BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH A HEAD CAPABLE OF DISPENSING PLURAL DIFFERENT BEVERAGES
First Claim
1. A method of assembling and operating a beverage dispenser including the steps of:
- providing a base having a plurality of base conduits through which separate fluid streams are permitted to flow and a plurality of base valves, each base valve located in a separate one of the base conduits and positioned to normally block fluid flow out of the base conduit;
providing different beverage-forming fluids to each base conduit;
attaching a first dispensing head to the base, the first dispensing head having;
a first set of passageways, the first set of passageways being fewer in number than the number of conduits in the base, the first set of passageways being positioned, upon the attachment step, to be coupled to a first set of the base conduits;
a dispensing valve associated with each of the first set of passageways for regulating fluid flow through each passageway in the first set of passageways; and
a first set of valve actuators, each valve actuator being associated with a separate passageway in the first set of passageways;
during the attachment step, placing the first set of valve actuators in contact with the base valves of the first set of base conduits so that each of the first set of valve actuators is positioned to open a corresponding base valve; and
dispensing a first beverage by opening at least one dispensing valve of the first dispensing head so that the first beverage is formed from a first set of beverage-forming fluids provided to the base.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage dispensing system includes a base to which a dispensing head is removably attached without additional fasteners. Beverage-forming liquids are supplied through a plurality of separate conduits in the base. Each base conduit has a normally closed valve that normally blocks fluid flow. The dispensing head has at least one passageway that receives liquid from an associated one of the base conduits. A projection associated with each dispensing head passageway opens the associated conduit valve to allow fluid flow from the base to the head. Dispensing valves in the dispensing head regulate the dispensing of the beverage. By selectively opening the dispensing valves, a plurality of beverages are formed from combinations of one or more liquids. A dispensing head includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening at each end of a passage extending through a body, the inlet opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet opening.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of assembling and operating a beverage dispenser including the steps of:
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providing a base having a plurality of base conduits through which separate fluid streams are permitted to flow and a plurality of base valves, each base valve located in a separate one of the base conduits and positioned to normally block fluid flow out of the base conduit; providing different beverage-forming fluids to each base conduit; attaching a first dispensing head to the base, the first dispensing head having; a first set of passageways, the first set of passageways being fewer in number than the number of conduits in the base, the first set of passageways being positioned, upon the attachment step, to be coupled to a first set of the base conduits; a dispensing valve associated with each of the first set of passageways for regulating fluid flow through each passageway in the first set of passageways; and a first set of valve actuators, each valve actuator being associated with a separate passageway in the first set of passageways; during the attachment step, placing the first set of valve actuators in contact with the base valves of the first set of base conduits so that each of the first set of valve actuators is positioned to open a corresponding base valve; and dispensing a first beverage by opening at least one dispensing valve of the first dispensing head so that the first beverage is formed from a first set of beverage-forming fluids provided to the base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of assembling and operating a beverage dispenser including the steps of:
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providing a plurality of base conduits through which separate fluid streams are permitted to flow and a plurality of base valves, each base valve located in a separate one of the base conduits and positioned to normally block fluid flow out of the base conduit; providing different beverage-forming fluids to each base conduit; providing a first dispensing head having; a first set of passageways, the first set of passageways being fewer in number than the number of base conduits, the first set of passageways being positioned, upon the attachment step, to be coupled to a first set of the base conduits; a dispensing valve associated with each of the first set of passageways for regulating fluid flow through each passageway in the first set of passageways; and a first set of valve actuators, each valve actuator being associated with a separate passageway in the first set of passageways; placing the first set of valve actuators in contact with the base valves of the first set of base conduits so that each of the first set of valve actuators is positioned to open a corresponding base valve; and dispensing a first beverage by opening at least one dispensing valve of the first dispensing head so that the first beverage is formed from a first set of beverage-forming fluids. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of assembling and operating a beverage dispenser including the steps of:
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providing a plurality of base conduits through which separate fluid streams are permitted to flow and a plurality of base valves, each base valve located in a separate one of the base conduits and positioned to normally block fluid flow out of the base conduit; providing different beverage-forming fluids to each base conduit; providing a first dispensing head having; a first set of passageways, the first set of passageways being fewer in number than the number of base conduits, the first set of passageways being positioned, upon the attachment step, to be coupled to a first set of the base conduits; a dispensing valve associated with each of the first set of passageways for regulating fluid flow through each passageway in the first set of passageways; and a first set of valve actuators, each valve actuator being associated with a separate passageway in the first set of passageways; placing the first set of valve actuators in contact with the base valves of the first set of base conduits so that each of the first set of valve actuators is positioned to open a corresponding base valve; and dispensing a first beverage by opening at least one dispensing valve of the first dispensing head so that the first beverage is formed from a first set of beverage-forming fluids. detaching the first set of valve actuators from the base valves; attaching a second set of valve actuators to the base valves, the second set of valve actuators being different from the first set of valve actuators, the second set of valve actuators for regulating fluid flow through a passageway in the second set of passageways, wherein each of the actuators in the second set of valve actuators being associated with a separate passageway in the second set of passageways; placing the second set of valve actuators in contact with the valves of the second set of base conduits so that the second set of valve actuators is positioned to open the valves of the second set of base conduits.
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Specification