Replaceable concentrate/extract cartridge for a liquid concentrate/extract beverage dispenser
First Claim
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1. A method of dispensing a liquid from a liquid dispenser having a diluent reservoir and a dispensing area, the method comprising:
- providing a cartridge having;
a hollow body for containing the liquid;
an aperture defined in the hollow body; and
an externally actuatable pumping device including;
a dispensing tube which defines an interior surface connected to the hollow body at the aperture for dispensing the liquid from the hollow body;
a valve seat, including a port for passing the liquid through the dispensing tube, connected to the dispensing tube and fixed within a space defined by the interior surface of the dispensing tube;
a valve body in removable contact with the valve seat on a discharge side thereof which covers the port in a closed position and uncovers the port in an open position; and
a piston located on an upstream side of the valve seat that is fixed to the valve body and is moveable within the dispensing tube for forcing the liquid through the port;
inserting the cartridge in the liquid dispenser;
moving the piston from a first position, away from the valve seat, in which the valve body is closed, to a second position, toward the valve seat and in a direction of liquid flow to dispense the liquid into the dispensing area; and
discharging diluent from the diluent reservoir into the dispensing area, wherein the diluent may be carbonated, hot, chilled, or chilled and carbonated.
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Abstract
A concentrate/extract cartridge for a beverage dispenser adapted to dispense a liquid concentrate/extract and a diluent is provided. The cartridge includes a hollow body for containing liquid concentrate/extract and an aperture. A pumping device is connected to the hollow body for dispensing the liquid concentrate/extract from the hollow body through the aperture. A method for dispensing a liquid concentrate/extract from a beverage dispenser using a concentrate/extract cartridge is also provided in which the concentrate/extract does not come into contact with the dispenser.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of dispensing a liquid from a liquid dispenser having a diluent reservoir and a dispensing area, the method comprising:
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providing a cartridge having; a hollow body for containing the liquid; an aperture defined in the hollow body; and an externally actuatable pumping device including; a dispensing tube which defines an interior surface connected to the hollow body at the aperture for dispensing the liquid from the hollow body; a valve seat, including a port for passing the liquid through the dispensing tube, connected to the dispensing tube and fixed within a space defined by the interior surface of the dispensing tube; a valve body in removable contact with the valve seat on a discharge side thereof which covers the port in a closed position and uncovers the port in an open position; and a piston located on an upstream side of the valve seat that is fixed to the valve body and is moveable within the dispensing tube for forcing the liquid through the port; inserting the cartridge in the liquid dispenser; moving the piston from a first position, away from the valve seat, in which the valve body is closed, to a second position, toward the valve seat and in a direction of liquid flow to dispense the liquid into the dispensing area; and discharging diluent from the diluent reservoir into the dispensing area, wherein the diluent may be carbonated, hot, chilled, or chilled and carbonated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A dispenser comprising:
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a housing including a diluent reservoir, and a dispensing area; a cartridge receiving area configured to receive a concentrate/extract cartridge adapted to dispense a liquid concentrate/extract and a diluent, the cartridge comprising;
a hollow body for containing liquid concentrate/extract;
an aperture defined in the hollow body; and
an externally actuatable pumping device comprising;
a dispensing tube which defines an interior surface connected to the hollow body at the aperture for dispensing the liquid concentrate/extract from the hollow body;
a valve seat, including a port for passing concentrate/extract through the dispensing tube, connected to the dispensing tube and fixed within a space defined by the interior surface of the dispensing tube;
a valve body in removable contact with the valve seat on a discharge side thereof which covers the port in a closed position and uncovers the port in an open position; and
a piston located on an upstream side of the valve seat that is fixed to the valve body and is moveable within the dispensing tube for forcing concentrate/extract through the port, the piston being moveable from a first position, away from the valve seat, in which the valve body is closed, to a second position, toward the valve seat and in a direction of flow of the concentrate/extract being dispensed, movement of the piston from the first position to the second position, simultaneously moves the valve body from the closed position to the even open position, and return of the piston to the first position simultaneously moves the valve body from the open position to the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification