Dispenser for Beverages Including Juices

• US 20070267441A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Zipsin, Andrew, Wilcock, Mark, van Opstal, Edwin Petrus, Rudick, Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 8,960,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/129.400
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0025 based on volumetric dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0047 with movable parts, e.g. for stirring
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/07 Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0857 Cooling arrangements cooling systems per se F25B
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0895 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds

Abstract

A beverage dispenser for combining a number of micro-ingredients, one or more macro-ingredients, and one or more water streams. The beverage dispenser may include a micro-mixing chamber for mixing a number of the micro-ingredients and the water into a micro-ingredient stream and a macro-mixing chamber for mixing the micro-ingredient stream, the macro-ingredients, and the water into a combined stream.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser for combining a number of micro-ingredients, one or more macro-ingredients, and one or more water streams, comprising:

a micro-mixing chamber for mixing a plurality of the number of micro-ingredients and the one or more water streams into a micro-ingredient stream; and

a macro-mixing chamber for mixing the micro-ingredient stream, the one or more macro-ingredients, and the one or more water streams into a combined stream.

2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more water streams comprise a plain water stream.

3. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more water streams comprise a carbonated water stream and wherein the beverage dispenser further comprises a carbonated water port positioned below the macro-mixing chamber for mixing the combined stream and the carbonated water stream.

4. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a water metering system to deliver the one or more water streams to the macro-mixing chamber and/or the micro-mixing chamber.

5. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients comprise an HFCS stream and wherein the beverage dispenser further comprises an HFCS metering system to deliver the HFCS stream to the macro-mixing chamber.

6. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients comprise one or more macro-ingredient streams and wherein the beverage dispenser further comprises one or more macro-ingredient pumps to deliver the one or more macro-ingredient streams to the macro-mixing chamber.

7. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise one or more micro-ingredient streams and wherein the beverage dispenser further comprises one or more micro-ingredient pumps to deliver the one or more micro-ingredient streams to the micro-mixing chamber.

8. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the micro-mixing chamber comprise a micro-water channel in communication the one or more water streams and a plurality of micro-ingredient ports in communication with the micro-water channel.

9. The beverage dispenser of claim 8, wherein the micro-mixing chamber comprises a displacement membrane positioned between the plurality of micro-ingredient ports and the micro-water channel.

10. The beverage dispenser of claim 8, wherein the micro-mixing chamber comprises a one way valve positioned between the plurality of micro-ingredient ports and the micro-water channel.

11. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the macro-mixing chamber comprises a plurality of macro-ingredient ports and a micro-ingredient stream port.

12. The beverage dispenser of claim 11, wherein the plurality of macro-ingredient ports each comprise a check valve thereon.

13. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the macro-mixing chamber comprises an agitator therein.

14. The beverage dispenser of claim 13, wherein the agitator comprises about 500 to about 1500 rpm so as to create a centrifugal force therein.

15. The beverage dispenser of claim 13, wherein the agitator comprises an inverted conical shape.

16. The beverage dispenser of claim 13, wherein the macro-mixing chamber comprises an inverted conical shape.

17. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an annular water chamber positioned about the macro-mixing chamber such that the one or more water streams enter the macro-mixing chamber about an inner diameter of an outer wall of the macro-mixing chamber.

18. A mixing chamber for a number of micro-ingredient, comprising:

a plurality of micro-ingredient ports leading to an ingredient manifold;

a water channel;

a valve positioned between the ingredient manifold and the water channel; and

a fluid displacement device positioned within the ingredient manifold to pump the number of micro-ingredients through the valve and into the water channel.

19. The mixing chamber of claim 18, wherein the fluid displacement device comprises a pneumatic membrane.

20. The mixing chamber of claim 19, wherein the pneumatic membrane comprises an elastomeric material.

21. The mixing chamber of claim 19, further comprising a pressurized air source in communication with the pneumatic membrane.

22. The mixing chamber of claim 21, wherein the pneumatic membrane expands so as to force the number of micro-ingredients through the valve.

23. The mixing chamber of claim 21, wherein the pneumatic membrane contracts so as to maintain the valve in a closed position.

24. The mixing chamber of claim 18, wherein the valve comprises a one way valve.

25. The mixing chamber of claim 24, wherein the one way valve comprises a one way membrane valve.

26. A mixer for a number of ingredient and water streams, comprising:

a mixing chamber;

a water entry leading to the mixing chamber;

an ingredient entry leading to the mixing chamber;

the mixing chamber comprising a top concave section leading to a bottom narrowed section; and

an agitator positioned within the mixing chamber;

the agitator comprising a top convex section leading to a bottom narrowed section.

27. The mixer of claim 26, wherein the water entry comprises an annular water chamber.

28. The mixer of claim 27, wherein the annular water chamber is positioned around the ingredient entry.

29. The mixer of claim 26, wherein the ingredient entry comprises a plurality of ingredient ports positioned around the mixing chamber.

30. The mixer of claim 29, wherein the plurality of ingredient ports comprise a check valve thereon.

31. The mixer of claim 29, wherein the plurality of ingredient ports comprise a plurality of macro-ingredient ports and a micro-ingredient port.

32. The mixer of claim 26, wherein the agitator comprises at least about 500 rpm so as to create a centrifugal force therein.

33. The mixer of claim 26, wherein the agitator comprises a variable speed agitator.

34. The mixer of claim 26, further comprising a carbonated water entry positioned below the agitator.