Beverage mixing system and method

摘要

A beverage mixing system/method allowing faster mixing/blending of frozen beverages is disclosed. The system/method in various embodiments utilizes inductive coupling to introduce heat into the frozen beverage during the mixing/blending process via a rotating driveshaft and attached mechanical agitator to speed the mixing/blending process. Exemplary embodiments may be configured to magnetically induce heat into the driveshaft and/or mechanical agitator mixing blade to affect this mixing/blending performance improvement. This heating effect may be augmented via the use of high power LED arrays aimed into the frozen slurry to provide additional heat input. The system/method may be applied with particular advantage to the mixing of ice cream type beverages and other viscous beverage products.

主权项

1. A beverage mixing system comprising:
(a) rotational driver; (b) driveshaft; (c) mechanical agitator; (d) induction coil; and (e) coil stimulator; wherein said rotational driver is mechanically coupled to and configured to rotate said driveshaft; said driveshaft is mechanically coupled to said mechanical agitator; said mechanical agitator is configured to mix or blend a beverage product within a mixing container; said induction coil is magnetically coupled to said driveshaft; said induction coil is configured to inductively heats said driveshaft when said induction coil is electrically driven; said coil stimulator is electrically coupled to said induction coil and electrically drives said induction coil at an excitation frequency; and said system further comprises an infrared irradiation source configured to irradiate said beverage product.