Patent Application
20210347623
Embodiments described herein generally relate to a beverage dispensing nozzle. Specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing nozzle capable of dispensing multiple types of beverages and that limits or eliminates carryover of flavor.
Beverage dispensers can generally be categorized as pre-mix beverage dispensers or post-mix beverage dispensers. In a pre-mix beverage dispenser, the nozzle of the dispenser simply dispenses a pre-prepared, ready-to-drink beverage. Pre-mix beverage dispensers have the drawback of requiring a large reservoir of the pre-mixed, ready-to-serve beverage, which increases the footprint of the beverage dispenser. Further, if it is desired to dispense multiple beverages from the pre-mix beverage dispenser, multiple reservoirs are required which further increases the footprint of the beverage dispenser. As a result, pre-mix dispensers may not be suited for use in small spaces, such as in a home or office setting.
Post-mix beverage dispensers generally dispense a base liquid and a flavoring that combine to form the beverage. As a result, a large reservoir of a pre-mixed beverage is not required, and instead the nozzle of the dispenser can be connected to a source of base liquid and a source of flavoring. This allows for the footprint of the beverage dispenser to be reduced relative to pre-mix beverage dispensers. As the post-mix dispenser dispenses a base liquid and separately a flavoring, the post-mix dispenser may have separate nozzles for each flavoring. The use of multiple nozzles may increase the cost and footprint of the dispenser. If a single nozzle is used for dispensing multiple flavorings, the construction of the nozzle may be relatively complex and may be designed to dispense the base liquid and flavoring in a specific ratio, promote mixing of the base liquid and flavoring, and prevent cross-contamination of the flavorings.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing nozzle that includes a housing having an upper end opposite a lower end and an inlet at the upper end of the housing that is configured to be placed in communication with a source of a base liquid. The beverage dispensing nozzle includes a chamber within the housing that is in communication with the inlet, and an aerator in communication with the chamber, wherein the aerator comprises a plate having a plurality of apertures. The beverage dispensing nozzle further includes a flavor inlet valve in communication with a source of a flavoring that is arranged downstream of the aerator, wherein the flavor inlet valve is configured to dispense the flavoring into the housing, and a nozzle tip arranged at the lower end of the housing.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing nozzle that includes a housing having an inlet at an upper end of the housing that is in communication with a source of a base liquid and an aerator arranged within the housing configured to reduce a pressure of a flow of the base liquid. The beverage dispensing nozzle further includes a flavor inlet valve configured to dispense a flavoring into the housing downstream of the aerator, wherein a dilution ratio of flavoring to the base liquid is in a range of 1:20 to 1:1000, and a nozzle tip arranged at a lower end of the housing for dispensing the base liquid and the flavoring.
Some embodiments described herein relate to beverage dispensing nozzle that includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of a base liquid, and an aerator arranged within the housing and configured to reduce a pressure of the flow of the base liquid. The beverage dispensing nozzle further includes a flavor inlet valve arranged downstream of the aerator, wherein the flavor inlet valve comprises a poppet having a head, wherein the head of the poppet extends from an inner wall of the housing so that the head of the poppet is in the flow of the base liquid, wherein the flavor inlet valve is configured to be placed in communication with a source of flavoring and selectively dispense the flavoring into the housing, and a nozzle tip arranged at a lower end of the housing for dispensing the base liquid and the flavoring.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the flavor inlet valve may include a poppet valve. In some embodiments, the poppet valve may include a poppet having a head that extends from an inner wall of the housing.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage dispensing nozzle may further include a nozzle head defining the inlet.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the flavor inlet valve may be one of a plurality of flavor inlet valves. In some embodiments, the plurality of flavor inlet valves may be arranged around a circumference of the housing. In some embodiments, the plurality of flavor inlet valves may be radially arranged around the housing. In some embodiments, the plurality of flavor inlet valves may be arranged in a common plane.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the flavor inlet valve may be configured to dispense the flavoring into the housing in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the nozzle tip may be removably secured to the housing.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the dilution ratio may be in a range of 1:100 to 1:900
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the aerator may include one or more plates each having a plurality of apertures. In some embodiments, a top plate of the one or more plates may have a conical shape with an apex.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the flavor inlet valve may be configured to dispense the flavoring into the flow of the base liquid.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage dispensing nozzle may further include a chamber in communication with the inlet. In some embodiments, the chamber may retain a quantity of the base liquid to prevent backflow of air into the chamber.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the poppet may include a biasing mechanism configured to bias the flavor inlet valve in a closed configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the flavor inlet valve may include a first section configured to be placed in communication with the source of the flavoring, and a second section connected to the housing such that the second section is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing.
