Component mixing method, apparatus and system

In a beverage dispensing apparatus for mixing ingredients to produce a beverage, the beverage dispensing apparatus including a controllable water source, an ingredient source, and a removably attachable mixing device for receiving and mixing water and ingredient, the mixing device comprising:

• a body having a wall defining a cavity;
• a chamber being defined in the cavity;
• an ingredient inlet communicating with the chamber of the cavity of the body and removably communicating with the ingredient source, the ingredient inlet being positioned for dispensing directly into the chamber;
• a water inlet removably attachable to the water source and positioned in the cavity of the body for delivering water from the water source to a position in the cavity proximate to the ingredient inlet for introducing water into the chamber of the cavity, the water inlet being positioned for dispensing directly into the chamber and to directly impinge on the ingredient;
• a beverage outlet communicating with the cavity of the bodyfor receiving the mixture of the ingredient and water mixed in the chamber of the cavity and for dispensing beverage from the mixing device;
• the chamber defining a space for mixing the ingredient and water which is positioned upstream of at least one of the inlets;
• the beverage outlet being positioned downstream of the ingredient inlet, water inlet, and the chamber;
• and
• wherein the mixing device being formed as an integral single piece component.

A kit for use with a beverage dispenser, the kit providing at least a mixing device for installation in the beverage dispenser, the mixing device comprising:

• a body having a wall defining a cavity;
• a chamber being defined in the cavity;
• an ingredient inlet communicating with chamber of the cavity of the body, the ingredient inlet being positioned for dispensing directly into the chamber;
• a beverage outlet communicating with the cavity of the body for receiving the mixture of the ingredient and water mixed in the chamber of the cavity;
• a water inlet positioned in the cavity of the body for delivering water to a position in the cavity proximate to the ingredient inlet for introducing water into the chamber of the cavity, the water inlet being positioned for dispensing directly into the chamber and to directly impinge on the ingredient;
• the chamber defining a space for mixing the ingredient and water which is positioned upstream of at least one of the inlets;
• the beverage outlet being positioned downstream of the ingredient inlet, water inlet, and the chamber;
• a seat of the water inlet being couplable to a water source;
• and
• wherein the mixing device being formed as an integral single piece component.

A method of mixing a beverage using a removable mixing device, the method comprising:

• providing a mixing device having a body having a wall defining a cavity, a chamber being defined in the cavity, an ingredient inlet communicating with the chamber of the cavity of the body and removably communicating with an ingredient source, the ingredient inlet being positioned for dispensing directly into the chamber, a water inlet removably attachable to a water source and positioned in the cavity of the body for delivering water from the water source to a position in the cavity proximate to the ingredient inlet, and a beverage outlet communicating with the cavity of the body for receiving the mixture of the ingredient and water mixed in the chamber of the cavity and for dispensing beverage from the mixing device, the mixing device being formed as an integral single piece component;
• controllably dispensing ingredient from the ingredient source to the mixing device;
• controllably dispensing water from the water source to the mixing device to directly impinge on the ingredient dispensed from the ingredient source;
• mixing the ingredient and water in the chamber of the mixing device upstream of the outlet;
• and
• discharging beverage from the mixing device from a position downstream of the ingredient inlet, water inlet, and the chamber.