BAG-IN-BOX PUMP SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[01] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 12/860,485 filed on
August 20, 2010, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[02] Often, at restaurants or other locations such as a consumer's residence, a beverage may be
created on-demand from a mixture of ingredients. An advantage of dispensing beverage in
this form is that the concentrate containers and water supply typically occupy significant less
space than is otherwise required to store the same volume of beverage in individual
containers. Moreover, this dispensing equipment likewise eliminates increased waste formed
by the empty individual containers.
[03] A typical beverage dispenser may include a pump to force an ingredient, such as a
concentrate, to the head. The dispenser may include valves that may attempt to
volumetrically measure then dispense certain ingredients. For example, a valve may be
selectively opened in response to a consumer requesting a beverage to allow the
simultaneous discharge of concentrate and water. The two liquids mix upon discharge and
in the container to form the desired beverage. Moreover, some beverages are formed from
base components that may be vastly different from the components forming other beverages.
Often, these beverages cannot be accurately and efficiently dispensed from a dispenser given
the problems with measuring and dispensing ingredients with different properties.
[04] Similarly, in certain implementations, different beverages are formed from concentrates that
are only slightly different from each other. For example, customers are often interested in
enjoying beverages that, in addition to a base flavor, include a supplemental flavor, such as
cherry or lemon-lime. Yet consumers are increasingly interested in adjusting one or more
ingredients in their beverages, such as the amount of sugars, often in the form of high
fructose corn syrup. Improved systems and methods relating to the dispensing of beverages
would be desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[05] Aspects of this disclosure relate to novel methods for dispensing a composition, such as a
beverage. In certain embodiments, a bag-in-box package is utilized. The bag-in-box package
includes a rigid box and a flexible bag disposed within the box. The flexible bag includes a
connector projecting outwardly of the box. A rotary pump is located within the connector.
The rotary pump includes a resiliently deformable housing and a rotor that form a plurality
of chambers. The bag-in-box package may be incorporated into a dispenser system that
includes a touch screen that allows users to input beverage selections. One or more memory
devices store audio and video files related to different beverage selections. While a beverage
is dispensed, a sound file may be played. For example, a bubbling sound may be played
while a carbonated beverage is dispensed. At the same time or alternatively, a video may be
played on the touch screen display that shows the fill state of a beverage container.
[06] Of course, the methods and systems of various embodiments may include other additional
elements, steps, computer-executable instructions, computer-readable data structures or
computer system components. In this regard, other embodiments are disclosed and claimed
herein as well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[07] FIG. 1 is an exploded view and schematic diagram of an exemplary dispensing system and
dispensing head in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;
[08] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of one dispensing system in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention;
[09] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary method in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[10] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[ 1 ] FIG. 5 shows a computer device that may be used to control the operation of a beverage
dispenser, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[ ] Fig. 6 illustrates a bag-in-box dispensing system in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
[13] Fig. 7 illustrates an exemplary rotary pump that may be used with various embodiments of
the invention;
[14] Fig. 8 illustrates a bag-in-box dispensing system that utilizes a water powered motor to drive
a rotary pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[15] Fig. 9 illustrates a beverage dispensing system in which a water driven pump drives multiple
rotary pumps, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[16] Fig. 10 illustrates a gear mechanism that harnesses energy from a diluent stream to drive a
rotary pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
[17] Fig. 11 illustrates an electronically controlled beverage dispensing system, in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[18] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary dispensing system 102 that may be configured to dispense a
beverage comprising a plurality of ingredients. While the exemplary dispensing system 102
will be described in the context of dispensing a beverage, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that other compositions, such as medicaments, lotions, supplements, condiments,
may be dispensed according to the teachings of this disclosure. Looking to FIG. 1, the
exemplary dispensing system 102 includes a dispensing head 104, and a counter-located
base 106, to which the dispensing head 104 may be removably mounted. Reservoirs 110a
and 110b may store ingredients configured to be dispensed from dispensing system 102,
such as flavored concentrates that may be in different forms, such as liquids (including
syrups) or powders. Pumps 114a and 114b may be connected to reservoir 110a and 110b,
respectively. The pumps 114a and 4b allow the movement of the associated ingredient
through base 106 and into the dispensing head 104. A portion of the ingredients may
comprise water (for example, see elements 112a and 112b). In one embodiment, one water
source may supply a noncarbonated water stream. The second source may include a
carbonator (not illustrated) that supplies carbon dioxide to the water stream it supplies
through base 106 into the dispensing head 104. In another embodiment, the water source
may be substantially devoid of carbonation. In yet other embodiments, a plurality of water
sources may be configured to provide different levels of carbonated water.
