Sterilization of consumable composition dispensers

• US 20090142223A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Deerr-Lord, Jacque, Tegreene, Clarence T., Lord, Robert W., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,919,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00

Abstract

Methods and systems for programmed dispensation of consumable compositions are provided.

A method for sterilizing a beverage container may comprise: (a) detecting a sterilization status of a beverage container; and (b) controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status.

A system for sterilizing a beverage container may comprise: (a) means for detecting a sterilization status of a beverage container; and (b) means for controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status.

A method for sterilizing a beverage container may comprise: (a) detecting an identity of a consumable composition; and (b) controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition.

A system for sterilizing a beverage container may comprise: (a) means for detecting an identity of a consumable composition; and (b) means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition.

Claims

1. A method for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the method comprising:

detecting a sterilization status of a beverage container; and

controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status.

2-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A system for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the system comprising:

means for detecting a sterilization status of a beverage container; and

means for controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting a sterilization status of a beverage container further comprises:

means for detecting a radiation sterilization of the beverage container.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting a sterilization status of a beverage container further comprises:

means for detecting a chemical sterilization of the beverage container.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting a sterilization status of a beverage container further comprises:

means for detecting a thermal sterilization of the beverage container.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status further comprises:

means for controlling a consumable composition dispenser module according to the sterilization status of the beverage container.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for means for controlling a consumable composition dispenser module according to the sterilization status of the beverage container further comprises:

means for dispensing a first consumable composition according to the sterilization status of the beverage container.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for means for dispensing a first consumable composition according to the sterilization status of the beverage container further comprises:

means for dispensing a second consumable composition according to the sterilization status of the beverage container.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for means for controlling a consumable composition dispenser module according to the sterilization status of the beverage container further comprises:

means for disabling at least a portion of the consumable composition dispenser module according to the sterilization status of the beverage container.

17. A system for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the system comprising:

a sterilization status detection device operably coupled with controllable device control logic.

18. A system for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the system comprising:

circuitry for detecting a sterilization status of a beverage container; and

circuitry for controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status.

19. A method for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the method comprising:

detecting an identity of a consumable composition; and

controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition.

20-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A system for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the system comprising:

means for detecting an identity of a consumable composition; and

means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

means for detecting an identity of a radiation-sensitive consumable composition.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

means for detecting an identity of a chemical-sensitive consumable composition.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

means for detecting an identity of a heat-sensitive consumable composition.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

means for receiving an inputted identity of a consumable composition.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

means for receiving a transmitted identity of a consumable composition.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for disabling at least a portion of a radiation sterilization module.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for shielding at least a portion of the beverage container containing a radiation sensitive consumable composition from a radiation sterilization module.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for irradiating a radiation-sensitive consumable composition with a radiation sterilization module.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for disabling at least a portion of a chemical sterilization module.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for shielding at least a portion of the beverage container containing a chemical-sensitive consumable composition from a chemical sterilization module.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for contacting a chemical-sensitive consumable composition with a chemical sterilization agent.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for disabling at least a portion of a thermal sterilization module.

47. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for shielding at least a portion of the beverage container containing a heat sensitive consumable composition from a thermal sterilization module.

48. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

means for heating a heat-sensitive consumable composition with a thermal sterilization module.

49. A system for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the system comprising:

a consumable composition identity detection device operably coupled with sterilization logic.

50. A system for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the system comprising:

circuitry for detecting an identity of a consumable composition;

circuitry for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a beverage container according to the identity of the consumable composition.