Patent Application
20090188938
The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing flavoring compounds, such as syrups, into a beverage or food product, and comprises a programmable pump apparatus for dispensing a varying amount of a selected flavor in response to user input.
Methods for adding flavor to beverages and food products are known in industry. Such methods allow an individual to customize a beverage or food product which has been prepared separately for a larger group of people. Examples of this practice are found particularly in the beverage industry, where soft drinks may be prepared by adding a flavor at a continuous rate to a stream of carbonated water, or by using a manual hand pump.
The current invention comprises an apparatus which allows a user to dispense flavoring compounds, such as syrups, into a beverage or food product, and comprises a programmable apparatus for dispensing a varying amount of a selected flavor in response to user input.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for dispensing flavors, such as to beverages or food products. The apparatus may comprise a housing, a pump assembly, a nozzle for dispensing flavor, and a control board including a user interface which is capable of activating the pump assembly.
In another exemplary embodiment, the housing comprises a main tower, which can be constructed of wood, plastic, metal, or other suitable solid or composite materials. The housing can be capable of being mounted on a countertops or other work surfaces in a home, office, food preparation area or other suitable locations.
In another exemplary embodiment, the pump assembly can include one or more pumps, each connected to a source of flavor. The pumps are further connected to a solenoid, which controls the flow of the flavoring material to a nozzle for dispensing flavor. Each solenoid is capable of being activated by a control board, which is connected to a user interface. In one embodiment, each solenoid is capable of being activated for a predetermined period of time, such as between 0.25 and 2.00 seconds. When several solenoids are included in a solenoid assembly, the control board can activate one or more of the solenoids.
In another exemplary embodiment, the pump assembly can receive a source of pressured liquid or gas, such as carbon dioxide gas (CO2). The source of pressurized liquid or gas can be in fluid communication with one or more of the pumps, and can supply pressure to assist in the movement of the flavor through the pump and through the nozzle, such as where the pump is hydraulically powered and maintains a supply line at a predetermined pressure.
The above embodiments can also include buttons in the user interface that are capable of interacting with the control board. The control board can be programmed for pour and hold with a specified time-out and a guard time delay to prevent accidental dispensing of flavor.
Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the advantages and superior features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof on reading the detailed description that follows in conjunction with the drawings.
In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures might not be to scale, and certain components can be shown in generalized or schematic form and identified by commercial designations in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
In this exemplary embodiment, the dispenser can include a non-conductive faceplate (16), which can be attached to the front of the main tower (13), such as by the hinged frame. The dispenser (
Valve control system 702 receives user control inputs and valve programming inputs and controls the configuration and operation of a plurality of valves for controlling dispensing of flavoring compounds. In one exemplary embodiment, valve control system 702 can control a plurality of solenoid valves that regulate the flow of flavoring compounds, such as in a system where a plurality of pneumatic pumps provide flavoring syrups at a regulated pressure. Likewise, valve control system 702 can control other suitable systems, such as systems where pumps are operated to control delivery of flavoring compounds, systems utilizing other suitable valves, or other suitable systems.
Valve activation system 704 receives one or more user control selections and activates one or more associated valves, such as solenoid valves. In one exemplary embodiment, user-selectable buttons can be used to generate user control selection signals.
Valve timing system 706 provides valve timing information in response to valve activation data. In one exemplary embodiment, when a user control selection is received, timing data for an associated valve can be received from valve timing system 706, such that each valve can be assigned a different run time, the same run time, or other suitable run times.
Valve deactivation system 708 received timing data and deactivates a selected valve or valves upon expiration of the timing data. In one exemplary embodiment, valve deactivation system 708 can deactivate different valves at different times, such as where the timing data associated with each of plurality of valves is different for one or more of the plurality of valves.
Valve programming system 710 receives valve programming data so as to allow a user to program one or more run times for each of a plurality of valves. In one exemplary embodiment, valve programming data can be used to ignore user control selections that are less than a predetermined time, such as where a user may have inadvertently depressed a control, to activate a valve for a programmed period of time when a user control selection is within a predetermined period of time, to allow a user to cause a valve to flow as long as desired when a user control selection continues for a predetermined period of time, or in other suitable manners. Likewise, the programmed length of operation for each of a plurality of valves can be set to different times where suitable, or other suitable programming functions can be provided.
In operation, system 700 allows a user to operate or program a flavoring compound dispenser so as to allow users to dispense flavoring compounds such as syrups into beverages in predetermined quantities, and also to allow operators to control the operation of a flavor dispensing system.
At 806, a current run time is displayed, and the method proceeds to 808, where it is determined whether a control has been received to change the valve run time. In one exemplary embodiment, a user can use controls to increase or decrease the valve run time, can select different run time settings in response to different user-selectable control inputs, or other suitable control settings can be received. If a control setting is not received, the method proceeds to 814. Otherwise, the method proceeds to 812 where the new valve run time is stored. The method then proceeds to 814.
At 814, the method enters operation mode. Likewise, a prompt can be provided to allow the user to return to 804 and program more valve run times. The method then proceeds to 816 where a valve is activated, such as in response to a user-entered valve selection, selection of a dispenser button, or in other suitable manners. The method then proceeds to 818, where it is determined whether a programmed valve run time has elapsed. If the valve run time has not elapsed, the method returns to 816, otherwise, the method proceeds to 820 where the valve is deactivated. The method then proceeds to 822.
