Systems and methods of selecting and dispensing products
First Claim
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1. A dispensing system for dispensing a number of products to a user, comprising:
- an input/output device adapted to receive a selection of one of the products from the user; and
a dispenser adapted to dispense a plurality of ingredient components, the ingredient components and a ratio of the ingredient components corresponding at least in part to the selection of the user; and
wherein the input/output device comprises a continuum for entering the selection comprising a two-dimensional graph that visually illustrates the plurality of ingredient components according to relative amount in the product, wherein a location on the continuum simultaneously indicates one or more ingredient selections and one or more ingredient intensity selections.
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Abstract
Embodiments of a dispensing system for dispensing a number of products to a user are disclosed. The dispensing system may include an input/output device and a dispenser. The input/output device may be adapted to receive a selection of one of the products from the user. The dispenser may be adapted to dispense a plurality of diluent components, the diluent components and a ratio of the diluent components corresponding at least in part to the selection of the user.
240 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A dispensing system for dispensing a number of products to a user, comprising:
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an input/output device adapted to receive a selection of one of the products from the user; and a dispenser adapted to dispense a plurality of ingredient components, the ingredient components and a ratio of the ingredient components corresponding at least in part to the selection of the user; and wherein the input/output device comprises a continuum for entering the selection comprising a two-dimensional graph that visually illustrates the plurality of ingredient components according to relative amount in the product, wherein a location on the continuum simultaneously indicates one or more ingredient selections and one or more ingredient intensity selections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A dispensing system, comprising:
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an input/output device adapted to receive a plurality of selections, the selections including one or more ingredient selections and one or more ingredient intensity selections; and a dispenser adapted to dispense one or more ingredient components, the one or more ingredient components corresponding at least in part to the one or more diluent ingredient selections, a ratio of the one or more ingredient components corresponding at least in part to the one or more diluent intensity selections; the input/output device comprises an input mechanism adapted to be adjusted along a continuous range of positions, wherein the continuous range of positions comprises; a first discrete position indicating a first ingredient option; a second discrete position indicating a second ingredient option, the first and second discrete positions are separated by a total distance; and an area between the first and second discrete positions, the area indicating a combination of the first and second ingredient options; the input/output device is adapted to receive each of the ingredient selections when the input mechanism is adjusted to one location on the continuous range of positions; and the input/output device is further adapted to receive the ingredient intensity selections when the input mechanism is adjusted to the location on the continuous range of positions, the location being a first distance from the first discrete position and a second distance from the second discrete position, a relative relationship between the first distance and the total distance indicating the relative amount of the first ingredient selection and a relative relationship between the second distance and the total distance indicating a relative amount of the ingredient selection. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for preparing a product, comprising:
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presenting a plurality of options to the user, the options comprising a plurality of ingredient options and a plurality of ingredient intensity options; receiving a plurality of selections from the user, the selections comprising one or more ingredient selections and one or more ingredient intensity selections; determining one or more ingredient components based at least in part on the ingredient selections; determining relative amounts of the ingredient components based at least in part on the ingredient intensity selections; dispensing the product that includes the relative amounts of the ingredient components; and wherein presenting a plurality of options to the user comprises presenting a continuum of options to the user, the continuum of options comprising a two-dimensional graph that visually illustrates the ingredient options according to relative amount in the product, wherein receiving a plurality of selections from the user comprises receiving an indication of a location on the continuum, the location on the continuum simultaneously indicating each of the one or more ingredient selections and each of the one or more ingredient intensity selections. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification