Multiple flavor beverage dispenser

A beverage dispenser and methods of beverage dispensing include a dispenser with a beverage valve and a purge valve. The beverage valve is connected the dispenser body and is actively operable to control a flow of a base beverage into a flow path of the dispenser. The purge valve is selectively operable to control a flow of a purge substance into the flow path. A nozzle is configured to mix a flavoring from a flavoring nozzle with a base beverage from the beverage valve prior to dispensing a mixture of the flavoring and the base beverage from the nozzle.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is related to the field of beverage dispensing. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to the dispense of multiple beverages.

Beverage dispensers may be operated by either customers or food service providers. Available beverage dispensers enable custom and/or prescribed addition of flavor to beverages. These dispensers are commonly used with post-mix beverages where a diluent of still or carbonated water is mixed with a flavored syrup. Additional bonus flavors may be added during or after this mixing process to produce the custom and/or prescribed beverage.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,370, which is commonly owned by the Applicant and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, discloses an alcoholic beverage dispenser with additive injection.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,167,173 discloses a multi-stream draught beer dispensing system that uses a manually operable mechanical valve to select between multiple sources, yet relies upon self draining of the common faucet.

Such systems are limited in the dispense of multiple premixed beverages with the addition of bonus flavors as the premixed beverages leave behind flavor, residue, or other cross-contamination in all commonly used components of the dispenser. These problems are not experienced when still or carbonated water are the diluent. Therefore, new multiple flavor dispensers are desired to address these problems.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE

An exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser includes a dispenser body. The dispenser body includes a beverage inlet, a purge inlet, an outlet, and a flow path. The flow path connects the beverage inlet, the purge inlet, and the outlet. The beverage valve is connected to the dispenser body by the beverage inlet. The beverage valve is selectively operable to control a flow of a base beverage through the beverage inlet into the flow path. A purge valve is connected to the dispenser body at the purge inlet. The purge valve is selectively operable to control a flow of a purge substance through the purge inlet into the flow path. A flavor inlet is connected to the dispenser body. The flavor inlet is connected to a flavoring nozzle of the dispenser body. A nozzle is secured to the dispenser body about the outlet and the flavor nozzle of the flavor body. The nozzle is configured to mix a flavoring from the flavoring nozzle with a base beverage from the outlet prior to dispensing a mixture of the flavoring and the base beverage form the nozzle.

An exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispensing system includes a control operable to execute software to receive inputs and provide control outputs based upon the received inputs and executed software. A user interface is operable by the controller to prompt the use to provide at least on input selecting a base beverage and at least one flavoring. A dispenser body includes a beverage inlet, a purge inlet, an outlet, and a flow path. The flow path connects the beverage inlet, the purge inlet, and the outlet. A beverage valve is connected to the dispenser body at the beverage inlet. The beverage valve is selectively operable by the controller in response to the at least one use input selecting the base beverage to control flow of the base beverage through the beverage inlet to the flow path. A purge valve is connected to the dispenser body by the purge inlet. The purge valve is selectively operable to control a flow of a purge substance through the purge inlet into the flow path. A flavor inlet is connected to the dispenser body. The flavor inlet is connected to a flavor nozzle of the dispenser body. A flavor source is connected to the flavor inlet. The flavor source is selectively operable by the controller in response to the at least one user input selecting the at least one flavoring to control a flow of the flavoring from the flavor source through the flavor inlet. A nozzle is secured to the dispenser body about the outlet and the flavor nozzle of the dispenser body. The nozzle is configured to mix a flavoring from the flavoring nozzle with a base beverage from the outlet prior to dispensing a mixture of the flavoring and the base beverage form the nozzle.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of dispensing flavored beverages includes receiving a beverage order at a controller. The beverage order is received through a user input and includes at least one premixed base beverage and at least one flavoring. A first beverage valve is operated to dispense a first premixed base beverage through a flow path in a dispenser body into a nozzle of a dispenser. At least one flavor source is operated to dispense at least one flavoring into the nozzle of the dispenser. The first premixed base beverage and the at least one flavoring at mixed in the nozzle. The mixed first premixed based beverage and the at least one flavor are dispensed from the nozzle. The first beverage valve and the at least one flavor source are operated to end dispense of the first premixed base beverage and the at least one flavoring. A purge valve is fluidly connected to the flow path. The purge valve is opened to purge the flow path of residual first premixed base beverage and at least one flavoring with a purge substance. The purge valve is close to end the purge with the purge substance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1depicts an exemplary embodiment of a multiple flavor beverage dispensing system10. The multiple flavor beverage dispensing system10includes a user interface12and a controller14. The user interface12is exemplarily a touch screen user interface, and/or a plurality of buttons or levers through which a user may select at least one beverage and at least one bonus flavor. In embodiments, the user interface12may further facilitate the user to make a selection of a dispense amount or to initiate and/or stop the dispense of the requested beverage. The controller14which may be a processor, microcontroller, or single board computer is communicatively connected to the user interface12to receive the user inputs and translate them into signals for operation of components of the system10. It will be recognized that in embodiments the controller14may be implemented with more than one controller in communicative connection with each other to carry out their operations and functions as disclosed herein.

