Abstract:
Disclosed is a beverage dispenser having a plurality of non-linear dispensing sides each having a dispensing station of a dimension suitable to comfortably accommodate a user/operator. Each dispensing station is of a dimension narrower than that of a dispensing station of a conventional dispenser. The 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 touch screen provides a user interface that may be configured for use by a restaurant employee and/or self-service applications. In addition, the user friendly touchscreen interface also facilitates the use of ADA compliant controls. The beverage dispenser of the present disclosure also allows for “banking” of multiple units into a “kiosk” type formation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of design Application No. 29/451758, filed Apr. 8, 2013, and this application is a continuation-in-part of design Application No. 29/451755, filed Apr. 8, 2013. Design Application No. 29/451758, filed Apr. 8, 2013 and design Application No. 29/451755, filed Apr. 8, 2013 are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to a non-linear beverage dispenser that offers two or more points of dispense for a plurality of concurrent users. The non-linear beverage dispenser provides the flexibility of products served, configurations, and flexibility/ease of use and may be configured to dispense blended ice drinks, smoothies, carbonated soft drinks, juices and teas and combinations of them. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Currently restaurants serve a variety of beverages such as carbonated drinks and non-carbonated drinks. The state of the art beverage dispensers is such that each different type of beverage served is generally 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 dispensers, one for dispensing the juice beverages and one for serving the smoothies. Similarly, a restaurant serving cold soda beverages and hot beverages such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate would provide two separate beverage dispensers, one for the cold soda beverages and one for the hot beverages. 
         [0006]    Having separate beverage dispensers for each type of beverage has several disadvantages, both for the restaurant establishment and for the user/operator. 
         [0007]    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 dispenser. Also, for the restaurant establishment and the user/operator, having separate beverage dispensers for each type of beverage offered for sale requires the user/operator to move between beverage dispensers 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. 
         [0008]    In addition to the dispensing limitations of conventional beverage dispensing machines, above, another problem with these dispensers is that each can accommodate only one user/operator at a time. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a beverage dispensing machine  10  currently available has a straight linear dispensing front with a length  12  of 30 inches that does not allow sufficient room for more than one user  14  to use beverage dispensing machine  10  at the same time. Each user/operator must wait his “turn” at the beverage dispenser to dispense a beverage. The average user has a shoulder width  16  of 18 inches. Accordingly, a beverage dispensing machine having a length of 36 inches would be required at least to permit two users to use the beverage dispensing machine at the same time. This situation renders the use of conventional beverage dispensing machines not efficient as could be, especially in the environment of fast food restaurants. 
         [0009]    Thus, a need exists for a beverage dispenser 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 
       [0010]    The 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, the beverage dispenser of the present disclosure comprises a plurality of non-linear dispensing sides each having a dispensing station, each dispensing station having a dimension suitable to comfortably accommodate a user/operator. Each dispensing station of the non-linear dispensing side is of a dimension narrower than that of a dispensing station of a conventional dispenser, yet is of a dimension that is sufficient for the comfortable user/operator. 
         [0011]    The beverage dispenser of the present disclosure is provided with a plurality of beverages for dispensing. The plurality of beverages for dispensing may be located at the beverage dispenser or remotely from the beverage dispenser, by apparatuses and methods known to those of skill in the art. Similarly, the beverage dispenser of the present disclosure may be provided with an “on board” ice making apparatus or ice may be provided to the beverage dispenser from a remote location, also according to apparatuses and methods known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0012]    In one configuration, the beverage dispenser of the present disclosure provides for a plurality of dispensing stations each having a beverage dispense point comprised of a beverage dispenser. Each beverage dispenser may dispense any of the beverages provided to and available for dispensing at the beverage dispenser, and the same beverage may be dispensed concurrently from each of the plurality of beverage dispense stations. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a countertop beverage dispensing unit for those restaurant establishments serving beverages that have limited space and/or have floor plan layout challenges. The countertop unit possesses the same beverage dispensing flexibility; however, all ingredients are remotely chilled and pumped to the point of dispensing via known conduit technology/systems. 
