Patent ID: 11866315
Assignee: SUM LLC
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  E | IPC B

Claim 10:
11. A beverage apparatus comprising:
a supply line receiving a source of fluid and coupled to a dispensing valve for regulating the flow of the fluid through the supply line;
a dosing line coupled to a dosing valve for alternatively receiving fluid from the supply line or from a source of additive and coupled to a dosing pump for metering the flow of the fluid or additive through the dosing line;
a main flow line in fluid communication with each of the supply line and the dosing line and having a beverage outlet;
a controller operatively coupled to the dispensing valve, the dosing valve, and the dosing pump, the controller configurable to actuate the dispensing valve to supply a predetermined amount of fluid to the main flow line for a beverage, to actuate the dosing valve and dosing pump to dispense a predetermined amount of additive through the dosing line to the main supply line, and to actuate the dosing valve and dosing pump to flush a predetermined amount of fluid through the dosing line and to the main supply line for dispensation into a beverage container, such that the dosing valve, dosing line, and main supply line may be cleansed during the preparation of a beverage without the need for a drain.