US 5,339,874 A · Beverage dispensing apparatus and process

Abstract

A novel beverage dispensing apparatus and process for use by a consumer in a grocery store to fill recyclable containers with beverages, such as soft drinks. The apparatus includes a retraction assembly which comprises a yoke configured to engage a bottle for retracting the neck of the bottle into a dispensing chamber where the opening of the bottle is sealed in fluid communication with a beverage dispensing nozzle. The beverage dispensing nozzle is configured with three ports--a syrup port, a carbonated water port and a relief port. Through the syrup port, a syrup may be introduced into the center of the bottle. The carbonated water port is configured such carbonated water may be directed through onto a side wall of the bottle. The relief port is positioned concentrically about the syrup port and between the syrup port and the carbonated water port and provides a port through which the fluid being displaced by the beverage entering the container may exit the container. A liquid detector is located in fluid communication with the relief port and monitors the flow of fluid being displaced by the beverage entering the bottle to thereby determine when the bottle is full of beverage.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A process for filling a container with a foamable beverage, the beverage comprising a non-foamable component which includes a carbonated liquid and a foamable component, comprising the steps of:

positioning a beverage dispensing nozzle into fluid communication with an opening of the container;
directing a flow of the non-foamable component of the beverage through the nozzle and onto an interior sidewall of the container;
and
directing a flow of the foamable component of the beverage through the nozzle into the container and away from the flow of the non-foamable component of the beverage.

1 more element

An apparatus for dispensing a foamable beverage into a container, the beverage comprising a non-foamable component which includes a carbonated liquid and a foamable component, comprising:

a dispensing line for introducing the beverage into the container, the dispensing line including a shutoff mechanism for discontinuing flow of the beverage through the dispensing line and a beverage dispensing nozzle through which beverage may be introduced into the container, the beverage dispensing nozzle comprising:
a first port configured for directing a flow of the non-foamable component of the beverage onto a side wall of the container;
and
a second port through which a flow of the foamable component of the beverage may be directed into the container and away from the flow of the non-foamable component of the beverage;
a shutoff mechanism for discontinuing flow of the beverage through the dispensing line;
a liquid detector in communication with the container, the liquid detector configured to monitor the flow of fluid which is displaced from the container as the beverage is introduced into the container through the dispensing line;
and
a shutoff actuator in communication with the liquid detector, the shutoff actuator configured to actuate the shutoff mechanism upon the detection of liquid by the liquid detector thereby discontinuing flow of the beverage through the dispensing line.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Beverage dispensing apparatus and process

Life of this patent

Beverage dispensing apparatus and process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31