Patent Application
20080041876
While the concepts provided herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, only a few specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The figures and detailed descriptions of these specific embodiments are not intended to limit the breadth or scope of the concepts or the appended claims in any manner. Rather, the figures and detailed written descriptions are provided to illustrate the concepts to a person of ordinary skill in the art as required by 35 U.S.C. § 112.
Illustrative embodiments of the concepts disclosed herein are presented below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described or shown in this application. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of an actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's goals, such as compliance with system-related, business-related and other constraints, which vary by implementation and from time to time. While a developer's efforts might be complex and time-consuming, such efforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of this disclosure.
Ingredients for a frozen beverage mixture are provided from the ingredient supply 12 to the process flow block 14, which controls the flow of the ingredients into the freezing chamber 18 as directed by the controller 16. The controller 16 may comprise an appropriately programmed microprocessor and suitable memory devices. The frozen mixture consistency is controlled by any of a number of methods that turns on the refrigeration system 20 to freeze and turns off the refrigeration system 20 when the mixture reaches the desired consistency. Suitable operation of the controller 16 and other control instrumentation using circuit boards, volatile and non-volatile memory devices, software, firmware, and the like is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,661 incorporated by reference above. The product is then dispensed through a dispensing valve 22.
The chamber 18 is coupled either directly or remotely (via a conduit that may also provide a means for circulation) to the dispensing valve 22. An actuator assembly 24 is controlled by the controller 16 to open and close the valve 22, either manually in response to actuation by a user or by a software program executed by the controller 16. The motive force to actuate the dispensing valve 22, for example, can be pressurized gas or electronic actuation via a solenoid type device. Most components of the valve assembly 22 are constructed from stainless steel. As shown in
In a typical valve design, a stem is actuated either manually or automatically to open by raising a valve stem from a valve seat and to close by dropping the stem back into the seat. The disclosed valve 22 maintains a valve stem 200 stationary and allows a nozzle assembly 210 to move up and down to provide dispensing or sealing. By doing this, when the valve 22 opens and the nozzle assembly 210 drops down to initiate flow, the nozzle assembly 210 provides a partial barrier to the spray that results from the depressurized liquid. In order to allow the nozzle assembly to drop down far enough to provide an effective nozzle length, the illustrated embodiment includes an upper seal 202 is provided that maintains its seal until a lower seal 204 is unseated. This allows a partial drain and the reduction of any pressure built up in the valve cavity. This also reduces the hydraulic effect on the valve cavity that causes spraying prior to the extension of the nozzle assembly. In other embodiments, the lower seal 204 is not used.
Since the liquid retained in the valve would be trapped in an area that would be sealed at the top entry to the valve cavity by the upper seal 202 in addition to the lower seal 204 at the exit to the valve cavity, the stem 200 and the seals 202, 204 are designed such that when the valve closes the upper seal 202 first allowing the liquid trapped to partially drain prior to the lower seal 204 seating thus preventing pressure from being trapped in the valve cavity. If the pressure were trapped, the valve may “spit” upon opening. In addition, when the valve opens, the lower seal 204 unseats first allowing the nozzle assembly 210 to drop down far enough to prevent spray prior to the upper seal 202 coming off its seat and also release any pressure in the valve cavity.
The illustrated valve 22 is microprocessor controlled and is actuated by opening a gas solenoid that directs pressurized gas to a pressure plate that is attached to the valve nozzle assembly 210. When the valve 22 is actuated, the nozzle assembly 210 lowers, placing force against springs 206 that maintain the valve in the closed position when the valve is not in use. The springs 206 are designed such that they will not allow the valve to open under any normal operating pressures. In the event of an overpressure of the freezing chamber 18, the springs 206 are sized to act as a safety vent to prevent rupture of any component.
As noted above, typical products dispensed from the machine 10 are pressurized. Additional valve arrangements are disclosed herein to dispense the pressurized product. An alternative nozzle assembly 210a is shown in
The valve stem 200 and/or the nozzle assembly 210 may be shaped to include a flow path that dispenses the product in a variety of shapes. For example and without limitation, such shapes can include swirls, stripes, inward swirls that are surrounded by a layer of base material, external swirls that surround base material, and other shapes. Further, the valve stem 200 and/or the nozzle assembly 210 may include a tip (not shown) that is removable or fixed to the valve stem and/or the nozzle assembly to assist in dispensing the product into the desired shape.
