FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

[0001] In an aspect, present disclosure relates to food processing systems. In particular, it pertains to a system to prepare customized beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] Customers today are increasingly demanding products tailored to their specific needs.

This pattern is all the more prevalent in food and beverage industry wherein increasing awareness and health consciousness is driving customer preference and choices in variety of ways. For instance, in case of a 'plain' drink like coffee, many choices exist. A coffee can be had black, with milk, with or without sugar, with an artificial sweetener, cold, hot or very hot, mild, normal or strong etc. etc. Likewise, a cold lemonade may be made with 'extra' lemon, and with no sugar. Similarly many beverages can be made with ingredients to provide for nutrition, defined intake of vitamins and calories etc.

[0004] As described, consumer preferences in beverage products have grown manifold with the introduction of a wide variety of sweeteners, taste ingredients, and nutraceuticals. A higher level of customization is sought to simultaneously meet the taste and nutrition needs of the consumers. A seller that can meet these varied expectations has a greater chance of succeeding in today's market place.

[0005] However, business parameters such as economies of scale when contrasted with cost of carrying inventory of several finished as well as raw ingredients in face of uncertain demand, different machineries, processes and manpower and processes lead to a huge challenge in meeting such customized expectations of a consumer. For instance, packaged drinks come in limited variants with fixed ingredient and nutrient compositions that cannot be customized to meet individual's unique taste and health needs. Same is true for other bottled and processed drinks. In addition to their limitation of not being customizable (when it comes to ingredient and nutrient composition), packaged and bottled drinks are also losing their proposition to the operators of beverage businesses owing to rising packaging costs, logistics cost and recycling costs. Packaged and bottled juices also attract environmental concerns. At the same time, existing beverage processing machineries in the market offer only very limited choices to consumers.

[0006] Hence there is a need in the art for a device that can produce beverages, at point of dispensing itself, to meet varied ingredient and nutrient composition requirements of different users while avoiding problems as highlighted above in making such customized beverages. As can be readily appreciated, such a device can also reduce packaging costs and transportation costs which can further lead to a better environment.

[0007] All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

[0008] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities or dimensions of items, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term "about." Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0009] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of

"a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[00010] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. "such as") provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[00011] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[00012] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.

[00013] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide for a beverage dispenser that can prepare beverages customized to different users' unique taste and nutrition preferences in a convenient and automated way.

[00014] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide for a beverage dispenser to prepare customized beverages that is easily operable with low maintenance and operation costs.

[00015] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide for a beverage dispenser that provides manifold choices to customers while reducing inventory, packaging and transportation costs.

SUMMARY

[00016] The present disclosure mainly relates to beverage dispensers. In particular it relates to a system to automatically prepare and dispense customized beverages according to a user's inputs.

[00017] This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of a system to prepare and dispense customized beverages which are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining/limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. [00018] In an aspect, present disclosure elaborates upon a system to prepare a customized beverage. The system includes: one or more processors; an input receiver to control the one or more processors to receive inputs from a user; a customized beverage process file (CBPF) generator to control the one or more processors to generate a customized beverage process file (CBPF) based upon the inputs, the CBPF carrying instructions for preparing and dispensing the customized beverage; at least one positioner to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, position any or a combination of at least one receptacle and at least one ingredient dispenser with respect to each other to enable the at least one receptacle to receive at least one ingredient from the at least one ingredient dispenser; at least one ingredient dispenser controller to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate the at least one ingredient dispenser to discharge pre-determined quantity of the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle; and at least one ingredient processer to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate at least one device to process the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle.

[00019] In another aspect, the at least one ingredient dispenser controller can be further configured to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, transfer any or a combination of the at least one ingredient and the processed at least one ingredient from the at least one receptacle to another receptacle for further processing, or to a carry-away container

[00020] In yet another aspect, any or a combination of said at least one positioner, said at least one ingredient dispenser controller and said at least one ingredient processor can use one or more of said at least one receptacle concurrently or sequentially according to said instructions.

[00021] In another aspect, the process can include any or a combination of heating, cooling, crushing, mixing with another ingredient and blending with another ingredient of the at least one ingredient.

[00022] In yet another aspect, the system can further include at least one cleanup controller to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate at least one cleaner to clean any or a combination of the at least one ingredient dispenser, the at least one receptacle, and the at least one device

[00023] In an aspect, the inputs can pertain to any or a combination of ingredients to be used for preparing the customized beverage, quantity of the ingredients, processing of the ingredients, time of processing of the ingredients, and time of dispensing the customized beverage for a deferred pick-up. [00024] In another aspect, the at least one ingredient dispenser can include any or a combination of a micro-ingredient dispenser, a macro-ingredient dispenser, and a solid-ingredient dispenser.

[00025] In yet another aspect, the carry-away container can be the at least one receptacle or the another receptacle.

[00026] In another aspect, the system can be configured for a plurality of carry-away containers each carrying a customized beverage for a corresponding user and can provide each carry-away container a corresponding code for its retrieval by the corresponding user.

[00027] In an aspect, present disclosure elaborates upon a method for preparing a customized beverage. The method includes: receiving, through one or more processors of a central computing device, inputs from a user; generating, using the one or more processors, a customized beverage process file (CBPF) based upon the inputs, the CBPF carrying instructions for preparing and dispensing the customized beverage; positioning, using the one or more processors, according to the instructions , any or a combination of at least one receptacle and at least one ingredient dispenser with respect to each other to enable the at least one receptacle to receive at least one ingredient from the at least one ingredient dispenser; operating, using the one or more processors, according to the instructions, the at least one ingredient dispenser to discharge pre-determined quantity of the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle; and operating , using the one or more processors, according to the instructions, at least one device to process the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle.

[00028] In another aspect, present disclosure elaborates upon a beverage dispenser (BD) to prepare a customized beverage, the BD configured with a system comprising: one or more processors; an input receiver to control the one or more processors to receive inputs from a user; a customized beverage process file (CBPF) generator to control the one or more processors to generate a customized beverage process file (CBPF) based upon the inputs, the CBPF carrying instructions for preparing and dispensing the customized beverage; at least one positioner to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, position any or a combination of at least one receptacle and at least one ingredient dispenser with respect to each other to enable the at least one receptacle to receive at least one ingredient from the at least one ingredient dispenser; at least one ingredient dispenser controller to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate the at least one ingredient dispenser to discharge pre-determined quantity of the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle; at least one ingredient processer to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate at least one device to process the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle; and at least one cleanup controller to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate at least one cleaner to clean any or a combination of the at least one ingredient dispenser, the at least one receptacle, and the at least one device.