In the present disclosure, the beverage is exemplarily a premixed beverage, meaning that the beverage already contains at least one flavor or additive before it is received at the dispenser head16as described herein. In exemplary embodiments, premixed beverages may include beer, which is used as an exemplary embodiment through the rest of the disclosure. Other non-limiting examples of premixed beverages include, but are not limited to hard and soft ciders, brewed iced tea, brewed coffee, or premixed beverages created by mixing still or carbonated water with one or more flavored syrups or powders. In embodiments, the beverages may be branded beverages (e.g. BUDWEISER beer) or may be unbranded (e.g. iced tea or premixed cola).

As used herein, the bonus flavors or flavorings are additives that change the flavor and/or another quality of the beverage to result in the dispensed beverage. Non-limiting embodiments of the flavors include, but are not limited to cherry, lime, strawberry, or vanilla flavored syrups, alcoholic additives such as rum, vodka, or whiskey, or herbal extracts such as basil or mint.

Referring back toFIG. 1, the system10includes a flavor source18. The flavor source18may include supplies of each of the flavorings as used within the system10. In exemplary embodiments used herein, four flavorings are used, but this is in no way limiting on the number of flavorings as may be used within the scope of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller14is communicatively connected to the flavor source18. The flavor source18is operable by the controller14to dispense a metered amount of one or more flavorings from the flavoring supplies in the flavor source18to the dispenser head16. In an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the flavor source18may include one or more metered pumps operable by the controller to provide a specified volume of a selected one or more flavorings over a time period which coincides with the operation of the dispenser head16by the controller14in accordance with the beverage requested by the user through the user interface12.

A beverage source20supplies the one or more beverages to the dispenser head16. The purge source22supplies a purge substance, which in exemplary and non-limiting embodiments may be air or water, to the dispenser head16. It will be recognized that each of the flavor source18, beverage source20, and purge source22may comprise a plurality of supplies of each of these operation inputs to the dispenser head16. As described above, the flavor source18may include multiple flavoring supplies. Similarly, the beverage source20may include multiple beverage supplies. In further embodiments, multiple flavors, multiple beverages, or multiple purge substances are provided to the dispenser head16and available for user selection in a requested beverage.

The controller14receives a requested beverage from the user through the user interface. A requested beverage exemplarily includes a requested base beverage, (which may be a branded beverage), at least one flavoring, and in some embodiments, a dispense size. In response to this beverage request, the controller operates the dispenser head16(and in some embodiments the flavor source18) to provide flows of the requested beverage components in a manner that mixes the components within the dispenser head16so that a dispensed beverage24is dispensed out of the dispenser head16in a uniform or rear uniform color, flavor, and consistency.

FIG. 2is perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser head50. The dispenser head50includes a body52. As will be described in further detail herein, the body52includes flow paths for each of the beverage components as well as any purge substance. In non-limiting embodiments, the body52may be machined or cast of a metal material. A nozzle54depends from the body52. The base beverage and at least one bonus flavor are exemplarily mixed in the nozzle54and dispensed therefrom as the requested beverage.

As disclosed in further detail herein, the body52includes various inlets for the beverage components/substances received by the dispenser head50. These include at least one flavor inlet56, at least one beverage inlet58, and a purge substance inlet60(FIG. 5). In the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 2-7, the dispenser head50includes four inlets56, two beverage inlets58, and one purge substance inlet60.

