Abstract:
Disclosed is a hybrid beverage dispenser that can be configured in a number of flexible arrangements, providing the opportunity for a configurable beverage dispensing “station” having a variable “footprint”. The hybrid beverage dispenser may have “on board” refrigeration and/or heating system for providing both hot and cold beverages from the same dispenser. A remote chiller may provide chilled syrups for the beverages. Also disclosed is a countertop hybrid beverage dispensing unit for situations where limited space is an issue. Also disclosed is a hybrid beverage dispenser that provides the ability to dispense from one dispenser beverages which usually are dispensed from separate dispensers. The countertop unit possesses the same beverage dispensing flexibility; however, all ingredients are remotely chilled and pumped to the point of dispensing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to a hybrid beverage dispenser that offers the user the flexibility of serving multiple types of beverages in a very compact footprint. The beverage dispenser provides flexibility of products served, configurations, and flexibility/ease of use. For example, the beverage dispenser may be configured to dispense blended ice drinks, smoothies, carbonated soft drinks, juices and teas and combinations of them. The beverage dispenser can dispense hot and cold drinks as well as a variety of ice types, such as shaved, nuggets and cubed/crushed, facilitating customer enjoyment of chewable ice forms, if desired. 2. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Currently restaurants serve a variety of beverages such as carbonated drinks and non-carbonated drinks. The state of the art of beverage dispensers is such that each different type of beverage served is provided from its own dispensing machine that is dedicated to that type of beverage. For example, a restaurant serving juice beverages and smoothies would provide two different beverage dispensing machines, one for dispensing the juice beverages and one for dispensing the smoothies. Similarly, a restaurant serving cold soda beverages and hot beverages such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate would provide two separate beverage dispensing machines, one for the cold soda beverages and one for the hot beverages. 
         [0005]    Having separate dispensing machines for each type of beverage has several disadvantages, both for the restaurant establishment and for the user/operator. With respect to the restaurant establishment, the disadvantages include the need for sufficient counter and/or floor space to accommodate the individual footprint of each beverage dispensing machine. In addition, for the restaurant establishment and the user/operator, having separate dispensing machines for each type of beverage offered for sale requires the user/operator to move between beverage dispensing machines in order to dispense different types of beverages. This is inconvenient for both the user (consumer) and operator (restaurant establishment employees), providing for wasted time and effort. Separate dispensing machines also lead to additional problems, such as more service calls, increased preventative maintenance and calibration and the need to store and have available extra spares parts 
         [0006]    Thus, a need exists for a beverage dispensing machine that overcomes the shortcomings caused by having separate beverage dispensing machines for each type of beverage. The present disclosure provides a dispensing machine that overcomes the shortcomings and satisfied those needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a beverage dispenser comprising a point of use portion for use by an individual to make and dispense beverages, the point of use portion comprised of a plurality of dispensers for dispensing beverages, wherein the dispensers for dispensing beverages dispense at least two different beverages selected from the group consisting of blended ice beverages, carbonated beverages, non-carbonated beverages and combinations of any of the foregoing; and a user interface that provides sequential direction to the individual for making and dispensing the beverages. Preferably, the dispenser for dispensing ice beverages dispenses ice and refrigerated juice concentrates and/or blended ice ingredients. Also preferably, the dispenser for dispensing carbonated beverages and non-carbonated beverages dispenses both such beverages, wherein the dispenser dispenses syrup and carbonated and/or plain water, and more preferably, wherein the dispenser dispenses the carbonated beverages and non-carbonated beverages via a multi-flavor beverage nozzle where the syrup and carbonated and/or plain water are mixed together and dispensed. More preferably still, the point of use portion further comprises an ice maker for providing ice for the beverages and/or a blend chamber for blending the ingredients of the beverages. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a user interface for providing stepwise directions to an individual for making and dispensing beverages from a plurality of beverage nozzles in a beverage dispenser, each beverage nozzle associated with a different type of beverage, wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen; a plurality of touch activated buttons on the touchscreen, the plurality of touch activated buttons arranged in a plurality of subsets of buttons, wherein at least two subsets of buttons are associated with a different one of the plurality of beverage nozzles, wherein each subset of buttons is arranged to provide stepwise directions to the individual for making and dispensing the beverage associated with the subset of selectable buttons, wherein different beverage types are selected from the group consisting of blended ice beverages, carbonated beverages, non-carbonated beverages and combinations of any of the foregoing. 