[00029] The technical problems solved by the present invention are that present systems can offer only pre-determined and very limited choices of beverages to various users. Increasing such choices is not possible due to uncertainty in demand and direct relationship of increased choice provisioning to machine complexity, inventory carrying cost and storage issues.

[00030] To solve the above recited and other problems in the prior-art, present disclosure provides a mechanism wherein the mechanism adapts to a user's inputs to deliver customized beverage to the user without increasing storage and inventory carrying costs, by using a machine that is simple in construction and operation.

[00031] Within the scope of this application it is expressly envisaged that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

[00032] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00033] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure, and wherein:

[00034] FIG. 1 illustrates architecture of a system proposed to illustrate its overall working in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00035] FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary components of system proposed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [00036] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of implementing proposed system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00037] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of working of a beverage dispenser machine (BD) configured with the proposed system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00038] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary apparatus for implementing process flow as elaborated via FIG.4, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00039] FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary beverage dispenser for implementing process flow as elaborated via FIG.4, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00040] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[00041] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.

[00042] Embodiments of the present invention include various steps, which will be described below. The steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine- executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and firmware and/or by human operators.

[00043] Various methods described herein may be practiced by combining one or more machine- readable storage media containing the code according to the present invention with appropriate standard computer hardware to execute the code contained therein. An apparatus for practicing various embodiments of the present invention may involve one or more computers (or one or more processors within a single computer) and storage systems containing or having network access to computer program(s) coded in accordance with various methods described herein, and the method steps of the invention could be accomplished by modules, routines, subroutines, or subparts of a computer program product.

[00044] If the specification states a component or feature "may", "can", "could", or "might" be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.

[00045] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[00046] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. These exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. The invention disclosed may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). Also, the terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

[00047] Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named element.

[00048] The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

[00049] Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

[00050] Embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a computer program product, which may include a machine-readable storage medium tangibly embodying thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process. The term "machine-readable storage medium" or "computer-readable storage medium" includes, but is not limited to, fixed (hard) drives, magnetic tape, floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories, such as ROMs, PROMs, random access memories (RAMs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), erasable PROMs (EPROMs), electrically erasable PROMs (EEPROMs), flash memory, magnetic or optical cards, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions (e.g., computer programming code, such as software or firmware). A machine-readable medium may include a non- transitory medium in which data can be stored and that does not include carrier waves and/or transitory electronic signals propagating wirelessly or over wired connections. Examples of a non-transitory medium may include, but are not limited to, a magnetic disk or tape, optical storage media such as compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD), flash memory, memory or memory devices. A computer-program product may include code and/or machine-executable instructions that may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

[00051] Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks (e.g., a computer-program product) may be stored in a machine- readable medium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks.

[00052] Systems depicted in some of the figures may be provided in various configurations. In some embodiments, the systems may be configured as a distributed system where one or more components of the system are distributed across one or more networks in a cloud computing system.

[00053] In an implementation, any computing devices used in proposed system may be any of a variety of types of computing devices, including without limitation, a desktop computer system, a data entry terminal, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a handheld personal data assistant, a smartphone, a body-worn computing device incorporated into clothing, a computing device integrated into a vehicle (e.g., a car, a bicycle, etc.), a server, a cluster of servers, a server farm, single board computers, system on chip (SOC) etc.

[00054] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term "communication network" is intended to include internet, LAN, WAN, intranet or cloud networks or any communication medium possible for interaction among the devices and with the server.

[00055] In another aspect, relevant components/units of the proposed system can be configured to be operatively connected to a website, or be part of/operate upon a mobile application that can be downloaded on a mobile device that can connect to Internet. In such fashion the proposed system can be available 24*7 to its users. Any other manner of implementation of the proposed system or a part thereof is well within the scope of the present disclosure/invention. [00056] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.

[00057] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[00058] Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.

[00059] This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of a system to prepare and dispense customized beverages which are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining/limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[00060] In an aspect, present disclosure elaborates upon a system to prepare a customized beverage. The system includes: one or more processors; an input receiver to control the one or more processors to receive inputs from a user; a customized beverage process file (CBPF) generator to control the one or more processors to generate a customized beverage process file (CBPF) based upon the inputs, the CBPF carrying instructions for preparing and dispensing the customized beverage; at least one positioner to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, position any or a combination of at least one receptacle and at least one ingredient dispenser with respect to each other to enable the at least one receptacle to receive at least one ingredient from the at least one ingredient dispenser; at least one ingredient dispenser controller to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate the at least one ingredient dispenser to discharge pre-determined quantity of the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle; and at least one ingredient processer to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate at least one device to process the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle. [00061] In another aspect, the at least one ingredient dispenser controller can be further configured to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, transfer any or a combination of the at least one ingredient and the processed at least one ingredient from the at least one receptacle to another receptacle for further processing, or to a carry-away container

[00062] In yet another aspect, any or a combination of said at least one positioner, said at least one ingredient dispenser controller and said at least one ingredient processor can use one or more of said at least one receptacle concurrently or sequentially according to said instructions.

[00063] In another aspect, the process can include any or a combination of heating, cooling, crushing, mixing with another ingredient and blending with another ingredient of the at least one ingredient.

[00064] In yet another aspect, the system can further include at least one cleanup controller to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate at least one cleaner to clean any or a combination of the at least one ingredient dispenser, the at least one receptacle, and the at least one device

[00065] In an aspect, the inputs can pertain to any or a combination of ingredients to be used for preparing the customized beverage, quantity of the ingredients, processing of the ingredients, time of processing of the ingredients, and time of dispensing the customized beverage for a deferred pick-up.

[00066] In another aspect, the at least one ingredient dispenser can include any or a combination of a micro-ingredient dispenser, a macro-ingredient dispenser, and a solid-ingredient dispenser.

[00067] In yet another aspect, the carry-away container can be the at least one receptacle or the another receptacle.

[00068] In another aspect, the system can be configured for a plurality of carry-away containers each carrying a customized beverage for a corresponding user and can provide each carry-away container a corresponding code for its retrieval by the corresponding user.

