Beverage dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10486953-B2
Application number	US-201515514475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Sep 26, 2014
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A beverage dispenser has a housing in which a first liquid inlet is connectable to a base liquid source. The housing also contains a second liquid inlet connectable to a base liquid source or to a pressurized gas source and a pair of jet mixers. First and second liquid lines connect the respective first and second liquid inlets and jet mixers. A first ingredient container contains a first beverage ingredient, the pod or capsule provided in a first ingredient container receiving means, and a second ingredient container containing a second beverage ingredient, the ingredient container provided in a second ingredient container receiving means. The first and second ingredient containers are configured such that upon providing a liquid stream in the respective liquid lines, the beverage ingredient is discharged from the ingredient container into the liquid stream. A beverage outlet is in liquid communication with the jet mixer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage dispenser which comprises a housing comprising:
a. a first liquid inlet ( 3 ) connected or connectable to a source ( 4 ) of a base liquid ( 5 );
b. a second liquid inlet ( 7 ) connected or connectable to the source ( 4 ) of a base liquid ( 5 ) or to a source of pressurized gas;
c. at least one mixing means ( 16 ) for mixing one or more beverage ingredients therein;
d. a first liquid line connecting the first liquid inlet ( 3 ) and the mixing means ( 16 );
e. a second liquid line connecting the second liquid inlet ( 7 ) and the mixing means ( 16 );
f. a first ingredient container ( 9 a ) containing a first beverage ingredient, the ingredient container provided in a first ingredient container receiving means ( 8 a ), configured such that upon providing a liquid stream in the first liquid line, the first beverage ingredient is discharged from the ingredient container ( 9 a ) into the liquid stream;
g. a second ingredient container ( 9 b ) containing a second beverage ingredient, the ingredient container provided in an ingredient container receiving means ( 8 b ), configured such that upon providing a liquid stream in the second liquid line, the second beverage ingredient is discharged from the ingredient container ( 9 b ) into the liquid stream; and
h. a beverage outlet ( 13 ) in liquid communication with the mixing means ( 16 );
the mixing means ( 16 ) comprises one or more double jet mixers ( 21 , 22 ), comprising each at least a first jet mixer liquid supply entry ( 17 ) in liquid communication with the first liquid line and a second jet mixer liquid supply entry ( 18 ) in liquid communication with the second liquid line, a pair of jet mixer liquid flow channels ( 19 , 20 ) having each a jet mixer discharge end for expelling liquids in mutually, oppositely directed or impinging jet streams ( 23 , 24 ), so to mix the liquids into a liquid mixture, and a jet mixer outlet ( 25 ) through which the liquid mixture can leave the double jet mixer in liquid communication with the beverage outlet ( 13 ).

2. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the mixing means ( 16 ) comprise a housing with a wall defining a mixing chamber, the first and second liquid supply entry ( 17 , 18 ) and jet mixer flow lines ( 19 , 20 ) are provided with the first and second jet mixer discharge ends ( 21 , 22 ) provided at opposite sides of the mixing chamber and directed towards one another in the mixing chamber.

3. The beverage dispenser according to claim 2 , wherein the mixing means ( 16 ) are removably secured in the beverage dispenser ( 1 ).

4. The beverage dispenser according to claim 3 , wherein the mixing means ( 16 ) are manufactured in a plastic material.

5. The beverage dispenser according to claim 2 , wherein the housing of the mixing means ( 16 ) comprises two ingredient container receiving docks ( 8 a , 8 b ) and wherein the ingredient containers ( 9 a , 9 b ) comprise connectors configured to mate with one of the receiving docks of the housing of the mixing means ( 16 ).

6. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein the pods ( 9 a , 9 b ) comprise a discharge channel that upon connection of the ingredient container with the housing of the mixing means ( 16 ) liquidly connect to the corresponding liquid supply entry of the mixing means ( 16 ).

7. The beverage dispenser according to claim 3 , wherein the housing of the mixing means comprises two ingredient container receiving docks and wherein the ingredient containers ( 9 a , 9 b ) comprise connectors configured to mate with one of the receiving docks of the housing of the mixing means.

8. The beverage dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the pods comprise a discharge channel that upon connection of the ingredient container ( 9 a , 9 b ) with the housing of the mixing means liquidly connect to the corresponding liquid supply entry of the mixing means.

Assignees

• Anheuser Busch Inbev Sa

Inventors

• Pellaud Jerome
• Peirsman Daniel

Classifications

• B67D1/0052

  by means for directing respective streams together · CPC title

• B67D1/0078

  Ingredient cartridges · CPC title

• B67D1/127

  Froth control (B67D1/1411 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67D1/0034

  for controlling the amount of each component · CPC title

• B67D1/0021 Primary

  the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers · CPC title