US 8,985,396 B2 · Modular dispensing system

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a system including a modular dispensing system, at least one dispensing head at a counter, a transfer unit located remotely from the counter, and piping extending from the transfer unit to the counter. In one aspect, the transfer unit comprises a centralized flavor ingredient system having a plurality of beverage flavor ingredient sources, and the piping comprises a main micro bundle.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims17

Dependent claims

A modular dispensing system comprising:

at least one dispensing head at a counter,
a transfer unit located in a back room remote from the counter, piping extending from the transfer unit to the counter, the transfer unit comprising a centralized ingredient system having a plurality of beverage ingredient sources, the centralized ingredient system configured to supply beverage ingredients to the piping for the dispensing of a first beverage at the counter, the piping comprising a main micro bundle pipe, the main micro bundle pipe comprising at least a first beverage ingredient line corresponding to a first beverage ingredient and a second beverage ingredient line corresponding to a second beverage ingredient, the first beverage ingredient line separate from the second beverage ingredient line, and
a doser unit corresponding to the dispensing head, the doser unit configured to receive from the transfer unit the first beverage ingredient through the first beverage ingredient line and the second beverage ingredient through the second beverage ingredient line, and dose a predetermined amount of the first beverage ingredient to the dispensing head and a predetermined amount of the second beverage ingredient to the dispensing head, the doser unit located at the counter, wherein the doser unit supplies an appropriate amount of each beverage ingredient through a tower micro bundle, the tower micro bundle comprising an ice line centered in the tower micro bundle configured to convey ice to the dispensing head and a plurality of separate lines bundled around the ice line, with each line corresponding to a particular beverage ingredient.

A modular dispensing system comprising:

at least a first dispensing head and a second dispensing head at a counter, a transfer unit located in a back room remote from the counter, piping comprising a main micro bundle pipe, the main micro bundle located downstream of the transfer unit and extending from the transfer unit to the counter, the transfer unit comprising a central reconstitution factory system, the central reconstitution factory system comprising at least a first mixing chamber corresponding to a first predetermined beverage, and at least a second mixing chamber corresponding to a second predetermined beverage, the central reconstitution factory configured to combine cold water with at least a first highly concentrated beverage ingredient corresponding to a first cold beverage in the first mixing chamber to form a first reconstituted mixture, the central reconstitution factory configured to combine cold water with at least a second highly concentrated beverage ingredient corresponding to a second cold beverage in the second mixing chamber to form a second reconstituted mixture, wherein the main micro bundle pipe comprises a first reconstituted mixture line configured to convey the first reconstituted mixture to a first dispensing head, and a second reconstituted mixture line configured to convey the second reconstituted mixture to the second dispensing head, wherein the first mixing chamber comprises separate first, second, third and fourth inlets, wherein the first inlet corresponds to a first water supply line, the second inlet corresponds to a first sweetener supply line, the third inlet corresponds to a first acid supply line, and the fourth inlet corresponds to a first flavor supply line, wherein the second mixing chamber comprises separate first, second, third and fourth inlets, wherein the first inlet corresponds to a second water supply line, the second inlet corresponds to a second sweetener supply line, the third inlet corresponds to a second acid supply line, and the fourth inlet corresponds to a second flavor supply line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,947 words

Summary858 words

#This disclosure relates generally to a method and modular beverage dispensing system for the dispensing of beverages, e.g., for restaurants (including fast food restaurants), theatres, convenience stores, gas stations, and other entertainment and/or food service venues.

#Various beverage dispensers, such as those at restaurants, theatres and other entertainment and/or food service venues, typically have either a “drop in” dispenser apparatus or a counter top type dispenser apparatus. In a drop in dispenser apparatus, the dispenser apparatus is self-contained and may be dropped into an aperture of a counter top. In a counter top type dispenser apparatus, the dispenser apparatus is placed on a counter top. In conventional beverage dispensers, a dispensing head is coupled to a particular drink syrup supply source via a single pipe dedicated to supply the particular drink syrup to that dispensing head, wherein the particular drink syrup supply source is typically located near the counter top, i.e., directly under the counter top, or directly over the counter top.

#A user will typically place a cup under the signage of the selected beverage and either press a button or press the cup against a dispensing lever to activate the dispenser so that the selected beverage is delivered from the dispensing head corresponding to the selected beverage and into the cup until pressure is withdrawn from the button or lever.

Brief description of the drawings11 figures

#FIG. 1 is schematic view of an embodiment of a modular dispensing system according to various aspects of the disclosure.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a central linked ingredient system according to various aspects of the disclosure.

#FIG. 3 illustrates is a perspective of an embodiment of a main micro bundle according to various aspects of the disclosure.

Detailed description3,864 words

#The embodiments discussed below may be used to form a wide variety of beverages, including but not limited to cold and hot beverages, and including but not limited to beverages known under any PepsiCo branded name, such as Pepsi-Cola®.

#Referring to FIG. 1, the description of one embodiment of the modular dispensing system of the present disclosure will be described.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a modular dispensing system 10 may be provided comprising a plurality of dispensing heads 12 at a counter location 14, and a transfer unit 16 located remotely from the counter location 14. Piping 18 may extend from the transfer unit 16 to the counter location 14.

Facts

Application

13/116,247Filed 26 May 2011

Published

US 2012/0298692 A129 Nov 2012

Granted

24 Mar 2015

Term ends

30 May 2031

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 4 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification11 codes

B67D 1/0037
The controls being based on the same metering technics: based on volumetric dosing
B67D 1/0016
The beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components: the beverage being stored in an intermediate container before dispensing,…
B67D 1/0021
The beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components: the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
B67D 1/0041
Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught: fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages,…

Modular dispensing system

Life of this patent

Modular dispensing system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims17

Description4,947 words

Drawings

Classification11 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,947 words