Container-less custom beverage vending invention
First Claim
1. A beverage dispensing method comprising:
- providing one or more beverage dispensers for dispensing a beverage;
each of the one or more beverage dispensers comprising;
a plurality of reservoirs holding separate ingredients to be used in beverage recipes, wherein the separate ingredients include one or more selected from the group consisting of one or more waters, one or more flavor ingredients, one or more acids, one or more sweeteners and one or more supplements,a mixing manifold interconnected with the plurality of reservoirs;
a processor to control the mixing manifold to mix any combination of the plurality of separate ingredients; and
a dispense nozzle in communication with the mixing manifold to dispense the customized beverage that has been mixed in the mixing manifold;
storing user account information in one or more memory devices in communication with the one or more beverage dispensers;
identifying a desired user of the one or more beverage dispensers via an authentication device;
determining if the desired user has a user account and is an authorized user;
customizing one or more beverages to be dispensed by utilizing a user created beverage recipe for controlling the mixing of one or more of the separate ingredients selected from the group consisting of one or more waters, one or more flavor ingredients, one or more acids, one or more sweeteners and one or more supplements taken from the plurality of reservoirs for deposit within the mixing manifold to be mixed, wherein the user created beverage recipe is a result of the user personally selecting the particular combination of the separate ingredients and an amount, concentration, percentage or ratio of the separate ingredients to be used to mix the customized beverage, wherein the user created beverage recipe comprises a plurality of;
selecting one or more of flavor ingredients by the user;
regulating the relative strengths of the flavor ingredients by the user,selecting a sweetener type by the user;
regulating the relative sweetness level of the sweetener type by the user;
selecting one or more water choices by the user;
regulating a temperature range of the selected water choices from cold to hot by the user; and
regulating a carbonation level of the selected water choices from none to fully carbonated by the user;
dispensing the customized beverage that has been mixed in the mixing manifold from the dispense nozzle; and
storing the one or more customized beverages as recipes in the one or more memory devices.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus describing a convenience beverage vending machine and its operation are described. An embedded computer interface allows consumers to create their own drinks or choose from a menu of drinks. Drinks are dispensed in a re-usable container. The beverages may be made from hot water, cold water or carbonated water that is mixed with various flavors of syrup, sweeteners and nutritional supplements. Identification may be presented and the computer recognizes the consumer and pulls up that consumer'"'"'s account to determine funds available and previous drink selections and mixtures. The machine may incorporate an automatic cleaning cycle for both the valves and the dispense area.
94 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A beverage dispensing method comprising:
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providing one or more beverage dispensers for dispensing a beverage;
each of the one or more beverage dispensers comprising;a plurality of reservoirs holding separate ingredients to be used in beverage recipes, wherein the separate ingredients include one or more selected from the group consisting of one or more waters, one or more flavor ingredients, one or more acids, one or more sweeteners and one or more supplements, a mixing manifold interconnected with the plurality of reservoirs; a processor to control the mixing manifold to mix any combination of the plurality of separate ingredients; and a dispense nozzle in communication with the mixing manifold to dispense the customized beverage that has been mixed in the mixing manifold; storing user account information in one or more memory devices in communication with the one or more beverage dispensers; identifying a desired user of the one or more beverage dispensers via an authentication device; determining if the desired user has a user account and is an authorized user; customizing one or more beverages to be dispensed by utilizing a user created beverage recipe for controlling the mixing of one or more of the separate ingredients selected from the group consisting of one or more waters, one or more flavor ingredients, one or more acids, one or more sweeteners and one or more supplements taken from the plurality of reservoirs for deposit within the mixing manifold to be mixed, wherein the user created beverage recipe is a result of the user personally selecting the particular combination of the separate ingredients and an amount, concentration, percentage or ratio of the separate ingredients to be used to mix the customized beverage, wherein the user created beverage recipe comprises a plurality of; selecting one or more of flavor ingredients by the user; regulating the relative strengths of the flavor ingredients by the user, selecting a sweetener type by the user; regulating the relative sweetness level of the sweetener type by the user; selecting one or more water choices by the user; regulating a temperature range of the selected water choices from cold to hot by the user; and regulating a carbonation level of the selected water choices from none to fully carbonated by the user; dispensing the customized beverage that has been mixed in the mixing manifold from the dispense nozzle; and storing the one or more customized beverages as recipes in the one or more memory devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification