Multiple Stream Filling System

• US 20080271809A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Kirschner, Jonathan, Goldman, James E., LeSage, James, Gruben, Donald E., Reid, Kevin L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,479,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/9
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/363 with measuring pockets moving in an endless path
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/007 Applications of control, warning or safety devices in filling machinery flow-control B67C3/28
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/023 Filling multiple liquids in a container B67C3/208 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/208 specially adapted for adding small amounts of additional liquids, e.g. syrup
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0022 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• 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 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1243 comprising flow or pressure sensors, e.g. for controlling pumps

Abstract

A filling line for filling a number of containers. The filing line may include a continuous conveyor, one or more micro-ingredient dosers positioned about the continuous conveyor, and one or more macro-ingredient stations positioned along the continuous conveyor.

Claims

1. A filling line for filling a number of containers, comprising:

a continuous conveyor;

one or more micro-ingredient dosers positioned about the continuous conveyor; and

one or more macro-ingredient stations positioned along the continuous conveyor.

2. The filling line of claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-ingredient dosers comprise one or more micro-ingredient supplies.

3. The filling line of claim 2, wherein the one or more micro-ingredient dosers comprise a pump in communication with the one or more micro-ingredient supplies.

4. The filling line of claim 3, wherein the pump comprises a positive displacement pump.

5. The filling line of claim 3, wherein the pump comprises a valveless pump.

6. The filling line of claim 3, wherein the one or more micro-ingredient dosers comprise a servomotor in communication with the pump.

7. The filling line of claim 3, wherein the one or more micro-ingredient dosers comprise a nozzle in communication with the pump.

8. The filling line of claim 3, wherein the one or more micro-ingredient dosers comprise a flow sensor positioned between the one or more micro-ingredient supplies and the pump.

9. The filling line of claim 7, further comprising a dosing sensor positioned downstream of the nozzle.

10. The filling line of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredient stations comprise one or more macro-ingredient supplies and one or more diluent supplies.

11. The filling line of claim 1, wherein each of the number of containers comprises an identifier thereon and wherein the filling line further comprises one or more positioning sensors positioned about the conveyor so as to read the identifier.

12. The filling line of claim 11, wherein the identifier identifies the nature of a product to be filled within each of the number of containers.

13. The filling line of claim 7, wherein the nozzle comprises a rotary nozzle.

14. The filling line of claim 13, wherein the rotary nozzle comprises a plurality of pinwheel nozzles.

15. The filling line of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises one or more dips therein.

16. The filling line of claim 15, wherein the conveyor comprises a number of grippers positioned about the one or more dips so as to grip the number of containers as they pass through the one or more dips.

17. The filling line of claim 15, wherein the one or more micro-ingredient dosers comprise a nozzle positioned in a middle of the one or more dips.

18. The filling line of claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-ingredient dosers comprise one or more micro-ingredients.

19. The filling line of claim 18, wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise reconstitution ratios of at least about ten to one or higher.

20. The filling line of claim 18, wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise reconstitution ratios of about 100 to 1 or higher.

21. The filling line of claim 18, wherein the micro-ingredients comprise non-sweetened concentrate;

acid and non-acid components of non-sweetened concentrate;

natural and artificial flavors;

flavor additives;

natural and artificial colors;

artificial sweeteners;

additives for controlling tartness, functional additives;

nutricuticals;

or medicines.

22. The filing line of claim 18, wherein the micro-ingredients comprise no more than about ten percent (10%) of the container.

23. The filling line of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredient stations comprise one or more macro-ingredients.

24. The filling line of claim 23, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients comprise reconstitution ratios of more than about one to one to less than about ten to one.

25. The filling line of claim 23, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients comprise sugar syrup, high fructose corn syrup, or juice concentrates.

26. The filling line of claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-ingredient dosers are positioned upstream or downstream of the one or more macro-ingredient stations.

27. A method of manufacturing a plurality of products, comprising:

positioning one or more micro-ingredient dosers along a conveyor;

positioning one or more macro-ingredients stations along the conveyor;

instructing a first one of the one or more micro-ingredient dosers to dose a first container with a first micro-ingredient;

instructing a second one of the one or more micro-ingredient dosers to dose a second container with a second micro-ingredient; and

filling the first container and the second container with a macro-ingredient and a diluent at the macro-ingredient station so as to form a first product and a second product.

28. The method of manufacturing a plurality of products of claim 27, wherein the first container comprises a first identifier, wherein in the second container comprises a second identifier, wherein instructing a first one of the one or more micro-ingredient dosers to dose a first container with a first micro-ingredient comprises reading the first identifier, and wherein instructing a second one of the one or more micro-ingredient dosers to dose a second container with a second micro-ingredient comprises reading the second identifier.

29. The method of manufacturing a plurality of products of claim 27, further comprising reading a plurality of identifiers relating to a plurality of micro-ingredients.

30. A micro-doser for use with a micro-ingredient, comprising:

a positive displacement pump;

a servomotor driving the positive displacement pump; and

a nozzle in communication with the pump.

31. The micro-doser of claim 30, further comprising one or more micro-ingredient supplies in communication with the pump.

32. The micro-doser of claim 30, wherein the pump comprises a valveless pump.

33. The micro-doser of claim 31, further comprising a flow sensor positioned between the one or more micro-ingredient supplies and the pump.

34. The micro-doser of claim 30, wherein the nozzle comprises a rotary nozzle.

35. The micro-doser of claim 34, wherein the rotary nozzle comprises a plurality of pinwheel nozzles.

36. A method of creating a customized beverage in a container, comprising:

positioning a plurality of stations along a predetermined path;

the plurality of stations comprising one or more customized ingredients;

selecting one or more of the one or more customized ingredients to create the customized beverage;

advancing continuously the container along the predetermined path; and

filling the container such that the beverage comprises more than ninety percent of one or more base ingredients and a diluent and less than ten percent of the selected customized ingredients.