The tubing 108 through which the four illustrated fluid streams flow into the base 106 may
terminate at mounting block 116. As seen in FIG. 1, mounting block 116 may be removably
mounted to the dispensing head 104. In the illustrative embodiments, mounting block 116
may have a front face 17 comprising passageways 118 to one or more reservoirs for one or
more ingredients such as concentrate 1 Oa 110b and/or water 112a/l 12b. The passageways
118 may be integrally formed with and extend from the block front face 116. The front face
116 and/or another portion of the mounting block 116 may further comprise a locking
mechanism for aligning and ensuring proper fitting between the passageways 118 and the
dispensing head 104.
The illustrated dispensing head 104 includes a vertical back plate 18 from which a base
plate 120 extends horizontally. Back plate 118 may be removably coupled to dispensing
unit mounting block 116 and a valve body 32 may be seated on the base plate 120. A nozzle
assembly 122 is shown to extend below the base plate 120. Valve body 32 may comprise a
plurality of conduits through which the ingredients flow into nozzle assembly 122. One or
more valve units may be mounted to the valve body 32. For example, valve units 134 and/or
136 may regulate the flow of a separate one of the fluid streams through the dispensing head
104 and out of the nozzle assembly 122.
The dispensing system 102 may comprise one or more computer-readable mediums, such as
circuit board 129. Circuit board 129 is shown mounted to the base plate 120 and may
comprise the electrical components (not illustrated) that are used to regulate the actuation of
pumps 114a and 114b and/or valve units 134, 136. Circuit board may also comprise
computer-readable instructions that when executed by a processor, such as processor (such
as processor 206, described in more detail below in relation to FIG. 2) to provide
energization signals to valve units 134, 136, control signals to the pumps 114a and 114b,
and/or feedback signals from the dispensing head 104 to the dispensing system 102.
Historically, electronic circuitry 129 (or another component comprising a computer-readable
medium, comprised a "flavor chips." The flavor chip comprised computer-executable
instructions, that when executed by a processor, would execute a method for mixing a
predefined beverage. Unfortunately, past flavor chip technology had to be adapted to the
mechanical properties of each dispenser and each flavored beverage required a separate
flavor chip. Thus, in certain prior art systems, changing beverages to be dispensed from a
dispenser would require the new flavors to be "mapped" onto the chip. For example, each
parameter had to be adjusted to ensure the dispensed beverage received the intended
proportions of ingredients. Aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods for
dispensing custom beverages that do not require the inconvenience of mapping of different
flavor chips for each possible combination of the various ingredients.
While FIG. 1 shows one exemplary dispensing system 102, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that other systems that are either configured or able to be modified to
dispense a multi-ingredient beverage according to one or more teachings of this disclosure
are within the scope of the invention. Further exemplary systems, including exemplary
heads and/or nozzles that may be selectively combined are disclosed in Assignee's U.S. Pat.
App. No. 10/412,681, BEVERAGE FORMING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM, filed Apr.
14, 2003, U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2004/0084475 Al, published May 6, 2004, and/or U.S. Pat.
App. No. 11/118,535, BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH A HEAD CAPABLE
OF DISPENSING PLURAL DIFFERENT BEVERAGES, filed April 29, 2005, U.S. Pat.
Pub. No. 2006/0097009, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for any
and all purposes.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary dispensing system 202 that may be configured for use without
prior art flavor chips to dispense custom beverages. Dispensing system 202 may be
configured to implement novel methods, such as the methods shown in the flowchart of FIG.
3. In this regard, certain novel features of dispensing system 202 will be described in
relation to the methods of FIG. 3, however, the novel apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is not
limited to only these methods but are merely provided to demonstrate exemplary uses of
dispensing system 202. As seen in FIG. 2, dispensing system 202 comprises an electronic
circuitry 129, which may be identical or similar to electronic circuitry 129 shown in FIG. 1.
Electronic circuitry 129 comprises a computer-readable medium 204 which may be
magnetic, digital, optical, or any format configurable to comprise computer-executable
instructions that may be executed by a processor, such as processor 206.
Processor 206 may be configured to execute instructions on the computer-readable medium,
such as computer-readable medium 204, received from a user input device 208, lever switch
210 and/or a network connection 212. The user input device 208 may include any
components or group of components (including a switch similar or identical to lever switch
210) that allows a user to provide an input to dispensing system 202, which may be
mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical. Novel uses of user input device 208 may be
implemented in accordance with one or more novel methods described herein. As one
example, user input device 208 may be used in conjunction with step 302 shown in Fig. 3.
At step 302, instructions may be received for dispensing a beverage. In one embodiment,
user input device 208 may allow a user to instruct dispensing system 202 to dispense a
specific beverage formula. In one embodiment, user input device 208 may comprise a touch
screen that is in operative communication with electronic circuitry 129. The touch screen
may be configured to display a plurality of beverage classes. For example, in one
embodiment, the classes may include, but are not limited to: colas, diet colas, energy drinks,
water, fruit juices and combinations of any of these groups. In certain embodiments, a user
may be able to pick a beverage class from a group of classes. In various embodiments, the
display of possible beverage for selection may be adjusted based upon the levels or presence
of specific ingredients detected in dispensing system 202.
The touch screen may be configured to allow a user to first select a specific brand of
beverage, such as a particular energy drink from a plurality of energy drinks. Still yet, the
touch screen may allow a user to pick a specific commercially available beverage and
further refine the ingredients to be dispensed to form a similar beverage. In one
embodiment, the refined beverage has the same ingredients, however, comprises different
proportions or amounts of the ingredients. For example, a user may first select the cola
beverage "Pepsi," and then wish to adjust one or more parameters of the Pepsi to be
dispensed. For example, the user may wish to adjust the sugar content and/or carbonation of
the beverage to be dispensed. In another embodiment, the refined beverage has at least one
different ingredient, for example; at least a portion of the high fructose corn syrup may be
replaced with various levels of one or more ingredients.
While the exemplary embodiment was described in relation to a touch screen, other input
devices may be used in combination with or in lieu of a touch screen. For example, a user
may swipe a card having electronic information a sensor, such as for example, an optical,
magnetic, or RFID sensor to provide a user input. In another embodiment, the user may
utilize a biometric input to provide an input. Yet in other embodiments, the user may enter
alphanumeric inputs using a keyboard. The lever switch 210 may also be operatively
connected to electronic circuitry 129 to provide an input indicative that a receptacle is
placed under the nozzle 122.
Network connection 212 may also provide one or more user inputs (as well as transmit
outgoing signals) coupling dispensing system 202 to a communication network, such as a
LAN or the Internet. The dispensing system 202 (and other devices) may be connected to a
communication network via twisted pair wires, coaxial cable, fiber optics or other media.
Alternatively, radio waves may be used to connect one or more beverage dispenser systems
to the communication network. In one such embodiment, one or more dispensing systems
may be in communication with each other and readily transmit and receive information
regarding other dispenser systems, including a unique formula dispensed to a particular user.
In one embodiment, a plurality of dispensing systems may each be coupled to each other
through a central server. Yet in another embodiment, the dispensing systems may
communication directly with each other. Thus, in one or more embodiments, electronic
circuitry 129 may include computer-executable instructions for transmitting information to
other dispensers and/or a server.
Step 304 of Fig. 3 may be implemented to dispense a first ingredient into a conduit of the
dispensing system 202. Looking to the exemplary dispensing system 202 in FIG. 2, a first
conduit, such as conduit 214 may also be connected (for example, through a series of valves
and/or through tubing 108) to a beverage ingredient source (such, as for example
concentrate(s) llOa/HOb). During beverage preparation and dispensing, one or more
ingredients, such as water 112a/l 12b and/or concentrates llOa/HOb may pass through the
first conduit 214. Conduit 214 is merely exemplary, as additional or fewer ingredient
sources may be upstream or downstream from conduit 214. Moreover, dispensing system
202 may comprise a plurality of conduits, such as second conduit 216. The second conduit
216 may be in connection with one or more ingredient source, such as water 1 12a/ 112b
and/or concentrates l lOa Ob. In the illustrative dispensing system 202, the first conduit
214 and the second conduit 216 diverge at the nozzle 122, where ingredients may be mixed
and dispensed from the dispensing system 202.