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.
Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the claims.
Post-mix beverage dispensing nozzles dispense a base liquid and a flavoring so that the base liquid and flavoring combine to form a beverage. Post-mix beverage dispensing nozzles may be configured to dispense several types of flavoring so that the nozzle can dispense various beverages by dispensing the base liquid and a selected flavoring.
As the post-mix dispensers may dispense multiple flavors, post-mix beverage dispensing nozzles may suffer from carryover of flavor. After dispensing a first beverage from the nozzle, traces of flavoring from the first beverage may remain within the nozzle. When the next beverage is dispensed, the beverage may contain traces of flavoring from the first beverage. This may result in off-tastes, which is undesirable. This may be particularly noticeable when the next beverage dispensed is water or carbonated water.
In order to avoid carryover of flavor, some post-mix dispensing nozzles may be configured to separately dispense base liquid and flavoring so that no mixing occurs within the nozzle. Instead, mixing may occur within the container receiving the dispensed beverage or mixing may occur in-flight, i.e., on the way to the container. However, dispensing flavoring separately from the base liquid may provide an unappealing appearance as consumers may prefer to not view the flavoring being dispensed. Further, mixing of the flavoring and base liquid in the container may be incomplete. Beverage dispensing nozzles generally dispense flavoring and base liquid in a dilution ratio of flavoring to base liquid in a range of 1:4 to 1:10, and thus a fairly large amount of flavoring flows through the nozzle for combination with the base liquid. Generally, as the dilution ratio increases (such that the flavoring is more diluted), carryover of flavor increases. Post-mix beverage dispensing nozzles may be specifically designed to promote mixing of the flavoring and the base liquid. For example, some post mix nozzles may include structures, such as flow channels to cause cross flow or swirling of the base liquid or flavoring to promote mixing. However, by flowing flavoring through the nozzle, the likelihood of carryover of flavor is increased.
Thus, a beverage dispensing nozzle is desired that provides a visually appealing flow of the dispensed beverage without separation of the base liquid and flavoring flow streams, that provides adequate mixing of the base liquid and flavoring, and that minimizes or eliminates carryover of flavor.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing nozzle that dispenses flavoring in a high dilution ratio with the base liquid so as to minimize carryover of flavor and promote mixing of the flavoring and base liquid. As a result, a relatively small amount of flavoring flows through the nozzle, and structures that promote mixing of streams of base liquid and flavoring are not required. Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing nozzle that dispenses flavoring from flavor inlet valves that extend into a flow path of the base liquid within the nozzle housing so that the base liquid rinses the flavor inlet valves and the flavoring is dispensed directly into the flowing base liquid. This helps to prevent carryover of flavor by rinsing flavoring remaining on the valve flavor inlet valve head and flavoring does not contact an inner wall of housing which helps to prevent carryover of flavor.
While the present application may refer to the beverage dispensing nozzle being used to dispense water, it is understood that other base liquids can be dispensed via the nozzle, such as carbonated water, water at different temperatures, water at different pH levels, or dairy-based liquids, among others.
As used herein, flavoring may refer to a particular flavor, such as cola, grape, orange, lemon-lime, cherry, or vanilla, among others, or may refer to a beverage ingredient, such as an enhancer (e.g., multi-vitamin complexes, minerals, and energy boosters), sweetener, or coloring, whether in the form of a liquid, syrup, or concentrate, or other form.
As used herein, base liquid may refer to any free-flowing consumable liquid, such as water, carbonated water, or dairy-based beverages, such as milk, among others.
As used herein, a beverage may refer to a base liquid alone or in combination with one or more flavorings.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing nozzle as shown in
In some embodiments, nozzle 100 may include a nozzle head 106 that defines inlet 102, as shown in
Nozzle 100 may further include an aerator 120, as shown in
Housing 110 of nozzle 100 may include valve openings 118 for receiving flavor inlet valves 160 so that each flavor inlet valve 160 is in communication with an interior volume of housing 110. Valve openings 118 may be arranged on housing 110 between upper end 112 and lower end 114, and may be arranged at a mid-portion of housing 110 downstream of aerator 120. In this way, flavoring may be dispensed from flavor inlet valve 160 into an interior volume of housing 110 to combine with base liquid at a location downstream of aerator 120.