Referring back to
The machine 10 shown in
In the illustrated machine, four flavors are dispensed to the beverage downstream of the freezing chamber 18. Each of the flavor additives 170, 171, 172, 173 flow via respective lines to the dispensing valve 22. Flow control devices, such as the illustrated pressure transducers 176 and solenoids 178 are used to inject the desired flavor(s) in response to the particular actuation buttons 110, 111, 112, 113.
While the illustrated embodiment shows different flavors being introduced to the dispensed product, any of a number of nutritional or supplement additives can be introduced to the dispensed product to meet the specific needs or desires of the individual served. The dispensed product may, for example, include supplements to provide a meal replacement option with desired additives of importance, such as calcium, vitamin C, medicinal additives, or herbal additives.
Further, the additives can include solids, semi-solids, or fluids (such as liquids or gels) that may harden to form solids or semi-solids after being added to the base food product. Such additives may further allow material to be added to produce a different textured product than heretofore may have been available, due to the prior lack of ability to process such additives in the freezing chamber prior to dispensing. Such options may especially be available using fluids that may form solids or semi-solids upon injecting into the food product when the food product is dispensed. Such material can be process through the small restrictions in the flow control devices and supply line components.
The dispensed product may also include alcohol products, which are injected in the same manner as the above additives after the freezing chamber. An advantage of adding these components at the point of dispense instead of premixed into the dispensed product is that they are less likely to de-stabilize the base product being served and may not effect the ultimate flavor since they are exposed just prior to consumption and not premixed for long periods of time. Further, some licensing aspects of supplying alcohol as a pre-mixed additive with base material may be avoided by injecting the alcohol directly into the food product as it is dispensed at the point of use, where a store has such licenses to supply the alcohol. Such direct injection may also provide a better and more accurately monitored and controlled amount of alcohol in the product.
Two of the channels 208 for the additives (flavors in the illustrated embodiment) 170, 171 are shown in
The software executed by the controller 16 is designed to allow one or all of the additives 170-173, or combinations thereof, selected to be injected into the dispensed product stream. The controller 16 can also control the additive flows, so that each additive can alternatively injected by pulsing the corresponding additive solenoid valve 178. The additives, such as desired beverage flavors, can be pulsed in any desired sequence in response to the chosen flavors. This pulsing provides various colors and patterns in the dispensed product and can also be used to control the amount of the additive flow.
While the dispensing machine has been primarily disclosed in terms of frozen beverages, the basic dispensing machine can be used to dispense hot beverages, cold beverages, frozen beverages, frozen desserts, etc. For example, for hot beverages such as coffee-based drinks, a heated product chamber would be used in place of the freezing chamber 18. Additives can be metered into any variety of dispensed products.
The systems and methods herein have been described in the context of various embodiments and not every embodiment has been described. Apparent modifications and alterations to the described embodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the concepts of the Applicants, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicants intend to protect all such modifications and improvements to the full extent that such falls within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims.
The various methods and embodiments of the disclosure may be included in combination with each other to produce variations of the disclosed methods and embodiments, as would be understood by those with ordinary skill in the art, given the understanding provided herein. Also, various aspects of the embodiments could be used in conjunction with each other to accomplish the understood goals of the disclosure. Also, the directions such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” and other directions and orientations are described herein for clarity in reference to the figures and are not to be limiting of the actual device or system or use of the device or system. Unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising,” should be understood to imply the inclusion of at least the stated element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof, and not the exclusion of a greater numerical quantity or any other element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof Discussion of singular elements may include plural elements and vice-versa. References to at least one item followed by a reference to the item may include one or more items. The device or system may be used in a number of directions and orientations. The term “coupled,” “coupling,” “coupler,” and like terms are used broadly herein and may include any method or device for securing, binding, bonding, fastening, attaching, joining, inserting therein, forming thereon or therein, communicating, or otherwise associating, for example, mechanically, magnetically, electrically, chemically, directly or indirectly with intermediate elements, one or more pieces of members together and may further include without limitation integrally forming one functional member with another in a unity fashion. The coupling may occur in any direction, including rotationally.
The order of steps may occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specifically limited. The various steps described herein may be combined with other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split into multiple steps. Additionally, the headings herein are for the convenience of the reader and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of the concepts described above may be devised without departing from the spirit of Applicants' disclosure. Other variations are contemplated given the teachings of the disclosure herein.
Further, any references mentioned in the application for this patent, as well as all references listed in the information disclosure originally filed with the application, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent such may be deemed essential to support the enabling of the disclosure. However, to the extent statements might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of the concepts, such statements are expressly not meant to be considered as made by the Applicant(s).
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional No. 60/838,765, filed Aug. 18, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60838765 | Aug 2006 | US |