[00069] In an aspect, present disclosure elaborates upon a method for preparing a customized beverage. The method includes: receiving, through one or more processors of a central computing device, inputs from a user; generating, using the one or more processors, a customized beverage process file (CBPF) based upon the inputs, the CBPF carrying instructions for preparing and dispensing the customized beverage; positioning, using the one or more processors, according to the instructions , any or a combination of at least one receptacle and at least one ingredient dispenser with respect to each other to enable the at least one receptacle to receive at least one ingredient from the at least one ingredient dispenser; operating, using the one or more processors, according to the instructions, the at least one ingredient dispenser to discharge pre-determined quantity of the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle; and operating , using the one or more processors, according to the instructions, at least one device to process the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle.

[00070] In another aspect, present disclosure elaborates upon a beverage dispenser (BD) to prepare a customized beverage, the BD configured with a system comprising: one or more processors; an input receiver to control the one or more processors to receive inputs from a user; a customized beverage process file (CBPF) generator to control the one or more processors to generate a customized beverage process file (CBPF) based upon the inputs, the CBPF carrying instructions for preparing and dispensing the customized beverage; at least one positioner to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, position any or a combination of at least one receptacle and at least one ingredient dispenser with respect to each other to enable the at least one receptacle to receive at least one ingredient from the at least one ingredient dispenser; at least one ingredient dispenser controller to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate the at least one ingredient dispenser to discharge pre-determined quantity of the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle; at least one ingredient processer to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate at least one device to process the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle; and at least one cleanup controller to control the one or more processors to, according to the instructions, operate at least one cleaner to clean any or a combination of the at least one ingredient dispenser, the at least one receptacle, and the at least one device.

[00071] FIG. 1 illustrates overall architecture of a system proposed to illustrate its overall working in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00072] As shown in FIG. 1, proposed system 100 may be used by a user 104 to prepare a customized beverage 108. In an exemplary embodiment elaborated herein, proposed system may be used to operate an appropriately configured beverage dispenser (BD106) using a user interface provided on BD106 for user 104 to input his/her requirements/preferences.

[00073] In an exemplary embodiment, user 104 may select a 'base' beverage and then further customize the base beverage per his/her preferences by providing various inputs/choices to the proposed system. [00074] For instance, a customer/user may require iced tea. On an interface at the BD106, he may select iced tea wherein the system can provide him a form on the screen using which user 104 can make various choices possible. For instance, user 104 can select flavor as vanilla, sugarless option, with 100 grams ice and total volume of 300 milliliter. Proposed system 100 may recommend to user 104 amount of tea granules and vanilla essence suitable per choice of beverage made by the user. User 104 may accept or modify these amounts per his preference. For instance, the system 100 may recommend 25 grams of tea granules and 1 milliliter of vanilla essence. While user 104 may accept amount of vanilla essence as is, she/he may raise the tea granules to 30 grams. Proposed system 100 may impose a limit on variations that can be made by the user. For instance, proposed system may allow vanilla essence quantity to be varied only by +/- 5 % over quantity suggested by it. Or the system may not provide any recommendations and allow user 104 user to select from a menu of pre-determined ingredients his/her choice of ingredients, their quantities, and processing requirements.

[00075] In another exemplary embodiment, a user (such as user 104) may not seek any customization. For example, the user may simply ask for 200 milliliters of hot tea as per standard tea provided by proposed system. In such a case proposed system may deliver to the user the standard tea with default ingredients added and default processing undertaken.

[00076] Instead of an appropriate user interface provided at the BD106, in another exemplary embodiment, a mobile application on the user's mobile device can operatively connect to the proposed system using various communication means such as Bluetooth, or any other suitable electronic network, and enable the user to operate the system.

[00077] Proposed system can receive all these inputs from user 104 and thereby generate a customized beverage process file (CBPF) shown as CBPF102. CBPF102 can carry necessary instructions to operate the various components of the proposed system as further described. Such components may in turn operate component of BD106 and prepare a beverage customized per the user's requirements/inputs/choices.

[00078] In another exemplary embodiment, before generating the CBPF 102, proposed system can advise price of beverage sought to be prepared by the user and can accept payment from the user by usual e-commerce means known in the art. Upon receipt of the payment, proposed system can thereafter generate the CBPF 102.

[00079] In an exemplary embodiment, proposed system can enable various components of BD106 to perform operations as per instructions in CBPF102. For this purpose proposed system can have various controllers, transceivers etc. as further described that may in turn operate conveyors/positioning means, dispensers, blenders etc. of the BD106 as required. Accordingly, as per example herein, a suitable receptacle configured in BD106 can be positioned to receive 25 grams of tea granules suitable ( or, the quantity of tea granules as specified by use 104 which can then be included in CBPF102) from a tea-granule dispenser configured in BD106. Sensor in the tea-granule dispenser can inform the proposed system when right quantity of granules have been dispensed in the receptacle. In another exemplary embodiment, one or more of the dispensers can be volumetric dispensers that, on being switched on, can deliver a fixed volume of an ingredient and then switch off. In this case such dispensers need not have sensors.

[00080] Next, system 100 can move the receptacle to receive 1 milliliter of vanilla essence from a vanilla essence dispenser. Sensor in the vanilla dispenser can inform the proposed system when such quantity of vanilla essence has been dispensed in the receptacle

[00081] Thereafter, system 100 can move the receptacle to receive 200 milliliters of water. Or, receptacle remaining fixed, a water dispenser configured in BD106 can be positioned over the receptacle accordingly. Again, sensor in the water dispenser can inform system 100 that 200 milliliters of water have been dispensed into the receptacle. Thereafter proposed system can, based upon instructions in CBPF102, position the receptacle below an agitator (for example a mixer) configured in BD106 that can mix the tea granules with the water in the receptacle for a pre-determined period of time as per instructions in CBPF102.

[00082] It can be readily appreciated that there can be multiple steps while processing a beverage. For instance, ingredient A and ingredient B may be discharged in receptacle X and processed there. Simultaneously, ingredient C and ingredient D may be discharged in receptacle Y and processed there. Further, processed contents of receptacle X and receptacle can be further discharged into receptacle Z (that is, both receptacles X and Y can serve as transient receptacles) . Further processing may happen at receptacle Z. Or receptacle Z may be a carry-away container and a user can simply take away the carry- away container with his/her processed beverage inside. All such modifications, and their further enhancements, are fully a part of the present disclosure.

[00083] After such mixing, proposed system 100 can move the receptacle below an ice dispenser configured in BD106 (or, receptacle remaining fixed, an ice dispenser can be positioned over it) that can dispense 100 grams of ice into the receptacle. Sensor in the ice dispenser can inform system 100 that 100 grams of ice has been dispensed into the receptacle. As already elaborated, dispensers can be of the volumetric type and thus need no sensors.

