Beverage dispenser

Abstract

An apparatus for introducing a selected beverage into a flexible pouch 8, sealingly closing the pouch 8 and dispensing the closed pouch 8. The apparatus comprises a housing 4 adapted to, in use, accept a plurality of reservoirs 10 of beverage concentrate. Each reservoir 10 has a concentrate pump 12 provided with a diluent inlet and a mixer for mixing pumped concentrate with diluent to produce a mixed beverage. Leading from each pump 12 is flexible conduit 14 terminating in a nozzle 68 for dispensing the mixed beverage. The apparatus further comprises a multiple dispense head 20 for accepting the plurality of nozzles 68, the nozzles 68 being movable relative to a filling position such that any one of the nozzles 68 can be presented at the filling position, a means for, in use, selecting a flexible pouch 8 and bringing it into alignment with a nozzle 68 in the filling position where it is filled via an opening therein, and a means for, in use, sealingly closing the opening and dispensing the filled sealed flexible pouch 8 from the apparatus. Methods of loading a concentrate reservoir 10, disengaging a removable pump 12 and changing a removable pump 12 are also disclosed. A flexible pouch with rigid spout and mixing element are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.