         [0009]    The hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure can be configured in any one of a number of flexible arrangements, providing the opportunity to the restaurant establishment for a configurable beverage dispensing “station”. In general, a remote chiller provides chilled syrups for the beverages; these chilled syrups are then delivered to a dispensing area on the hybrid beverage dispenser via known conduit technology, with recirculation of the syrups for optimum beverage temperature. In some configurations, the hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure may be provided with “onboard” refrigeration that provides cooling for a plurality of blended ice ingredients, including juices and/or teas. In an alternative to the “onboard” refrigeration, an aluminum block type heat exchanger may be used in one of the bays of the hybrid beverage dispenser, as will be discussed below in more detail. Such a block type heat exchanger is known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0010]    In alternative configurations, the hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure may not have the “onboard” refrigeration but, rather, may be provided with ambient temperature storage space for supplies such as cups, lids and straws, a carbonated pump deck or to house vessels of sweetened and/or unsweetened tea or other ambient temperature products, such as beverage cartridges or other beverage holding apparatuses, as well as ingredients for iced tea and iced coffee. These ambient temperature products may then be dispensed via known syrup pump technology to a beverage dispensing nozzle. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a countertop hybrid beverage dispensing unit for those restaurant establishments have limited space and/or have floor plan layout challenges for “full size” beverage dispensers. The countertop unit possesses the same beverage dispensing flexibility; however, all beverage ingredients are remotely chilled and pumped to the point of dispensing via known conduit technology/systems. 
         [0011]    The hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure allows for variations and flexibility in the shape of the unit, and a user-friendly touch screen accommodates one or more concurrent users/operators, while also allowing a choice of various beverage selections. The hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure also allows for “banking” of multiple units into a “kiosk” type formation. In the kiosk type formation, accommodation may be provided for space between the individual hybrid beverage dispensers of the kiosk for storage and dispensing of, e.g., cups, lids and/or straws, among other similar items. The user-friendly touch screen provides a user interface that may also be configured so that the hybrid beverage dispenser may be utilized for restaurant employee beverage service and/or self-service applications, as desired. In addition, the user friendly touchscreen interface also facilitates the use of ADA compliant controls. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The foregoing and other benefits of the hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure will become further apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed disclosure and the following Figures, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a second exemplary embodiment of a hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure, with lower cabinet doors open; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the right side of a third exemplary embodiment of a hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the right side of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a user interface of the present disclosure that may be used with a hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a system block diagram of a refrigerated base embodiment of a hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a system block diagram of a countertop embodiment of a hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a system block diagram of a storage cabinet embodiment of a hybrid beverage dispenser of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Referring now to the Figures in more detail, in which like numbers denote like components/elements,  FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a hybrid beverage dispenser  10  of the present disclosure. Hybrid beverage dispenser  10  includes an outer cabinet  11 . Outer cabinet  11  may include an upper cabinet  11   a  and a lower cabinet  11   b . Upper cabinet  11   a  includes one or more dispensing bays  16 ,  17  and/or  18 , a user interface  13 , one or more beverage cup supply and dispensing areas  14  and a workspace counter  15 . Upper cabinet  11   a  may be detachable from lower cabinet  11   b  so as to provide a counter-top version of the same hybrid beverage dispenser. In the counter-top version, upper cabinet  11   a  may be placed on a counter-top (particularly useful in those establishments lacking sufficient available floor space), and chilled beverages may be provided from a remote location. The counter-top configuration will be more fully described in conjunction with  FIG. 7 . User interface  13  permits the user/operator of hybrid beverage dispenser  10  to select from various types of blended, carbonated, juice and/or tea drinks, as well as providing step-by-step guidance to the user/operator with respect to assembling the desired beverage, as will be more fully described with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0022]    Each dispensing bay  16 ,  17  and/or  18  may perform a different function. As shown in  FIG. 1 , dispensing bay  16  includes a blender  16   a  that may be used for making drinks such as smoothies, blended juice drinks and other similar beverages. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , blender  16   a  is disposed behind a vertically slidable door  16   b . Door  16   b  helps prevent splashing of blended drink/ingredients to workspace counter  15  and/or other locations. Also as shown in  FIG. 1 , dispensing bay  17  includes an ice dispenser  17   a  for dispensing nugget, shaved or chip ice. Dispensing bay  18  includes a multi-flavor beverage dispensing nozzle  18   a  that serves to provide the correct liquid ingredients for the beverage selected by the user/operator via user interface  13 . This will also be explained more fully in conjunction with the description of  FIGS. 5-8 . Upper cabinet  11   a  also includes, as mentioned, workspace counter  15 . Workspace counter  15  serves, inter alia, as a holding area for beverage cups  14  in various stages of completeness of the beverages being made in hybrid beverage dispenser  10 . 
         [0023]    Lower cabinet  11   b  includes one or more doors  19 . Doors  19  provide access to an internal area of lower cabinet  11   b  (not numbered in  FIG. 1 ). The internal area behind doors  19  may be refrigerated or may be maintained at ambient (room) temperature. If refrigerated, the internal area behind doors  19  may hold dispensing vessels for ingredients such as orange juice, tea, or other similar beverages such as are known to those skilled in the art. Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , it is contemplated according to the present disclosure that hybrid beverage dispenser  10  may include one or more an additional sections to a lower cabinet  11   b  and, preferably, the one or more additional sections may be heated and utilized for providing a supply of heated beverages to an additional dispensing bay (not shown) for dispensing hot beverages, such as tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or other hot beverages. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , hybrid beverage dispenser  10  according to present disclosure is shown in which both hot and cold beverages may be dispensed from the same hybrid beverage dispenser  10 . In  FIG. 2 , hybrid beverage dispenser  10  again includes cabinet  11  having upper cabinet  11   a  and lower cabinet  11   b . Similar to  FIG. 1  with respect to dispensing cold beverages, hybrid beverage dispenser  10  of  FIG. 2  includes a plurality of dispensing bays  16 ,  17  and/or  18 , only one of which, dispensing bay  18 , is shown in the same configuration as with respect to  FIG. 1 , i.e., having multi-flavor dispensing nozzle  18   a . Hybrid beverage dispenser  10  of  FIG. 2  also includes doors  19 . In  FIG. 2 , doors  19  are open and expose a cold beverage module  19   a  and a hot beverage module  19   b . Also shown in  FIG. 2 , leading to multi-flavored dispensing nozzle  18   a  is a carbonated beverage conduit  21 . The structure and function of carbonated beverage conduit  21  will be more fully explained in conjunction with  FIGS. 6-8 . In general, carbonated beverage conduit  21  serves to provide beverage ingredients to multi-flavor dispensing nozzle  18   a . Also, hot beverage module  19   b  is provided with multi-flavor dispensing nozzle  22  for dispensing hot products. Hot beverage module  19   b  is also provided with a brew station  23 , including at least one hot beverage container  24  and at least one heating plate  25 . Internally, hot beverage module  19   b  also includes a cabinet  19   d  for holding powdered beverage equipment, such as those suitable for mixing dispensing powdered products with hot water, as well as a tea/coffee brewer and/or additional components for making/dispensing hot beverages. Cold beverage module  19   a  may contain a refrigerated compartment  19   c , which may be used to store blended ice ingredients, juices, teas, carbonated soft drinks or similar cold beverage components, such as iced tea and/or iced coffee. 
