System and method for dispensing a liquid beverage concentrate

• US 7,223,426 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Morrison, Randall L., Cheng, Pu-Sheng, Chrisman, Randall C., Landry, Walter F., Gavie, Shannon, Scoville, Eugene, McDonough, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEIER, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US10/626,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20040129720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 995/94, 222/137, 222/145.8, 426/594, 426/597, 426/115, 426/119
• US Class Current: 426/115
• CPC Class Codes: A23C 2270/15 Separate packaging or storing of foodstuffs or ingredients to be mixed prior to use or serving, e.g. storing into separate compartments of a single container or into separate containers
• CPC Class Codes: A23F 5/243 Liquid, semi-liquid or non-dried semi-solid coffee extract preparations; Coffee gels; Liquid coffee in solid capsules A23F5/246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23F 5/486 by distillation from beans, ground or not, e.g. stripping; Recovering volatile gases, e.g. roaster or grinder gases
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0037 based on volumetric dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1231 Metering pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1286 by mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1288 Multi-chamber piston pumps construction of pumps: B67D1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0821 having different compartments for different components
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336

Abstract

The present invention is related to a device and method for dispensing dual component liquids or concentrates packaged in separate containers to provide protection from effects such as oxidation and moisture loss. The liquids or concentrates can be dispensed through a pumping system, preferably including a peristaltic pump, mixed together, and optionally diluted with another liquid, such as water, to provide a consumable beverage. In addition, the device of the present invention can dispense liquids or concentrates having different viscosities, such that they are mixed together in the proper ratio.

Claims

1. A beverage product dispensation system comprising:

a packaging assembly comprising at least two different components stored in separate compartments, wherein the components are capable of forming a beverage after being combined;

at least a pump assembly arranged for pumping the components from the packaging assembly to an addition chamber operatively associated with the compartments of the packaging assembly, with the addition chamber being arranged to receive and combine the at least two components therein to form a mixture which is delivered therefrom as a beverage product or beverage forming product; and

means for providing a diluent to the mixture of the least two components to provide the beverage product;

wherein the components are a beverage forming base concentrate and a beverage aroma that have a storage stability that is less when mixed together prior to dispensation than when stored separately and the components form a beverage after being combined with and diluted by the diluent.

2. The dispensation system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing a diluent comprises a diluent tank filled with one of water, carbonated water, a milk or non-dairy milk product, a solution containing any of these, or a mixture thereof.

3. The dispensation system of claim 2, wherein the diluent tank is filled with water or an aqueous solution so that the beverage product is a non-carbonated beverage, a coffee or tea beverage, or a creamy beverage.

4. The dispensation system of claim 1, wherein the pump assembly comprises dual-head or multi-head volumetric positive displacement pumps.

5. The dispensation system of claim 4, wherein the volumetric positive displacement pumps are peristaltic pumps.

6. The dispensation system of claim 1, wherein the packaging assembly has dual compartments for retaining the components therein.

7. The dispensation system of claim 1, wherein the packaging assembly is a single chamber of a polymer film that is divided to form the compartments.

8. The dispensation system of claim 7, wherein each compartment is made of a pouch that includes a fitment that protrudes outside the pouch to dispense the components from the compartments.

9. The dispensation system of claim 1 wherein the beverage packaging assembly includes:

an outer chamber having at least two separate compartments for receiving and storing therein at least two different components, each compartment having a predetermined volume occupied by the component(s) therein; and

a fitment attached to each of the compartments and having a predetermined orifice size,

wherein the occupied volumes of the compartments and the orifice sizes of the fitments are varied depending on the particular viscosities of the components therein, to provide the appropriate flow rates and a desired ratio of the components upon delivery and formation of the beverage, such that the compartments become empty at substantially the same time.

10. The dispensation system of claim 1 which further comprises first and second connection means respectively associated with the fitments, with the first and second connection means being in fluid association with an addition chamber that is adapted to deliver the beverage product.

11. The dispensation system of claim 10 wherein each of the first and second connection means includes a gland of the push-and-lock type.

12. The dispensation system of claim 10 wherein the two different components are a coffee base concentrate and a coffee aroma.

13. The dispensation system of claim 10, wherein a first component has a first viscosity, a second component has a second viscosity, and the diluent has a viscosity, wherein the first viscosity, the second viscosity, or both are greater than twice the viscosity of the diluent.

14. The dispensation system of claim 13, wherein the diluent comprises water, carbonated water, a milk or non-dairy milk product, a solution containing any of these, or a mixture thereof.

15. The dispensation system of claim 13, wherein the first component is a coffee base concentrate having at least about 10% by weight of soluble coffee solids and the second component is a coffee aroma.

16. The dispensation system of claim 1, wherein a first component is a coffee base concentrate having at least about 10% by weight of soluble coffee solids and a second component is a coffee aroma.

17. The dispensation system of claim 1, wherein one component is a coffee base concentrate that is substantially free of coffee aroma, and another component is a coffee aroma.

18. The dispensation system of claim 1, wherein the compartments contain relative amounts of each component, such that each compartment empties uniformly relative to the other compartment(s) at a determined rate, to empty the compartments at substantially the same time.

19. A beverage product dispensation system comprising:

a packaging assembly comprising at least two different components stored in separate compartments, wherein the components are capable of forming a beverage after being combined;

at least a pump assembly arranged for pumping the components from the packaging assembly to an addition chamber operatively associated with the compartments of the packaging assembly, with the addition chamber being arranged to receive and combine the at least two components therein to form a mixture which is delivered therefrom as a beverage product or beverage forming product;

means for providing a diluent to the mixture of the least two components to provide the beverage product; and

a connection system comprising a fitment and a gland for each compartment;

wherein the components are a beverage forming base concentrate and a beverage aroma that have a storage stability that is less when mixed together prior to dispensation than when stored separately and the components form a beverage after being combined with and diluted by the diluent, and wherein each component is removably connected to a respective portion of tubes by the connection system wit the flow of components from the compartments to the portions of the tubes being established when each fitment is pushed into and locked to its respective gland.