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US 7,972,639 B2Granted
Beverage dispenser with additive dispensing
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorsArturo F. Guerrero, David Harrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Beverage dispensers and dispensing methods that facilitate mixing of one or more additives (e.g., flavorings) with a base liquid are described. In a preferred method of preparing a beverage, a base liquid is dispensed from a dispensing device (100) into a container (150). A flowable additive is dispensed from the dispensing device into the container to mix the flowable additive with the base liquid during the dispensing of the base liquid to provide the beverage. Preferably, the dispensing of the base liquid and the flowable additive is controlled to vary the relative concentration of the additive in the base liquid in the container during the dispensing.
Claims23
A method of preparing a beverage, comprising:
- mixing a fluid concentrate beverage component with a first liquid to provide a base liquid;
- dispensing the base liquid from a dispensing device into a container;
- dosing and dispensing a flowable additive from the dispensing device into the container to mix the flowable additive with the base liquid during the dispensing of the base liquid to provide a beverage;
- controlling the dispensing of the base liquid and additive to vary a relative concentration of the additive in the base liquid in the container during the dispensing, wherein the dispensing of the additive begins after the dispensing of the base liquid starts;
- stopping the dispensing of the flowable additive;
- and
- stopping the dispensing of the base liquid substantially no earlier than when the dispensing of the flowable additive is stopped,
- wherein the additive is dispensed in a plurality of pulses of predetermined durations, the base liquid being dispensed at least before and at the beginning of the pulses, and wherein the dispensing of the beverage is controlled by the following sequence:
- starting the dispense of the beverage base at a starting time T=0,
- starting pulsing the additive at a time delay A in seconds from a starting time T=0 corresponding to formula:
- A=v/(V/Z)
- where volume “v” is a minimum volume of beverage base needed before pulsing the additive, V is an actual beverage volume and Z is a total dispensing time for the beverage in seconds,
- pulsing the additive at every time interval corresponding to a formula:
- time interval=(Z−2.A)/n,
- where n is total number of pulses necessary for delivering X mL of additive in the beverage obtained by a formula:
- n=X/q
- where q is a quantity of additive delivered by the additive dosing device per pulse, and
- ending dispensing of the beverage base at a time delay of T=Z.
15 more elements
A method of preparing a beverage, comprising:
- dispensing a base liquid from a dispensing device into a container at a temperature that is less than about 50° C., wherein the base liquid comprises a protein, a milk based component, fat, carbohydrates, a nondairy whitener, or a mixture thereof;
- dispensing a flowable additive from the dispensing device into the container to mix the flowable additive with the base liquid during the dispensing of the base liquid to provide a beverage;
- controlling the dispensing of the base liquid and additive to vary the relative concentration of the additive in the base liquid in the container during the dispensing, wherein the dispensing of the additive begins after the dispensing of the base liquid starts;
- stopping the dispensing of the flowable additive;
- and
- stopping the dispensing of the base liquid substantially no earlier than when the dispensing of the flowable additive is stopped,
- wherein the additive is dispensed in a plurality of pulses of predetermined durations, the base liquid being dispensed at least before and at the beginning of the pulses, and wherein the dispensing of the beverage is controlled by the following sequence:
- starting the dispense of the beverage base at a starting time T=0,
- starting pulsing the additive at a time delay A in seconds from a starting time T=0 corresponding to formula:
- A=v/(V/Z)
- where volume “v” is a minimum volume of beverage base needed before pulsing the additive, V is an actual beverage volume and Z is a total dispensing time for the beverage in seconds,
- pulsing the additive at every time interval corresponding to a formula:
- time interval=(Z−2.A)/n,
- where n is total number of pulses necessary for delivering X mL of additive in the beverage obtained by a formula:
- n=X/q
- where q is a quantity of additive delivered by the additive dosing device per pulse, and
- ending dispensing of the beverage base at a time delay of T=Z.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.