         [0013]    The 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 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 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 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 
         [0014]    The foregoing and other benefits of the 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: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an overhead view of a prior art beverage dispenser; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2A-2B  are overhead views of two embodiments of a beverage dispenser of the present disclosure and  FIG. 2C  is a schematic depiction of the non-linear feature of the beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is shows that the angle of operation of a beverage dispenser of the present disclosure is independent of the shape and dimensions of the beverage dispenser itself; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a floor model of a beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a countertop model of a beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows the angular separation for various beverage dispensing machine functionalities provided by a non-linear beverage dispenser of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an illustrative diagram of an example of a beverage dispenser; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a flavor/ingredient dispensing module of the beverage dispenser. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]      FIG. 2A  shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser assembly  100 , hereinafter “assembly  100 ”, according to the present disclosure. Assembly  100  has a housing  105 . Housing  105  houses a first beverage dispenser  110  and a second beverage dispenser  115  in a dispense portion  120 . Dispense portion  120  has a shape that is non-linear to form a first side  125  and a second side  130 . First side  125  and second side  130  form a shape that is an arc. 
         [0024]    First beverage dispenser  110  has a nozzle positioned on first side  125  of dispense portion  120  of housing  105 . Second beverage dispenser  115  has a nozzle positioned on second side  130  of dispense portion  120  of housing  105 . Housing  105  houses an ice dispenser  140  that is along dispense portion  120  between first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115 . Housing  105  has a flat portion  135  on a side opposite dispense portion  120 . Flat portion has a length  142 , for example, of greater than or equal to 30 inches, and more preferably, 30 inches. Alternatively, ice dispenser  140  may be a beverage dispenser, and first beverage dispenser  110  and/or second beverage dispenser  115  may be ice dispensers. 
         [0025]    A user  500  has a shoulder width  502 . An average shoulder width of a person is 18 inches. Each user  500  can access one of first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  simultaneously. Assembly  100  allows two users  500  to use assembly  100  simultaneously as the front of the dispenser is arched to allow greater than 40 inches of useable space sufficient for two users. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2C  is a schematic depiction of the non-linear feature of the beverage dispenser of the present disclosure. The arc shape of first side  125  and second side  130  form a shape that is an arc having a triangular layout of dispense points that include first beverage dispenser  110 , second beverage dispenser  115 , and ice dispenser  140 . 
         [0027]    First beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  are beverage dispensers as are known in the art that each have a nozzle. The nozzle may be positioned in housing  105  while the remaining components of first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  are positioned remotely from housing  105  with connections to first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  in housing  105 .  FIG. 7  is an illustrative diagram of a beverage dispenser  1100  (“system  1100 ”) that can be used as first beverage dispenser  110  and/or second beverage dispenser  115 . System  1100  is connected to a water supply  1105 , a syrup supply  1110  and a carbon dioxide supply  1115 . Water supply  1105  may be any water source, for example, a public water supply. Carbon dioxide supply  1115  may be any source of carbon dioxide. 
         [0028]    Syrup supply  1110  may supply any flavoring that is used to form a beverage, for example,  FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of an example of syrup supply  1110 . Conduit  1119   a  may connect to a pump  1125   a.  Pump  1125   a  selectively moves a portion of the ingredient from the container in holders  1115   a  through connection tube  1117   a,  to conduit  1119   a,  to a line conduit  1130   a,  and to a dispenser nozzle to dispense the ingredient out of assembly  100 , for example, to a cup. Pump  1125   a  may be an air powered pump that may include a diaphragm. Pump  1125   a  may also be a pressure pump, or a peristaltic pump. 
         [0029]    Referring back to  FIG. 7 , system  1100  has a booster  1120  that is connected to water supply  1105 . The water from water supply  1105  passes through filters  1125  of system  1100  that is connected to booster  120 . Booster  1120  increases water pressure, which feeds both a plain water heat exchanger and a carbonator. Filters  1125  remove contaminants and particulates in the supply water. 
         [0030]    The water flows from filters  1125  to a plain water heat exchanger  1130  and carbonator pumps  1135  and  1140 . Plain water heat exchanger  1130  cools or reduces a temperature of the water supplied thereto. Plain water refers herein to water that is not carbonated by a carbonator tank. The water flows from plain water heat exchanger  1130  to a line conduit  1145 . The plain water flows from line conduit  1145  to first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  via conduit  1150 . first Beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  mix syrup and plain water to form a beverage and dispense the beverage through a nozzle to a user. Alternatively, first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  can dispense the plain water without syrup. 
         [0031]    Carbonator pumps  1135  and  1140  each have a motor connected to a power source that operates a pump. Carbonator pumps  1135  and  1140  are each connected to one or more carbonated water pre-cool heat exchanger  1160 . Carbonator pumps  1135  and  1140  generate a flow of the water from water supply  1105  to carbonated water pre-cool heat exchanger  1160 . Carbonated water pre-cool heat exchanger  160  cools or reduces a temperature of the water supplied thereto. 
