Beverage dispensing system

• US 7,913,879 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Phillips, Paul A., Patel, Nilang, Rudick, Arthur G., Ziesel, Lawrence B., Carpenter, Gregg, Newman, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US12/784,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20100237099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/132, 222/129.2, 222/641, 222/129.3, 222/1, 222/129.4, 222/145.5, 222/145.6, 222/144.5, 222/145.1
• US Class Current: 222/129.4
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0051 for mixing outside the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0085 electro-mechanical

Abstract

The present application describes a product dispenser. The product dispenser may include at least one macro-ingredient source, at least one micro-ingredient source positioned about the dispenser, a diluent source, a dispensing valve, a number of pumps or metering devices, and a user interface. The user interface receives a request for a product type and instructs the pumps or metering devices to dispense a predetermined type and ratio of macro-ingredients, micro-ingredients, and diluent to the dispensing valve for a predetermined flow rate.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing one or more products, comprising:

one or more macro-ingredients;

one or more micro-ingredients;

wherein at least one of the one or more micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about twenty-five to one or higher;

a diluent; and

one or more pumps or metering devices in communication with the one or more macro-ingredients, the one or more micro-ingredients, and the diluent to dispense the one or more macro-ingredients, the one or more micro-ingredients, and the diluent to produce one of the products.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients comprise a sweetener.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients comprise a juice.

4. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about fifty to one or higher.

5. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about one hundred fifty to one or higher.

6. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise an acid and a non-acid.

7. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise a fluid selected from the group consisting of natural and artificial flavors, natural and artificial colors, natural and artificial sweeteners, vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, an acid, and a non-acid.

8. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise a plurality of non-refrigerated micro-ingredients.

9. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more products comprise one or more branded beverages.

10. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more products comprise one or more custom beverages.

11. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a housing and wherein at least one of the one or more macro-ingredients comprises a position outside the housing.

12. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a housing and wherein at least one of the one or more micro-ingredients comprises a position within the housing.

13. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a housing and wherein at least one of the one or more micro-ingredients comprises a position outside the housing.

14. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for receiving a request for one of the products and instructing the one or more pumps or metering devices to dispense a predetermined type and ratio of the one or more micro-ingredients and the one or more macro-ingredients and/or the diluent.

15. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a multi-flavor dispensing valve in communication with the one or more pumps or metering devices.

16. A beverage dispensing system for dispensing a number of predetermined beverages, comprising:

a sweetener;

a diluent; and

one or more micro-ingredients;

wherein each of the one or more micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about ten to one or higher and wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise a plurality of beverage micro-ingredients to produce the number of predetermined beverages when combined with the sweetener and the diluent.

17. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16, wherein each of the one or more micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about twenty-five to one or higher.

18. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16, wherein each of the one or more micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about fifty to one or higher.

19. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise an acid and a non-acid.

20. A method of dispensing a predetermined beverage type, comprising:

receiving a selection for the predetermined beverage type;

selecting a recipe of a plurality of micro-ingredients, a sweetener, and a diluent for the predetermined beverage type; and

mixing continuously the selected plurality of micro-ingredients, the sweetener, and the diluent to dispense the predetermined beverage type.