TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a beverage making apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Various types of beverages are made via fermentation. Such beverages are typically made using various ingredients that are combined and fermented to yield the resulting beverage. As an example, beer is an alcoholic beverage that is brewed by filtering wort, adding hops to the wort, and then fermenting the resulting wort mixture with yeast. Wort is typically made with malt, which is made from germinated barley.

Materials for brewing beer typically include water, malt, hops, yeast, fragrance additives, and the like. The yeast is often referred to as leaven, and is typically added to malt to induce fermentation. The yeast may also facilitate the generation of alcohol and carbonic acid. In some scenarios, fragrance additives are added that improve the taste of beer, such as fruit, syrup, and vanilla bean additives.

SUMMARY

Implementations described herein provide a beverage making apparatus.

In one aspect, a beverage-making apparatus includes a water supply heater configured to heat water; an ingredient supplier connected to the water supply heater through a water supply channel; a container connected to the ingredient supplier through a first channel; a first valve configured to regulate a flow through the first channel; and a beverage extractor connected to the first channel at a location between the ingredient supplier and the first valve.

In some implementations, the beverage extractor includes a beverage extraction channel connected to the first channel; and a beverage extraction valve configured to regulate a flow through the beverage extraction channel.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes at least one processor configured to control the first valve to open the first channel in a state in which the beverage extraction channel is closed by the beverage extraction valve.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes at least one processor configured to control the first valve to close the first channel in a state in which the beverage extraction channel is opened by the beverage extraction valve.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes at least one processor configured to activate the water supply heater in a cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus includes at least one processor configured to activate the water supply heater in a cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus, and in a state in which the water supply heater is activated, deactivate the water supply heater after a threshold duration of time.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes a water tank configured to hold water therein; a water supply pump configured to pump the water out of the water tank towards the water supply heater; and at least one processor configured to activate the water supply pump in a cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes a flow meter configured to measure a flow rate of water introduced into the water supply heater, the flow meter provided in a water supply pump outlet channel that connects the water supply pump and the water supply heater. The at least one processor is further configured to activate the water supply heater based on the flow rate measured by the flow meter being within a first range of flow rate values and based on activation of a cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes a thermistor configured to measure a temperature of the water that is heated by the water supply heater, the thermistor provided in at least one of the water supply channel or the water supply heater. The at least one processor is further configured to, based on a first duration of time elapsing after a determination that the temperature measured by the thermistor is within a first range of temperature values, deactivate the water supply heater.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes: a bypass channel connected to the water supply channel and to the first channel by bypassing the ingredient supplier; a bypass valve configured to regulate a flow through the bypass channel; and at least one processor configured to open the bypass valve in a cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes an air injector includes an air injection channel connected to the water supply channel; an air injection pump configured to pump air into the air injection channel; and at least one processor configured to activate the air injection pump during a water discharging mode.

In some implementations, the at least one processor is further configured to: based on the air injection pump being activated and based on a first duration of time elapsing, deactivate the air injection pump.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes a pack accommodated in the container; and a gas discharger configured to discharge gas from inside the pack to an outside of the pack. The gas discharger includes a gas extraction channel connected to the container; and a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flow through the gas extraction channel.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes an air pump connected the container through an air supply channel, the air pump configured to supply air in a space between an inside wall of the container and an outside surface of the pack accommodated inside the container.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes at least one processor configured to, in a cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus: open the first valve based on the beverage extraction channel being closed by the beverage extraction valve; and open the gas extraction valve; and based on the cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus being completed, activate the air pump.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes: a water tank configured to hold water therein; a water supply pump configured to pump the water out of the water tank towards the water supply heater; and at least one processor configured to, in a cleaning mode of the beverage-making apparatus: activate the water supply pump; in a first cleaning step, open the first valve and activate the water supply heater and the water supply pump based on the beverage extraction channel being closed by the beverage extraction valve, and in a second cleaning step performed after the first cleaning step, close the first valve and activate the water supply heater and the water supply pump based on the beverage extraction channel being opened by the beverage extraction valve.

In some implementations, the at least one processor is further configured to: open the first valve in a third cleaning step performed between the first cleaning step and the second cleaning step, and close the first valve in a fourth cleaning step performed after the third cleaning step.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes a flow meter configured to measure a flow rate of water introduced into the water supply heater, the flow meter provided in a water supply pump outlet channel connecting the water supply pump and the water supply heater. The at least one processor is further configured to, in the first cleaning step and the second cleaning step, activate the water supply heater based on a flow rate measured by the flow meter being within a predetermined flow rate range.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes a thermistor configured to measure a temperature of the water heated by the water supply heater, the thermistor provided in at least one of the water supply channel or the water supply heater. The at least one processor is further configured to, in the first cleaning step and in the second cleaning step, deactivate the water supply heater based on first duration of time elapsing after a determination that the temperature measured by the thermistor is within a first range of temperature values.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes: a pack accommodated in the container; a gas discharger configured to discharge gas from inside the pack to an outside of the pack; and an air pump connected to the container through an air supply channel, the air pump configured to supply air in a space between an inside wall of the container and an outside surface of the pack mounted inside the container. The gas discharger includes: a gas extraction channel connected to the container; and a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flow through the gas extraction channel, and at least one processor configured to: open the gas extraction valve in the first cleaning step and in the third cleaning step; and based on a first duration of time elapsing after the third cleaning step is initiated, deactivate the water supply pump and activate the air pump.

Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating some implementations of the disclosure, are given by illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure may be made.