Nozzle 100 further includes a nozzle tip 180 arranged at lower end 114 of housing 110. A beverage is dispensed from beverage dispensing nozzle 100 via an outlet 183 defined by nozzle tip 180. Nozzle 100 may have an upper end 181 opposite a lower end 182. Nozzle tip 180 may taper from upper end 181 toward lower end 182. In some embodiments, nozzle tip 180 may have a conical shape. Nozzle tip 180 may be removably securable to housing 110 to facilitate cleaning and replacement of nozzle tip 180, and cleaning of interior of housing 110. Specifically, upper end 181 of nozzle tip 180 may be removably secured to a lower end 114 of housing 110. Nozzle tip 180 may be removably secured to housing 110, such as by threading 187. In some embodiments, nozzle tip 180 may be secured via male and female connectors, bayonet connectors, press fit, or snap fit, among other fastening methods.
In some embodiments, housing 110 may have a circular cross sectional area as shown in
Flavor inlet valves 160 may be arranged around a circumference of housing 110, as shown for example in
In some embodiments, flavor inlet valve 160 may be a poppet valve as shown in
Second section 163 of valve housing 162 may be seated in a valve opening 118 of housing 110 (see, e.g.,
A poppet 164 having a head 165 may be arranged within second section 163 of flavor inlet valve 160 for controlling the flow of flavoring through second section 163 and into housing 110. In a closed configuration, head 165 of poppet 164 prevents flavoring from flowing through valve body 162 into housing 110. In an open configuration, poppet 164 extends toward housing 110 so that head 165 extends further into interior volume of housing 110, allowing flavoring to flow through second section 163 of valve body 162 and into housing 110. In some embodiments, head 165 of poppet 164 may have a rounded shape, such as a dome shape or may have a convex curvature to promote uninterrupted flow of base liquid in housing 110 over and around head 165. Poppet 164 may be biased in the closed configuration by a biasing mechanism 166. In some embodiments, as shown in
Housing 110, nozzle tip 180, head 106, and housing 162 of flavor inlet valve 160 may be formed from a metal, such as stainless steel. However, in some embodiments, one or more components of nozzle 100 may be composed of a hard plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), among others. Any of the various seals 105, 131, 133, 171, 173, 177 described herein may be formed from an elastomer, such as ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM), nitrile rubber (NBR), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), silicone, polycarbonate, nylon, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene (acetal), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), or a fluoroelastomer, among others.
In some embodiments, nozzle 100 may define an expansion chamber 150 at upper end 112 of housing 110 of nozzle 100, as shown in
As discussed, nozzle 100 may include an aerator 120, as shown for example in
In some embodiments, aerator 120 may have an upper end 122 opposite a lower end 124, such that when aerator 120 is installed in nozzle 100, base liquid flows in a direction from upper end 122 toward lower end 124. Aerator 120 may include one or more plates each having a plurality of apertures or flow channels through which base liquid may flow for restricting or controlling a flow of the base liquid. In some embodiments, aerator 120 includes a top plate 127, a main plate 128, and a lower plate 129, as shown in
Base liquid flowing into nozzle 100 may be turbulent and may be at a high pressure, and aerator 120 is configured to reduce a pressure of the base liquid and provide laminar or quasi-laminar flow of the base liquid. Aerator 120 may be configured to reduce or eliminate splashing of base liquid so as to prevent loss of carbonation of a carbonated base liquid. In order to reduce pressure of the base liquid and provide laminar flow without splashing, aerator 120 includes a main plate 128, as shown in
In some embodiments, aerator 120 includes a top plate 127 at upper end 122 of aerator that is arranged above main plate 128 and is separated therefrom by a chamber 132. Top plate 127 may be configured to retain a quantity of base liquid above top plate 127 in expansion chamber 150 (see, e.g.,
A lower plate 129 may be arranged below main plate 128 at a lower end 124 of the aerator. Lower plate 129 may be separated from main plate 128 by a second chamber 134. Lower plate 129 may have a plurality of apertures 135 to allow base liquid to pass from second chamber 134 through third plate 129 and out of aerator 120, as best shown in
In operation of aerator 120, base liquid flows through apertures 123 of top plate 127 and into a chamber 132 below top plate 127. A quantity of base liquid may remain above top plate 127 after the dispensing operation is complete. Base liquid passes through apertures 126 of main plate 128 and into second chamber 134, wherein main plate 128 restricts the flow of base liquid and reduces the pressure of the base liquid. Base liquid flows from second chamber 134 through apertures 135 of lower plate 129 to provide a smooth flow of base liquid out of aerator 120.