         [0025]    Again referring to  FIG. 2 , when lower cabinet  11   b  includes one or more of refrigerated compartment  19   c  for cold beverages and/or cabinet for powdered beverage equipment  19   d  for hot beverages, a wall  26  is provided between cabinet  19   a  and  19   b . In this case, wall  26  will be insulated (not shown) to avoid excessive heat transfer and/or cooling losses between refrigerated compartment  19   c  and cabinet for powdered beverage equipment  19   b . Similarly, doors  19  will be insulated (also not shown) so as to avoid temperature loss (cold or heat) from inside refrigerated compartment  19   c  or cabinet for powdered beverage equipment  19   b  to the outside atmosphere. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show two alternate embodiments of hybrid beverage dispenser  10  of the present disclosure. In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each embodiment of hybrid beverage dispenser  10  has outer cabinet  11 , which includes upper cabinet  11   a  (used alone in those situations where a countertop model of hybrid beverage dispenser  10  is desired), and a lower cabinet  11   b . As mentioned previously, lower cabinet  11   b  may be either refrigerated or kept at ambient (room) temperature. Each embodiment of hybrid beverage dispenser  10  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  includes cup supply and dispensing areas  14 , user interface  13  and blender bay  16  (which includes blender  16   a , not shown). Of course, there may be more than one user interface  13 , with each separate user interface  13  adapted to perform different or similar functions, as a matter of convenience. Each embodiment of hybrid beverage dispenser  10  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  also includes a carbonated soft drink dispenser (CSD)  31 , and an ice and product dispenser  33 , which dispenses a combination of beverage product and ice (in nugget, shaved or chip form). The embodiment of hybrid beverage dispenser  10  shown in  FIG. 3  also includes an ADA  32 , for satisfying ADA requirements for self-service dispensing machines. Not shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  are any of the insulated beverage conduits; these will be discussed in detail in conjunction with  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         [0027]    Shown in  FIG. 5  is a detail of user interface  13  showing a user interface map  50  for making, in the embodiment of user interface  13  shown in  FIG. 5 , four (4) different drink types: a blended ice drink  51 ; a carbonated soft drink  52 ; a juice drink  53  and a tea drink  54 . User interface map  50  proceeds in the direction of the line “A” as will now be described in more detail. A user/operator approaches hybrid beverage dispenser  10  and selects, e.g., blended ice drink  51  from user interface  13  and presses blended ice drink button  51   a  and then is directed and proceeds to step  51   b . In step  51   b , the user/operator is instructed to choose the desired size of the selected blended ice drink  51  (size selections are displayed on user interface  13  but for simplification are not shown in user interface  13  in  FIG. 5 ). In step  51   c , the user/operator is instructed to retrieve the proper sized cup for the selected size of blended ice drink chosen in step  51   b  on user interface  13 ; the selection of the proper sized cup is done manually. In step  51   d  the user/operator is requested to select the flavor desired from user interface  13  (flavor options are displayed on user interface  13  but for simplification are not shown on user interface  13  in  FIG. 5 ). The user/operator then places the selected cup, in step  51   e  at, e.g., ice and product dispenser  33  (see,  FIG. 3 ), and a combination of ice and drink product is dispensed from ice and product dispenser  33 . Then, because the selected drink type in step  51   a  was blended ice drink  51 , the user/operator moves the cup to blender bay  16 , where a blender blade (not shown in  FIG. 5  or in the hybrid beverage dispenser of  FIG. 3 ) in step  51   f  and, in step  51   g , the blended ice drink is blended. When blending is complete, hybrid beverage dispenser  10  automatically stops blending blade (not shown) and the blended ice drink is complete. In similar fashion, following the direction of line “A” in  FIG. 5  for any selected drink type, i.e., carbonated soft drink  52 , juice drink  53  and/or tea drink  54 , the same procedure, in general, will be followed. It should be noted that once the drink type has been selected in any of steps  51   a - 54   a  (in  FIG. 5 ), very few operations are performed manually by the user/operator. In general, the manual operations are limited to retrieving the cup in, e.g., step  51   c  and moving the cup to the blender bay  16 , if necessary, such as in step  51   f  (for blended ice drink  51 ). 
         [0028]      FIGS. 6-8  show different embodiments of pumping and dispensing systems of the hybrid beverage dispenser  10 . 
         [0029]    Referring first to  FIG. 6 , a configuration of a pumping and dispensing system  60  is shown. Pumping and dispensing system  60  includes a “back room” portion  61  and a “point of use” portion  62 . Pumping and dispensing system  60  shown in  FIG. 6  is in a configuration in which hybrid beverage dispenser  10  is in the form of one with a refrigerated base. 
         [0030]    Turning first to back room portion  61 , back room portion  61  includes one or more beverage syrups  611 , one or more syrup pumps  612 , a water booster  613 , a back room chiller  614  (that includes, preferably, a carbonator, a syrup dispense line  615  and a carbonated/plain water dispense line  616 ). In operation, beverage syrups  611  are connected to syrup pumps  612  via one or more conduits (not numbered in  FIG. 6 ), i.e., a conduit for each individual syrup  611 . From syrup pump(s)  612 , syrup(s)  611  are pumped to back room chiller  614  where they are chilled and dispensed through syrup line  615  to insulated beverage conduit  617 . At the same time, carbonated/plain water is passed from water booster  613  through a conduit (not numbered in  FIG. 6 ) to back room chiller  614  where the carbonated/plain water is then passed into carbonated/plain water line  616  and, likewise, into insulated beverage conduit  617 . Syrup line  615  and carbonated/plain water line  616  proceed through insulated beverage conduit  617  from backroom  61  to point of use  62 . At point of use  62 , syrup line  615  and carbonated/plain water line  616  proceed to multi-flavor beverage nozzle  618  where they are mixed together and dispensed from multi-flavor nozzle  618  into an appropriate vessel at point of use  62 . 
