Carbonated beverage dispenser
AssigneePepsiCo, Inc.
InventorsWilliam J. Black, Joseph Todd Piatnik, Amir Faroqui, Fernando Ubidia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages includes a housing, an ice bin, a carbonator and a cold plate. The ice bin is disposed within the housing for storing ice and is surrounded by thermal insulation. The carbonator is disposed within the housing adjacent the ice bin and receives water and CO2 gas to form carbonated water. The thermal insulation is disposed between the carbonator and the ice bin such that the ice bin is thermally isolated from the carbonator. The cold plate is chilled by the ice in the ice bin and includes pre-chilling coils for cooling the water to be supplied to the carbonator and post-chilling coils for cooling the carbonated water flowing from the carbonator.
Claims21
An apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an exterior wall;
- an ice bin disposed within said housing for storing ice, said ice bin being surrounded by thermal insulation;
- a carbonator disposed within said housing adjacent said ice bin, said carbonator receiving water and CO2 gas to form carbonated water, said thermal insulation disposed between said carbonator and said ice bin such that said ice bin is thermally isolated from said carbonator;
- and
- a cold plate chilled by the ice in said ice bin, said cold plate including pre-cooling coils for cooling the water to be supplied to said carbonator and post-cooling coils for cooling the carbonated water flowing from said carbonator.
A method for forming carbonated beverages, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a pre-chilling unit and a post-chilling unit chilled by ice;
- supplying water through the pre-chilling unit to an uncooled carbonator;
- supplying pressurized CO2 gas to the carbonator to mix with the chilled water and form carbonated water;
- and
- supplying the carbonated water to the post-chilling unit to cool the carbonated water.
A carbonated product formed by a method comprising the steps of:
- providing a pre-chilling unit and a post-chilling unit chilled by ice;
- supplying water through the pre-chilling unit to an uncooled carbonator;
- supplying pressurized CO2 gas to the carbonator to mix with the chilled water and form carbonated water;
- and
- supplying the carbonated water to the post-chilling unit to cool the carbonated water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.