Modular dispensing system

• US 10,131,529 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Jersey, Steven T., Segiet, William W., Siegel, Tom, Kali, Eddie, Boggs, Joseph H., Balstad, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Melaragno, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/627,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20150158712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 2221291, 222129-130, 2221445, 2221461, 2221293-1294, 2221455, 62 363, 62389, 62390, 426590
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0016 the beverage being stored in an intermediate container before dispensing, i.e. pre-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0037 based on volumetric dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0041 Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0081 Dispensing valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/06 Mountings or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in or on shop or bar counters shop or bar counters per se A47F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0857 Cooling arrangements cooling systems per se F25B
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00049 Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/20 Distributing ice

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a system including a modular dispensing system, at least one dispensing head at a counter, a transfer unit located remotely from the counter, and piping extending from the transfer unit to the counter. In one aspect, the transfer unit comprises a centralized flavor ingredient system having a plurality of beverage flavor ingredient sources, and the piping comprises a main micro bundle.

Claims

1. A modular dispensing system comprising:

at least one dispensing head at a counter,

a transfer unit located in a back room remote from the counter, piping extending from the transfer unit to the counter, the transfer unit comprising a centralized ingredient system having a plurality of beverage ingredient sources, the centralized ingredient system configured to supply beverage ingredients to the piping for the dispensing of a first beverage at the counter, the piping comprising a main micro bundle pipe, and

a doser unit corresponding to the dispensing head, the doser unit configured to receive from the transfer unit a first beverage ingredient through the main micro bundle pipe, the doser unit located at the counter, wherein the doser unit supplies an appropriate amount of each beverage ingredient through a tower micro bundle, the tower micro bundle comprising an ice line centered in the tower micro bundle configured to convey ice to the dispensing head and a plurality of separate lines bundled around the ice line, with each line corresponding to a particular beverage ingredient.

2. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the doser unit is located below the counter.

3. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the transfer unit comprises a water treatment system, the water treatment system configured to treat water entering the water treatment system so that it has at least one predetermined characteristic upon exiting the water treatment system.

4. The modular dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the at least one predetermined characteristic of the water upon exiting the water treatment system is a temperature that is lower than the temperature of the water entering the water treatment system.

5. The modular dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the at least one predetermined characteristic of the water upon exiting the water treatment system is a temperature that is higher than the temperature of the water entering the water treatment system.

7. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the transfer unit comprises an ice machine.

8. The modular dispensing system of claim 7, wherein the main micro bundle pipe comprises a line from the ice machine to the dispensing head.

9. The modular dispensing system of claim 8, wherein the dispensing head is configured to dispense ice from the main micro bundle pipe.

10. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing head is configured to receive ice from an ice hopper and dispense the ice in a predetermined amount along with the other beverage ingredients.

11. The modular dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the ice hopper is located at the counter.

12. The modular dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the ice hopper is located below the counter.

13. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing head is configured to receive at least one carbonated water line and dispense carbonated water in a predetermined amount along with the other beverage ingredients.

14. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing head is configured to receive at least two beverage ingredients, the at least two beverage ingredients selected from the group consisting of a flavor ingredient and an acid.

21. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to dispense a first beverage at the first counter according to a consumer preference communicated from a social media system.

22. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to send a query to a consumer within a predetermined distance from the modular dispensing system to query the consumer whether the consumer would like to purchase a beverage.

23. The modular dispensing system of claim 22, wherein the query is based upon one of a preference of a consumer, a past purchase of the consumer, an identified preference of a consumer, and a geographic location of the consumer.

24. The modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to receive a beverage order from a consumer via a social media system or application.

6. The modular dispensing system of clam 3, wherein the main micro bundle pipe comprises a line from the water treatment system to the dispensing head.

15. A modular dispensing system comprising:

at least a first dispensing head and a second dispensing head at a counter, a transfer unit located in a back room remote from the counter, piping comprising a main micro bundle pipe, the main micro bundle located downstream of the transfer unit and extending from the transfer unit to the counter, the transfer unit comprising a central reconstitution factory system, the central reconstitution factory system comprising at least a first mixing chamber corresponding to a first predetermined beverage, and at least a second mixing chamber corresponding to a second predetermined beverage, the central reconstitution factory configured to combine water with at least a first highly concentrated beverage ingredient corresponding to a first beverage in the first mixing chamber to form a first reconstituted mixture, the central reconstitution factory configured to combine water with at least a second highly concentrated beverage ingredient corresponding to a second beverage in the second mixing chamber to form a second reconstituted mixture, wherein the main micro bundle pipe comprises a first reconstituted mixture line configured to convey the first reconstituted mixture to a first dispensing head, and a second reconstituted mixture line configured to convey the second reconstituted mixture to the second dispensing head, wherein the first mixing chamber comprises separate first, second, third and fourth inlets, wherein the first inlet corresponds to a first water supply line, the second inlet corresponds to a first sweetener supply line, the third inlet corresponds to a first acid supply line, and the fourth inlet corresponds to a first flavor supply line, wherein the second mixing chamber comprises separate first, second, third and fourth inlets, wherein the first inlet corresponds to a second water supply line, the second inlet corresponds to a second sweetener supply line, the third inlet corresponds to a second acid supply line, and the fourth inlet corresponds to a second flavor supply line.

16. The modular dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the at least one highly concentrated beverage ingredient has a ratio of beverage ingredient to water of about 200 to 1 by weight.

17. The modular dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the reconstituted mixture exiting the mixing chamber has a ratio of the at least one beverage ingredient to water of about 5 to 1 by weight.

18. The modular dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the first dispensing head is a component of a first legacy dispenser and the second dispensing head is a component of a second legacy dispenser.

19. The modular dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the at least one highly concentrated beverage ingredient has a ratio of beverage ingredient to water of about 200 to 1 by weight.

20. The modular dispensing system of claim 19, wherein reconstituted mixture exiting the mixing chamber has a ratio of the at least one beverage ingredient to water of about 5 to 1 by weight.