Beverage dispensing device

• US 9,521,922 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Deo, Indrani, Jersey, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US13/715,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20130140324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 700/283, 222/52, 222/129.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0005 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/001 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0017 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0022 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0027 control of the amount of one component, the amount of the other components(s) being dependent on that control
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0032 using flow-rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• 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 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. Aspects relate to obtaining measurements regarding dispensing an ingredient (including the dispensing conditions of the ingredient) and determining whether to adjust dispensing conditions of at least one other ingredient. In one embodiment, at least one ingredient of a recipe is not dispensed based upon a dispensing measurement. The adjustment of one or more ingredients may comprise the use of adjustable orifices, which do not require separate measurements of ingredients before dispensing, but rather may measure ingredients'"'"' parameters (including dispensing conditions) as they are dispensed. Certain embodiments relate to devices and methods that may determine if an ingredient is a non-Newtonian fluid, and if so, may be configured to conduct measurements on such fluids, including, for example, the strain stress and strain rate as the fluid passes within a conduit.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps comprising:

receiving by the processor a first user selection for a beverage;

receiving by the processor a second user selection modifying a parameter of the beverage;

determining by the processor one or more replacement ingredients and an amount of the one or more replacement ingredients to compensate the beverage based on the modified parameter of the beverage;

determining whether the first user selection and the second user selection comprise a carbonated ingredient, selecting a carbonation source based on the first user selection and the second user selection, and adjusting the carbonation level of the selected source; and

instructing a dispenser to dispense a composition based on the first user selection, the second user selection and determination of the one or more replacement ingredients,

wherein the carbonation level is adjusted based on electronic signals received from sensors in the dispensing system regarding parameter measurements,

wherein the parameter measurements include one or more flow rate, viscosity, pH, pressure, level of carbonation and level of constituents, and

wherein the carbonation level is determined and based on one or more of the parameter measurements.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the second user selection comprises an instruction to reduce an amount of sugar content or carbonation of the beverage.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising selecting the carbonation source from a plurality of carbonation sources.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the amount of time an orifice is opened is varied to provide for the carbonation level.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the composition dispensed is stored and is received at another dispensing system for dispensing the same composition.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises providing a plurality of beverages to select from and wherein the plurality of beverages is based upon the presence of specific ingredients detected in the dispensing system.

7. A dispensing system comprising:

a user input device configured to transmit an input directing a discharge of a beverage from an apparatus;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps comprising;

receiving by the processor a first user selection for a beverage;

receiving by the processor a second user selection modifying a parameter of the beverage;

determining by the processor one or more replacement ingredients and an amount of the one or more replacement ingredients to compensate the beverage based on the modified parameter of the beverage;

determining whether the first user selection and the second user selection comprises a carbonated ingredient, selecting a carbonation source based on the first user selection and the second user selection, and adjusting a carbonation level of the selected source; and

instructing a dispenser to dispense a composition based on the first user selection, the second user selection, and determining of the one or more replacement ingredients,

wherein the carbonation level is adjusted based on electronic signals received from one or more signals regarding parameter measurements from sensors in the dispensing system,

wherein the parameter measurements include one or more of flow rate, viscosity, pH, pressure, level of carbonation, and level of constituents, and

wherein the carbonation level is based on one or more of the parameter measurements.

8. The dispensing system of claim 7 wherein the second user selection comprises an instruction to reduce an amount of sugar content or carbonation level of the beverage.

9. The dispensing system of claim 7, further comprising selecting the carbonation source from a plurality of carbonation sources.

10. The dispensing system of claim 7, wherein the amount of time an orifice is opened is varied to provide for the carbonation level.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the composition dispensed is stored and is received at a second dispensing system for dispensing the same composition.

12. The dispensing system of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises providing a plurality of beverages to select from and wherein the plurality of beverages is based upon the presence of specific ingredients detected in the dispensing system.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving by a processor a first user selection for a beverage;

receiving by a processor a second user selection modifying a parameter of the beverage;

determining by a processor one or more replacement ingredients and an amount of the one or more ingredients to compensate the beverage based on the modified parameter of the beverage;

determining whether the first user selection and the second user selection comprise a carbonated ingredient, selecting a carbonation source based on the first user selection and the second user selection, and adjusting a carbonation level of the selected source; and

instructing a dispenser to dispense a composition based on the first user selection, the second user selection and the determination of one or more replacement ingredients,

wherein the carbonation level is adjusted based on electronic signals received from Sensors in the dispensing system regarding parameter measurements,

wherein the parameter measurements include one or more of flow rate, viscosity, pH, pressure, level of carbonation, and level of constituents, and

wherein the carbonation Level is determined and based on one or more of the parameter measurements.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the composition dispensed is stored and is received at another dispensing system for dispensing the same composition.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the method further comprises providing a plurality of beverages to select from and wherein the plurality of beverages is based upon the presence of specific ingredients detected in the dispensing system.