US 6,234,223 B1Granted

Carbonated beverage and ice dispensing system

AssigneeDispensing Systems, Inc.

InventorPatrick L. Nelson

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Abstract

A system for dispensing carbonated beverage and ice into an open container uses a bottom filling technique in which the outlet port of the nozzle is proximate to a bottom of the open container in order to dispense the carbonated beverage. Preferably, the carbonated beverage is maintained in a pressurized state within the nozzle until immediately prior to opening the valve in order to maintain appropriate carbonation of the beverage. It is preferred that ice be added after the nozzle is located proximate the bottom of the open container. The ice dispenser includes a funnel located concentrically around the nozzle in order to supply ice around the nozzle into the open container. In order to avoid excessive foaming, it is important that the temperature of the carbonated beverage be chilled to approximately the surface temperature of the ice being added into the open container.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A system for dispensing carbonated beverage into an open container comprising:

a source of carbonated beverage;
a downwardly extending nozzle which is adapted to dispense carbonated beverage into an open container such that an outlet port for the nozzle is in close proximity to a bottom of the open container when dispensing of the carbonated beverage is initiated;
a valve that controls the flow of carbonated beverage dispensing from the nozzle into the open container;
a valve actuator that positions the valve with respect to the outlet port of the nozzle;
an ice dispensing system which dispenses ice into the open container when the nozzle is located such that the outlet port of the nozzle is in close proximity with the bottom of the open container;
an activation sensor that outputs an activation signal;
and
an electronic controller that receives an activation signal and outputs a signal to control the valve actuator in order to initiate dispensing of the carbonated beverage from the nozzle into the open container.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.