In operation of nozzle 100, base liquid 400 flows into nozzle 100 via inlet 102 and into chamber 150, as shown in
Flavoring 450 may be dispensed by flavor inlet valves 160 into the flow of base liquid within housing 110. If the flavoring flows along an inner wall 117 of housing 110, rinsing the flavoring from the housing 110 may be more difficult, and carryover of flavor may be more likely to occur. In order to prevent flavoring from contacting an inner wall 117 of housing 110, flavor inlet valve 160 extends inward from inner wall 117 into a flow path of base liquid, as shown in
As second section 163 of flavor inlet valve 160 may be arranged generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis Z of nozzle 100, flavoring 450 is directed away from inner wall 117 and is instead dispensed into an interior volume of housing 110 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z. This helps to prevent flavoring 450 from contacting inner wall 117 of housing 110, and further promotes mixing of base liquid 400 and flavoring 450. Further, flavor inlet valves 160 may be arranged in a common plane P (see, e.g.,
Mixing of flavoring 450 and base liquid 400 may begin within nozzle 100 as flavoring is dispensed directly into a flow of base liquid 400. As flavoring 450 is dispensed into housing 110 in a relatively small volume, housing 110 may not have internal structures to direct flow of base liquid or to promote mixing of base liquid and flavoring. As a result, housing 110 does not interrupt the flow of base liquid 400, which helps to prevent turbulence. When base liquid 400 is a carbonated liquid, turbulence may result in loss of carbonation which is undesirable. While head 165 of poppet 164 extends from inner wall 117 of housing 110, head 165 of poppet 164 of flavor inlet valve 160 does not disrupt the flow of base liquid 400 or generate turbulence. Head 165 may have a convex shape or dome-shape to further promote smooth flow of base liquid 400 around head 165 of flavor inlet valve 160 and avoid creating turbulent flow.
In some embodiments, a beverage dispenser 200 may include a beverage dispensing nozzle 100 as described herein. As shown in
Beverage dispenser 200 may further include a user interface 220 for receiving a user input. User interface 220 may include one or more actuators 222, such as buttons, dials, levers, switches, knobs, or the like for controlling operation of beverage dispenser 200. For example, each actuator 222 may correspond to a particular beverage to be dispensed, such as still water, sparkling water, hot water, alkaline water, or flavored water, among others. In some embodiments, beverage may continue to dispense until actuator 222 ceases to be actuated by the user (e.g., beverage dispenses while a button is pressed and stops dispensing when the button is released). In some embodiments, beverage may dispense a predetermined quantity of beverage upon actuation of an actuator 222. In some embodiments, user interface 220 may further include a display 224 for displaying information, such as instructions for operating the beverage dispenser. In some embodiments, display 224 may be a touch screen display such that the user may control operation of beverage dispenser 200 by touching or interacting with touch screen display. For example, the user may operate user interface 220 to input a beverage selection and to cause dispensing of the beverage, such as by operating a dispense button.
Beverage dispenser 200 may include a control unit 250 for controlling the beverage dispensing operation. Control unit 250 may be in communication with user interface 220 and further with one or more pumps for dispensing base liquid and flavoring from the sources of base liquid and flavoring. In operation, user input may be received by user interface 220 and transmitted to control unit 250 from user interface 220. Upon receipt of the user input, control unit 250 may cause a beverage to be dispensed from nozzle 100 (such as by actuating pumps) corresponding to the user input. Control unit 250 may have any of various configurations for carrying out the dispensing operation as described herein as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, control unit 250 may include one or more processors and a memory which may store executable instructions, such as a software program, for controlling the dispensing operation.
An exemplary method 300 of dispensing a beverage using a beverage dispensing nozzle as described herein is shown in
It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention(s) as contemplated by the inventors, and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention(s) and the appended claims in any way.
The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention(s) that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, and without departing from the general concept of the present invention(s). Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance herein.
The breadth and scope of the present invention(s) should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/022,068, filed May 8, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63022068 | May 2020 | US |