Regarding the nozzle 122, the illustrated dispensing system 202 of this invention may
includes the single dispensing head 104 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) with plural passageways,
such as conduits 214, 216 (shown in FIG. 2) through which concentrated ingredients may
flow. Valve units 124, 126, and 128 may operate independently from each other and be
independently controlled. Thus, the disclosed systems 102, 202 may be constructed so that a
single dispensing head 104 may be used to discharge beverages blended from any one of
two or more distinct ingredients (such as concentrates) to a single nozzle 122. In certain
embodiments, this may eliminate the need to provide the system 102 with multiple
dispensing heads wherein each head is employed to dispense a single beverage. Other
embodiments, however, may implement a plurality or heads and/or nozzles. Regardless of
the quantity of nozzles utilized, those skilled in the art will appreciate that valves 124 and
126 may be simultaneously opened to discharge a beverage that is a desirable mixed blend
of two or more concentrates or other ingredients.
Dispensing head 104 may be further designed so that the passage of one or more ingredients
comprising carbonated water is discharged has a tapered increase in cross-sectional area
along its length as measured starting from the top to the bottom. That is, a conduit or
passage within dispensing system may be narrow at the high pressure end and widens
considerably, to as much as ten times its width at the low pressure end. Consequently, as the
water and gas fluid stream flows through a tapered passage, the pressure of the gas bubbles
in the stream may decrease continually but gradually. This gradual decrease in pressure
reduces the extent the carbon dioxide, upon the discharge an outlet breaks out of the fluid
stream. The reduction of carbonation breakout serves to ensure that the blended beverage
has sufficient gaseous-state carbon dioxide to impart a desirable taste.
Conduits 214, 216 may comprise a plurality of sensors to measure one or more parameters
of one or more ingredients that travel through the respective conduit 214, 216 to the nozzle
122. The measured parameters of a first ingredient may be used to adjust the amount or
parameter of a second ingredient to be dispensed. Yet in other embodiments, the measured
parameters of the first ingredient may be used to dispense the amount of that ingredient
being dispensed. In certain embodiments, several parameters may be measured within
conduit 214 and/or conduit 216. In one embodiment, steps 306, 308, and/or 310 may be
implemented to measure the temperature, viscosity, pH, flow rate, and/or pressure of a first
ingredient in the first conduit. In one embodiment, step 306 may comprise the
implementation of temperature sensor 218 (shown in conduit 214), step 308 may include
measurements with flow rate sensor 220 (shown in conduit 216) and step 310 may comprise
measurements from PSI meter 222 (shown in conduit 214). While, the sensors are shown in
two different conduits (214, 216), those skilled in the art will appreciate that both (and
additional) conduits may have each of the above-described sensors as well as additional
sensors.
Step 312 may also be implemented to determine if the ingredient (or one of the ingredients)
is a non-Newtonian fluid. This determination may be based one or more measurements of
steps 308-310 and/or based upon known information regarding the ingredient. For example,
an electronic signal may be transmitted from the electronic circuitry 129 that is indicative
that the ingredient(s) in at least one conduit 214, 216 is/are non-Newtonian. If at step 312, it
is determined that the ingredient is non-Newtonian, step 314 may be implemented. At step
314, one or more sensors may detect or otherwise measure the shear stress and/or strain rate
of the ingredient(s). In one embodiment, a first sensor in a first conduit 214 may be used to
detect the flow rate of a first fluid; however, a second sensor in the same first conduct 214
may be used to detect the flow rate of a second fluid.
In those embodiments, where the ingredient is non-Newtonian, the shear stress could utilize
sensors to first measure the gradient of for example, by using a first sensor to measure the
gradient of the velocity profile at the walls of the conduit 214, 216. Computer-executable
instructions on computer-readable medium 204 may use processor 206 to multiply the signal
from the first sensor by the dynamic viscosity to provide the shear stress of that particular
ingredient or combination of ingredients. In one embodiment, one or more micro-pillar
shear-stress sensors may be used in conduit(s) 214, 216. The micro-pillar structures may be
configured to flex in response to the drag forces in close proximity to the outer perimeter of
the conduit(s) 214, 216 (i.e., the walls). The flexing may be detected electronically,
mechanically, or optically. The result of the flexing may be received as an electronic signal
by computer-executable instructions on computer-readable medium 204. Processor 206 may
utilize the received electronic signal to determine wall-shear stress. As discussed above, one
or more of the conduits 214, 216 may comprise a temperature sensor 218, which may
transmit electronic signals as an input to electronic circuitry 129. The input from
temperature sensor 218 may also be used in conjunction with one or more other sensors to
determine the viscosity of an ingredient of composition comprising a plurality of
ingredients.
