US 12,268,346 B2
High speed reusable beverage container washing system with themed lighting
Joel Boyer, Louisville, KY (US); Robert M. Digman, Goshen, KY (US); and Dylan Rowe, Buffalo, KY (US)
Assigned to MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD., Guangdong (CN)
Filed by Midea Group Co., Ltd., Foshan (CN)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/854,290.
Prior Publication US 2024/0000285 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. A47L 15/00 (2006.01); A47L 15/42 (2006.01); A47L 15/46 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 15/0065 (2013.01) [A47L 15/0073 (2013.01); A47L 15/0089 (2013.01); A47L 15/4297 (2013.01); A47L 15/46 (2013.01); A47L 2501/36 (2013.01); A47L 2601/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for washing a beverage container, comprising:
a housing defining a wash chamber configured to receive a beverage container during a washing operation, the housing including an entrance opening configured to provide external access to the wash chamber prior to the washing operation to allow for insertion of the beverage container into the wash chamber, and an exit opening configured to provide external access to the wash chamber after the washing operation to allow for removal of the beverage container from the wash chamber;
a plurality of lights coupled to the housing; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of lights and configured to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights to represent a plurality of operational states associated with the washing operation;
wherein a first operational state of the plurality of operational states is associated with the washing operation being active, wherein the controller is configured to illuminate at least a subset of the plurality of lights to indicate that the washing operation is active, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of lights are disposed at different heights, and wherein the controller is configured to illuminate the at least a subset of the plurality of lights to indicate that the washing operation is active by executing a rainfall animation using the portion of the plurality of lights disposed at different heights.