Dispenser for beverages having a rotary micro-ingredient combination chamber

• US 9,415,992 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Ryan, Christopher Thomas, van Opstal, Edwin Petrus Elisabeth, Ng, Kenneth Heng-Chong, Miu, Sasha
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US13/477,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20120228328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.4, 222/48, 222/129.1, 222/129.3, 222/144.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/092 occupying substantially the whole interior space of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/13 using one or more of the components of the mixture to wash-out the mixer
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71805 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• 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 1/10 Pump mechanism in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds

Abstract

The present application provides a beverage dispenser. The beverage dispenser may include a number of micro-ingredients, a water stream, and a rotary chamber. The rotary chamber may include a first element in communication with the micro-ingredients and the water stream and a second element maneuverable to a dispense position and a sealed position.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a plurality of micro-ingredients;

a first water stream;

a rotary chamber;

wherein the rotary chamber comprises a first element in communication with the plurality of micro-ingredients and the first water stream; and

a second element selectively maneuverable to a dispense position for one of the plurality of micro-ingredients and to a sealed position;

a second water stream; and

a nozzle in communication with the second water stream and the rotary chamber for mixing and dispensing both the one of the plurality of micro-ingredients and the second water stream.

2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the rotary chamber comprises a rotary switching chamber.

3. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprises a plurality of micro-ingredients with reconstitution ratios of about ten to one or higher.

4. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprises a plurality of micro-ingredients with reconstitution ratios of about twenty to one or higher.

5. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprise a plurality of micro-ingredient sources in communication with the rotary chamber via a plurality of micro-ingredient lines.

6. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the rotary chamber comprises a drive mechanism.

7. The beverage dispenser of claim 6, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a pinion and gear system.

8. The beverage dispenser of claim 6, wherein the drive mechanism is in communication with a plurality of sensors positioned about a position indicator.

9. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first element comprises a fixed element and the second element comprises a rotating element.

10. The beverage dispenser of claim 9, wherein the stationary element comprises a plurality of upper vertical channels in communication with the plurality of micro-ingredients.

11. The beverage dispenser of claim 10, wherein the rotating element comprises a plurality of lower vertical channels that may align with the plurality of upper vertical channels.

12. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a water stream;

a plurality of micro-ingredients;

a rotary chamber;

wherein the rotary chamber comprises a fixed element in communication with the plurality of micro-ingredients and a rotating element for the passage of one of the plurality of micro-ingredients; and

a plurality of dispensing nozzles in communication with the water stream and the rotating element of the rotary chamber for simultaneously mixing and dispensing both the water stream and the one of the plurality of micro-ingredients through a selected one of the plurality of dispensing nozzles.

13. The beverage dispenser of claim 12, wherein the rotary chamber comprises a rotary switching chamber.

14. The beverage dispenser of claim 12, wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprises a plurality of micro-ingredients with reconstitution ratios of about ten to one or higher.

15. The beverage dispenser of claim 12, wherein the water stream is in communication with the plurality of dispensing nozzles via a diverter valve.

16. The beverage dispenser of claim 12, wherein the fixed element comprises a plurality of upper vertical channels in communication with the plurality of micro-ingredients.

17. The beverage dispenser of claim 16, wherein the rotating element comprises a plurality of lower vertical channels that may align with the plurality of upper vertical channels.

18. The beverage dispenser of claim 16, wherein one of the lower vertical channels is in communication with one of the plurality of dispensing nozzles.

19. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a water stream;

a plurality of micro-ingredients;

a rotary chamber; and

a plurality of dispensing nozzles;

wherein the water stream is in communication with the plurality of dispensing nozzles via a diverter valve for the passage of the water stream to a selected one of the plurality of dispensing nozzles; and

wherein the rotary chamber comprises a fixed element in communication with the plurality of micro-ingredients and a rotating element for the passage of one of the plurality of micro-ingredients to the selected one of the plurality of dispensing nozzles for simultaneous mixing with the water stream.

20. The beverage dispenser of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of water streams in communication with the diverter valve.