Further aspects of the invention relate to novel uses of adjustable orifices. For example, in
certain embodiments, rather than implement the volumetric measurement then dispensing of
ingredients, adjustable orifices may be used to simultaneously measure and dispense
ingredients. For example, as an ingredient (or compositions having a plurality of
ingredients) flows through a conduit, flow meter 220 and temperature meter 218 may
determine the viscosity of the ingredient. Based upon the parameters detected by meters 218
and 220, information may be received from the electronic circuitry 129 that adjusts, rather
than merely opening or closing, an orifice {see, e.g., elements 126 and 224 within conduit
214 within the conduit 214, 216). In certain embodiments, this may result in a more
homogeneous combination of the ingredients. In other embodiments, it may result in less
wear and tear on the dispensing device 202. In yet further embodiments, it may result in
more efficient measurements of ingredients. Obtaining accurate measurements of
ingredients may be of special importance, for example, when dealing with micro-nutrients,
such as nutrients that comprise less than about 5% of the entire beverage or composition. In
certain embodiments, a first ingredient may be dispensed from dispensing system 202 or at
about 6% of the final beverage.
In one embodiment, the flow rate of at least one ingredient may be adjusted by the same
mechanism that measures the flow rate. For example, exemplary flow rate sensor 220
(shown in conduit 216 of FIG. 2) may comprise a turbine or a paddle meter that is
configured to measure the flow rate of an ingredient within conduit 216 (this measurement
may be conducted in cooperation with information received from one or more other sensors
within dispensing device 202). Based upon the determination of the flow rate, electronic
circuitry 129 may transmit a signal that causes a drag placed upon at least a portion of sensor
220 (such as a turbine or paddle portion) thus acting as a restrictive orifice, such that the
quantity of ingredient that is dispensed through conduit over a predetermined period of time
is reduced. Likewise, electronic circuitry 129 may transmit a signal that causes less drag
placed upon at least a portion of sensor 220, (i.e., at least a turbine or paddle), thus acting to
increase the quantity of ingredient that is dispensed through conduit over a predetermined
period of time is reduced. This may occur during or before step 316, in which it is
determined whether further ingredients are to be dispensed. In further embodiments, one or
more parameters of any ingredient being dispensed may be adjusted based upon information
received from one or more sensors (such as sensors 218 and/ 220). For example, the
carbonation levels of the ingredient may be altered to adjust the viscosity of the ingredient
being dispensed.
Further, in the preparation of certain compositions to be dispensed, it may not be desirable to
dispense a first ingredient under the same pressure as a second ingredient (for example,
when dispensing a second ingredient at step 318). In some instances, it may be desirable to
reduce the pressure under which a first ingredient is dispensed, in yet other embodiments; it
may desirable to increase the pressure that an ingredient is dispensed, for example, to ensure
proper mixing or the intended profile of the beverage. In certain embodiments, adjustable
orifices may be implemented to ensure the optimal flow rate is implemented for certain
ingredients. For example, computer-readable instructions may be used to achieve the
optimal combination of pressure and flow rate of an ingredient passing through a conduit
214, 216, such as by use of an adjustable orifice. A simplified graphical illustration is
shown by way of element 226. As seen by element 226, adjusting an input, such as through
a step motor (for example "35°", "55°", or "75°") may be used to obtain a preferred
combination of flow rate and pressure. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that
element 26 is merely illustrative and that other implementations, including the use of more
than three adjustable settings, are within the scope of this disclosure.
At step 320, information regarding the dispensed beverage or composition may be stored on
a computer-readable medium, such as computer-readable medium 204. The computerreadable
medium of step 320 is not, however, required to be within or local to the dispensing
system 202. Instead, the information regarding the dispensed beverage may be transmitted
through network connection 212 to a remote computer-readable medium. In one
embodiment, the unique composition dispensed through the implementation of one or more
methods shown in FIG. 3 may be received at a second dispensing system, which may
dispense the substantially the same beverage or composition.
