Patent Application
20080314926
This invention relates generally to beverage dispensing systems. More particularly, aspects of the invention provide modular beverage dispensing systems and methods for dispensing beverages with a modular beverage dispensing system.
Beverage dispensing units have become a popular way for food and beverage establishments to create on-site fountain beverages. Typically, these units include several bag-in-box containers that each contains syrup, a liquid source that dispenses a liquid, a mixing unit, and a dispensing unit. Syrup is pumped from the bag-in-box container into the mixing unit where it is mixed with liquid to form a beverage that is then dispensed through the dispensing unit. Typically, a pump causes the syrup to be released from the bag-in-box container into the mixing unit.
Conventional beverage dispensing units and systems position the bag-in-box containers and the pump in a back room, such as a storage room or food preparation area, because they can be noisy and can be distracting to patrons. The dispensing unit is oftentimes positioned in the foodservice area of the restaurant or bar so that staff and/or patrons may have access to it. This unit is time-consuming to assemble, disassemble, and service because it is positioned in multiple rooms and because portions of the unit are difficult to access. Assembly, disassembly, and service of this beverage dispensing unit are oftentimes performed by a highly skilled technician due to the complex nature of the unit.
Sellers incur high costs to install and initially service beverage dispensing units. Frequently, a beverage dispensing unit is moved from one premise to another or removed altogether after a short period of time, which causes the seller to lose money on the initial installation and service. Moreover, some food and beverage establishments may wish to transport the beverage dispensing unit to an outdoor location or another indoor location. Therefore, a beverage dispensing unit is needed that is mobile and modular, that operates at a low noise level, and that reduces the amount of time and the level of skill required to assemble, disassemble, and service the unit.
Aspects of the invention overcome problems and limitations of the prior art by providing a mobile beverage dispensing unit, a mobile beverage dispensing system, and a method of providing a fountain beverage, each comprising modules that may be easily assembled, disassembled, and serviced.
In one embodiment of a mobile beverage dispensing unit, a plurality of modules are connected to each other and are capable of creating a beverage that may be dispensed. The unit may include a replaceable syrup module, a replaceable liquid module, a replaceable mixing module, and a plumbing module. The replaceable syrup module may contain syrup and the replaceable liquid module may be capable of dispensing a liquid. The syrup and the liquid may be released from the replaceable syrup module and the replaceable liquid module, respectively. The syrup and the liquid may be mixed together in the replaceable mixing module to form a beverage that may be dispensed by a replaceable dispensing module. A first portion of the plumbing module may connect the replaceable syrup module and the replaceable liquid module to the replaceable mixing module and a second portion of the plumbing module may connect the replaceable mixing module to the replaceable dispensing module. The plumbing module may be a hose that is capable of containing the syrup, the liquid, and the beverage as each flows between modules. Each module of the mobile beverage dispensing unit may be positioned within the same room.
In an embodiment of the mobile beverage dispensing unit, the liquid is water or carbonated water and it may be mixed with the syrup to create a beverage. The replaceable syrup module may be a bag-in-box container. A pump may cause the syrup that is contained within the bag-in-box container to be released into the plumbing module and flow into the replaceable mixing module. The mobile beverage dispensing unit may include a plurality of replaceable syrup modules that each contains a different flavored syrup that may be mixed with the liquid to create a variety of flavored beverages. The liquid or beverage may be carbonated or filtered before the beverage is dispensed. A mobile beverage dispensing unit may also include a pan that is positioned to collect syrup and liquid that may leak from the mobile beverage dispensing unit when it is in operation. The mobile beverage dispensing unit may also include a tray that supports the replaceable syrup module. A portion of the tray may be stainless steel and the edges of the tray may be smooth.
In an additional embodiment of the invention, a method may be practiced of providing an on-site fountain-quality beverage that comprises mixing together syrup that is pumped from a replaceable syrup module and liquid that is dispensed from a replaceable liquid module to form a beverage that is then dispensed. Each of the replaceable syrup module, the replaceable liquid module, and the replaceable mixing module may be positioned within the same room.
a illustrates a mobile beverage dispensing unit including a replaceable mixing module and two replaceable syrup modules.
b illustrates of a mobile beverage dispensing unit including a replaceable mixing module and three replaceable syrup modules.
c illustrates a mobile beverage dispensing unit including a replaceable mixing module and three replaceable syrup modules.
The replaceable syrup module 102, the replaceable liquid module 104, the replaceable mixing module 108, and the plumbing module 106 may be attached to one another to form a modular mobile beverage dispensing unit and may be positioned in the same room to operate with low noise.
