the consumable pod with a needle attached to a bottom side of a door of the pod receptacle and wherein the injecting heater water includes injecting heated water from a heated water tank of the device, through the needle, and into the consumable pod. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein mixing the injected heated water with gelatin contents of the consumable pod includes actuating a motor coupled with the pod receptacle to agitate the pod receptacle about a central axis of the pod receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising tracking an amount of the first liquid dispensed via the device over a duration of use of the device and generating data including the amount of the first liquid dispensed over the duration of use of the device. 
     
     
         17 . A device for preparing a gelatin-based product, comprising:
 a pod receptacle adapted to receive a removable consumable pod;   a first chilling module fluidly coupled to the pod receptacle;   a slideable drawer including a tray including a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of fluid vessels;   a dispensing manifold fluidly coupled to the first chilling module and positioned vertically above the drawer; and   a second chilling module directly coupled to a bottom exterior surface of the drawer.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a mixing chamber positioned between the first chilling device and a hot water tank. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the pod receptacle includes a door with a needle coupled to an interior surface of the door and wherein the pod receptacle is rotatable via a motor coupled to the pod receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising a motor coupled to the dispensing manifold for adjusting the dispensing manifold between a dispensing position where a gelatin mixture is dispensed into the fluid vessels from the manifold, and a cleaning position where a fluid mixture entering the manifold is drained to a drain tank.