US 11,440,786 B2 · Systems and methods for dispensing fluid mixtures

Abstract

In some embodiments of a fluid dispensing system: (1) two or more mixing channels are fluidly connected to (a) a mixing chamber fluidly connected to a dispenser, (b) a particular two or more solvent reservoirs, and (c) a respective one or more ingredient reservoirs, wherein each of the ingredient reservoirs is configured to dispense into a respective one of the mixing channels; and (2) a controller is programmed to receive a request for a fluid mixture, and, in response control the system to: mix, in the mixing channels to form an intermediate fluid mixture, a respective predetermined amount of solvent from each of the particular solvent reservoirs and a respective predetermined amount of the ingredients from some of the ingredient reservoirs; flow, to the mixing chamber and then to the dispenser, the intermediate fluid mixture; and dispense the requested fluid mixture (including the intermediate fluid mixture) via the dispenser.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A fluid mixture dispensing system comprising:

at least two solvent reservoirs containing respective solvents;
a plurality of ingredient reservoirs;
two or more mixing channels fluidly connected to the at least two solvent reservoirs and each fluidly connected to at least one of the plurality of ingredient reservoirs;
a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the two or more mixing channels;
a dispenser fluidly connected to the mixing chamber;
and
a controller, wherein the controller is programmed to:
receive a request for a fluid mixture;
and
in response to receiving the request for the fluid mixture:
flow a predetermined amount of at least two of the respective solvents from the at least two solvent reservoirs and a predetermined amount of at least one ingredient from the plurality of ingredient reservoirs to the two or more mixing channels to form an intermediate fluid mixture;
flow the intermediate fluid mixture to the mixing chamber to form the fluid mixture;
flow a second predetermined amount of one of the respective solvents from the at least two solvent reservoirs to the mixing chamber to form the fluid mixture;
and
dispense the fluid mixture from the mixing chamber via the dispenser.

12 more elements

A method used in a fluid mixture dispensing system having (a) at least two solvent reservoirs containing respective solvents;

(b) a plurality of ingredient reservoirs;
and (c) two or more mixing channels fluidly connected to the at least two solvent reservoirs and each fluidly connected to at least one of the plurality of ingredient reservoirs, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a fluid mixture;
and
in response to receiving the request for the fluid mixture,
(a) flowing a predetermined amount of at least two of the respective solvents from the at least two solvent reservoirs and a predetermined amount of at least one ingredient from the plurality of ingredient reservoirs to the two or more mixing channels to form an intermediate fluid mixture;
(b) flowing the intermediate fluid mixture to a mixing chamber to form the fluid mixture;
(c) flowing a second predetermined amount of one of the respective solvents from the at least two solvent reservoirs to the mixing chamber to form the fluid mixture;
and
(d) dispensing the fluid mixture from the mixing chamber via a dispenser.

7 more elements

A fluid mixture dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of solvent reservoirs, each containing a respective solvent;
a plurality of ingredient reservoirs, each containing a respective ingredient;
two or more mixing channels, each of the two or more mixing channels fluidly connected to (a) a particular two or more of the plurality of solvent reservoirs, and (b) a respective one or more of the plurality of ingredient reservoirs, wherein each of the plurality of ingredient reservoirs is configured to dispense into a respective one of the two or more mixing channels;
a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the two or more mixing channels;
a dispenser fluidly connected to the mixing chamber;
and
a controller, wherein the controller is programmed to:
receive a request for a fluid mixture;
and
in response to receiving the request for the fluid mixture, control operations of the fluid mixture dispensing system to produce the requested fluid mixture by:
mixing, in the two or more mixing channels to form an intermediate fluid mixture, (i) a respective predetermined amount of the respective solvents from each of the particular solvent reservoirs, and (ii) a respective predetermined amount of the respective ingredients from each of one or more of the plurality of ingredient reservoirs;
flowing, to the mixing chamber, the intermediate fluid mixture, wherein the fluid mixture comprises the intermediate fluid mixture;
flowing a second predetermined amount of at least one of the respective solvents from the plurality of solvent reservoirs to the mixing chamber;
and
dispensing the fluid mixture via the dispenser.

12 more elements

A fluid mixture dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of solvent reservoirs, each containing a respective solvent;
a plurality of ingredient reservoirs, each containing a respective ingredient;
two or more mixing channels, each of the two or more mixing channels fluidly connected to (a) a particular two or more of the plurality of solvent reservoirs, and (b) a respective one or more of the plurality of ingredient reservoirs, wherein each of the plurality of ingredient reservoirs is configured to dispense into a respective one of the two or more mixing channels;
a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the two or more mixing channels;
a dispenser fluidly connected to the mixing chamber;
and
a controller, wherein the controller is programmed to:
receive a request for a fluid mixture;
and
in response to receiving the request for the fluid mixture, control operations of the fluid mixture dispensing system to produce the requested fluid mixture by:
mixing, in the two or more mixing channels to form an intermediate fluid mixture, (i) a respective predetermined amount of the respective solvents from each of the particular solvent reservoirs, and (ii) a respective predetermined amount of the respective ingredients from each of one or more of the plurality of ingredient reservoirs;
flowing, to the mixing chamber and then to the dispenser, the intermediate fluid mixture, wherein the fluid mixture comprises the intermediate fluid mixture;
and
dispensing the fluid mixture via the dispenser;
wherein the respective predetermined amount of the respective solvents is provided in a flow, and wherein the flow comprises:
an initial flow of some of the predetermined amount of the respective solvents;
a pause in the flow of the respective solvents to receive the predetermined amount of the respective ingredients;
and
a final flow of a remainder of the predetermined amount of the respective solvents.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for dispensing fluid mixtures

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for dispensing fluid mixtures

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36