[39] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method in accordance with one embodiment of
the invention. At step 402, it may be determined whether a custom beverage comprises a
carbonated ingredient, such as carbonated water. In one embodiment, steps 404 and/or 406
may be performed to select a carbonation source (step 404) and adjust the carbonation of the
selected source (step 406). For example, at step 404, it may be determined that the beverage
requested contained carbonated water, however, the user requested that the beverage
comprise less high fructose corn syrup, therefore the carbonation levels of the beverage may
be reduced. Commonly assigned pending U.S. Patent Applications, having attorney docket
no. 006943.02935 and 0066943.02936, which are disclosed herein by reference in their
entirety, disclose systems and methods relating to the creation and dispensing of novel
beverage compositions. In one embodiment, the level of carbonation (or any gas) of a
second ingredient is adjusted based upon electronic signals received from one or more
signals regarding measurements from sensors measuring parameters of a first ingredient.
Such parameters may be the flow rate, viscosity, pH, pressure, level of carbonation, level of
constituents, such as sugar, water, coloring, etc., and/or any combination of these and other
parameters that relate to the first ingredient.
[40] In certain embodiments, the carbonation source selected in 404 may be one of a plurality of
sources. For example, different sources may comprise various levels of carbonation;
therefore, one source comprising the closest amount of carbonation needed may be selected
before adjustment. In certain embodiments, dispensing system 102, 202 may selectively
discharge streams of carbonized and non-carbonized water from separate containers, for
example, reservoirs 1 2a- 112b. Therefore, in certain implementations, the dispensing head
104 can be employed to dispense beverages selectively made from either carbonized or noncarbonized
water. Alternatively, the dispensing head 104 may be used to dispense a
beverage comprising carbonated water and non-carbonated water. In one embodiment,
adjustable orifices are opened simultaneously to cause the simultaneous dispensing of both
carbonated and non-carbonated water. This is useful when it is desired to blend these two
liquids with a concentrate to produce a lightly carbonated beverage. In one embodiment, by
varying the amount of time each orifice is open at one or more predetermined diameters, the
extent to which the water supplied for the beverage may be set anywhere between fully
carbonated (100% carbonated water supply) to no carbonation (100% non-carbonated water
supply).
In yet other embodiments, step 410 may be used to create a carbonation source. In one
embodiment, a first conduit such as conduit 214 may comprise water and conduit 216 may
comprise carbon dioxide gas. Thus, based upon the sensors 218, 220, 222, and/or other
sensors within conduits 214, 216 or elsewhere within dispensing system 202, the amount of
water that is combined with the carbon dioxide gas is determined and dispensed, such as
through an adjustable orifice. Regardless of whether steps 404 and 406 or step 410 is
implemented, step 408 may be initiated. In one embodiment, the resultant carbonated
ingredient may be dispensed into a conduit, such as conduits 214 and/or 216. (see, e.g., step
304 of FIG. 3).
It should further be appreciated that not embodiments have all of the above-described
features and/or include each step and/or process of the disclosed methods. For example,
certain embodiments may be provided with different quantities of fluid passageways and
valve units than have been described above with respect to the illustrated embodiments. It is
anticipated that these alternative embodiments of the invention may be used to provide a
means for forming a beverage from a combination of a plurality of ingredients, which may
be discharged from a either a plurality of nozzles or, alternatively, a single nozzle.
Moreover, one or more nozzles may be configured to provide a discharge passage that
extends vertically downward. Yet in other embodiments, one or more discharge passages
for ingredients may have a spiral or helical configuration. While the exemplary dispensing
system 102 shown in FIG. 1 may be used in a commercial setting, for example, a restaurant,
those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the teachings of this disclosure may be
applied to any dispensing system, such as implemented in bar gun technology and/or
residential use. Further, embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may be used with
frozen beverages and/or non-carbonated beverages.
FIG. 5 shows a computer device 500 that may be used to control the operation of a
beverage dispenser, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Device 500
may include at least one network interface 502 for receiving and sending data traffic, a
central processor 504 and a system memory 506. Interface 502 may be any type of
network interface well known to those skilled in the art. Network interface 502 may be
used to connect device 500 to a network, such as the Internet 528, and various devices
and servers, such as server 530. Central processor 504 may be implemented with a
variety of different central processing units. The structure of system memory 506 is well
known to those skilled in the art and may include a basic input/output system (BIOS)
stored in a read only mem ory (ROM) and one or more program modules such as
operating systems, application programs and program data stored in random access
memory (RAM).
Device 500 may also include a card reader 508, such as a radio frequency identification
(RFID) card reader for reading information stored in an RFOD tag 510 attached to a card
512. A recipe database 514 may be used to store a variety of beverage recipes. Some of
the recipes may be custom recipes created by users. A preferences database 516 may
store preferences selected by users.
