Dispenser for beverages including juices

• US 8,960,500 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: van Opstal, Edwin Petrus Elisabeth, Rudick, Arthur G., Wilcock, Mark Andrew, Zipsin, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US11/777,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20070267441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,783 Days
• Field of Search: 2221291-1294, 222/145.1, 222/145.2, 2221291-1294, 2221455-1458
• US Class Current: 222/129.4
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0025 based on volumetric dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0047 with movable parts, e.g. for stirring
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/07 Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0857 Cooling arrangements cooling systems per se F25B
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0895 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds

Abstract

A beverage dispenser for combining a number of micro-ingredients, one or more macro-ingredients, and one or more water streams. The beverage dispenser may include a micro-mixing chamber for mixing a number of the micro-ingredients and the water into a micro-ingredient stream and a macro-mixing chamber for mixing the micro-ingredient stream, the macro-ingredients, and the water into a combined stream.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser for combining a number of micro-ingredients, one or more macro-ingredients, and a plurality of water streams, comprising:

a micro-mixing chamber for mixing a plurality of the number of micro-ingredients and one of the plurality of water streams into a micro-ingredient stream;

a macro-mixing chamber for subsequently mixing the micro-ingredient stream, the one or more macro-ingredients, and a second of the plurality of water streams into a combined stream;

a nozzle; and

wherein the macro-mixing chamber comprises an agitator.

2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of water streams comprises a plain water stream.

3. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of water streams comprises a carbonated water stream and wherein the beverage dispenser further comprises a carbonated water port positioned below the macro-mixing chamber for mixing the combined stream and the carbonated water stream.

4. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a water metering system to deliver the plurality of water streams to the macro-mixing chamber and/or the micro-mixing chamber.

5. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients comprise an HFCS stream and wherein the beverage dispenser further comprises an HFCS metering system to deliver the HFCS stream to the macro-mixing chamber.

6. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more macro-ingredients comprise one or more macro-ingredient streams and wherein the beverage dispenser further comprises one or more macro-ingredient pumps to deliver the one or more macro-ingredient streams to the macro-mixing chamber.

7. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-ingredients comprise one or more micro-ingredient streams and wherein the beverage dispenser further comprises one or more micro-ingredient pumps to deliver the one or more micro-ingredient streams to the micro-mixing chamber.

8. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the micro-mixing chamber comprise a water channel in communication the one or more water streams and a plurality of micro-ingredient ports in communication with the water channel.

9. The beverage dispenser of claim 8, wherein the micro-mixing chamber comprises a displacement membrane positioned between the plurality of micro-ingredient ports and the water channel.

10. The beverage dispenser of claim 8, wherein the micro-mixing chamber comprises a one way valve positioned between the plurality of micro-ingredient ports and the water channel.

11. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the macro-mixing chamber comprises a plurality of macro-ingredient ports and a micro-ingredient stream port.

12. The beverage dispenser of claim 11, wherein the plurality of macro-ingredient ports each comprise a check valve thereon.

13. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the agitator comprises 500 to 1500 rpm so as to create a centrifugal force therein.

14. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the macro-mixing chamber comprises a complimentary inverted conical shape.

15. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an annular water chamber positioned about the macro-mixing chamber such that the second of the plurality of water streams enters the macro-mixing chamber about an inner diameter of an outer wall of the macro-mixing chamber.

16. A beverage dispenser for combining a number of micro-ingredients, one or more macro-ingredients, and a plurality of water streams, comprising:

a micro-mixing chamber for mixing a plurality of the number of micro-ingredients and one of the plurality of water streams into a micro-ingredient stream; and

a macro-mixing chamber for subsequently mixing the micro-ingredient stream, the one or more macro-ingredients, and a second of the plurality of water streams into a combined stream;

wherein the micro-mixing chamber comprises;

a plurality of micro-ingredient ports leading to an ingredient manifold;

a water channel;

a membrane valve positioned between the ingredient manifold and the water channel; and

a fluid displacement device positioned within the ingredient manifold to pump the number of micro-ingredients through the membrane valve and into the water channel.

17. The beverage dispenser of claim 16, wherein the fluid displacement device comprises a pneumatic membrane.

18. The beverage dispenser of claim 17, wherein the pneumatic membrane comprises an elastomeric material.

19. The beverage dispenser of claim 17, further comprising a pressurized air source in communication with the pneumatic membrane.

20. The beverage dispenser of claim 19, wherein the pneumatic membrane expands so as to force the number of micro-ingredients through the membrane valve.

21. The beverage dispenser of claim 19, wherein the pneumatic membrane contracts so as to maintain the membrane valve in a closed position.

22. The beverage dispenser of claim 16, wherein the membrane valve comprises a one way valve.

23. The beverage dispenser of claim 22, wherein the one way valve comprises a one way membrane valve.

24. A beverage dispenser for combining a number of micro-ingredients, one or more macro-ingredients, and a plurality of water streams, comprising:

a micro-mixing chamber for mixing a plurality of the number of micro-ingredients and one of the plurality of water streams into a micro-ingredient stream; and

a macro-mixing chamber for subsequently mixing the micro-ingredient stream, the one or more macro-ingredients, and a second of the plurality of water streams into a combined stream;

wherein the macro-mixing chamber comprises;

a water entry leading to the macro-mixing chamber;

an ingredient entry leading to the macro-mixing chamber;

the macro-mixing chamber comprising a top concave section leading to a bottom narrowed section; and

an agitator positioned within the macro-mixing chamber;

the agitator comprising a top convex section leading to a bottom narrowed section.

25. The beverage dispenser of claim 24, wherein the water entry comprises an annular water chamber.

26. The beverage dispenser of claim 25, wherein the annular water chamber is positioned around the ingredient entry.

27. The beverage dispenser of claim 24, wherein the ingredient entry comprises a plurality of ingredient ports positioned around the macro-mixing chamber.

28. The beverage dispenser of claim 27, wherein the plurality of ingredient ports comprises a check valve thereon.

29. The beverage dispenser of claim 27, wherein the plurality of ingredient ports comprise a plurality of macro-ingredient ports and a micro-ingredient port.

30. The beverage dispenser of claim 24, wherein the agitator comprises at least 500 rpm so as to create a centrifugal force therein.

31. The beverage dispenser of claim 24, wherein the agitator comprises a variable speed agitator.

32. The beverage dispenser of claim 24, further comprising a carbonated water entry positioned below the agitator.