[00084] All ingredients and their processing being complete, proposed system 100 can now transfer contents of the receptacle ( which is now a customized beverage 108 as per choices made by user 104, as can readily be understood) to a carry-away container. Or the receptacle itself can serve as the carry-away container. Per instructions in CBPF102, the carry-away container can be placed, for instance, in a delivery rack in BD106 from where it can be picked up by user 104, as indicated at 106 in FIG. 1 or the carry away container can be picked up by the user from the positioning means such as conveyor etc directly.

[00085] The proposed system 100 can next execute remaining instructions in CBPF102 that may pertain to cleaning of the receptacle thoroughly so that it is ready to take request of another user without any contamination of ingredients carried over from the previous request. One or more cleaners (for instance a cleaner discharging steam followed by another discharging water) can be used to clean the receptacle. Likewise, any intermediate receptacles where processes such as blending may have happened can also be cleaned.

[00086] It can be readily appreciated that depending upon instructions in CBPF102 various processes can be undertaken in the BD106 concurrently or sequentially. More than one dispenser or receptacle can be deployed using more than one positioner. Different processes of different ingredients can be carried out in different receptacles. For instance, coffee can be mixed with milk in one receptacle and the mixture transferred to another receptacle where it can be heated. Or multiple processes can be undertaken in the same receptacle. For instance, mixing of coffee with milk, followed by further mixing of cocoa powder with the mixture of coffee and milk.. In another example, lemon juice, salt and pepper may be blended in a first receptacle, while a second receptacle may be blending non-sugar sweetner with appropriate quantity of cold water. After a pre-determined time, blended contents in the first receptacle may be transferred to the second receptacle ( or vice versa), and the mixture further blended before being transferred to a third receptacle that may be a carry-away container. All such embodiments and their variations are fully a part of the present disclosure.

[00087] FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary components of system proposed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00088] In an aspect, system 100 proposed may include one or more processor(s) 202. The one or more processor(s) 202 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate data based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the one or more processor(s) 202 are configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory 204 of the system 100. The memory 204 may store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines, which may be fetched and executed to create or share the data units over a network service. The memory 204 may include any non-transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM, or non-volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like. Processors 202 may receive inputs from various other units/components further elaborated to prepare a customized beverage as required by a user.

[00089] In another aspect, system 100 may also include an interface(s) 206. The interface(s) 206 may include a variety of interfaces, for example, interfaces for data input and output devices, referred to as I/O devices, storage devices, and the like. The interface(s) 206 may facilitate communication of the system 100 with various devices coupled to the system 100, or with various users of the proposed system. The interface(s) 206 may also provide a communication pathway for one or more components of the system 100 as elaborated further.

[00090] In an aspect, other components of the proposed system can include a user input receiver 208, customized beverage process file generator 210, customized beverage request transceiver 208, a positioner 212, a sensor data transceiver 214, an ingredients dispenser controller 216, an ingredients processor 218, a cleanup controller 220, other units 222 and database 224.

[00091] Components as above and further described may be implemented as a combination of hardware and programming (for example, programmable instructions) to implement one or more functionalities of the processor(s) 202. In examples described herein, such combinations of hardware and programming may be implemented in several different ways. For example, the programming for the processor(s) 202 may be processor executable instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and the hardware for the processor(s) 202 may include a processing resource (for example, one or more processors), to execute such instructions. The system 100 may include the machine-readable storage medium storing the instructions and the processing resource to execute the instructions, or the machine-readable storage medium may be separate but accessible to system 100 and the processing resource. In other examples, the processor(s) 202 may be implemented by electronic circuitry.

Input receiver 208 [00092] In an aspect, proposed system can include an input receiver 208 that can control the one or more processors 202 to receive inputs from a user.

[00093] Input receiver 208 can enable proposed systemlOO to receive inputs from a user (for instance user 104 as described in FIG. l) using, for instance, a user interface provided on a BD configured with the proposed system to prepare a beverage customized to his/her requirements.

[00094] The inputs may pertain to any or a combination of ingredients to be used for preparing the customized beverage, quantity of the ingredients, and processing of the ingredients. For instance, the user may select 'iced tea' as his beverage, when user interface can provide the user various options pertaining to iced tea such as quantity of tea granules, flavor and temperature.

[00095] It can be readily understood that the user interface can enable the user to prepare totally unique and customized beverages to the user's requirement by selecting various ingredients, their quantity and processing totally as per his/her desire.

[00096] Further, input receiver 208 can transfer inputs received from the user to customized beverage process file generator 208 for further processing therein.

[00097] Input receiver 208 can provide appropriate interfaces on a BD proposed system is configured in to enable a user provide various inputs to the proposed system. In another exemplary embodiment, instead of an appropriate user interface provided at the BD, a mobile application on the user's mobile device can operatively connect to the proposed system/input receiver 208 using various communication means such as Bluetooth, and enable the user to provide necessary inputs to the proposed system.

[00098] In an exemplary embodiment, input receiver 208 may be operatively coupled with a user interface placed on the BD using which a user can provide inputs to the proposed system. The received inputs may be processed as further elaborated. In another exemplary embodiment, beverage request may be received using a code from which information on user's preferences and choices can be extracted, using means known in the art. Input receiver 108 can read such codes and extract the information. Such a code may include, for instance, a QR code/barcode stored on a user's handheld device, code on a bill receipt (of an earlier customized beverage, for instance), an RFID tag etc. Input receiver 208 can be configured to read information regarding user input from any or a combination of such input means.

[00099] In an exemplary embodiment, input receiver 208 can be any device, such as a transceiver, having a receiver with appropriate circuitry to receive inputs. Customized Beverage Process File Generator 210

[000100] In an aspect, proposed system can include a customized beverage process file (CBPF) generator 210 that can control processors 202 to generate a customized beverage process file (CBPF) based upon user inputs, the CBPF carrying instructions for preparing and dispensing the customized beverage.

[000101] Customized beverage process file (CBPF) generator 210 can take the inputs received at receiver 208 as well as additional data from database 224 as required to create a CBPF for the user (such as CBPF 102 for user 104). The CBPF can carry necessary instructions to operate the various other units as elaborated under that can in turn automatically operate other components of the BD through processors 202 to prepare and dispense the customized beverage.

[000102] The CBPF generator 210 can as well take various other data as required from database 224 ( for instance, standard instruction set to make iced tea)

[000103] The CBPF generated can be stored in memory 204 and instructions therein provided to various units/controllers as further elaborated. The units can execute relevant instructions in the CBPF to control processors 202 that can in turn control various other components of the BD, as further elaborated. In another exemplary embodiment, processors 202 can receive the CBPF from memory 204, provide instructions therein to various units elaborated herein, can receive control inputs back from the units, and can accordingly operate various other components of the BD as per the instructions.

[000104] For instance, the CBPF can carry instructions to fill, say 100 milliliter of water in a receptacle from a water dispenser. Positioner 214 can receive these instructions and accordingly control processors 202 to move a conveyor carrying a receptacle. For the purpose, processors 202 can provide power to a stepper motor configured to move the conveyor. The conveyor can accordingly move slowly till the receptacle is below the water dispenser. A sensor configured in the water dispenser can enable an ingredients dispenser controller 216 to determine that the receptacle is below the water dispenser. Controller 216 can accordingly control processors 202 to switch on a water pump that can dispense water in the receptacle. A sensor at the pump nozzle can monitor amount of water being dispensed and when it reaches 100 milliliter, can provide necessary signal to ingredients controller 216 to switch off the pump. Alternatively, the pump used can be a volumetric dosing pump when only the run time is sent as an instruction in the CBPF with no need of sensors.

[000105] In an exemplary embodiment, generator 210 can be one or more processors dedicatedly used to generate a CBPF as elaborated above. Sensor Data Transceiver 212

[000106] In an aspect, proposed system can include a sensor data transceiver 212 that can control the one or more processors 202 to receive and transmit data from various sensors as further elaborated.

[000107] Sensor data transceiver 212 can receive data from various sensors configured in the BD, and can transmit such sensor data to other units for the proper operation of BD and its various units as elaborated hereunder.

[000108] Transceiver 212 can receive sensor data from a plurality of sensors that measure various operational parameters such as temperature, weight, volume etc. of various ingredients dispensed in the receptacle, those of the mixture held in the receptacle, and location (and presence in the correct slot) of the receptacle. Such parameters can then be communicated to appropriate units directly or via processors 202 or a combination to enable the other units take appropriate actions such as generating appropriate commands for components they may be operatively controlling. As already described, in some cases sensors may not be required, for instance when volumetric dosing pumps are used in dispensers.

[000109] For instance, transceiver 212 can receive data regarding position of the receptacle with respect to a dispenser and can provide this data to positioner 214 (as further elaborated) either directly or via processors 202 to enable positioner 214 position the receptacle with respect to the dispenser as required.

[000110] Similarly, transceiver 212 can receive data from a weight sensor that monitors weight of an ingredient being discharged into the receptacle and once proper weight (as per CBPF) has been discharged, stop further discharge and inform the positioner 214 accordingly. Positioned 214 can then move the receptacle to the next ingredient dispenser/next processor step as required by the CBPF.

[000111] In an exemplary embodiment, sensor data transceiver 212 can be any device, such as transceiver, having a transmitter or a receiver or both a transmitter and a receiver that are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing for receiving and/or transmitting sensor data as elaborated above.

Positioner 214

[000112] In an aspect, proposed system can include at least one positioner 214. Positioner 214 can control the one or more processors 202 to position any or a combination of at least one receptacle and at least one ingredient dispenser with respect to each other to enable the at least one receptacle to receive at least one ingredient from the at least one ingredient dispenser according to the instructions (per corresponding CBPF). [000113] For instance, positioner 214 can control processors 202 to operate a stepper motor operating in turn a conveyor to position a receptacle below a water dispenser to receive water and thereafter below a lemon concentrate dispenser to receive lemon concentrate. On the other hand, the receptacle can remain fixed while the water dispenser and the lemon concentrate dispenser can be moved over it to discharge their contents into the receptacle. Or a combination of the two steps may occur. All such embodiments are fully a part of the present disclosure. Various sensors can provide sensor data via transceiver 212 already elaborated to enable positioner 214 to control processors 202 carry out such instructions of the CBPF correctly.

[000114] In another exemplary embodiment, positioner 214 can move a conveyer belt in the BD, said conveyor belt holding the receptacle. Similarly, positioner 214 can rotate a carousel of several dispensers over a receptacle that can be held fixed.

[000115] In an exemplary embodiment, positioner 214 can be a microcontroller based device dedicatedly used to perform functionalities as described above.

[000116] In an exemplary embodiment, positioner 214 can generate appropriate commands for a conveyer system that can have a conveyer drive with a slot for holding the receptacle in which the customized beverage is to be prepared and served. Positioner 214 can generate commands for processors 202 to enable the conveyer system move the receptacle and make halts for defined intervals at defined locations within the BD to receive ingredients or undergo processing operations as described further. The places where the receptacle halts can be interchangeably termed as stages. In another exemplary embodiment, there can be two conveyer systems controlled by positioner 214 (or there can be two positioners 214, one for each conveyer system). Each conveyer system can carry a corresponding receptacle. Processing can happen in both the receptacles and thereafter contents of one transferred to another.

Ingredients Dispenser Controller 216

[000117] In an aspect, proposed system can include at least one ingredients dispenser controller 216 that can control processors 202 to operate the at least one ingredient dispenser to discharge predetermined quantity of the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle according to the instructions (per corresponding CBPF).

[000118] Ingredients dispenser controller 216 can control various dispensers to dispense ingredients as required by the CBPF into the at least one receptacle, while receiving and transmitting data from/to sensor data transceiver 212 as required. [000119] In an exemplary embodiment, controller 216 can enable processors 202 to provide necessary inputs and commands to a micro-ingredient dispenser, a macro-ingredients dispenser and a solid ingredients dispenser (as further elaborated) and any more dispensers as may be required.

[000120] In an exemplary embodiment, the micro-ingredients dispenser may constitute of a a plurality of reservoirs of micro-ingredients, each in fluidic communication with dosing pumps that can be selectively operable based upon commands received from controller 216 as described above.

[000121] The micro-ingredients may constitute anywhere between 2 % to 10 %, by volume, in the final beverage product and at least two of these reservoirs can contain micro-ingredients whose taste and nutrition properties are unique. Such micro-ingredients may include, as examples and not limitations, sweeteners, vitamin and mineral premixes, other nutraceuticals, natural herbs, taste enhancers etc.

[000122] In another exemplary embodiment, the macro-ingredients dispenser may constitute of a plurality of reservoirs of macro-ingredients, each in fluidic communication with a dosing pump. These pumps can be selectively operable based on commands received from controller 216 as described above.