Device 500 may be configured to provide audio and/or video information while drinks
are dispensed. An audio card 518 may be included to drive a sound device, such as a
speaker 520. A video card 522 may be included drive a video display 524. Audio and
video cards are conventional components and are widely available. Video display 524
may be implemented with a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED)
display or any other type of display. In one embodiment, display 524 is a touch screen
and is attached to the front of the dispenser. The touch screen may be configured to
receive beverage selections from users.
The various components within device 500 may be connected with a system bus 526.
System bus 526 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or
memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus
architectures
In operation device 500 may receive beverage selections at a touch screen and provide
audio and/or video information to the user. For example, speaker 520 may generate a
sound that changes as a container is filled with a beverage. The sound may correspond
to the fill state of the beverage and/or the type of beverage. The volume and tempo of
the sound may increase as the container is filled. In one embodiment a bubbling sound is
played when carbonated beverages, such as colas, are selected. A non-bubbling sound
may be played when noncarbonated beverages, such as fruit juices, are selected.
Display 524 may display an image 532 that is updated to reflect the fill state of a cup or
other container. Image 532 may also show beverage ingredients flowing into the
container. Ingredients may have different colors or other appearances.
Fig. 6 illustrates a bag-in-box dispensing system in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention. A bag-in-box container 602 may contain a concentrate 604. Bag-in-box
602 may include a collapsible bag surrounded by a relatively rigid box. A connector 606
is included t o connect bag-in-box 602 to another component. Connector 606 may
include a rotary pump that is used to dispense fluid from bag-in-box container 602. In
some embodiments, pump 608 is molded into connector 606. An exemplary rotary pump
is described in detail below. A drive source 610 may be included to drive rotary pump
608.
The bag-in-box dispensing system shown in Fig. 6 may include several additional
conventional components. In one embodiment, a valve 612 is used to control the
dispensing of water from a water source 614. Water source 614 may contain carbonated
water. Of course, in various embodiments of the invention water may be replaced with
another diluent. Water and concentrate may be mixed at a nozzle 616.
Fig. 7 illustrates an exemplary positive displacement pump such as a rotary pump 700
that may be used with various embodiments of the invention. Rotary pump 700 includes
a resiliently deformable housing 702 and a rotor 704 that form a plurality of chambers
706a, 706b, 706c and 706d. Housing 702 may be formed of plastic, such as polyethylene
or polypropylene. Rotor 704 may also be formed of plastic. In some embodiments, rotor
704 is formed of a metal such as stainless steel or a magnetic material encapsulated in
lubricous plastic material. In operation, chambers 706a, 706b, 706c and 706d rotate
around axis 708 and transport fluid from an inlet port 710 to an outlet port 712. Rotary
pump 700 may be used for metering the transfer of fluid from inlet port 710 to outlet port
712. Of course, other embodiments may include additional inlet ports and/or outlet
ports. Quantex provides pumps that may be used with aspects of the invention.
Rotor 704 may be driven by an external motor. In one embodiment, the motor may be
part of a tube that connects to the connector that contains the rotary pump. The motor
may include a shaft that is physically formed to engage with specific rotors. This
embodiment may prevent improper installation and the use of counterfeit products. In
embodiments that utilize a metal or magnetic rotor, the motor may be magnetically
coupled to the rotor. In one embodiment of the invention, the bag-in-box container may
include an RFID tag that includes information necessary to drive a pump, such as a rate
of revolution to obtain a desired metering of concentrate.
Placing a relatively low cost rotary pump within a bag-in-box container can result in a
low cost disposable fluid storage system. Moreover, since the pumps will only be used
when emptying and/or filling the bag-in-box containers, use and failure rates will be
relatively low.
Fig. 8 illustrates a bag-in-box dispensing system that utilizes a water powered motor to
drive a rotary pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A bag-in-box
container 802 includes a connector 804 that includes a rotary pump 806. A motor 808 is
driven by a pressurized diluent stream, such as a water stream 810. A gear mechanism
between motor 808 and rotary pump 806 may control the amount of concentrate
dispensed from pump 806. In one embodiment, motor 808 and rotary pump 806 are
configured so that concentrate is dispensed at a ratio of five parts water to one part
concentrate. Various other embodiments may utilize ratios of 1 tol up to 1 to 100. The
same water that is used to drive may motor 808 may be mixed with the concentrate
output by rotary pump 806 to form a beverage. Of course, motor 808 may be driven by
fluids other than water.