As described in further detail herein, a plurality of valves are connected to the body52. In exemplary embodiments as disclosed in further detail herein, the valves are solenoid valves, although it will be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art that other types of valves may be used, while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

The valves exemplarily include a purge valve62, beverage valves64, and a flow valve66. It will be recognized that in an exemplary embodiment, the dispenser head50may include a plurality of beverage valves64for control of each of the available premixed beverages for the user to select between. The exemplary embodiment depicted inFIGS. 2-7is configured for use with two beverages. Each of the purge valve62, beverage valves64, and flow valve66includes a communicative connection68which is exemplarily configured to connect to the controller14which is depicted and described above with respect toFIG. 1. The communicative connection68is exemplarily a wire, and electrical control signals are provided from the controller to the respective solenoids along each communicative connection68. In some embodiments, it will be recognized that, as described above, an intermediate controller (not depicted) may be used that converts the digital instructions from a processor into electronic signals for operation of the solenoids. It will further be recognized that in other embodiments, the communicative connection68may be embodied as a wireless communicative connection, for example, but not limited to using WIFI or BLUETOOTH communication protocols.

FIG. 3is a top view of the dispenser head50.FIG. 4is a side view of the dispenser head50.FIG. 3further depicts both beverage inlets58. In an embodiment, each beverage inlet58is associated with a respective beverage valve64and the respective beverage valve64operates to control flow of the beverage through the respective inlet58.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser head50taken along line5-5ofFIG. 3.FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser head50taken along line6-6ofFIG. 4.FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser head50taken along line7-7ofFIG. 3. The description herein will be with respect toFIGS. 5-7which best depict the flow paths within the body52, as well as the operation of the dispenser head50. The cross-sectional view ofFIG. 5depicts each of the flavor inlet56, beverage inlet58, and purge substance inlet60into the body52. The body52also includes a main flow path70. The main flow path70is exemplarily separated from a depending flow path71by the flow valve66. The beverage inlet58and the purge substance inlet60are fluidly connected to the main flow path70, but for the selective obstruction of the purge substance inlet by the purge valve62and the selective obstruction of the beverage inlets58by the beverage valves64.

Exemplarily, each of the valves (e.g. purge valve62, beverage valve64, flow valve66), when implemented as solenoid valves include a solenoid cylinder72and a solenoid head74. Energization of the solenoid cylinder72draws the solenoid head74out of contact with a respective valve seat76to open fluid communication therethrough. Selective actuation of the purge valve62, beverage valves64, and the flow valve66selectively control the fluid flow through the body52. Operation of the flow valve66controls flow of the beverage and/or purge substance from the main flow path70, into the depending flow path71and through the outlet78into the nozzle54. It has been recognized by the inventors that in embodiments, an advantage may be achieved in the dispense of premixed beverages, particularly premixed carbonated beverages (e.g. beer), to first open the beverage valve64to fill the main flow path70up to the closed flow valve66for a short time before opening the flow valve66to dispense the beverage out of the depending flow path71and nozzle54as this has been found by the inventors in embodiments to reduce foaming of carbonated beverages when dispensed.

The flavor inlets56enter the body52. Channels80extend through the body52between each of the flavor inlets56and flavor nozzle82directed into the nozzle54. In embodiments, the flavor nozzles82may dispense the flavor into the stream of beverage provided through the outlet78. In embodiments, the flavor nozzles82may be configured to either direct the flavor in a manner so as to promote mixing with the stream of beverage. In embodiments, this direction may either be angled into the center of the stream of beverage or in another embodiment be angled away from the stream of the beverage towards the sides of the nozzle54. In a still further embodiment, the flavor nozzle82may produce a spray or aerate the flavoring to further facilitate mixture.

FIG. 8is a system diagram that depicts an exemplary embodiment of a multiple flavor beverage dispensing system10. The system diagram ofFIG. 8highlights the flow paths within the multiple flavor beverage dispensing system10. It will be recognized that similar numbers from the description above have been used to indicate like components from that description. In the embodiment of the system10, depicted inFIG. 8, the multiple flavor beverage dispensing system10exemplarily provides a user with a choice between two base beverages and four flavorings. In exemplary embodiments, the beverage sources20A,20B may be kegs of beer. In one embodiment, the beers may be of different brands (e.g. BUDWEISER and MILLER) while in another embodiment, the two beverage sources20A,20B may represent two kegs of different beer. Exemplarily beverage source20A is a keg of lager beer and beverage source20B is a keg of light lager beer. The flow of the lager beer from the beverage source20A into the dispenser head50(FIGS. 5-7) is selectively controlled by beverage valve64A. The flow of the light lager beer into the dispenser head50is selectively controlled by beverage valve64B. Further details regarding the operation of embodiments will be apparent through the following description of an exemplary use of the multiple flavor beverage dispensing system10.

