US 6,599,546 B2 · Process and apparatus for in-line production of heat-processed beverage made from concentrate

Abstract

The invention provides a system and apparatus for producing heat-pasteurized or sterilized beverages from concentrate. The system comprises heating a diluent and combining the first metered diluent stream with a metered stream of beverage concentrate to produce a primary reconstituted beverage solution. The system further provides combining the primary reconstituted beverage solution with a metered second diluent stream to produce a secondary reconstituted solution, wherein the second diluent stream is also directed from the heated diluent, but is cooled to provide direct heat transfer. Various additives may be provided to the beverage solution throughout the system based on their sensitivity to heat, pH and water solubility. The invention provides greater efficiency of production and control over quality and amount of the ingredients in the final beverage.

Claims46

Dependent claims

A process for in-line production of a heat-processed beverage from concentrate, comprising:

heating a diluent, directing the heated diluent to a flow meter to form a metered primary diluent stream;
combining the primary diluent stream with a metered stream of beverage concentrate to produce a primary reconstituted beverage solution, and combining the primary reconstituted beverage solution with a metered second diluent stream to produce a secondary reconstituted beverage solution, thereby producing the heat-processed beverage from concentrate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process and apparatus for in-line production of heat-processed beverage made from concentrate

Life of this patent

Process and apparatus for in-line production of heat-processed beverage made from concentrate

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims46