Carbonated coffee beverage dispenser

• US 5,803,320 A
• Filed: 08/11/1997
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABC Dispensing Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ABC Dispensing Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Cutting, Robert A., Gemmell, Gregory R., Green, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAUFMAN, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US08/905,013
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/129.2, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 222/641
• US Class Current: 222/641
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0036 based on the timed opening of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/005 with means for converging streams
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0052 by means for directing respective streams together
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0871 Level gauges for beverage storage containers level indicators in general G01F
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/129 Means for changing the ratio by acting on structural parts
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/009 operated by cup detection
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00086 Selector circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing cold, carbonated coffee beverages. The apparatus comprises a plurality of reservoirs for holding the beverage ingredients. Each reservoir is selectively connected to at least one dispensing pump that is controlled by a control unit. The pumps deliver the ingredients to a dispensing head that is configured to mix the ingredients external to the dispensing head. The basic ingredients are coffee extract, soda, and a sweetener. Additionally, ingredients such as decaffeinated coffee extract and water may be included to expand the range of beverage selections. The apparatus dispenses the ingredients in a manner that forms a desired creme on top of the beverage.

Claims

1. A cold, carbonated coffee beverage dispenser, comprising:

supply means for storing a plurality of ingredients;

said supply means comprises at least three supply reservoirs, one of said supply reservoirs holding coffee extract, another of said supply reservoirs holding soda, and the other of said supply reservoirs holding sweetener;

a dispensing head in selective fluid communication with said supply means, said dispensing head having a plurality of coffee ejection tubes for dispensing coffee extract directly into a cup, a fluid delivery line for dispensing a free-falling stream of soda, and a plurality of angularly directed sweetener ejection tubes for dispensing sweetener, wherein said coffee ejection tubes are spaced apart from said fluid delivery line and wherein said sweetener ejector tubes direct the sweetener into the free-falling stream of soda outside of the dispensing head and above the cup, causing the soda and the sweetener to mix while falling into the cup whereupon the soda-sweetener mixture combines with the coffee extract in the cup, the soda mixing with the coffee extract to form a creme foam;

pump means for selectively delivering said plurality of ingredients to said dispensing head; and

control means for selectively activating said pump means such that the cold carbonated coffee beverage has the creme foam formed in the top portion of the cup.

2. A cold, carbonated coffee beverage dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supply means further comprises a supply reservoir for holding decaffeinated coffee extract and another supply reservoir for holding water.

3. A cold, carbonated coffee beverage dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein a dispensing valve is operatively disposed between said pump means and said dispensing head.

4. A cold, carbonated coffee beverage dispenser as set forth in claim 3, wherein said pump means comprises at least one pump operatively connected to said supply means for each of said ingredients, and the maximum flow rate through each of said fill valves is independently adjustable.

5. A cold, carbonated coffee beverage dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dispensing head is configured such that each of said ingredients mix external to said dispensing head.

6. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly, comprising:

at least three supply reservoirs;

one of said supply reservoirs holding coffee extract, another of said supply reservoirs holding sweetener, and another of said supply reservoirs holding soda;

at least one pump operatively connected to each of said supply reservoirs;

a dispensing head having a plurality of extract ejection tubes, a fluid delivery line and a plurality of angular sweetener ejection tubes, said plurality of extract ejection tubes and said plurality of sweetener ejection tubes in fluid communication with their respective supply reservoirs and configured to at least maintain a fluid pressure flow generated by said at least one pump associated with their respective supply reservoirs, said fluid delivery line in fluid communication with said soda supply reservoir and configured to provide a comparatively reduced fluid pressure flow of said soda, wherein said angular sweetener ejector tubes direct the sweetener into the soda outside said dispensing head and above a cup, and wherein said extract ejection tubes direct the extract into the cup to mix with said sweetener-soda mixture;

at least one valve operatively disposed between each of said pumps and said dispensing head; and

control means for regulating each of said pumps and each of said valves to effect the dispensing and control the foaming action in a cup such that a cold carbonated coffee beverage having a properly formed creme is formed.

7. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said dispensing head is configured such that the contents of said supply reservoirs mix external to said dispensing head.

8. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein said coffee extract is ejected directly from said dispensing head into said cup thereby at least partially creating foaming that at least partially forms the creme.

9. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said valves has means for adjusting the maximum flow rate through said valve.

10. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a supply reservoir for holding decaffeinated coffee extract, and a supply reservoir for holding water.

11. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said supply reservoir for holding coffee extract is operatively connected to two of said pumps, and said supply reservoir for holding decaffeinated coffee extract is operatively connected to two of said pumps.

12. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly according to claim 6, wherein said control means regulates sequence and timing of dispensing from said supply reservoirs.

13. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly according to claim 12, wherein said control means is adapted to effect a provision of a splash of one of said coffee extracts onto said cold, carbonated coffee beverage at an end of the dispensing thereof.

14. A cold, carbonated coffee dispensing assembly according to claim 12, wherein said control means is adapted to effect a provision of a splash of said sweetener onto said cold, carbonated coffee beverage at an end of the dispensing thereof.