Systems and methods for dispensing consumable products

• US 9,569,748 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Peters, Dan Jr., Tran, Son V., Newman, David R., Antao, Leonard F., Slagley, David O., Kolls, H. Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US14/299,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention can include systems and methods for dispensing consumable products. One embodiment of the invention can provide a product dispenser. The product dispenser can include a controller configured to communicate with a data processing resource, determine that a recipe database update for a recipe of at least one beverage is available at the data processing resource, receive the recipe database update from the data processing resource, and update the recipe of the at least one beverage in a recipe database associated with the product dispenser, wherein an updated recipe comprises an ingredient identifier and an ingredient ratio for an ingredient associated with the ingredient identifier.

Claims

1. A product dispenser, comprising:

a controller configured to;

communicate with a data processing resource;

determine that a recipe database update for a current recipe of at least one beverage comprises a newer recipe than the current recipe, wherein the recipe database update is available at the data processing resource;

receive the recipe database update from the data processing resource;

update the current recipe of the at least one beverage in a recipe database associated with the product dispenser based at least in part on the newer recipe, wherein the newer recipe comprises an ingredient identifier and an ingredient ratio for an ingredient associated with the ingredient identifier;

receive a selection of the at least one beverage for dispensing;

obtain the ingredient identifier and the ingredient ratio from the recipe database; and

initiate operation of one or more pumps or valves to dispense the at least one beverage from a nozzle at the product dispenser.

2. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein to communicate with the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to communicate locally via a network with the data processing resource.

3. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein to communicate with the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to communicate remotely via a network with the data processing resource.

4. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a check to determine if the database processing resource comprises a recent version of any recipe that is available for download from the data processing resource to the product dispenser.

5. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein to determine if the recipe database update is available at the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the data processing resource.

6. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein to update the recipe database associated with the product dispenser, the controller is further configured to install the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.

7. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display the at least one beverage for selection via a display device.

8. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to dispense the at least one beverage.

9. A method for updating a product dispenser, comprising:

automatically initiating communication with a data processing resource from the product dispenser, wherein the communication is initiated periodically;

determining that a recipe database update for a recipe of at least one beverage is available at the data processing resource;

communicating the recipe database update from the data processing resource to the product dispenser;

updating the recipe of the at least one beverage in a recipe database associated with the product dispenser, wherein an updated recipe comprises an ingredient identifier and an ingredient ratio for an ingredient associated with the ingredient identifier;

receiving a selection of the at least one beverage for dispensing;

obtaining the ingredient identifier and the ingredient ratio from the recipe database; and

initiating operation of one or more pumps or valves to dispense the at least one beverage from a nozzle at the product dispenser.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating with the data processing resource from the product dispenser comprises one of communicating locally with the data processing resource from the product dispenser or communicating remotely with the data processing device from the product dispenser.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating with the data processing resource from the product dispenser comprises communicating a check to determine if a recent version of a recipe database is available for download from the data processing resource to the product dispenser.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining if the recipe database update is available at the data processing resource comprises comparing a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the data processing resource.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating the recipe database update from the data processing resource to the product dispense comprises receiving the recipe database update at a controller associated with the product dispenser from the data processing resource.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein updating the recipe database associated with the product dispenser comprises installing the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.

15. A system, comprising:

a server; and

a product dispenser in communication with a controller configured to;

periodically initiate communication with the server to determine whether recipe database updates are available;

determine that a recipe database update for a recipe of at least one beverage is available for download from the server;

receive the recipe database update from the server;

update the recipe of the at least one beverage in a recipe database associated with the product dispenser, wherein an updated recipe comprises an ingredient identifier and an ingredient ratio for an ingredient associated with the ingredient identifier;

receive a selection of the at least one beverage for dispensing;

obtain the ingredient identifier and the ingredient ratio from the recipe database; and

initiate operation of one or more pumps or valves to dispense the at least one beverage from a nozzle at the product dispenser.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate via a network with the server.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the server.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the recipe database update is available for download from the server.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the server.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein to update the recipe database associated with the product dispenser, the controller is further configured to install the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is configured to transmit via a network the recipe database update to the product dispenser.