Patent Publication Number: US-9415991-B2

Title: Beverage dispenser nozzle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/793,229, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Beverage Dispenser Nozzle,” of which the disclosure is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Beverage dispensers require ingredients to be added in order to form the beverage. Ingredients such as carbonated water can be delivered directly from a plumbing system. Ingredients that give a beverage its taste, color, etc., may be mixed via a nozzle to create a post-mix drink. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic of a beverage dispenser; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded assembly of a nozzle; 
         FIG. 3  shows the nozzle; 
         FIG. 4  shows the nozzle; 
         FIG. 5  shows a water channel; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a flow channel; 
         FIG. 7  shows a flow restrictor; 
         FIG. 8  shows a housing adjustment member; 
         FIG. 9  shows a housing; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a distributor; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  show a distributor top; 
         FIG. 12  shows a section of the distributor, distributor top, flow channel, housing, housing adjustment member, and flow restrictor; 
         FIG. 13  shows a control module; and 
         FIG. 14  shows a flow chart for controlling flow. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. 
     Embodiments may include an apparatus for controlling a fluid flow. The apparatus may include a flow channel, a housing, a flow restrictor, and a housing adjustment member. The flow channel defines a fluid pathway for the fluid flow. The fluid pathway includes an inlet and an exit. The housing surrounds the flow channel. The housing comprises an exterior surface defining a first threaded portion. The flow restrictor is located within the housing and proximate the exit. The housing adjustment member includes a second threaded portion in contact with the first threaded portion. 
     Embodiments may include a method for controlling a fluid flow. The method comprises: causing the fluid flow to pass through a flow channel having an inlet and an exit; restricting, via a flow restrictor, the fluid flow, the flow restrictor located proximate the exit; and adjusting a position of the flow restrictor to further restrict or unrestrict the fluid flow. 
     Now turning to the figures,  FIG. 1  shows a schematic of a beverage dispenser  100 . The beverage dispenser  100  includes a user interface  102 , a push to pour button  104 , a carbonator  106 , and a nozzle  108 . Syrups may be stored in a plurality of syrup cartridges (e.g., a first syrup cartridge  110 , a second syrup cartridge  112 , a third syrup cartridge  114 , and a fourth syrup cartridge  116 ). Flavors may be stored in a plurality of flavor cartridges (e.g., a first flavor cartridge  118 , a second flavor cartridge  120 , a third flavor cartridge  122 , and a fourth flavor cartridge  124 ). The plurality of syrup cartridges and the plurality of flavor cartridges are connected to the nozzle  108 . 
     It should be understood that the plurality of syrup cartridges and plurality of flavor cartridges may include any number of ingredients including, but not limited to, sweetened beverage bases or beverage syrups, sweetened flavors or flavor syrups, unsweetened beverage bases, unsweetened beverage base components (such as the acid, acid-degradable, and non-acid portions of a beverage base), unsweetened flavors, natural and artificial flavors, flavor additives, natural and artificial colors, nutritive or non-nutritive natural or artificial sweeteners, additives for controlling tartness (e.g., citric acid, potassium citrate, etc.), functional additives such as vitamins, minerals, or herbal extracts, nutraceuticals, medicaments, or alternative diluents such as juice, milk, or yoghurt. The ingredients may be concentrated with traditional beverage ingredients having reconstitution ratios of about 3:1 to about 6:1 or higher. The beverage micro-ingredients may have reconstitution ratios from about 10:1, 20:1, 30:1, or higher with many having reconstitution ratios of about 50:1 to 300:1. The viscosities of the ingredients may range from about 1 to about 100 centipoise. 
     During operation, a user may select a beverage using the user interface  102 . When the user presses the push to pour button  104 , carbonated water flows from the carbonator  106  to the nozzle  108  and the appropriate syrups and flavors flow from the plurality of syrup cartridges and the plurality of flavor cartridges. In a post mix beverage dispenser, the syrups, flavors, and carbonated water mix after exiting the nozzle  108 . For example, if a user selects a cherry flavored cola, carbonated water will flow from the carbonator  106  to the nozzle  108 . The cola syrup and cherry flavoring will flow from the appropriate cartridges to the nozzle  108 . The ingredients will then flow through the nozzle  108  and mix within the exiting fluid stream and a cup  126 . 
     The carbonated water is formed within the carbonator  106 . To form the carbonated water CO 2  flows from a carbon dioxide source (e.g., a carbon dioxide bottle  128 ) to the carbonator  106 . Still water may flow into the carbonator  106  from an external source  130 . In some embodiments, the still water source may be included within the beverage dispenser  100 . The cooperation of the beverage dispenser  100  may be controlled by a control module  132 . The control module  132  may also monitor a backpressure, via a pressure sensor  134 , within the plumbing between the carbonator  106  and the nozzle  108 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded assembly of the nozzle  108 . The nozzle  108  may include a fill fitting  202 , a clamp  204 , a water channel  206  (described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 5 ), a flow change  208  (described in greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 6A and 6B ), a housing adjustment member  210  (described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 8 ), a housing  212  (described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 9 ), a flow restrictor  214  (described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 7 ), a distributor top  216  (described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 11 ), and a distributor  218  (described in greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 10A and 10B ). 
