FIELD
[0001] Embodiments described herein generally relate to a contactless method for
selecting and dispensing a custom beverage. Specifically, embodiments described herein
relate to a contactless method for dispensing a custom beverage including selecting a
custom beverage using a mobile electronic device of the consumer and generating or
encoding a QR code with the selected custom beverage to be read by a beverage
dispenser.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Beverage dispensers may be used to allow consumers to select a beverage and
dispense the selected beverage into a container. The beverage dispenser may be a fountain
beverage dispenser and may include a variety of beverage options for the user to select.
Depending on the type of dispenser, the consumer may press and hold a physical button
to dispense a desired amount of a beverage. Some modern beverage dispensers may
include a touch screen display for receiving the consumer’s beverage selection and for
initiating dispensing of the beverage. Such beverage dispensers may include options to
add flavorings or make other modifications to the beverage to be dispensed. Beverage
dispensers may be designed to enhance the consumer experience by facilitating selection
and dispensing of a beverage and to simplify the dispensing operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Some embodiments described herein relate to a method of dispensing a custom
beverage from a beverage dispenser in a contactless manner that includes displaying a QR
code, by the beverage dispenser, wherein the QR code corresponds to a microsite for
selecting a custom beverage, and receiving a selection of a custom beverage and a volume
of the custom beverage to be dispensed via the microsite. The method may further include
generating, via the microsite, a QR code corresponding to the selected custom beverage
and the selected volume, reading the generated QR code by a reader of the beverage
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dispenser, and dispensing the selected custom beverage in the selected volume based on
the QR code.
[0004] In any of the various embodiments described herein, receiving the selection of the
custom beverage may include receiving a selection of a type of beverage and receiving a
selection of a flavoring.
[0005] In any of the various embodiments described herein, receiving the selection of the
custom beverage may include receiving a selection of a carbonation level of the beverage.
[0006] In any of the various embodiments described herein, receiving the selection of the
custom beverage may include receiving a selection of a flavoring level of the beverage.
[0007] In any of the various embodiments described herein, receiving the selection of the
custom beverage may include receiving a selection of a temperature of the beverage.
[0008] In any of the various embodiments described herein, receiving the selection of the
custom beverage via the microsite may be performed using a mobile electronic device..
[0009] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the method may further
include displaying in real-time a volume of the custom beverage dispensed while the
custom beverage is being dispensed by the beverage dispenser.
[0010] In any of the various embodiments described herein, dispensing the custom
beverage may occur after a predetermined period of time after reading the QR code via
the beverage dispenser.
[0011] Some embodiments described herein relate to a method ofselecting and
dispensing a custom beverage using a mobile electronic device that includes receiving
selection of the custom beverage in a user account, wherein receiving selection of the
custom beverage comprises receiving selection of a type of beverage and receiving
selection of a flavoring. The method may further include storing the custom beverage in
the user account, generating a QR code corresponding to the stored custom beverage, and
displaying the QR code on the mobile electronic device, wherein when the QR code is
read by a reader of a beverage dispenser, the custom beverage is dispensed by the
beverage dispenser.
[0012] In any of the various embodiments described herein, receiving selection of the
custom beverage may include receiving selection of a volume of the custom beverage to
be dispensed, wherein the selected volume of the custom beverage may be dispensed
when the QR code is read by the reader of the beverage dispenser.
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[0013] In any of the various embodiments described herein, receiving selection of the
custom beverage may include receiving selection a carbonation level, a flavoring level,
and a beverage temperature.
[0014] In any of the various embodiments described herein, receiving selection of the
custom beverage may be performed at a location remote from the beverage dispenser.
[0015] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the method may further
include tracking a hydration level of a consumer by tracking a total volume of custom
beverages dispensed.
[0016] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the method may further
include displaying in real-time a volume of the custom beverage dispensed during
dispensing of the custom beverage.
[0017] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the method may further
include tracking a total number of beverages dispensed by the beverage dispenser.
[0018] Some embodiments described herein relate to a method of dispensing a custom
beverage using a beverage dispenser that includes reading a QR code of a beverage
container by a reader of the beverage dispenser, wherein the QR code corresponds to the
custom beverage and a volume of the custom beverage to be dispensed. The method may
further include receiving the beverage container in a beverage container receiving area of
the beverage dispenser, and dispensing automatically a volume of the custom beverage
into the beverage container based on the QR code of the beverage container.
[0019] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the method may further
include receiving a selection of the custom beverage in a user account on a mobile
electronic device, and encoding the QR code of the beverage container with the selected
custom beverage prior to reading the QR code of the beverage container by the reader of
the beverage dispenser.
[0020] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the QR code may encode a
beverage type and a flavoring of the custom beverage to be dispensed.
[0021] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the QR code may encode a
carbonation level of the custom beverage to be dispensed.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispenser for contactless
operation that includes a housing, a display arranged on the housing and configured to
display a QR code, wherein the QR code corresponds to a microsite for selecting a
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custom beverage and for generating a QR code that encodes information relating to the
selected custom beverage. The beverage dispenser may further include a reader arranged
on the housing and configured to read the QR code generated by the microsite, and a
dispensing head arranged on the housing, wherein the dispensing head is configured to
automatically dispense the selected custom beverage when the reader reads the QR code
generated by the microsite.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES
[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the
specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the description, further
serve to explain the principles thereof and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to
make and use the same.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a contactless beverage dispenser
according to an embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a contactless beverage dispenser
according to an embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a view of a webpage of a microsite for selecting a custom beverage
according to an embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a view of a webpage of a microsite for selecting a custom beverage
according to an embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a view of a graphical user interface of a beverage dispenser
displayed during dispensing of a custom beverage according to an embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary contactless method of dispensing a custom beverage
according to an embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a view of a graphical user interface of a beverage dispenser during
dispensing of a custom beverage according to an embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 8 shows a page of graphical user interface of a user account forselecting and
dispensing a custom beverage according to an embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 9 shows a page of graphical user interface of a user account forselecting and
dispensing a custom beverage according to an embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 10 shows a page of graphical user interface of a user account for selecting
and dispensing a custom beverage according to an embodiment.
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[0033] FIG. 11 shows a view of a graphical user interface of a beverage dispenser during
dispensing of a custom beverage according to an embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 12 shows an exemplary contactless method of dispensing a custom beverage
according to an embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 13 shows a diagram of a beverage container for use with a beverage
dispenser for contactless dispensing of a custom beverage according to an embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 14 shows an exemplary contactless method of dispensing a custom beverage
according to an embodiment.