Beverage dispensing device

• US 8,335,592 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Deo, Indrani, Jersey, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sivanesan, Sivalingam
• Application Number:
  US12/625,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 700/283, 222/52, 222/56
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0005 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/001 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0017 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0022 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0027 control of the amount of one component, the amount of the other components(s) being dependent on that control
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0032 using flow-rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0041 Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. Aspects relate to obtaining measurements regarding dispensing an ingredient (including the dispensing conditions of the ingredient) and determining whether to adjust dispensing conditions of at least one other ingredient. In one embodiment, at least one ingredient of a recipe is not dispensed based upon a dispensing measurement. The adjustment of one or more ingredients may comprise the use of adjustable orifices, which do not require separate measurements of ingredients before dispensing, but rather may measure ingredients'"'"' parameters (including dispensing conditions) as they are dispensed. Certain embodiments relate to devices and methods that may determine if an ingredient is a non-Newtonian fluid, and if so, may be configured to conduct measurements on such fluids, including, for example, the strain stress and strain rate as the fluid passes within a conduit.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor are configured to execute a method comprising:

based on an input, determining to dispense a first recipe comprising an estimated amount of at least a first ingredient and a second ingredient;

initiate dispensing the first ingredient of the beverage through a first conduit;

measuring a plurality of parameters of the first ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit to obtain a result for each parameter;

based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the first ingredient, adjusting the estimated amount of the second ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit or a second conduit;

initiate dispensing the second ingredient of the beverage into either the first conduit or the second conduit;

measuring a plurality of parameters of the second ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit to obtain a result for each parameter;

based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the second ingredient, adjusting an amount of a third ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit, the second conduit, or a third conduit;

and initiate dispensing the third ingredient of the beverage into either the first conduit, the second conduit, or the third conduit.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the second ingredient comprises the prevention of dispensing any amount of the second ingredient.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, the instructions further comprising:

dispensing a third ingredient through either the first conduit or a second conduit, wherein the third ingredient is not present in the first recipe.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the instructions further comprising:

measuring parameters of the second ingredient as it is dispensed; and

based upon the measured parameters of the second ingredient, adjusting the amount of a third ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit or a second conduit.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the adjustment of at least one ingredient comprises adjusting an adjustable orifice.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the instructions further comprising:

determining that at least one of the first ingredient or the second ingredient is a non-Newtonian fluid, and

for the non-Newtonian fluid, detecting a measurement selected from the group consisting of;

strain stress, strain rate, and combinations thereof as the non-Newtonian fluid is dispensed into a conduit.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the measured parameters of the first ingredient are selected from the group consisting of:

flow rate, viscosity, pressure, pH, temperature, and combinations thereof.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the input to initiate dispensing a beverage comprises electrical, mechanical or electromechanical inputs.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the input to initiate dispensing a beverage comprises an electrical input that is received through a communication interface connected to a remote computer device.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a first conduit selectively connected to a first ingredient source, the first conduit comprising a plurality of sensors configured to measure parameters of at least one ingredient;

a user input device configured to transmit an input directing the discharge of a recipe from the apparatus;

a computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor are configured to execute a method comprising;

based on the input from the user input device, determining to dispense a first recipe comprising an estimated amount of at least the first ingredient and a second ingredient;

initiating dispensing the first ingredient of the beverage through the first conduit;

utilizing the sensors to measure a plurality of parameters relating to the first ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit to obtain a result for each parameter;

based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the first ingredient, adjusting the estimated amount of the second ingredient to be subsequently dispensed into either the first conduit or a second conduit comprising a plurality of sensors configured to measure parameters of the second ingredient;

utilizing the sensors to measure a plurality of parameters relating to the second ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit or the second conduit to obtain a result for each parameter; and

based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the second ingredient, adjusting an amount of a third ingredient to be subsequently dispensed into either the first conduit, the second conduit, or a third conduit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the adjustment of amount of the second ingredient comprises the prevention of dispensing any amount of the second ingredient.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the computer-executable instructions further comprising:

dispensing a third ingredient through either the first conduit or the second conduit, wherein the third ingredient is not present in the recipe.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the computer-executable instructions further comprising:

measuring parameters of the second ingredient as it is dispensed into either the first or second conduit; and

based upon the measured parameters of the second ingredient, adjusting the amount of a third ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit or a second conduit.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an adjustable orifice that is configured to adjust the amount that at least one ingredient dispensed into a conduit.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise:

determining that at least one of the first ingredient or the second ingredient is a non-Newtonian fluid, and

for the non-Newtonian fluid, detecting a measurement selected from the group consisting of;

strain stress, strain rate, and combinations thereof as the non-Newtonian fluid is dispensed into a conduit.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or more of the sensors of the first conduit are configured to measure parameters of the first ingredient selected from the group consisting of:

flow rate, viscosity, pressure and temperature, and combinations thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user input device comprises a communication interface that is configured to communicate with a remote computer device.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a nozzle in communication with the first conduit and the second conduit and configured to combine several different ingredients of a recipe.

19. A computer-implemented method comprising:

based on an input, determining to dispense a first recipe comprising an estimated amount of at least a first ingredient and a second ingredient;

initiate dispensing the first ingredient of the beverage through a first conduit;

measuring a plurality of parameters of the first ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit to obtain a result for each parameter, wherein the measured parameters are selected from the group consisting of;

flow rate, viscosity, pressure, pH, temperature, and combinations thereof;

based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the first ingredient, adjusting the estimated amount of the second ingredient to be subsequently dispensed into a second conduit;

initiate dispensing of the second ingredient of the beverage through the second conduit;

measuring parameters of the second ingredient as it is dispensed;

based upon the measured parameters of the second ingredient, adjusting the estimated amount of a third ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit or the second conduit; and

initiate dispensing of the third ingredient of the beverage through either the first conduit or the second conduit.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 19, wherein the adjustment of at least one ingredient comprises adjusting an adjustable orifice.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 20, the instructions further comprising:

determining that at least one of the first ingredient or the second ingredient is a non-Newtonian fluid, and

for the non-Newtonian fluid, detecting a measurement selected from the group consisting of;

strain stress, strain rate, and combinations thereof as the non-Newtonian fluid is dispensed into a conduit.