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US 8,857,667 B2Granted
Integrated method and system for dispensing beverage ingredients
AssigneeEnodis Corporation
InventorsRoberto Nevarez, William E. Smith, Jan Claesson, Harry Edward Wing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated beverage blending system comprising an ice portion control module, an ingredient module; an ice dispensing conduit in communication with the ice portion control module, and an ingredient dispensing valve removably connected to the ice dispensing conduit and in communication with the ingredient module. Ice is dispensed into a beverage container via the ice dispensing conduit and the ingredient is dispensed into the beverage container via the ingredient dispensing valve.
Claims21
An integrated beverage blending system comprising:
- an ingredient module;
- a dispensing nozzle comprising an ice dispensing conduit, wherein said ice dispensing conduit is in communication with an ice maker that makes ice, and said ice dispensing conduit defines an interior surface of said dispensing nozzle;
- a plurality of valve blocks, wherein each of said plurality of valve blocks is simultaneously and removably connected to and disposed about an exterior surface of said dispensing nozzle;
- and
- a plurality of ingredient dispensing valves, wherein each of said plurality of valve blocks has at least one of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves connected thereto,
- wherein said ice is dispensed into a beverage container via said ice dispensing conduit and said ingredient is dispensed into said beverage container via said ingredient dispensing valve,
- wherein said ingredient module comprises a housing, an ingredient container disposed within said housing, an ingredient conduit in communication with said ingredient container and connected to one of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves, and a device that causes said ingredient to move from said ingredient container, through said ingredient conduit, and through said ingredient dispensing valve under pressure, and
- wherein each of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves is isolated from other ingredient valves and said ice dispensing conduit at said dispensing nozzle, whereby product and/or flavor contamination is avoided.
5 more elements
An integrated beverage blending system comprising:
- an ingredient module;
- a dispensing nozzle comprising an ice dispensing conduit, wherein said ice dispensing conduit is in communication with an ice maker that makes ice, and said ice dispensing conduit defines an interior surface of said dispensing nozzle;
- a plurality of valve blocks, wherein each of said plurality of valve blocks is simultaneously and removably connected to and disposed about an exterior surface of said dispensing nozzle;
- and
- a plurality of ingredient dispensing valves, wherein each of said plurality of valve blocks has at least one of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves connected thereto,
- wherein said ice is dispensed into a beverage container via said ice dispensing conduit and said ingredient is dispensed into said beverage container via said ingredient dispensing valve,
- wherein said ingredient module comprises a housing, an ingredient container disposed within said housing, an ingredient conduit disposed between said ingredient container and one of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves, and a device that causes said ingredient to move from said ingredient container, through said ingredient conduit, and through said ingredient dispensing valve under pressure,
- wherein each of said plurality ingredient dispensing valves is isolated from other ingredient valves and said ice dispensing conduit at said dispensing nozzle, whereby product and/or flavor contamination is avoided,
- wherein each of said plurality of valve blocks have two or more of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves connected thereto.
6 more elements
An integrated beverage blending system comprising:
- an ingredient module;
- a dispensing nozzle comprising an ice dispensing conduit, wherein said ice dispensing conduit is in communication with an ice maker that makes ice, and said ice dispensing conduit defines an interior surface of said dispensing nozzle;
- a plurality of valve blocks, wherein each of said plurality of valve blocks is simultaneously and removably connected to and disposed about an exterior surface of said dispensing nozzle;
- and
- a plurality of ingredient dispensing valves, wherein each of said plurality of valve blocks has at least one of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves connected thereto,
- wherein said ice is dispensed into a beverage container via said ice dispensing conduit and said ingredient is dispensed into said beverage container via said ingredient dispensing valve,
- wherein said ingredient module comprises a housing, an ingredient container disposed within said housing, an ingredient conduit in communication with said ingredient container and connected to one of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves, and a device that causes said ingredient to move from said ingredient container, through said ingredient conduit, and through said ingredient dispensing valve under pressure,
- wherein each of said plurality of ingredient dispensing valves is isolated from other dispensing valves and said ice dispensing conduit at said dispensing nozzle, whereby product and/or flavor contamination is avoided,
- wherein said ingredient dispensing valve comprises an upper end, a lower end, an interior passage, and a reversible dome within said interior passage,
- wherein the ingredient flows through said interior passage in a direction from said upper end to said lower end and into said beverage container,
- wherein said reversible dome is convex with respect to said direction of flow of the ingredient, and
- wherein said reversible dome has an opening thereon to allow for the passage of the ingredient therethrough.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.