Multi-tower modular dispensing system

• US 9,193,575 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Jersey, Steven T., Segiet, William W., Siegel, Tom, Kali, Eddie, Boggs, Joseph, Balstad, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US14/266,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20140231455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0016 the beverage being stored in an intermediate container before dispensing, i.e. pre-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0031 in the form of a metering pump
• 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 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0046 Mixing chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0078 Ingredient cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0081 Dispensing valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/06 Mountings or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in or on shop or bar counters shop or bar counters per se A47F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0857 Cooling arrangements cooling systems per se F25B
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0865 by circulating a cooling fluid along beverage supply lines, e.g. pythons
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0867 the cooling fluid being a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0877 Advertising means advertising in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0895 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/075 Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00034 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00049 Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 : Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 : Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A multi-tower modular dispensing system including at least a first dispensing head and a second dispensing head at a counter, a transfer unit located remotely from the counter, piping extending from the transfer unit to the counter, the transfer unit including a centralized ingredient system having a plurality of beverage ingredient sources, the centralized ingredient system configured to supply beverage ingredients to the piping for the dispensing of a first beverage at the counter, the piping including a main micro bundle, the main micro bundle including at least two separate beverage ingredient lines.

Claims

1. A multi-tower modular dispensing system comprising:

at least a first dispensing head of a first tower at a first counter, at least a second dispensing head of a second tower at a second counter, the first and second counters remote from each other, a transfer unit located remotely from the first counter and the second counter, piping extending from the transfer unit to the first counter and the second counter, the transfer unit comprising a centralized ingredient system having a plurality of beverage ingredient sources, the centralized ingredient system configured to supply beverage ingredients to the piping for the dispensing of a first beverage at the first counter and for the dispensing of a second beverage at the second counter, the piping comprising a main micro bundle, the main micro bundle comprising at least two separate beverage ingredient lines.

2. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the piping is configured to supply beverage ingredients from the transfer unit to the first counter and the second counter in series or in parallel.

3. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising at least a first doser unit corresponding to the first dispensing head, the first doser unit configured to receive a first beverage ingredient through the main micro bundle pipe from the transfer unit and dose a predetermined amount of the first beverage ingredient to the first dispensing head;

a second doser unit configured to receive a second beverage ingredient from the transfer unit and dose a predetermined amount of the second beverage ingredient to the second dispensing head.

4. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the first doser unit and the second doser unit are located below the counter.

5. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the first doser unit supplies an appropriate amount of each beverage ingredient through a first tower micro bundle, the first tower micro bundle comprising a plurality of separate lines, with each line corresponding to a particular beverage ingredient.

6. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the transfer unit comprises a water treatment system, the water treatment system configured to treat water entering the water treatment system so that it has at least one predetermined characteristic upon exiting the water treatment system.

7. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the at least one predetermined characteristic of the water upon exiting the water treatment system is a temperature that is lower than the temperature of the water entering the water treatment system.

8. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the at least one predetermined characteristic of the water upon exiting the water treatment system is a temperature that is higher than the temperature of the water entering the water treatment system.

9. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the main micro bundle pipe comprises a line from the water treatment system to the first doser unit.

10. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the transfer unit comprises an ice machine.

11. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the main micro bundle pipe comprises a line from the ice machine to the first doser unit.

12. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein at least the first dispensing head is configured to receive ice from an ice hopper and dispense the ice in a predetermined amount along with the other beverage ingredients.

13. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the ice hopper is located at the counter.

14. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the ice hopper is located below the counter.

15. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein at least the first dispensing head is configured to receive at least one carbonated water line and dispense carbonated water in a predetermined amount along with the other beverage ingredients.

16. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first dispensing head and the second dispensing head are each configured to receive at least two beverage ingredients, the at least two beverage ingredients selected from the group consisting of a flavor ingredient and an acid.

17. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first beverage ingredient and the second beverage ingredient are the same.

18. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the first doser unit is configured to supply an appropriate amount of each beverage ingredient for a first predetermined beverage to the first dispensing head through a first tower micro bundle, the first tower micro bundle comprising a plurality of separate lines, with at least one line corresponding to a particular beverage ingredient of the first predetermined beverage, wherein the second doser unit is configured to supply an appropriate amount of each beverage ingredient for a second predetermined beverage to the second dispensing head through a second tower micro bundle pipe, the second tower micro bundle comprising a plurality of separate lines, with at least one line corresponding to a particular beverage ingredient of the second predetermined beverage.

19. The multi-tower dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first beverage ingredient and the second beverage ingredient are different.

20. The multi-tower dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the first dispensing head is configured to dispense ice from the main micro bundle pipe.

21. The multi-tower dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the main micro bundle pipe comprises a first main micro bundle pipe corresponding to the first tower, and a second main micro bundle pipe corresponding to the second tower.

22. The multi-tower dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the first tower comprises a first plurality of towers, wherein each of the first plurality of towers comprises a corresponding dispensing head and a corresponding doser unit, wherein the second tower comprises a second plurality of towers, wherein each of the second plurality of towers comprises a corresponding dispensing head and a corresponding doser unit.

23. A multi-tower modular dispensing system comprising a plurality of dispensing heads at a first counter, a plurality of dispensing heads at a second counter, the first and second counters remote from each other, a transfer unit located remotely from the first counter and the second counter, piping extending from the transfer unit to the first counter and the second counter, the transfer unit comprising a centralized ingredient system having a plurality of beverage ingredient sources, the centralized ingredient system configured to supply beverage ingredients to the piping for the dispensing of a plurality of beverages at the first counter and for the dispensing of a plurality of beverages at the second counter, the piping comprising at least one main micro bundle, the main micro bundle comprising a plurality of separate beverage ingredient lines.

24. The multi-tower modular dispensing system of claim 23, wherein the piping is configured to supply beverage ingredients from the transfer unit to the first counter and the second counter in series or in parallel.