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US 2003/0232115 A1Published application
Hot dairy-based beverage dispenser
OwnerRoland B. Eckenhausen, Steven C. Eckenhauseninventors
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OwnerRoland B. Eckenhausen, Steven C. Eckenhauseninventors
Estimating the term…
A dispensing unit for dispensing hot, dairy-based beverages has a self-contained refrigerated unit located above a venturi-type emulsification foaming head. The dispensing unit has particular applicability to the dispensation of foamy, hot milk for use in beverages such as cappuccino and nonfoamy, hot milk for use in beverages such as coffee latte, hot chocolate, and other hot dairy-based beverages. The refrigeration unit accommodates a “bag in box” cold milk storage container of the type widely used in food service establishments. The dispensing unit employs a pinch valve that avoids direct contact between the milk and the valve components. The refrigerated milk is stored above the level of the foamer head so that the flow of milk results partially from gravitational force on the milk, and is not totally dependent upon venturi suction created in the foamer head. Also, selective actuation of beverage choice switches generates commands to produce different beverages at different temperatures. This is achieved by raising or lowering the steam temperature from a standby temperature as an immediate response to depression of a selection button. Air utilized in creating a foamy hot milk mixture may be supplied at a positive pressure above atmospheric pressure, rather than merely through venturi suction from the ambient atmosphere. In addition, following the dispensation of each portion of a beverage, the system automatically discharges a quantity of purging water to clean out the air line and air nozzle, so as to avoid contamination of those components by contact with milk flowing through the foamer head.
In a device including a venturi-based emulsification unit for emulsifying dairy-based liquids with other fluids and dispensing an emulsified mixture of said fluids into a beverage container for consumption, the improvement comprising a housing containing a refrigerated upper compartment with a chilled storage container of a dairy-based liquid therein coupled to said emulsification unit therebeneath, and an electrically operated dairy liquid flow control valve located between said upper compartment and said emulsification unit, whereby activation of said electrically operated dairy liquid flow control valve allows gravitational flow of said dairy-based liquid to said emulsification unit.
A venturi-based emulsification device for dispensing hot, dairy-based beverages comprising:
In a venturi-based device for emulsifying dairy-based liquids with selected other fluids including steam, the improvement comprising a steam source having a thermostatic sensor and a heating element for selectively mixing steam at alternative temperatures with said dairy-based liquid.
In a venturi-based device for emulsifying dairy-based beverages with selected other fluids including air and dispensing an emulsified mixture of selected fluids including a dairy-based beverage from an emulsifier, the improvement comprising a source of pressurized air above atmospheric pressure connected to said emulsifier.
In an apparatus for emulsifying dairy-based beverages with other fluids including an emulsification chamber having a beverage dispensing outlet located downstream from a mixing chamber for dispensing portions of said dairy-based beverages and at least one of said other fluids, the improvement comprising a supply of water under pressure coupled to said emulsification chamber, and a flush control valve and a diversion valve located between said supply of water and said emulsification chamber, and a flush control valve actuator that automatically opens said flush control valve to dispense a quantity of water from said supply of water through said emulsification chamber following dispensation of each beverage portion, and wherein one of said other fluids is air and further comprising an air line coupled to said emulsification chamber and said diversion valve is coupled to said air line and to said supply of water, and is operable to alternatively supply water and air therethrough to said emulsification chamber.
In a method for emulsifying dairy-based liquids with other fluids by passing said dairy-based liquids with at least one other fluid through a fluid emulsification chamber to a beverage dispensing outlet in selected portions, the improvement comprising selectively and alternatively supplying air through an air supply line for mixing air with said dairy-based liquids and automatically flushing water through said air supply line to said emulsification chamber to said beverage dispensing outlet after dispensation of each of said portions.
In a method for emulsifying dairy based liquids with other fluids by passing said dairy based liquids with at least one other fluid through a fluid emulsification chamber to a beverage dispensing outlet in selected portions, the improvement comprising selectively and alternatively supplying air through an air supply line for mixing air with dairy based liquids and selectively and alternatively filling said air supply line with water prior to passing said dairy based liquids to said emulsification chamber to prevent unwanted air from being drawn into said emulsification chamber.
In a method for emulsifying dairy-based liquids with other fluids by passing said dairy-based liquids with at least one other fluid through a fluid emulsification chamber to a beverage dispensing outlet in selected portions, the improvement comprising selectively and alternatively supplying air under pressure through an air supply line for mixing air with said dairy-based liquids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.