Back to results
US 7,997,448 B1Granted
Universal beverage dispenser
OwnerRobert Leyvainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiple beverage dispensing method and apparatus for selectively dispensing a beverage which is stored in a concentrated form and optionally for dispensing water without a concentrate added thereto.
Claims25
A beverage dispenser comprising:
- a plurality of concentrate supply sources, each individual concentrate supply source in fluid communication with an individual peristaltic pump, and each concentrate supply source and pump pair being in individual fluid communication with a singular beverage dispensing nozzle;
- one or more a variable speed motors, each said motor directly powering a single shaft, said single shaft being individually mechanically linked to a each of a plurality of clutches, each individual said clutch being capable of activating the operation of an individual peristaltic pump by transferring power from said single shaft to said individual peristaltic pump;
- means for selectively and independently controlling the activating of one or more of said clutches;
- one or more water supply lines that are connected to said beverage dispensing nozzle;
- a carbonation source connected to said beverage dispensing nozzle;
- and
- said beverage dispensing nozzle comprising a blending area.
4 more elements
A beverage dispenser comprising:
- a plurality of peristaltic pumps, each said pump individually coupled to a clutch, each said clutch powered from a single shaft connected mechanically coupled to one or more drive motor;
- a concentrate supply source in fluid communication with a beverage dispensing nozzle;
- and
- one or more water supply lines in fluid communication with said beverage dispensing nozzle.
1 more element
A method for dispensing a beverage comprising:
- assigning one or more user codes to a processor of a beverage dispenser;
- providing to the processor at a user interface dispensing rules associated with the one or more users;
- requesting a beverage to be dispensed;
- allowing or denying by the processor the dispensing of a beverage to the one or more users based on the processor dispensing rules, which will vary the flowing rate of each component of the mixed beverage dispensed;
- and
- dispensing a thoroughly mixed beverage from the beverage dispenser to the one or more users when the processor dispensing rules allows the processor to activate a motor which powers the shaft connected to a plurality of one or more clutches, and activates one or more said clutches for a period of time, thereby activating one or more pump within the beverage dispenser to dispense a thoroughly mixed beverage to the user when the request is authorized by the dispensing rules.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.