Beverage dispensing system

• US 9,434,596 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Carpenter, Gregg, Newman, David R. Jr., Patel, Nilang, Phillips, Paul A., Rudick, Arthur G., Ziesel, Lawrence B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US14/317,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20140374438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0027 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 1/0035 the controls being based on the same metering technics
• 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 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0051 for mixing outside the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/006 Conventional carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0085 electro-mechanical
• 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: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

The present application describes a product dispenser. The product dispenser may include at least one macro-ingredient source, at least one micro-ingredient source positioned about the dispenser, a diluent source, a dispensing valve, a number of pumps or metering devices, and a user interface. The user interface receives a request for a product type and instructs the pumps or metering devices to dispense a predetermined type and ratio of macro-ingredients, micro-ingredients, and diluent to the dispensing valve for a predetermined flow rate.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a biometric sensor configured to collect health data;

a control device in communication with the biometric sensor, wherein the control device receives the health data and determines a beverage recommendation based at least on the health data; and

a plurality of metering devices configured to dispense a diluent and at least one ingredient to a dispensing valve, wherein each of the at least one ingredient is based on the recommended beverage.

2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is further configured to determine parameters comprising one or more of a height, a weight, a blood pressure, a blood glucose level, a cholesterol level, an insulin level, a heart rate, a bone density, or a body temperature.

3. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor comprises one or more of a scale, a blood pressure cuff, a breathalyzer, a blood analyzer, a hair analyzer, or an electrocardiography device.

4. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to receive environmental data, and recommend a second beverage based at least on the environmental data, wherein the environmental data comprises data associated with one or more of time of day, outdoor temperature, a current event, or a team affiliation.

5. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the recommended beverage comprises one or more of a vitamin additive, a mineral additive, an herbal extract additive, a medicine additive, a nutraceutical additive, or a coloring additive.

6. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the recommended beverage has a specific amount of calories.

7. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to receive a selection of the recommended beverage.

8. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispensing valve is configured to dispense the recommended beverage formed from the diluent and the at least one beverage.

9. A method for dispensing a beverage, comprising:

collecting health data from one or more biometric sensors coupled to a beverage dispenser;

providing, via a control device associated with the beverage dispenser, a recommendation for a beverage based at least on the health data;

receiving a selection of the recommended beverage at a user interface associated with the beverage dispenser; and

dispensing, via a plurality of metering devices associated with the beverage dispenser, a diluent and at least one ingredient based on the recommended beverage to a dispensing valve associated with the beverage dispenser.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining, via at least one of the one or more biometric sensors, parameters comprising one or more of a height, a weight, a blood pressure, a blood glucose level, a cholesterol level, an insulin level, a heart rate, a bone density, or a body temperature,

wherein the one or more biometric sensors comprise one or more of a scale, a blood pressure cuff, a breathalyzer, a blood analyzer, a hair analyzer, or an electrocardiography device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the beverage recommendation comprises providing, via the control device, a recommendation for one or more of a vitamin additive, a mineral additive, an herbal extract additive, a medicine additive, a nutraceutical additive, or a coloring additive.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing comprises providing, via the control device, a recommendation for a specific amount of calories.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising dispensing, via the dispensing valve, the recommended beverage formed from the diluent and the at least one ingredient.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving one or more of environmental data or lifestyle data at the control device, and recommending a second beverage based at least on one or more of the environmental data or the lifestyle.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more biometric sensors are separate from the beverage dispenser.

16. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

at least one ingredient source;

a diluent source;

a dispensing valve;

a plurality of metering devices positioned between the at least one ingredient source, the diluent source, and the dispensing valve;

at least one biometric sensor configured to collect health data;

a control device in communication with the biometric sensor, wherein the control device determines a beverage recommendation based at least on the health data; and

a user interface that presents the beverage recommendation and receives a selection of the recommended beverage,

wherein the control device is further configured to instruct at least one of the plurality of metering devices to dispense a diluent and at least one ingredient based on the recommended beverage to the dispensing valve.

17. The beverage dispenser of claim 16, the at least one biometric sensor further configured to determine parameters comprising one or more of a height, a weight, a blood pressure, a blood glucose level, a cholesterol level, or a body temperature.

18. The beverage dispenser of claim 16, the at least one biometric sensor comprising one or more of a scale, a blood pressure cuff, a breathalyzer, a blood analyzer, a hair analyzer, or an electrocardiography device.

19. The beverage dispenser of claim 16, further comprising a consumer data system comprising one or more biometric sensors.