One or more fluid driven motors may be used to drive multiple rotary pumps. Fig. 9
illustrates an embodiment in which a diluent driven pump 902 drives rotary pumps 904
and 906. Gear mechanisms between motor 902 and rotary pumps 904 and 906 may be
set to control the amounts of diluent, a first concentrate 908 and a second concentrate
910 mix at a nozzle 912.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the invention may use a
variety of mechanical configurations to harness energy from a diluent stream to power a
rotary pump. Fig. 10 illustrates an example in which a diluent stream enters an inlet port
1002 and rotates gears 1004 and 1006. Gear 1004 rotates gear 1008. A shaft, not shown,
may be connected to gear 1008 at axis 1010 and may be used to drive a rotary pump.
The diluent stream leaves via an outlet port 1012.
Fig. 11 illustrates an electronically controlled beverage dispensing system, in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention. A bag-in-box container 1102, flavor sources 1104
and 1106, additive source 1108 and water 1 1 10 are connected to a dispensing valve
1112. Bag-in-box container 1102, flavor source 1104 and additive source 1108 may be
packaged in containers that include rotary pumps 1114, 1116 and 1118. The dispensing
of fluids from flavor source 1106 and water 1110 are controlled by valves 1120 and
1122. In operation a user may select a beverage or recipe via touch screen interface
1124. A controller 1126 then controls appropriate pumps and valves to dispense the
selected beverage or recipe. Of course numerous additional or alternative beverage
components may be included. The beverage components may be stored in mircrocatridges,
bag-in-box containers or other containers and may be in the form of powders,
films, gels, liquids or other forms of ingredients.
While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples and to
presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that there are numerous variations of the above described systems and
methods that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be further
noted that certain aspects of the present invention have been described herein, but the
invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The following claims
demonstrate the breadth of the invention.
We claim:
1. A bag-in-box package comprising:
a rigid box;
a flexible bag disposed within the box and having a connector projecting outwardly of the
box; and
a rotary pump located within the connector, the rotary pump having a resiliently deformable
housing and a rotor that form a plurality of chambers.
2. The bag-in-box package of claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable housing is formed of
plastic.
3. The bag-in-box package of claim 1, wherein the rotor is formed of resin.
4. The bag-in-box package of claim 1, wherein the rotor is formed of a magnetic material.
5. The bag-in-box package of claim 1, wherein the rotary pump is disposable.
6. A beverage dispensing system comprising:
a concentrate container having a connector, the connector comprising a rotary pump located
within the connector and having a resiliently deformable housing and a rotor that form a plurality of
chambers; and
a motor coupled to the pump to drive the pump;
wherein the motor controls the volumetric dispensing of concentrate from the concentrate
container.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the concentrate container comprises a bag-in-box container.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the motor is mechanically connected to the pump.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein the motor is magnetically coupled to the pump.
11. The system of claim 10, where in the pump includes a magnetic rotor.
12. The system of claim 6, wherein the motor comprises a fluid driven pump.
13. The system of claim 12, further including a mixer that mixes fluid used to drive the pump and
concentrate from the concentrate container.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the mixer comprises a nozzle.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the mixer comprises a mixing trough.
16. A beverage dispensing system comprising:
a memory that stores beverage recipes;
a user input device that receives a beverage selection corresponding to a recipe;
a plurality of beverage component containers, each beverage component container having a
connector that comprises a rotary pump located within the connector, the rotary pump having a
resiliently deformable housing and a rotor that form a plurality of chambers; and
a processor programmed with computer-executable instructions to cause the beverage
dispensing system to:
receive the beverage selection; and
drive at least a first rotary pump to dispense a first volume of beverage component
from a first beverage component container in accordance with the recipe.
17. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further programmed with
computer-executable instructions to cause the beverage dispensing system to:
drive at least a second rotary pump to dispense a second volume of beverage component
from a second beverage component container in accordance with the recipe.
18. The beverage dispensing system of claim 17, further comprising a water container and
the processor is further programmed with computer-executable instructions to cause the beverage
dispensing system to control a valve coupled to the water container to dispense a volume of water in
accordance with the recipe.
19. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the user input device comprises a touch
screen.
20. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16, further including a sound device configured to
play sound corresponding to a beverage selected with the user input device while a beverage is
being dispensed.