In this example, two base beverages are available including a lager and a light lager, while four flavorings are available including e.g. cherry, lime, strawberry, and an alcoholic additive of whiskey. A user operates the user interface12(FIG. 1) to select the dispense of the lager beer with the addition of lime flavoring and whiskey. The controller14(FIG. 1) operates the beverage valve64A associated with the lager beer to open a flow of the lager beer into the main flow path70in the dispenser head50(FIGS. 5-7) after a short delay enabling the main flow path70to fill and/or the lager beer to settle in the main flow path70, the flow valve66is operated by the controller to open, releasing the lager beer through the depending flow path71and into the nozzle54. The appropriate lime and whiskey flavor sources are operated to dispense an amount of these flavorings into the nozzle54simultaneously with the flow of the lager beer through the nozzle54. In embodiments, preset volumes of the flavorings may be used, a predetermined volume relative to a selected dispense size may be used, a predetermined flow rate may be used throughout the entirety of a beverage dispense, or a user may be presented with an ability to select between various flavoring concentrations and volume. The lager beer, the lime flavor, and the whiskey are combined and mixed in the nozzle54and are dispensed therefrom as a single uniform stream of the requested beverage.

In an embodiment, if a user selected a dispense of a particular volume, the system10may operate to stop the dispense of the beverage at the requested volume. In an alternative embodiment, the user may actuate a dispense button and press and/or hold the dispense button for a length of time of a desired dispense. The dispense stops upon the user's release of the button. In either event, when dispense stops, the flavor sources are controlled to end dispense of the flavoring and the respective beverage solenoid is closed to cut off the flow of the lager. At this point the purge valve62is opened to connect the purge source22to the flow path. In this example the purge source22is a cylinder of pressurized air. Opening of the purge valve62enables the purge substance of air to flow through the main flow path70to purge any remaining lager beer out of the main flow path70, flow valve66, depending flow path71, or nozzle54and into the glass with the rest of the dispensed beverage. The flow of air also purges any residual flavoring out of the nozzle54along with the purged lager beer. After the purge process, the purge valve62is closed and the multiple flavor beverage dispensing system10is ready for a subsequent dispense.

Another exemplary embodiment may be carried out without the flow valve66. In such embodiments, particularly by those in which the base beverages are not carbonated, the operation of the beverage valves64control the flow of the base beverage into the nozzle54. Operation of the purge valve62remains the same to clear any base beverage from the flow path and nozzle54after the beverage valve64is closed.

The process above is advantageous in that a subsequent dispense involves a request for a dispense of solely light lager beer, this requested beverage has a more delicate flavor that may be impacted by any residual amounts of lager beer, or any of the additional flavorings. Therefore, for consistency and quality between dispenses, the system10is able to purge these sources of cross-contamination.

FIG. 9is a flow chart that depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method100of dispensing beverages. The method100begins at102where a beverage order is received. A beverage order is exemplarily received through one or more user inputs, exemplarily to a touch sensitive user interface. The beverage order exemplarily includes a selection of a premixed base beverage and one or more flavoring. It will be recognized that in embodiments, a user may place a beverage order that includes no additional flavorings and thus function related to the dispense of the flavorings may be optional in the method.

At104a beverage valve is opened. The opened beverage valve is associated with the base beverage of the ordered beverage. As previously mentioned, the base beverage is a premixed beverage which may include, but is not limited to brewed beverages such as beer, coffee, iced tea, hard cider, root beer, or premixed combinations of a diluent and a flavoring powder or syrup.

Upon opening the beverage valve at104, the base beverage flows from the beverage source through the beverage valve, and at106fills a flow path within the dispenser head with the premixed base beverage. In embodiments that include a flow valve, such flow valve may occlude the flow path such that the base beverage is accumulated in the flow path. In such embodiments, particular advantage in the dispense of carbonated base beverages has been observed as this priming of the dispenser head has been found to reduce foaming in the dispensed beverage. After the base beverage has been held in the flow path, the flow valve is opened at108. Opening of the flow valve108opens the flow path to flow of the base beverage from the beverage source through the dispenser head to dispense the base beverage into the nozzle at110.

As mentioned above, the beverage order received at102may include the selection of one or more flavorings to be added to the base beverage in the dispense. If one or more flavorings have been selected then, at112at least one flavor source is operated which results in dispensing the flavoring into the nozzle at114. In exemplary embodiments, the flavoring may be dispensed from flavoring sources through the use of pumps under operational control by the controller. In exemplary embodiments, the flavor sources are operated such that the dispense of the flavoring into the nozzle at114is coordinated to the dispense of the base beverage into the nozzle at110. In embodiments in which a flavoring is included in the ordered beverage at116the flavoring and the base beverage mix within the nozzle of the dispenser. The mixing of the base beverage and the flavoring within the nozzle results in a stream of the ordered beverage dispensed out of the nozzle at118that is uniform in color, composition, and flavor.

