Beverage mixing system

A system for preparing a beverage from a beverage concentrate, the system comprising:

• a mixing device having a beverage concentrate inlet coupled with a beverage concentrate line for receiving a beverage concentrate, a water inlet coupled with a water line for receiving water, and an outlet, the mixing device mixing the beverage concentrate and the water to produce a beverage for dispensing through the outlet;
• a flow regulating device coupled to the outlet of the mixing device to regulate the flow of the beverage from the mixing device;
• a pressure switch coupled to the beverage concentrate line for sensing a pressure in the beverage concentrate line, the pressure switch being coupled with the flow regulating device for closing the flow regulating device to the flow of beverage from the mixing device when the sensed pressure in the beverage concentrate line falls below a preset minimum pressure;
• and
• a cooling unit coupled with the outlet of the mixing device for receiving the beverage from the mixing device, the cooling unit cooling the beverage to at least partially freeze the beverage received therein,
• wherein the cooling unit has a cooling capacity and comprises a container;
• a sensor coupled with the container for sensing a level of the beverage in the container;
• and a controller coupled with the sensor for receiving a sensor signal indicating the level of the beverage in the container, the controller coupled with the flow regulating device for controlling the flow regulating device to regulate the flow rate of the beverage delivered to the container in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor and the cooling capacity of the cooling unit so as to maintain the at least partially frozen beverage in the container to within a desired range of consistency.

A system for mixing and dispensing a beverage, the system comprising:

• a mixing device having a beverage concentrate inlet coupled with a beverage concentrate line for receiving a beverage concentrate, a fluid inlet coupled with a fluid line for receiving a diluting fluid, and an outlet, the mixing device mixing the beverage concentrate and the diluting fluid to produce a beverage for dispensing through the outlet;
• a cooling unit coupled with the outlet of the mixing device for receiving the beverage and cooling the beverage to at least partially freeze the beverage received therein;
• a flow regulating device coupled to and disposed downstream of the mixing device to regulate the flow of the beverage from the mixing device to the cooling unit;
• and
• means for sensing a pressure in the beverage concentrate line and. coupled with the flow regulating device downstream of the mixing device, for shutting off the flow of the beverage from the outlet of the mixing device to the cooling unit when the pressure in the beverage concentrate line falls below a preset minimum pressure.

A system for mixing and dispensing a beverage, the system comprising:

• a mixing device having a beverage concentrate inlet coupled with a beverage concentrate line for receiving a beverage concentrate, a fluid inlet coupled with a fluid line for receiving a diluting fluid, and an outlet, the mixing device mixing the beverage concentrate and the diluting fluid to produce a beverage for dispensing through the outlet;
• a cooling unit coupled with the outlet of the mixing device for receiving the beverage and cooling the beverage to at least partially freeze the beverage received therein;
• and
• means for sensing a pressure in the beverage concentrate line and shutting off the flow of the beverage from the outlet to the cooling unit when the pressure in the beverage concentrate line falls below a preset minimum pressure,
• wherein the cooling unit has a cooling capacity and comprises a container, a sensor coupled with the container for sensing a level of the beverage in the container;
• and a controller coupled with the sensor for receiving a sensor signal indicating the level of the beverage in the container, the controller coupled with the flow regulating device for controlling the flow regulating device to regulate the flow rate of the beverage delivered to the container in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor and the cooling capacity of the cooling unit so as to maintain the at least partially frozen beverage in the container to within a desired range of consistency.

A method of automatically controlling the flow of a beverage produced in a mixing device, comprising the steps of:

• directing a flow of a beverage concentrate and a flow of water to the mixing device to be mixed therein to produce a mixed beverage for dispensing therefrom;
• monitoring a pressure of the beverage concentrate in the flow of the beverage concentrate to the mixing device;
• regulating the flow of the mixed beverage out from the mixing device in response to the monitored pressure of the beverage concentrate;
• directing the flow of the mixed beverage to a container;
• cooling the beverage in the container to at least partially freeze the beverage using a cooling device having a cooling capacity;
• sensing a level of the beverage in the container;
• and
• adjusting a flow rate of the beverage to the container to maintain the level of the beverage in the container to within a preset level range, the flow rate of the beverage to the container being kept below a maximum allowable flow rate which is determined by the cooling capacity of the cooling device to maintain the at least partially frozen beverage in the container to within a desired range of consistency.