A low noise pump 120, such as an electrical pump, may be included in the mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 to pump the syrup 110 out of the replaceable syrup module 102, as illustrated in
A replaceable liquid module 104 is included in the mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 for dispensing a liquid 112. The replaceable liquid module 104 may include a water tank that contains water or may be connected to another water source (not shown). The water source may be detachable from the mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 or it may be included in the replaceable liquid module 104. The replaceable liquid module 104 may cause non-carbonated water or carbonated water to flow into the replaceable mixing module 108 so that a non-carbonated beverage or a carbonated beverage, respectively, may be formed when the liquid 112 is mixed with the syrup 110.
The mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 may include a second replaceable syrup module for containing a second syrup. The replaceable mixing module 108 may cause the second syrup to be mixed with the liquid 112 to create a second beverage. The second syrup may have a flavor that is different from the flavor of the other syrup. A mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 having at least two different flavors of syrup is capable of creating a variety of different flavored beverages.
The replaceable mixing module 108 may include a carbonator (not shown) that is capable of carbonating water or a beverage before it is dispensed. The carbonator may carbonate the water in any desired manner that may be known or practiced by one skilled in the art. Non-carbonated water may be dispensed from the replaceable liquid module 104 and may be mixed with syrup 110 to form a beverage 114 that then flows into the carbonator where the carbonator carbonates the beverage 114. Non-carbonated water may also be caused to flow through the carbonator to create a carbonated liquid before it is mixed with syrup 110 to form a carbonated beverage. The carbonator may be positioned adjacent to the mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 or in any convenient configuration.
A plumbing module 106 connects the replaceable syrup module 102 and the replaceable liquid module 104 to the replaceable mixing module 108. The plumbing module 106 may also connect the replaceable mixing module 108 to a replaceable dispensing module 124. The replaceable dispensing module 124 may cause the beverage 114 to be dispensed at the user's command. The replaceable dispensing module 124 may include a beverage gun and/or a plurality of dispensing nozzles (not shown). The beverage gun and dispensing nozzles control the flow of the beverage 114 from the replaceable dispensing module 124. A user may access the beverage 114 by causing the beverage gun or dispensing nozzle to dispense a desired amount of beverage 114. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any desirable dispensing mechanism may be used to cause the beverage 114 to be dispensed from the mobile beverage dispensing unit 100.
a-2c illustrate a mobile beverage dispensing unit 100. The mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 is modular in nature, and the modules may be connected to each other in any desirable manner. The mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 comprises a replaceable syrup module 102, a replaceable liquid module 104, a replaceable mixing module 108, and a plumbing module 106, as described above.
The mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 may also include a replaceable dispensing module 124, as described above, that is capable of controlling the beverage 114 as it is dispensed. The replaceable dispensing module 124 and the replaceable mixing module 108 may be attached to each other and may be positioned adjacent to one another. The two replaceable syrup modules 102 shown in
The mobile beverage dispensing unit 100 may include a motor 122 and a pump 120. The motor 122 may convert electricity that is provided by a power source (not shown) to mechanical energy to operate the pump 120. The pump 120 may cause syrup 110 to be released from the replaceable syrup modules 102 into the replaceable mixing module 108 and may also cause water or liquid 112 to be released from the replaceable liquid module 104 into the replaceable mixing module 108. The pump 120 may be an electrical pump. Some electrical pumps produce less noise than non-electrical pumps when they are in operation.
In
In another embodiment of the invention, a mobile beverage dispensing system 100 may comprise a bag-in-box container 126 for containing syrup 110, an electrical pump 120 that may be connected to the bag-in-box container 126 and that is capable of causing the syrup 110 to be dispensed from the bag-in-box container 126 into a syrup portion of a plumbing system 106, and a water source (not shown) that is capable of dispensing water 112 into a water portion of the plumbing system 106. The electrical pump 120 may be positioned adjacent to the bag-in-box container 126. A replaceable mixing unit 108 may be connected to the syrup portion of the plumbing system 106 and may be configured to receive the syrup 110. The mixing unit 108 may also be connected to the water portion of the plumbing system 106 and may be configured to receive the water 112. The mixing unit 108 may be capable of mixing the water 112 and the syrup 110 to create a beverage 114. A dispensing unit 124 is capable of dispensing the beverage 114. The bag-in-box container 126, the electrical pump 120, the plumbing system 106, the water source, the mixing unit 108, and the dispensing unit 124 form a modular mobile beverage dispensing system and may be configured to be positioned within the same room to operate with low noise.
The present invention has been described herein with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a person understanding this invention may conceive of changes or other embodiments or variations, which utilize the principles of this invention without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. All are considered within the sphere, spirit, and scope of the invention.