Next, at122, in embodiments in which flavoring is dispensed, the flavoring dispense is stopped and the beverage valve is closed at124. In this embodiment, stopping the flavoring dispense shortly before the beverage valve is closed, helps to promote fluxion of the flavoring from the nozzle with the last dispensed amount of the base beverage.

After the beverage valve is closed at124, a purge valve is opened at126. The purge valve is fluidly connected between a purge source and one end of the flow path such that when the purge valve is opened at126the purged substance is provided under pressure from the purge source through the flow path and the nozzle to clear the flow path and nozzle of any residual base beverage and flavoring that may remain therein. In exemplary embodiments, the purge source may be pressurized air. Although in other embodiments, the purge substance may be another gas such as, but not limited to, carbon dioxide or nitrogen or a liquid such as water. The purged substance flows through the flow path and nozzle and purges the flow path and nozzle at128of any residual base beverage or flavoring. After this the purge valve is closed at130ending the purge of the flow path and nozzle and the flow valve is closed at132. Closing of the flow valve at132closes the partially purged flow path from outside sources of contamination. The system is now ready to dispense a newly received beverage order in a manner in which the new beverage order will be free of flavor, color, other composition contamination from the substances of the previously dispensed beverage order.

Furthermore, as distinguished from post-mix beverage systems with water (still or carbonated) as the diluent, it is undesirable to leave residual beverage (e.g. lager beer) in the flow path, particularly if there is a long time duration until a next dispense. Depending upon the setting within which the dispenser is used, this may be a manner of hours or days; for example over night or over a weekend.

FIG. 10is a system diagram of an additional exemplary embodiment of a multiple flavor beverage dispenser system10. The system10depicted inFIG. 10further includes a drain valve84exemplarily disposed in the flow path between the beverage valve64A, beverage valve64B, and purge valve62on one side and the flow valve66on the other. The drain valve84may exemplarily be a solenoid valve as described above or may be another type of valve as would be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The drain valve84may be operated by the controller (FIG. 1) as described above. In an embodiment, the drain valve84operates in a first configuration wherein the drain valve84permits fluid flow therethrough between either of the beverage valves64A,64B and the flow valve66. The drain valve84is operable in a second configuration wherein the drain valve84occludes flow to the flow valve66and instead diverts flow entering the drain valve84exemplarily to a drip tray86. In embodiments of the system10, the drip tray86may further be connected to a utility sewer line of the facility I which the system10is installed.

In operation, the system depicted inFIG. 10may operate in a similar manner as described above with respect to the method100ofFIG. 9. The drain valve84begins the method in the closed configuration that permits fluid flow between the beverage valves64A,64B, and the flow valve66. The system is operated otherwise the same as described above with respect toFIG. 9to dispense the selected base beverage with additional flavor. Upon completion or near completion of the dispense of the ordered beverage, the flavoring dispense is stopped first, which as described above at112andFIG. 9. Next, as described above at124, the beverage valve remains open for a short time after the flavoring dispense has stopped in order to clear any remaining flavoring to of the nozzle with the base beverage. After this cleaning, the beverage valve is closed.

Additionally in the operation of the system ofFIG. 10, the flow valve66is also closed at this time. The drain valve84is then opened such as to occlude flow to the flow valve66and to open flow to the drip tray86. The purge valve62is opened and the purge substance flows through the flow path to the drain valve84, displacing any remaining base beverage out of the flow path of the dispenser head through the drain valve84and into the drip tray86. The purge valve62is then closed followed by the drain valve84. This operation clears the dispenser head of the base beverage and the system is ready for a subsequent dispense of an ordered multiple flavor beverage.

In additional embodiments, the flow valve66and the drain valve84may be implemented as a single three-way valve. For example, the combined flow valve66and drain valve84may have three positions (e.g. occluded, flow to the nozzle54, and flow to the drip tray86). The combined flow valve and drain valve may be operated between the three positions by the controller as described above. In still further embodiments, the drain valve84may be located between the flow valve66and the nozzle54, or, as described above, the flow valve66may be absent from the system and only the drain valve84used.

In the present Description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different embodiments described herein may be used alone or in combination with other apparatuses, systems and methods. Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.