[000123] Macro-ingredients may constitute anywhere between 16 % to 90 %, by volume in the final beverage product, and at least two of these reservoirs can have macro-ingredients with unique taste and nutrition properties. Such macro-ingredients may include, as examples and not limitations, milk, fruit concentrates, water, high pressure processed juices, base flavors etc.

[000124] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the solid ingredients dispenser may constitute of various solid or powder ingredients each contained in a reservoir that can be coupled to a hopper based dispenser, where the hopper based dispensers may be selectively operable based on commands received from controller 216 as described above. The solid ingredients may constitute anywhere between 2 % to 10 %, by weight, in the final beverage product. Such solid ingredients may include, as examples and not limitations, nuts, protein powders, fruit powders, flavoring powders, oats, and cereals. The

[000125] For instance, a CBPF may require 50 grams of ice to be dispensed in a receptacle. After the receptacle has been moved into position, controller 216 can operate an ice dispenser through processors 202. Sensor below receptacle can determine when 50 grams of ice have been dispensed and convey signal to controller 216 accordingly, thereafter using processors 202 controller 216 can switch off the ice dispenser. [000126] In an aspect, the ingredients dispenser controller 216 can be further on figured to control processors 202 to operate the at least one ingredient dispenser to transfer any or a combination of the at least one ingredient and the at least one ingredient after processing from the at least one receptacle to another receptacle for further processing, or to a carry-away container, according to the instructions (per corresponding CBPF).

[000127] For the purpose controller 216 may receive appropriate signals from ingredient processor

218 as further elaborated. In this manner different processes can take place in different receptacles, and the contents of these receptacles transferred to other receptacles(s) where further processing of the mixture may take place. Intermediate/transient receptacles may accordingly be used.

[000128] In an exemplary embodiment, controller 216 can be a microcontroller based device dedicatedly used to perform functionalities as elaborated above.

Ingredients Processor 218

[000129] In an aspect, proposed system can include at least one ingredients processor 218 dispenser controller 216 that can control the one or more processors to operate at least one device to process the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle according to the instructions ( per corresponding CBPF).

[000130] After an ingredient has been dispensed in the receptacle, processor 218 can process the ingredient as required by the CBPF using appropriate devices while receiving and transmitting data from/to sensor data transceiver 212 as required.

[000131] For instance, for a lemonade drink, appropriate quantity of water and lemon concentrate may have been dispensed into a receptacle. Transceiver 212 may send relevant data to processor 202 based upon which processor 202 may determine that the receptacle contains correct quantity of water and lemon concentrate. Further, positioner 214 may, based upon CBPF, determine that now the mix needs to be blended. Positioner 214 may accordingly position the receptacle below appropriate ingredients processor. Ingredients processor (IP) 218 can receive a signal from transceiver 212 that the receptacle is correctly placed below a blender, and can determine from the CBPF that the mix needs blending for 20 seconds.

[000132] Thereafter IP218 can operate the blender device through processors 202. A time sensor can determine when 20 seconds of blending are over, and convey a signal to IP218 accordingly. Thereafter using processors 202, IP218 can switch off the blender. [000133] In an exemplary embodiment, the blender device can consist of a moving agitation assembly that agitates ingredient admixtures in the receptacle based on commands received from IP218 to get required texture and taste of the admixture. Likewise, different devices can be used for different processes such as grinding, crushing, mixing etc.

[000134] IP218 can as well enable processing in multiple receptacles by giving appropriate signals to positioner 214 and/or ingredients dispenser controller 216 as and when required, according to instructions in the CBPF.

[000135] As can be easily understood, there can be more than one ingredients, receptacles and processing operations. For instance, while a first receptacle may be mixing lemon concentrate and water, crushed ice may be being prepared simultaneously in a second container, Thereafter, crushed ice may be transferred from the second receptacle to the first receptacle, till temperature of the mix in the first receptacle reaches a temperature set by the user( such temperature parameter being part of CBPF generated). Instructions for all of these may be provided in the CBPF and accordingly, the user may finally get lemonade exactly to the temperature set by him/her. All such combinations and embodiments are part of the present disclosure.

[000136] In an exemplary embodiment, ingredients processor 218 can be a microcontroller based device dedicatedly used to perform functionalities as elaborated above.

Cleanup Controller 220

[000137] In an aspect, proposed system can include at least one cleanup controller that can control the processors 202 to operate at least one cleaner to clean any or a combination of the at least one ingredient dispenser, the at least one receptacle, and the at least one device (that has been used for processing by IP218) according to the instructions ( per corresponding CBPF).

[000138] Once a processing operation has been completed and contents transferred to another receptacle (or the user's carry-away container, as appropriate), cleanup controller 218 can be triggered to clean the receptacle in which processing has been done, as per instructions in the CBPF. Cleanup controller 218 can in turn operate one/ more different cleaning apparatus accordingly (for instance, scraper, water cleaner, steam cleaner etc. ) to clean the receptacle. In a similar manner, cleanup controller 220 can enable cleaning of the ingredient dispensers as and when required, as well as of any devices that may have been used for various processing of the ingredients.

[000139] In an exemplary embodiment, controller 220 can be a microcontroller-based device dedicatedly used to perform functionalities as elaborated above. Other Units 222

[000140] Other units 222 can perform various ancillary functions for proper performance of the system/BD in which the proposed system is configured. These functions can include, for example and without limitation, alarm generation on various faults, maintenance schedules monitoring and implementation, ingredient replenishment signals, units configured to enable payments using e- commerce techniques well known in the art etc.

[000141] In an exemplary embodiment, a queuing and stacking unit can enable the proposed system to handle a plurality of requests from different users. Each request can be given a unique code that can be advised to its corresponding user. Beverage per that request can be prepared in its own carry- away container that can also carry the same code. Upon completion of processing of ingredients, proposed system can stack different carry-away containers in a stacker in order of the codes. Users can identify their beverage based upon codes on the carry-away containers and can simply pick their carry- away containers from the stacker.

[000142] In another exemplary embodiment, another unit can process output messages from the proposed system and such messages can inform status of his/her beverage request such as 'under process', 'ready' etc., on an appropriate display that can be configured on the BD itself or even enabled on the mobile device of the user via a mobile application.

