APPARATUS FOR PREPARING A HEATED FLAVORED BEVERAGE
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated hot beverage dispensing machine and method for producing hot beverages is disclosed. The preferred apparatus includes a plurality of flavoring reservoirs connected through pumps and valves to a plenum that dispenses the flavoring directly into a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber also receives milk and steam, facilitating mixing of the milk, steam, and flavoring, and dispensing the mixture into a serving cup. The dispensing machine may include a coffee brewing system, whereby the machine can produce flavored lattés, cappuccinos, and the like. In the preferred embodiment, pressurized steam is directed through a venturi assembly that draws in refrigerated milk and ambient air and delivers the fluids to a vortex mixer to produce steamed and/or foamed milk. The flavoring is delivered to the vortex mixer, and steam is channeled to the plenum to facilitate delivery of the flavoring and maintain the cleanliness of the plenum.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1-9. -9. (canceled)
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10. An apparatus for producing a heated, flavored beverage comprising:
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a pump having a milk inlet and an outlet; a refrigerated milk supply fluidly connected to the milk inlet; a mixing chamber having a first inlet fluidly connected to the pump outlet, a second inlet, and a dispensing outlet; a steam supply fluidly connected to the mixing chamber first inlet; a plurality of liquid flavoring reservoirs, each flavoring reservoir fluidly connected to the mixing chamber second inlet through an individually controllable pump and valve such that a selected flavoring is dispensed into the mixing chamber through the second inlet while steam from the steam supply and milk from the milk supply are dispensed into the mixing chamber through the first inlet thereby steam heating the dispensed flavoring with the dispensed milk; and a valve for controlling the steam flow from the steam supply to the mixing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18)
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16. (canceled)
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19-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. An apparatus for producing a heated, flavored beverage comprising:
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a mixing chamber having a milk and flavoring dispenser; a milk reservoir; a milk pump fluidly connecting the milk reservoir to the mixing chamber; a plurality of liquid flavoring reservoirs, each flavoring reservoir fluidly connected to the mixing chamber through an individually controllable flavoring pump and valve; a steam supply fluidly connected to the mixing chamber through a controllable steam supply valve; user selection controls that are operable to generate command signals in response to user input; and a controller operably connected to the apparatus to receive the command signals from the user selections controls and to control the milk pump, the flavoring pumps and the steam supply valve in response to the received command signals; wherein the controller operates the milk pump, flavoring pumps and the steam supply valve such that milk and liquid flavoring are mixed and steam heated in the mixing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification