U.S. patent application number 14/210854 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for flavored frozen beverage dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Coca-Cola Company. Invention is credited to Arthur G. Rudick, Rafael I. San Miguel.
Application Number | 20140263414 14/210854 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51523015 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140263414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
San Miguel; Rafael I. ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
Flavored Frozen Beverage Dispenser
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention may provide a frozen beverage
dispenser capable of dispensing multiple frozen beverage
flavors.
Inventors: |
San Miguel; Rafael I.;
(Atlanta, GA) ; Rudick; Arthur G.; (Atlanta,
GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Coca-Cola Company |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51523015 |
Appl. No.: |
14/210854 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61792260 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/1 ;
222/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23G 9/12 20130101; A23G
9/045 20130101; A23G 9/282 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/1 ;
222/148 |
International
Class: |
A23G 9/10 20060101
A23G009/10; A23G 9/04 20060101 A23G009/04 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: receiving a frozen slush in a mixing area;
receiving at least one ingredient in the mixing area; mixing the
frozen slush with the at least one ingredient into a mixture;
dispensing the mixture out of the mixing area; and flushing the
mixing area.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein flushing the mixing area
comprises: flushing the mixing area with water from a nozzle
configured to spray water into the mixing area; agitating the
mixing area once the water is sprayed into the mixing area; and
draining the water out of the mixing area.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein draining the water comprises
draining the water through a flush diverter coupled to the mixing
area.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein flushing the mixing area
comprises running an amount of unmixed frozen slush through the
mixing area to flush the mixing area.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the frozen slush in the
mixing area comprises receiving the frozen slush from a frozen
beverage barrel located remotely from the mixing area.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the at least one
ingredient in the mixing area comprises a computing device
determining when to add the at least one ingredient to the mixing
area.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining, by the computing
device, when to add the at least one ingredient to the mixing area
comprises receiving a selection of a flavor at the computing
device.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein mixing the frozen slush and the
at least one ingredient into the mixture comprises mixing with one
of the following: a brushless mixer and mixing with an open trough
inclined mixer.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one ingredient
includes one or more micro-ingredients and/or
macro-ingredients.
10. A method comprising: receiving a frozen beverage base into a
mixer; adding at least one micro-ingredient into the mixer; mixing
the frozen beverage base with the at least one micro-ingredient
into a mixture; removing the mixture from the mixer; and flushing
the mixer by performing at least one of the following: flushing the
mixer with water and subsequently draining the water, and running
an amount of unmixed frozen beverage base through the mixer.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein adding the at least one
micro-ingredient comprises adding at least one of the following: a
flavor, an alcohol, and a sweetener to the mixer.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising adding a
macro-ingredient into the mixer, the macro-ingredient comprising at
least one of the following: juice, milk, yogurt, fruit puree, fruit
pulp, and fruits chunks.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein mixing the frozen beverage base
with the at least one micro-ingredient further comprises mixing the
frozen beverage base with the at least one macro-ingredient.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the frozen beverage
base in the mixer comprises receiving the frozen beverage base from
a frozen beverage barrel located remotely from the mixer.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein adding the at least one
micro-ingredient in the mixer comprises a first computing device
determining when to add the at least one micro-ingredient to the
mixer.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining, by the computing
device, when to add the at least one micro-ingredient to the mixer
comprises receiving a selection of a flavored beverage at a second
computing device.
17. A system comprising: a barrel for producing and storing a
frozen slush; a mixer; at least one ingredient component for adding
at least one ingredient to the mixer; a dispenser for dispensing a
mixed frozen slush; and a flush diverter for draining at least one
of the following: melted slush and water.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a computing device
configured to perform at least one of the following: receive a
selection of a frozen slush beverage, determine when to add the at
least one ingredient to the mixer based on the selection, operate
the mixer to mix the at least one ingredient with the frozen slush
to form the selected frozen slush beverage, dispense the frozen
slush beverage, and flush the mixer with water after dispensing the
frozen slush beverage, wherein the water is drained out of the
mixer by the flush diverter.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computing device being
configured to flush the mixer with water after dispensing the
frozen slush beverage comprises the computing device being
configured to agitate the mixer prior to the flushing the
water.
20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a computing device
configured to perform at least one of the following: receive a
selection of a frozen slush beverage, determine when to add the at
least one ingredient to the mixer based on the selection, operate
the mixer to mix the at least one ingredient with the frozen slush
to form the selected frozen slush beverage, dispense the frozen
slush beverage, and run the unmixed frozen slush through the mixer
for a brief period of time to flush the mixer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/792,260, Attorney Docket No.
60428.0012USP1, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled "Flavored Frozen
Beverage Dispenser," of which the disclosure is incorporated
herein, in its entirety, by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Traditional frozen beverage dispensers have been limited to
dispensing one or two frozen beverage flavors. A need exists to
provide frozen beverage dispensers having the capability to
dispense several different frozen beverage flavors while still
adhering to, for example, spatial constraints.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0003] Commonly owned U.S. patents and patent application
Publications include:
[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0271944, titled
"Reduced Calorie Frozen Beverage";
[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0224095, titled
"Non-Caloric Frozen Carbonated Beverage";
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 7,870,749, titled "Beverage Dispensing
Apparatus and Method for Beverage Dispensing";
[0007] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0205220, titled
"Juice Dispensing System";
[0008] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0267441, titled
"Dispenser for Beverages Including Juices";
[0009] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0014464, titled
"Clean-In-Place System for Beverage Dispensers";
[0010] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0228328, titled
"Dispenser for Beverages Having a Rotary Micro-Ingredient
Combination Chamber"; and
[0011] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0230148, titled
"Dispenser for Beverages Having an Ingredient Mixing Module".
[0012] Each of the above referenced patent application Publications
and patents is incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into
this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various
embodiments of the present invention. They may not be drawn to
scale. In the drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a frozen beverage
dispenser,
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the frozen beverage
dispenser,
[0016] FIGS. 3a-3d illustrate embodiments of a mixing chamber for
the frozen beverage dispenser, and
[0017] FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate other embodiments of a mixing chamber
for the frozen beverage dispenser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] 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. Instead, the proper scope of the invention is
defined by the appended claims.
[0019] Embodiments of the invention may provide a frozen beverage
dispenser capable of dispensing multiple frozen beverage flavors.
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a frozen beverage dispenser
100. Frozen beverage dispenser 100 may comprise a frozen carbonated
or un-carbonated beverage (FB) barrel 105 for producing and storing
a frozen slush or slurry. FB barrel 105 will be described in
greater detail with references to FIG. 2-3a. In various embodiments
of the invention, the frozen slush may comprise an unflavored or
flavorless slush base (i.e. "white paint"). In order to flavor the
frozen slush, micro-ingredients and/or macro-ingredients may be
mixed in with the frozen slush.
[0020] Mixing may occur in a mixing chamber 110 of frozen beverage
dispenser 100. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, mixing
chamber 110 may comprise, but not be limited to, a macro-ingredient
component 115 and a micro-ingredient component 120. The
macro-ingredient component 115 may include one or more
macro-ingredient cartridges installed therein, each of the
cartridges may include a different macro-ingredient. In some
embodiments, two or more macro-ingredient cartridges may include
the same macro-ingredient. In some embodiments, the
macro-ingredient component 115 may receive a macro-ingredient
pumped through a line or otherwise delivered to the
macro-ingredient component 115 from an external source. Similarly,
the micro-ingredient component 120 may include one or more
micro-ingredient cartridges installed therein, each of the
cartridges may include a different micro-ingredient. In some
embodiments, two or more micro-ingredient cartridges may include
the same micro-ingredient. In some embodiments, the
micro-ingredient component 120 may receive a micro-ingredient
pumped through a line or otherwise delivered to the
micro-ingredient component 120 from an external source.
Macro-ingredients from macro-ingredient component 115 and
micro-ingredients from micro-ingredient component 120 may be mixed
into the frozen slush by mixer 125. In certain embodiments, mixer
125 may comprise a brushless mixer. However, other mixers may be
used. Mixing chamber 125 may be operated by a computing device to
produce specified mixtures of frozen slush, macro-ingredients,
and/or micro-ingredients. In some embodiments, only
micro-ingredients may be added to the frozen slush.
[0021] Commonly owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2012/0228328, titled "Dispenser for Beverages Having a Rotary
Micro-Ingredient Combination Chamber," and U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2012/0230148, titled "Dispenser for Beverages
Having an Ingredient Mixing Module," may disclose mixing,
dispensing, and draining methods, systems, and mechanisms that may
be adapted into various embodiments of the present invention.
Mixing chamber 110 will be described in greater detail with
reference to FIGS. 3a-4d.
[0022] Once the frozen slush is mixed in with macro-ingredients
and/or micro-ingredients to, for example, flavor the frozen slush,
the flavored slush may be dispensed from dispensing chamber 130.
Even after having dispensed the flavored slush, mixer 125 may still
contain residue of the flavored slush. The residue may cause
"flavor-carryover" for any subsequent mixtures made by mixer 125.
Accordingly, there this residue may be removed from mixer 125 prior
to mixing subsequent frozen slush flavors.
[0023] Embodiments of the invention may remove the residue by
flushing mixer 125 with water, agitating mixer 125, and then using
a flush diverter to divert the flushed water to a drain. Commonly
owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,87,749, titled "Beverage Dispensing Apparatus
and Method for Beverage Dispensing," U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2007/0205220, titled "Juice Dispensing System,"
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0267441, titled
"Dispenser for Beverages Including Juices," and U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2009/0014464, titled "Clean-In-Place
System for Beverage Dispensers," may disclose mixing, dispensing,
and draining methods, systems, and mechanisms that may be adapted
into various embodiments of the present invention.
[0024] Still consistent with embodiments of the invention, the
residue may be removed by running, for a brief period of time, the
un-flavored slush base through the mixer 125 without mixing any
additional macro-ingredients or micro-ingredients. Mixer 125 may be
agitated when the un-flavored slush base is received and then it
may dispense the slush into, for example, dispensing chamber 130.
In this way, the un-flavored slush base serves to flush the residue
out of mixer 125.
[0025] Embodiments of the present invention may further comprise
gateway compartment 135. Gateway compartment 135 may serve to
channel drainage from the flush diverter to an external system.
Moreover, gateway compartment 135 may also channel raw material for
producing the frozen slush, macro-ingredients, and
micro-ingredients from an external storage to FB barrel 105,
macro-ingredient component 115, and micro-ingredient component 120,
respectively. In this way, the ingredients needed to produce a
frozen slush beverage may be fed into frozen beverage dispenser 100
from a remote location.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a front-view of an embodiment of frozen
beverage dispenser 100. Consistent embodiments of the invention,
frozen beverage dispenser 100 may comprise a touch screen computing
device 205. In some embodiments, other forms of user interfaces may
be substituted for the touch screen computing device 205. Touch
screen computing device 205 may provide frozen beverage flavor
selections. When a selection of a flavored frozen beverage is
received, touch screen computing device 205 may signal the
computing device of mixing chamber 110 with the selection. In
various embodiments, the computing device of mixing chamber 110 and
the touch screen computing device may be combined into a single
computing device. Mixing chamber 110 may then be operated to
produce the mixture specified for the selected frozen beverage
type.
[0027] In this embodiment, the touch screen computing device 205
includes one or more processing units and computer readable media.
Computer readable media includes physical memory such as volatile
memory (such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash
memory, etc.) or some combination thereof. Additionally, the
computing device can include mass storage (removable and/or
non-removable) such as a magnetic or optical disks or tape. An
operating system, such as Linux or Windows, and one or more
application programs can be stored on the mass storage device. The
computing devices can include input devices (such as a touch
screen, or a keyboard and mouse) and output devices (such as a
monitor and printer).
[0028] For example, the touch screen computing device 205 can be
programmed to receive input from the user. Based upon that input,
the touch screen computing device 205 is programmed to execute
instructions stored on the computer readable media to control the
frozen beverage dispenser 100 to make the desired frozen beverage
selected by the user, as described herein.
[0029] Frozen beverage dispenser 100 may further comprise a first
glass window 210 and a second glass window 215. As illustrated in
FIG. 2, certain embodiments of the invention may comprise more than
one FB barrel. Glass windows 210 and 215 may be included in frozen
beverage dispenser 100 to expose the different FB barrels. A FB
barrel may be used to produce and store frozen slush from raw
materials. The raw materials may comprise water and an additive.
The additive may be mixed with the water to cause a freezing point
depression suitable to produce a desirable consistency in the
frozen slush.
[0030] Different additives may be used to produce the frozen slush.
For instance, sugar or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may serve as
an additive. Alternatively, a low calorie sweetener may serve as an
additive. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, frozen
beverage dispenser 100 comprise a first FB barrel having a frozen
slush produced with a first additive and a second FB barrel having
a frozen slush produced with a second additive. In some
embodiments, the first FB barrel may have a nutritive additive with
a first caloric value per serving and the second FB barrel may have
a non-nutritive or low-nutritive additive with a zero caloric value
or a lower caloric value than the first caloric value. Based on
selections received by touch screen computing device 205, a
corresponding frozen slush may be produced using the appropriate FB
barrel. Commonly owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2007/0271944, titled "Reduced Calorie Frozen Beverage," and U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0224095, titled
"Non-Caloric Frozen Carbonated Beverage," may disclose frozen slush
production and storage methods, systems, and mechanisms that may be
adapted into various embodiments of the present invention.
[0031] Frozen beverage dispenser 100 may also comprise a third
glass window 220. Third glass window 220 may expose a portion of
mixing chamber 110, such as, for example, mixer 125. In this way,
an individual may observe his frozen beverage selection as it is
mixed before and/or as it is dispensed through dispensing chamber
130.