At 822, it is determined whether a control has been received enter the programming mode. If a control has been received, the method returns to 802. Otherwise, the method returns to 814 and resumes normal operation.
In operation, method 800 provides an exemplary control process for a system for dispensing flavoring compounds, and can be implemented as a software system for a programmable controller or in other suitable manners.
In operation, the invention can include an apparatus for dispensing flavors, such as to beverages. The apparatus includes a housing, a pump assembly, a valve assembly, a nozzle assembly for dispensing flavor compounds, and a control board including a user interface which is capable of activating the valves in the valve assembly.
The flavor compounds to be dispensed can include any suitable flavoring compound that is packaged in a consumable format, such as syrups, liquids, powders, or other suitable compounds, each having a different flavor, including but not limited to peach, mango, raspberry, orange, black currant, lime, cranberry, vanilla, mint, lemon, sarsaparilla, cherry, peppermint, hazelnut, melon, caramel, almond, amaretto, gingerbread, pumpkin, eggnog, blackberry, chocolate, Irish cream, cinnamon, licorice and combinations thereof.
In one exemplary embodiment, the housing includes a main tower, which can be constructed of wood, plastic, metal, or other suitable solid or composite materials. The housing can be mounted on a countertop or other work surfaces in a home, office, food preparation area, or other suitable locations. The housing can include removable graphics labels for identifying the flavor options to a customer, and can also include a drip tray for preventing accidental spills of flavoring. In this embodiment, the housing can be 7.25″ wide with a drip tray (or 6.0″ without a drip tray), 11.13″ deep, and 23.0″ high. The housing can also comprise a 24 volt D.C. power cord, or an aperture capable of being fitted with such a cord. The housing can also be fitted with a power supply, or can be capable of being fitted with a power supply.
In one exemplary embodiment, the pump assembly can include one or more pneumatic pumps, each connected to a source of pneumatic power such as a pressurized CO2 tank, a source of flavor compound, and the input of a valve, such as a solenoid valve or other suitable valves. A nozzle for dispensing the flavor compound is connected to the output of the valve. Each valve can be connected to a suitable power source, such as a 24 volt D.C. solenoid power supply. Each valve can be activated by a control board, which is connected to a user interface, which can be accomplished when the user presses one or more buttons in contact with the control board. In this embodiment, each valve can be activated for a specified period of time, such as a continuously or discretely varied period or time between 0.25 and 2.00 seconds, a period of time that has been pre-programmed by an operator, or other suitable periods of time. Flavor compound may be dispensed using the interface in increments that are based on the length of time that the valve operates, such as 1/10 of an ounce for 0.25 seconds, and the user may select one of 12 flavors. The operation time for the valve for one flavor compound can be different from the operation time for the valve for a different flavor compound, such as where different flavors are provided in different strengths.
In addition, the buttons in contact with the control board can be programmed to activate the valves to pour and hold with a specified time-out or programmed with a guard time delay to prevent accidental dispensing of flavor, such as when a button is accidentally pressed for a short period of time.
When a plurality of valves are included in the valve assembly, the control board can be capable of activating one or more of the plurality of valves. In this exemplary embodiment, the pumps may be 15 p.s.i. pneumatic pumps capable of dispensing flavor in liquid form, such that the pressure in the supply line is maintained when the valves are actuated by the pneumatic pumps. Other suitable pumps can also or alternatively be used. The flavor compound may be packaged in a bag-in-box container with a ¼″ fitting capable of being connected to ¼″ tubing in the pump assembly. Table 1 shows an exemplary amount of flavoring compound (“shot”) that can be dispensed with different periods of valve activation.
In this exemplary embodiment, the apparatus can be fitted with electrical and tubing connections, which can exit from the bottom of the main tower or from other suitable locations. An electrical transformer can be included, such as a 24 volt A.C., 1.0 amp transformer with wire harness and power cord. Internal wiring connecting the power source or control board with the valves can be color-coded to facilitate assembly and maintenance. In addition, the main tower can accept a 2-pin connector from a transformer, such as at the bottom of the main tower.
The control board is electrically coupled to multiple buttons representing specific flavors to be dispensed. The control board can also include a liquid crystal display to allow the user to see the status and programmed parameters of each valve. The liquid crystal display can be programmed to shut off automatically after a period of inactivity, such as one minute, to reduce power consumption. Additional controls can also or alternatively be provided to allow the user to scroll between valves to be programmed. Flavor buttons can be programmed individually to provide timed dispenses, such as between 0.25 and 2.00 seconds in increments of 0.25 seconds, can be provided with a default run time such as 0.5 seconds, can be configured to provide a pour and hold function with a timeout such as 25 seconds, can be configured with a guard time delay (such as from 0.0 to 1.0 seconds in increments of about 0.05 seconds with a default value of 0.10 seconds) in order to avoid accidental activation of the controls, or can be configured in other suitable manners. In this exemplary embodiment, programmed times can be stored in non-volatile memory to allow them to be retained when the unit is not powered.
In one exemplary embodiment, the pump assembly can include a source of pressured liquid or gas, such as carbon dioxide gas (CO2). The source of pressurized liquid or gas can be provided in fluid communication with one or more pumps, and can supply pressure to assist in the movement of the flavoring compound through the pump and valve and through the nozzle.
Although exemplary embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will also recognize that various substitutions and modifications can be made to the apparatus without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