Database 224

[000143] In an aspect, database 224 may include data that is either stored or generated as a result of functionalities implemented by any of the components. For instance database 224 may store beverage formulation rules (that may be incorporated while generating CBPF), instructions to prepare 'basic' version of different beverages that can be further modified by users, inventory status of ingredient systems, log of dispensed products and any such information relevant to the operation of the proposed system, and provide such data to other units/components as required.

[000144] It would be appreciated that parts and units elaborated above are only exemplary units and any other parts/units can be included as part of the proposed system. These units too can be merged or divided into super-units or sub-units as may be configured and can be spread across one or more computing devices operatively connected to each other using appropriate communication technologies.

[000145] Further, although the proposed system has been elaborated as above to include all the main units, it is completely possible that actual implementations may include only a part of the proposed units or a combination of those or a division of those into sub-units in various combinations across multiple devices that can be operatively coupled with each other, including in the cloud. Further the units can be configured in any sequence to achieve objectives elaborated. Also, it can be appreciated that proposed system can be configured in a computing device or across a plurality of computing devices operatively connected with each other, wherein the computing devices can be any of a computer, a laptop, a smart phone, an Internet enabled mobile device and the like. Therefore, all possible modifications, implementations and embodiments of where and how the proposed system is configured are well within the scope of the present invention.

[000146] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of implementing system proposed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[000147] In an aspect, a method of preparing a customized beverage can include, at step 302, receiving, through one or more processors of a central computing device, inputs from a user, and at step 304, generating, using the one or more processors, a customized beverage process file (CBPF) based upon the inputs, the CBPF carrying instructions for preparing and dispensing the customized beverage.

[000148] The method can further include, at step 306, positioning, using the one or more processors, according to the instructions , any or a combination of at least one receptacle and at least one ingredient dispenser with respect to each other to enable the at least one receptacle to receive at least one ingredient from the at least one ingredient dispenser, and at step 308, operating, using the one or more processors, according to the instructions, the at least one ingredient dispenser to discharge predetermined quantity of the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle.

[000149] The method can further include, at step 310, operating, using the one or more processors, according to the instructions, at least one device to process the at least one ingredient in the at least one receptacle.

[000150] Method as elaborated above can be described in general context of computer executable instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, modules, functions, etc., that perform particular functions or implement particular abstract data types. The method can also be practiced in a distributed computing environment where functions are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, computer executable instructions may be located in both local and remote computer storage media, including memory storage devices.

[000151] The order in which the method is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method steps/ blocks can be combined in any order to implement the method or alternate methods. Additionally, individual steps/blocks may be deleted from the method without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof. However, for ease of explanation, in the embodiments described, the method may be considered to be implemented in the above described system.

[000152] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of working of a beverage dispenser (BD) configured with the proposed system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[000153] At block 402, proposed system receives a request from the user to dispense a customized beverage (using, for example an input receiver 208 as elaborated above). Such a request may come from an input / output device where, by way of representation, a Graphical User Interface may be provided for the user to make selections for beverage products with unique micro-ingredient, macro- ingredient and solid-ingredient compositions. The request may also come from a code that has the information of user preferences stored in the code. Such a code may be generated on user's device such as handheld device or any printed bill receipt. Such a code may be read by the proposed system to read / scan beverage requests through codes. By way of representation, the code may be a QR code and the accordingly the reader may be a computer vision based reader on the BD. Alternatively, a code could be a RFID tag and the BD may have a RFID reader. Thereafter, proposed system prepares a customized beverage process file (CBPF) (using, for example, customized beverage process file generator 210 described above). The CBPF carries instructions to be followed by other units of the proposed system as described above/hereunder in order to prepare/dispense customized beverage as desired by the user.

[000154] Once the request is made, the user places a receptacle at a conveyor system at an initial position as shown at block 404. In the receptacle, final beverage product will be prepared and served to the user. At block 406, a sensor system checks for the receptacle on the conveyer system and sends data to appropriate components of proposed system( such as sensor data transciever212 elaborated above) based upon which the proposed system checks whether the receptacle is correctly positioned, as shown at block 408. If yes, the conveyer moves the receptacle to the next stage/position (using for instance postioner 214 as described above) as shown at block 412 and if no, proposed system sends an error message, as shown at 410. The error message can be displayed on the BD for example, to enable the user to take corrective actions. [000155] Once the conveyer has moved the receptacle to next stage/position, a dispenser controller such as ingredients dispenser controller 216 activates various ingredient dispensing systems to discharge various ingredients in the receptacle, as indicated at blocks 414 to 424. The receptacle receives discharges from the solid-ingredient system, the macro-ingredient system and the micro-ingredient system.

[000156] For the purpose, as shown at blocks 414 and 420, the solid ingredient system receives commands from the ingredients dispenser controller 216 and selectively operates hopper based dispensers to dispense select solid ingredients in select quantities. The discharge goes, in entirety, into the receptacle. Thereafter, as shown at blocks 416 and 422, the macro-ingredient system receives commands from the controller 216 and selectively operates dosage pumps to dispense select macro- ingredients in select quantities. The discharge goes, in entirety, into the receptacle. Thereafter, as shown at blocks 418 and 424, travelling actuator (s) in the micro-ingredient system receive commands from the controller 216 to selectively operate dosage pumps by pressing pump heads and dispense select micro-ingredients in select quantities. The discharge goes, in entirety, into the receptacle. An ingredients processor such as ingredients processor 218 as described above processes the ingredients in different ingredients in the receptacle using one/more devices.

[000157] As already elaborated, different processing operations can proceed in different receptacles concurrently, sequentially or in any other manner (for instance, based upon time signals that can be provided using CBPF 102). Transient receptacles may be configured that can hold one or more ingredients (such as micro-ingredients, processed or unprocessed) for a pre-determined time temporarily before their discharge into another receptacle where further processing may occur and that may serve as a carry-away container as well. All such combinations and embodiments are part of the present disclosure.

[000158] As can be readily understood, after above operations are executed the receptacle contains an admixture of various ingredients required (micro-ingredients, macro-ingredients and solid- ingredients) to make up a composition per the user's custom preferences/choices.

[000159] At block 426, the sensor system validates the volume / depth of contents in the receptacle to report any anomaly as shown at block 428 and 430 to sensor data transceiver 212 If no anomalies are found, the conveyor system gets activated to move the receptacle (using positioner 214) with the ingredients admixture to the next stage/position432. There an agitation system (another device) works on the admixture in the receptacle based upon commands received from ingredients processor 218 shown at block 434. After such processing, proposed system operates to move the receptacle back to the initial stage/position, as shown at block 436. The user may then collect the receptacle that has the processed/customized beverage as per the user's inputs/choices/preferences, as shown at block 438.