         [0032]    The water flows from carbonated water pre-cool heat exchanger  1160  to a carbonator tank  1165 . Carbonator tank  1165  combines carbon dioxide and water to form carbonated water. 
         [0033]    The carbonated water flows from carbonator tank  1165  to a circulator pump  1170 . Circulator pump  1170  has a motor connected to a power source that operates a pump. Circulator pump  1170  may be, for example, a magnetic drive pump that rotates an impeller via magnets and has no mechanical connection between the motor and the impeller. Circulator pump  1170  generates a flow of the carbonated water from circulator pump  1170  to line conduit  1145 . Line conduit  1145  is connected to a carbonator water post-cool heat exchanger  1175  and beverage dispensers  1155   a,  and  155   c  by conduit  1150 . The carbonated water flows from line conduit  1145  to first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  via conduit  1150 . first Beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  mix syrup and the carbonated water to form a beverage and dispense the beverage through a nozzle, for example, nozzle  4104 , to a user. Alternatively, first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  can dispense the carbonated water without syrup. 
         [0034]    Circulator pump  1170  circulates the carbonated water to carbonator water post-cool heat exchanger  1175  from line conduit  1145 . Carbonator water post-cool heat exchanger  1175  cools or reduces a temperature of the carbonated water that is then circulated back into carbonator tank  1165 . Circulator pump  1170  circulates the carbonated water from carbonator tank  1165  to circulator pump  1170 , to line conduit  1145 , to carbonator water post-cool heat exchanger  1175  and back to carbonator tank  1165  until the carbonated water is dispensed by one of first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115 . 
         [0035]    Syrup supply  1110  is connected to product heat exchanger  1180 . Product heat exchanger  1180  cools or reduces a temperature of the syrup from syrup supply  1110 . Product heat exchanger  1180  is connected to a line conduit  1145  and supplies syrup thereto. Line conduit  1145  is connected to first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  via conduit  1150 . 
         [0036]    Carbon dioxide supply  1115  is connected to carbonator tank  1165 . Carbon dioxide supply  1115  supplies carbon dioxide to carbonator tank  1165  that combines carbon dioxide and water to form the carbonated water. 
         [0037]    Plain water heat exchanger  1130 , carbonated water pre-cool heat exchanger  1160 , carbonator tank  1165 , carbonator water post-cool heat exchanger  1175 , and product heat exchanger  1180  are all positioned within a water bath  1185 . Water bath  185  is a container filled with cooling medium, for example, water and/or ice, to cool or reduce the temperature of the carbonated water in carbonator tank  1165 , the plain water in plain water heat exchanger  1130 , the carbonated water in carbonated water pre-cool heat exchanger  1160 , the carbonated water in carbonator water post-cool heat exchanger  1175 , and the syrup in product heat exchanger  1180 . The cooling medium in water bath  1185  is in thermal communication with a refrigeration system  1190 . Refrigeration system  1190  has a compressor  1195 , a condenser  1200  and evaporator  1205  to perform a vapor compression cycle. Condenser  1200  may be remote from compressor  1190  and evaporator  1205  or in the same location therewith. Evaporator  1205  is in thermal communication with the cooling medium to cool or reduce the temperature thereof. 
         [0038]    Water bath  1185  has an agitator  1210 . Agitator  1210  has a motor connected to a power source that operates an agitator. Agitator  1210  generates a flow or moves the cooling medium in water bath  1185  to move the cooling medium into and out of contact with evaporator  1205  to cool the cooling medium and into and out of contact with plain water heat exchanger  1130 , carbonated water pre-cool heat exchanger  1160 , carbonator tank  1165 , carbonator water post-cool heat exchanger  1175 , and product heat exchanger  1180  to cool or reduce the temperature of each component and liquid therein. System  1100  has a control system  1215 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 2B  shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of an alternative beverage dispenser assembly  200 , hereinafter “assembly  200 ”, according to the present disclosure. Assembly  200  is the same as assembly  100 , however, assembly  200  has a housing  205  with a dispense portion  220  of a different shape. Dispense portion  220  is formed of two linear segments  222 ,  223  forming an angle  224  to form a first side  225  and a second side  230 . Angle  224  is less than 180 degrees. Two linear segments  222 ,  223  each have a length  226  that is greater than or equal to 18 inches. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows an angle of operation  150  of assembly  100 . Angle of operation  150  is independent of the shape and dimensions of the beverage dispenser itself. For example, assembly  100  and assembly  200  can have the same angle of operation  150 . First side  125  and second side  130  form a shape that is an arc that has a central angle equal to angle of operation  150 . Angle of operation  150  has a central angle of 90 degrees. Angle of operation  150  can have a central angle from 90 degrees to 360 degrees. Alternatively, dispense portion  120  may be other non-linear shapes that form a first side and a second side having angle of operation  150  from 90 degrees to 360 degrees. Angle of operation  150  is independent from the shape and dimensions of assembly  100  itself. More than one dispenser format can have the same angle of operation  150  or dispense area angle. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  shows a floor model of a beverage dispenser system  1600  including assembly  100 . Beverage dispenser system  1600  has an ice maker  1605  housing  105 . Ice maker  1605  may be any ice maker known in the prior art, for example, ice maker  1605  may form nugget ice and/or flake ice. 