         [0031]    In refrigerated cabinet  621  at point of use  62 , refrigerated juice concentrates  622  and/or blended ice ingredients  623  (e.g., smoothie ingredients or other ingredients known to those of skill in the art) are pumped to syrup pump  612 ′. From syrup pump  612 ′, blended ice ingredient  623  proceeds to blended ingredients/ice dispense nozzle  625  via blended ice syrup line  626 . At the same time, ice in nugget form is produced in nugget ice maker  627  (although this may also be shaved or chip ice, as the case may be). Thereafter blended ingredient  623  and nugget ice from nugget ice maker  627  are dispensed via blended ingredients/ice dispensed nozzle  625  into an appropriate vessel. The vessel is thereafter transported to blend chamber  628  where it is blended into the final desired beverage. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a configuration of a pumping and dispensing system  70  is shown. Pumping and dispensing system  70  includes a “back room” portion  71  and a “point of use” portion  72 . Pumping and dispensing system  70  shown in  FIG. 7  is in a configuration in which hybrid beverage dispenser  10  is in the form of a counter-top hybrid beverage dispenser  10 . Counter-top hybrid beverage dispenser  10  does not have a lower cabinet  11   b  and, thus, does not have room for any “on board” refrigeration system. As a result, chilled liquid ingredients are provided from a remote location. 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 7 , some of the components of  FIG. 6  have been rearranged or relocated. For example, refrigerated juice concentrate  622  and blended ice ingredients  623  have been moved from refrigerated cabinet  621  located in point of use  62  portion in  FIG. 6  to a back room  71  of  FIG. 7 . While blended ingredient/ice dispense nozzle  625  remains at point of use  72  of  FIG. 7 , blended ingredients/ice dispense nozzle  625  is now connected to back room chiller  614  via its own insulated beverage conduit  617 . At the same time, blended ice syrup line  626  is disposed in insulated beverage conduit  617  leading to blended ingredients/ice dispense nozzle  625 , rather than disposed between refrigerated cabinet  621  and blended ingredients/ice dispense nozzle  625  (see,  FIG. 6 ). Other than these reconfigurations and rearrangements, the functions of blended ice ingredients/ice dispense nozzle  626  and multi-flavor beverage nozzle  618 , as reflected in  FIG. 6 , remain the same. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a configuration of pumping and dispensing system  80  is shown. Pumping and dispensing system  80  includes a “back room” portion  81  and a “point of use” portion  82 . Pumping and dispensing system  80  shown in  FIG. 8  is in a configuration in which hybrid beverage dispenser  10  is in the form of having an ambient temperature lower cabinet  11   b.    
         [0035]    In  FIG. 8 , the arrangement of the components in back room  71  is identical to those shown in  FIG. 7  (although this need not necessarily be the case in all applications). Moreover, in  FIG. 8 , in point of use  82 , components shown in point of use  72  in  FIG. 7 , i.e. blended ice syrup lines  626 , insulated beverage conduits  617 , multi-flavor beverage nozzle  618 , blended ingredients/ice dispensed nozzle  625 , nugget ice maker  627  and blend chamber  628  are also disposed and arranged in similar fashion to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 8 , in point of use  82 , there is provided ambient temperature storage cabinet  821  which includes syrup pumps  612  and supplies of unsweetened tea  822  and sweet tea  823 . Although ambient temperature storage cabinet  821  is shown as containing unsweetened tea  822  and sweat tea  823 , other beverage ingredients that are capable of being stored at ambient (room) temperature such as beverage module(s) and/or coffee. Ambient temperature storage cabinet  821  functions similarly to refrigerated storage cabinet  621  of  FIG. 6 , in that unsweetened tea  822  or sweet tea  823  are provided via conduits (not numbered) to syrup pump  612  and, thereafter, provided through an additional conduit  824  to blended ingredients/ice dispense nozzle  625  for dispensing, with nugget ice from nugget ice maker  626  to an appropriate vessel for blending in blend chamber  628 . 
         [0037]    While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.