[000160] It may be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the method may involve various arrangements and assignment modifications with respect to the stages (or points of halts at which the conveyor system halts the receptacle), and that the scope of the invention covers all such modifications and embodiments. For instance, the various processes that occur at different stages/positions where the receptacle halts may vary within the scope of the invention. There may be introduced an additional stage to collect other ingredients before agitation stage. Other modifications may include changes in the assignment of jobs to stages and the sequence of halts. For example, the solid-ingredient system may dispense the solid-ingredients post the agitation instead of before it (in some cases this may be desired, for instance in case of nutty ingredients on milk shake).

[000161] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary beverage dispenser for implementing process flow as elaborated via FIG.4, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[000162] In an exemplary beverage dispenser(interchangeably termed as an apparatus herein) a receptacle 502 is placed in slot 504 on a conveyor 506 by a user, and carried by proposed system to position as indicated by 502a (alphabet 'a' accompanying label 502 indicating first stage of operation of said apparatus is carried out when receptacle 502 is at position 502a). Once the feedback of the correct placement of receptacle is received by the proposed system, the conveyor moves the receptacle to next position as shown at 502b where the next stage of operation happens. As already elaborated, the conveyor may be controlled using positioner 214. After the receptacle reaches position 502b, the micro- ingredient system begins operation. The micro-ingredient system in the example apparatus consists of a plurality of reservoirs 508, arranged in a circle, containing micro-ingredients, at least two of which have unique sensory and nutrition properties. The reservoirs are surrounded by a casing 510. The casing supports a rail 512 on top along which actuators 514 travel in circular manner. These actuators are powered by a prime mover that is coupled to them. By way of representation, the rail has a rack and pinion drive where the pinion is attached to the shaft of the prime mover. An example prime mover may be a stepper motor. In the example apparatus, two actuators, being driven by two prime movers, may travel along the rail, and based on the instructions received from a controlled such as ingredients dispenser controller 216 already described) may trigger dosage pumps 516 en route, selectively, to discharge select micro-ingredients from reservoirs 508 into the receptacle 502. In yet another alternate arrangement, there may be only one prime mover coupled to one of the actuators, and the other actuator, placed diametrically opposite to the first actuator, may be constrained with the first actuator, with a pivot at the center such that one prime mover may drive both the actuators (this is not shown in diagram). When in operation, the actuators 514 travel in a circular manner and selectively operate pumps 516 to dispense select quantities of select micro- ingredients. The dispensed micro- ingredients are directly collected by receptacle 502 via discharges 518 from pump heads. Concurrent to this process, receptacle 502 may also receive discharges from macro-ingredient system and solid-ingredient systems from the top. (not shown in drawing). Once the discharges from all ingredient systems are discharged into the receptacle, the conveyor moves the receptacle to position 502c for agitation. Concurrently, the micro-ingredient system completes its operational cycle (where actuators travel back to their rest position), preparing for next beverage order.

[000163] The agitation assembly mixes the admixture in the receptacle to obtain desired texture and taste, according to commands received from an ingredients processor 218 already described. Thereafter, ingredients processor 218 pulls out the agitation assembly out of receptacle 502 and the conveyor moves the receptacle 502, now containing finished beverage product, back to position 502a from where the user may collect the finished beverage product. Concurrently, a cleanup controller such as cleanup controller 220 already described) may enable cleaning of the agitation assembly in a cleaning tank so as to prepare it for the next beverage order.

[000164] In another exemplary embodiment, the discharges from the macro-ingredient system and the solid- ingredient system may not be accommodated in stage /position 502b, and an additional stage/position may be created between stage/position 502b and stage/position502c where the receptacle 502 may halt for a defined interval to receive discharges from the macro-ingredient system and the solid-ingredient system.

[000165] FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary beverage dispenser for implementing process flow as elaborated via FIG.4, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[000166] While FIG. 5 elaborates upon a system wherein ingredient reservoirs are arranged in a circular manner and a receptacle move in such a manner so as to receive ingredients from them via ingredient dispenses and the contents in the receptacle are subjected to processing, it can be readily understood a variety of different arrangements are possible. For instance, in FIG. 6, the reservoirs 602 maybe arranged linearly in two rows, and each of the reservoir may be configured with appropriate dispensers. Two linear motion systems, a belt drive 604 and a conveyor 606, each with its positioner may move two receptacles, a first receptacle 608 and a second receptacle 610. A dispenser 612 and a second dispenser 614 may be controlled by one or more ingredient dispenser controller 216 to discharge appropriate quantity of ingredients in the receptacle 608 and 610 respectively. By way of representation, the ingredient dispenser controller 216 may instruct an actuator that is constrained to travel with receptacle 608 along the linear drive 604 to selectively trigger dispensers 612 and dispense select quantities of select ingredients from reservoirs 602 to be collected in the receptacle 608. There may be interim processing steps where ingredients in one/both the receptacles may undergo one or more processing steps such as heating, cooling, mixing, crushing, blending, grinding etc. Thereafter, the positioner 214 may move the two receptacles in a desired position with respect to each other where contents of the first receptacle 608 may be transferred into the second receptacle 610 through fluid conveying systems already known in the art. Thereafter, the contents in the second receptacle 610 may undergo further processing in the form of blending through a blending system 618, controlled by ingredient processor 218, as already elaborated in the method. Thereafter, the conveying system 606 may move the receptacle 610, now containing the finished beverage product to a collection area where it may be collected by the user. All such embodiments and their modifications are fully a part of the present disclosure.

[000167] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term "coupled to" is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other or in contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms "coupled to" and "coupled with" are used synonymously. Within the context of this document terms "coupled to" and "coupled with" are also used euphemistically to mean "communicatively coupled with" over a network, where two or more devices are able to exchange data with each other over the network, possibly via one or more intermediary device.

[000168] Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C ... .and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.

[000169] While some embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, those are completely exemplary in nature. The disclosure is not limited to the embodiments as elaborated herein only and it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. All such modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents are completely within the scope of the present disclosure. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[000170] Present disclosure provides for a beverage dispenser that dispenses beverages customized to different users' unique preferences in a convenient and automated way.

[000171] Present disclosure provides for a beverage dispenser that dispenses customized beverages that is easily operable with low maintenance and operation costs.

[000172] Present disclosure provides for a beverage dispenser that provides manifold choices to its users while reducing inventory, packaging and transportation costs.