         [0042]    Beverage dispenser system  1600  has a user interface  1610  connected in housing  105 . User interface  1610  is flat. User interface  1610  may be removable allowing flexibility to interchange user interfaces, e.g., touch screen, membrane pad, etc. User interface  1610  allows for dispense of a different beverages for each of first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115 . Alternatively, or in addition to user interface  1610 , housing  105  may be connected to a first user interface  1615  on first side  125  and a second user interface  1620  on second side  130  on an opposite side of ice dispenser  140 . A first nozzle  1621  of first beverage dispenser  110  is positioned below first user interface  1615  and a second nozzle  1622  of second beverage dispenser  115  is positioned below second user interface  1620 . First user interface  1615  and/or second user interface  1620  may be removable. First user interface  1615  and second user interface  1620  allow for dispense of different beverages for each of first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115 . 
         [0043]    First beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  are controlled by a controller  1625  that allows each of first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  to operate even if the other of first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  is not operating. 
         [0044]    Housing  105  has a support surface  1630  below first nozzle  1621  and second nozzle  1622 . Housing  105  has a space  1635  between first nozzle  1621  and second nozzle  1622  and support surface  1630 . Assembly  100  is supported on a support  1640 . Support  1640  houses one or more components of first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  shows a countertop model a beverage dispenser system  1700  including assembly  100 . Beverage dispenser system  1700  is the same as beverage dispenser system  1600 , however, beverage dispenser system  1700  does not have support  1640 . Beverage dispenser system  1700  can be supported on a countertop. Countertop model a beverage dispenser system  1700  possesses the same beverage dispensing flexibility; however, all ingredients are remotely chilled and pumped to the point of dispensing via known conduit technology/systems. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , ice dispenser  140  may extend along an arc with a central angle  1800  of 37 degrees. User interface  1610  is, for example, a touchscreen that extends along an arc of dispense portion  120  at a central angle  1810  of 62 degrees. 
         [0047]    In operation, assembly  100  dispenses a first beverage from first beverage dispenser  110  for a user  500 , and assembly  100  dispenses a second beverage from second beverage  115  dispenser for a user  500  simultaneously to dispensing the first beverage. Two or more users can pour themselves a drink independently and simultaneously to increase throughput by preventing waiting and queuing. A drink selection for both first beverage dispenser  110  and the second beverage dispenser  115  can be simultaneously inputted. Ice dispenser  140  is a single ice dispenser used for both the first beverage and the second beverage. First beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  each have a nozzle positioned along dispense portion  120  that has a shape that forms an arc and/or a shape that is non-linear forming an angle between the at least two beverage dispensers that is less than 180 degrees. The arc shape of housing  105  allows two or more users to pour themselves a drink simultaneously by arching the dispensing front and increasing usable space. 
         [0048]    First beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  can be beverage dispensers that dispense different drinks. For example, first beverage dispenser  110  may dispense a frozen beverage drink and second beverage dispenser  115  can dispense a carbonated beverage. First beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  that dispense different drinks reduces the counter and/or floor space needed to accommodate the individual footprint of each beverage dispenser. Also, for the restaurant establishment and the user/operator, the user/operator does not need to move between beverage dispenser machines in order to dispense different types of beverages. Moreover, service calls, preventative maintenance and calibration, and the need to store and have available extra spares parts are all reduced by assembly  100  that has first beverage dispenser  110  and second beverage dispenser  115  that dispense different drinks. 
         [0049]    It should also be recognized that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
         [0050]    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.