[0032] FIG. 3a illustrates an embodiment of mixing chamber 110.
FIG. 3b illustrates an embodiment of mixing chamber 110 in a
dispense configuration. FIG. 3c illustrates an embodiment of mixing
chamber 110 in a flush configuration. FIG. 3d illustrates an
embodiment of mixing chamber 110 in a recirculate
configuration.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 3a, FB barrel 105 may receive a water and
additive mixture at, for example, room temperature. The interior
surface of FB barrel 105 may then be cooled. As the mixture
interacts with the cool interior surface of the FB barrel 105, it
begins to cool and adhere to the surface. A motorized auger may
then scoop the cooled mixture from the interior surface of FB
barrel 105 and push it towards the center of FB barrel 105. In this
way, the mixture is continuously cooled and mixed into a frozen
slush. Other means for producing the frozen slush may be
implemented, and the present invention is not limited to the
aforementioned frozen slush production process.
[0034] The frozen slush produced by FB barrel 105 is passed to the
mixer 125. As mentioned above, mixer 125 may be a brushless mixer
similar to the ones shown in FIG. 3a. Mixer 125 may also receive
ingredients from macro-ingredient component 115 and micro
ingredient component 120. Macro-ingredient component 120 may
comprise, for example, various cartridges including feeds of HFCS,
juice, milk, yogurt, fruit puree, fruit pulp, fruits chunks, or
various other textural elements. The macro-ingredients may be
concentrated ingredients having reconstitution ratios of about 3:1
to about 6:1 or higher. Any number of macro-ingredients may be
added to mixer 125 from macro-ingredient component 120.
[0035] Micro-ingredient component 120 may be used to flavor the
frozen slush. The micro-ingredients may comprise, but not be
limited to, for example, cartridges comprising a sweetener, various
flavors, and alcohol. From these cartridges, various
micro-ingredients may be fed into a ceramic rotary micro-ingredient
combination device 310, then subsequently enter mixer 125.
[0036] Micro-ingredient component 120 may include cartridges for
providing 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, or medicaments. The
beverage micro-ingredients may have reconstitution ratios from
about 10:1, 20:1, 30:1, or higher with many having reconstitution
ratios of 50:1 to 300:1. The viscosities of the ingredients may
range from about 1 to about 100 centipoise.
[0037] As mentioned above, the frozen slush may be an un-flavored
slush base. By adding the mixed micro-ingredients and
macro-ingredients (as derived from a selection received at touch
screen computing device 205), the otherwise un-flavored slush base
may acquire a flavor and texture.
[0038] Once the mixed micro-ingredients and/or macro-ingredients
are added to the frozen slush, the now flavored frozen slush may be
dispensed as illustrated in FIG. 3b via dispensing chamber 130. The
residue in mixer 125, leftover from the mixture, may be flushed
with an input of water and drained via flush diverter 315 as
illustrated in FIG. 3c. Flush diverter 315 may also be configured
to flush slush that has melted during the mixing process. In this
way, only frozen slush may be dispensed. In other embodiments of
the invention, the residue may be flushed from mixer 125 by running
the unmixed frozen slush through mixer 125 for a brief period of
time after each dispense. In this way, the residue may be mixed
with the frozen slush and subsequently dispensed, thereby cleansing
mixer 125 of the residue.
[0039] FIG. 4a illustrates another embodiment of mixing chamber
125. Mixing chamber 125 may comprise open trough auger driven mixer
125 receiving feed from FB barrel 105, macro-ingredients component
115, and micro-ingredients component 120. Mixer 125 may be driven
by a motor 405. The mixer 125 may be inclined to ensure a thorough
mixture of the frozen slush, macro-ingredients and/or
micro-ingredients, as the auger rotates to propagate the mixture up
through mixer 125. Eventually, the mixture is forced out of mixer
125 and into a funnel 420 leading to dispensing chamber 130. The
residue of the mixture may be cleared by spraying water from nozzle
410. The water may run down the mixer and be drained through a
drainage tubing 415. Slush that has melted during the mixing
process may also be drained through drainage tubing 415 so as not
to be dispensed. In this way, only frozen slush may be dispensed.
FIGS. 4b and 4c illustrate different embodiments that may be used
for the base of the mixer 125. In each of FIGS. 4b and 4c, there is
a trough at the bottom of the mixing chamber 125 within which the
auger is placed. Having a trough at the bottom of the mixing
chamber promotes delivery of all of the ingredients to the auger
and also promotes thorough mixing of the ingredients together. In
some embodiments, the cross-section of the mixing chamber 125 may
simply be a regular circle or oval.
* * * * *