     The fill fitting  202  connects the nozzle  108  to the plumbing connecting the nozzle  108  to the carbonator  106 . The fill fitting  202  passes through the clamp  204  and connects to the water channel  206 . The water channel  206  connects the fill fitting  202  to the flow channel  208 . The flow channel  208  passes though the housing adjustment member  210  and the housing  212 . The flow restrictor  214  is located proximate an exit of the flow channel  208  and between the flow channel  208  and the housing  212 . Clamp  204  is used to secure the various components of the nozzle  108  to the distributor top  216 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the water channel  206 . The water channel  206  includes two mounting holes  502 . During assemble two screws, or other fasteners, pass through two holes  302  in the clamp  204  (see  FIG. 3 ) to secure the water channel  206  to the clamp  204 . The fill fitting  202  connects to the water channel  206  by insertion into a mounting hole  504 . The connection between the fill fitting  202  and the water channel  206  is sealed with an  0 -ring (not shown). The water channel  206  connects to the flow channel  208  by inserting a male portion  506  into an inlet  602  (see  FIG. 6B ). The connection between the water channel  206  and the inlet  602  is sealed with an O-ring (not shown). 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show the flow channel  208 . The flow channel  208  defines the inlet  602 . The inlet  602  connects a fluid pathway defined by the flow channel  208  to exits  604 . Each of the exits  604  allow still or carbonated water to pass a flow straightener  606 . The exits  604  may have a tapered profile. While  FIG. 6A  shows the exits  604  as a plurality of holes, the exit could be a single hole or any other shape. Furthermore, while the flow straightener&#39;s  606  shape, as shown in  FIG. 6A  directs the fluid flow along a straight path, the flow straightener  606  may have a helical profile or other profiles. For example, the flow straightener  606  may have a helical profile with perforations to facilitate mixing of the carbonated water with the syrups and flavors. The flow channel  208  may also include protrusions  608 . The protrusions  608  may be used to align and/or secure the flow channel  208  within the housing  212 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the flow restrictor  214 . The flow restrictor  214  includes protuberances  702 . The protuberances  702  are sized to mate with exits  604 . The flow restrictor  215  is manufactured from a resilient material. The protuberances  702  are tapered to compliment the tapered profile of the exits  604 . During assembly the flow straightener  606  passes through an opening  704  defined by the flow restrictor  214 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the housing adjustment member  210 . The housing adjustment member  210  includes an interior surface defining a threaded portion  802 . In addition, the housing adjustment member  210  includes an exterior surface defining a gear like profile  804 . The gear like profile  804  may connect with a driving mechanism, such as a motor, a belt drive, or a sprocket system. The driving mechanism may allow the housing adjustment member  210  to be rotated to cause the housing  212  to traverse in an axial direction within the housing adjustment member  210 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the housing  212 . The housing  212  includes an exterior surface defining a threaded portion  902 . The threaded portion  902  may engage the threaded portion  802  defined by the housing adjustment member  210 . The thread engagement allows the housing  212  to traverse in the axial direction when the housing adjustment member  210  is rotated. The housing also includes slots  904 . The slots  904  receive the protrusions  608  located on the flow channel  208 . 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  show the distributor  218 . The distributor includes a base  1002 . The base  1002  may define channels  1004 . The channels  1004  deliver the ingredients (e.g., syrups and flavors) to delivery ports  1006 . The size of each channel  1004  depends on the ingredients flowing through it. For example, channels  1004  that deliver macro-ingredients (e.g., syrups) may have a larger volume than channels  1004  that deliver micro-ingredients (e.g., flavors). Similarly, the number of delivery ports  1006  in each channel may depend on the ingredients flowing through it. For example, channels  1004  that deliver macro-ingredients may have more delivery ports  1006  (e.g., four delivery ports  1006 ) than channels  1004  that deliver micro-ingredients (e.g., one delivery port  1006 ). As will be discussed in greater detail below, the delivery ports  1006  are arranged to inject the ingredients into a flow of carbonated water passing through the flow channel  208 . The flow straightener  606  passes through the opening located in the center of the distributor  218 . 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  show the distributor top  216 . The distributor top  216  includes syrup ports  1102  and flavor ports  1104 . The flavor ports  1104  connect the distributor top  216  to the plurality of flavor cartridges. There is one flavor port  1004  for each flavor cartridge. In addition, the syrup ports  1102  connect the distributor top  216  to the plurality of flavor cartridges. There is one syrup port  1102  for each syrup cartridge. 
