Beverage dispensing system

• US 8,453,879 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Carpenter, Gregg, Newman, David R., Patel, Nilang, Phillips, Paul A., Rudick, Arthur G., Ziesel, Lawrence B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US13/401,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20120160871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 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 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• 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 1/0035 the controls being based on the same metering technics
• 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 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0051 for mixing outside the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/006 Conventional carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0085 electro-mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

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 dispensing system for dispensing a number of beverages, comprising:

a dispenser;

a plurality of micro-ingredients positioned within the dispenser;

one or more macro-ingredients;

a dispensing nozzle positioned on the dispenser;

wherein the dispensing nozzle comprises a flow director and a tertiary flow assembly surrounding the flow director; and

a plurality of metering devices positioned within the dispenser to dispense the plurality of micro-ingredients to the dispensing nozzle.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about ten to one or higher.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about twenty-five to one or higher.

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

5. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprises 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.

6. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients are positioned outside of the dispenser.

7. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface positioned on the dispenser for receiving a request for one of the number of beverages.

8. The dispensing system of claim 7, wherein the user interface comprises one or more product buttons, one or more additive buttons, and one or more portion buttons.

9. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising means for receiving one or more consumer data input data, the one or more consumer input data comprising at least one of a lifestyle data, a consumer biometric data, or a consumer health parameter.

10. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the tertiary flow assembly comprises a plurality of replaceable modules.

11. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing nozzle comprises target positioned underneath the flow director and the tertiary flow assembly.

12. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the number of beverages comprises one or more branded beverages and one or more custom beverages.

13. A method of dispensing a number of products from a dispenser, comprising:

positioning a plurality of micro-ingredients with a reconstitution ratio of about ten to one or higher within the dispenser;

positioning a plurality of pumps or metering devices within the dispenser;

pumping two or more of the plurality of micro-ingredients to a dispensing nozzle on the dispenser;

pumping one or more macro-ingredients to the dispensing nozzle;

pumping a diluent to the dispensing nozzle; and

dispensing one of the number of products at the dispensing nozzle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of positioning a plurality of micro-ingredients within the dispenser comprises positioning a plurality of micro-ingredients with a reconstitution ratio of about twenty-five to one or higher.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of positioning a plurality of micro-ingredients within the dispenser comprises positioning a plurality of micro-ingredients 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.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of receiving one or more consumer data input data, the one or more consumer input data comprising at least one of a lifestyle data, a consumer biometric data, or a consumer health parameter.

17. A dispensing system for dispensing a number of beverages, comprising:

a dispenser;

a plurality of micro-ingredients positioned within the dispenser;

the plurality of micro-ingredients comprising a reconstitution ratio of about twenty-five to one or higher;

one or more macro-ingredients;

a dispensing nozzle positioned on the dispenser;

a plurality of metering devices positioned within the dispenser to dispense the plurality of micro-ingredients to the dispensing nozzle; and

a user interface positioned on the dispenser for receiving a request for one of the number of beverages.