Brewed iced tea or non-carbonated drink dispenser with quiet operation
AssigneePepsiCo, Inc.
InventorsBrian C. Jones, Allen L. Rogala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing device, at least one valve that distributes a diluent, at least one solenoid for controlling the valve, a concentrate pump that distributes concentrate, a support structure that supports the foregoing components, and exterior cladding attached to the support structure. The exterior cladding provides the appearance of a real leaf tea brewer and the solenoid is of a quiet-type to minimize noise to a level like that in a real leaf tea brewer during dispensing. The diluent valve and concentrate pump distribute the diluent and concentrate into the dispensing device to form a mixture to be dispensed therefrom.
Claims17
A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a dispensing device;
- at least one valve distributing diluent;
- at least one solenoid for actuating said at least one valve, said solenoid being of a quiet type;
- a converter for converting AC voltage to DC voltage to drive said at least one solenoid;
- a concentrate pump distributing concentrate;
- a hot water tank operating at atmospheric pressure and a heating source that heats water in said hot water tank as a diluent;
- and an assembly for receiving hot water supplied from said hot water tank and providing a substantially constant head of hot water for supply as a uniform flow to said dispensing device,
- wherein said at least one diluent valve actuated by said at least one solenoid and said concentrate pump distribute the diluent and concentrate, respectively, into said dispensing device to form a mixture that is dispensed from said dispensing device.
A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- dispensing means for dispensing a mixture;
- means for distributing diluent;
- means for quietly actuating said distributing means;
- converting means for converting AC voltage to DC voltage to drive said quiet actuation means;
- means for distributing concentrate;
- a hot water tank that operates at atmospheric pressure and heating means that heats water in said hot water tank as the diluent;
- and
- an assembly for receiving hot water supplied from said hot water tank and providing a substantially constant head of hot water for supply as a uniform flow to said dispensing device,
- wherein said diluent distributing means actuated by said quiet actuation means and said concentrate distributing means distribute the diluent and concentrate, respectively, into said dispensing means to form the mixture that is dispensed from said dispensing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.