     Each of the flavor ports  1104  and the syrup ports  1102  connect to the channels  1004  located in the distributor  218 . During operation, the flavors and syrups flow through their respective ports and into their respective channels  1004  via outlets  1106 . When the distributor top  216  is connected to the distributor  218  the channels seal so that the various flavors and ingredients do not mix within the distributor  218  distributor top  216  assembly. The distributor top  216  is secured to the beverage dispenser  100  via screws passing through mounting holes  1108 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a section of the distributor  218 , distributor top  216 , flow channel  208 , housing  212 , housing adjustment member  210 , and flow restrictor  214 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , a groove  1202  located in the flow channel  208  receives a tenon  1204  located on the housing adjustment member  210 . The mating of the groove  1202  and the tenon  1204  provides support for the flow channel  208 . The flow channel  208  also includes a recess  1206 . The recess  1206  allows the housing  212  to traverse in an axial direction as indicated by arrow  1208 . The traversing motion is caused by rotation of the housing adjustment member  210 . As the housing traverses, the flow restrictor  214  also traverses in the axial direction. When the flow restrictor  214  contacts the flow channel the protuberances  702  block the exits  604 . 
     The position of the flow restrictor  214  allows for a backpressure between the nozzle  108  and the carbonator  106  to be maintained. As the flow restrictor  214  moves towards the downward position or away from the exits  604 , the protuberances  702  block less and less of exits  604 . This causes less restriction in the flow of still or carbonated water and therefore reduces the backpressure. Similarly, as the flow restrictor  214  moves towards the upward position or towards the exits  604 , the protuberances  702  block more and more of the exits  604 . This causes more restriction in the flow of still or carbonated water and therefore increases the backpressure. 
     As the carbonated water flows through the flow channel  208 , it exits the nozzle  108  at flow straightener  606 . After the carbonated water has exited the flow channel  208 , the ingredients (e.g., syrups and flavors) exit the delivery ports  1006  to form a post-mix beverage. In other words, the ingredients mix with the carbonated water in an exit stream and in the cup  126 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , control module  132  may include a processing unit  1302 , a memory unit  1304 , and a display  1306  (e.g., user interface  102 ). Memory unit  1304  may include a software module  1310  and a database  1312 . The control module  132  may send and receive signals (e.g., inputs and outputs) from motor  1314 , the pressure sensor  134 , and the push to pour button  104 . While executing on processing unit  1302 , software module  1310  may perform processes for controlling a flow, including, for example, one or more stages included in method  1400  described below with respect to  FIG. 14 . 
     Control module  132  (“the processor”) may be implemented using a personal computer, a network computer, a mainframe, a smartphone, or other similar computer-based system. The processor may comprise any computer operating environment, such as hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable sender electronic devices, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The processor may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices. Furthermore, the processor may comprise a mobile terminal, such as a smart phone, a cellular telephone, a cellular telephone utilizing wireless application protocol (WAP), personal digital assistant (PDA), intelligent pager, portable computer, a hand held computer, or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point. The aforementioned systems and devices are examples and the processor may comprise other systems or devices. 
     Embodiments, for example, may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. The computer program product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific computer-readable medium examples (a non-exhaustive list), the computer-readable medium may include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods&#39; stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the invention. 
     Embodiments, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
       FIG. 14  shows a flow chart for a method  1400  for controlling a fluid flow. The method  1400  may begin at starting block  1405  and proceed to stage  1410  where a fluid flow is caused to flow through the flow channel  208 . For example, a user may press the push to pour button  104  and carbonated water may flow from the carbonator  106  through the flow channel  208 . 
     From stage  1410  where the fluid flow is cause, the method  1400  may proceed to stage  1415  where the fluid flow may be restricted. For example, as the flow of carbonated water exits the exits  604  the flow may be restricted by protuberances  702 . From stage  1415  where the flow is restricted, the method  1400  may proceed to stage  1420  where the flow may be further restricted or unrestricted. For example, the position of the flow restrictor  214  may be changed as described above to further restrict or unrestrict the fluid flow. In other words, a portion of the protuberances  702  may be caused to penetrate the exits  604 . 
     From stage  1420  where the fluid flow is further restricted or unrestricted, the method  1400  may proceed to stage  1425  where the back pressure upstream of the flow channel  208  is monitored. For instance, pressure sensor  134  may monitor the backpressure and send a signal to control module  132  indicating the backpressure. 
     From stage  1425  the method  1400  may proceed to stage  1430  where the position of the flow restrictor  214  may be adjusted. For example, the control module  132  may interpret the signal from the pressure sensor  134  as indicating the backpressure is too high. As a result, the control module  132  may actuate the motor  1314 . The motor  1314  may then cause the housing adjustment member  210  to rotate thereby repositioning the flow restrictor  214  to lower the backpressure. Depending on the speed of the motor  1314  and the response time of the pressure sensor  134 , the adjustment of the flow restrictor  214  may occur in near real time. In other words, based on input from the pressure sensor  134 , the control module  132  may actuate the motor  1314  to continuously reposition the flow restrictor  214  to maintain a near constant backpressure. From stage  1430 , the method  1400  may terminate at termination block  1435 . 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Various modifications and changes may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims.