Liquid food dispenser system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12060256-B2
Application number	US-202318453754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2023
Priority date	Jul 7, 2006
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of dispensing a liquid beverage, the method comprising:
providing a first container within a first chamber, the first container storing a first liquid product, wherein a first output of the first container is connected to a t-section;
providing a second container within a second chamber, the second container storing the first liquid product, wherein a second output of the second container is connected to the t-section;
providing a first set of pressures in the first chamber and the second chamber, the first set of pressures causing the first liquid product from the first container to flow from the first container without causing the first liquid product from the second container to flow from the second container;
after the providing the first set of pressures, providing a second set of pressures in the first chamber and the second chamber, the second set of pressures causing the first liquid product to flow from the first container and also to cause the first liquid product to flow from the second container; and
after the providing the second set of pressures, providing a third set of pressures in the first chamber and the second chamber, the third set of pressures causing the first liquid product to flow from the second container without causing the first liquid product to flow from the first container.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of pressures has a higher pressure in the first chamber than in the second chamber.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third set of pressures has a higher pressure in the second chamber than in the first chamber.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second set of pressures has a first pressure within the first chamber within about 0.05 psi to about 1.0 psi of a second pressure within the second chamber.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a combined flow rate of the first liquid product out of a nozzle connected to the t-section remains constant from the providing the first set of pressures, through the providing the second set of pressures, and through the providing the third set of pressures.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a time period between the providing the second set of pressures and the providing the third set of pressures is greater than one minute.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the second set of pressures occurs when the first container is almost empty.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the t-section has an output connected to a nozzle.

9. A method of dispensing a liquid beverage, the method comprising:
providing a first container within a first chamber, the first container storing a first liquid product, wherein a first output of the first container is connected to a t-section;
providing a second container within a second chamber, the second container storing the first liquid product, wherein a second output of the second container is connected to the t-section;
raising a first pressure in the first chamber above a second pressure in the second chamber, the raising the first pressure causing the first liquid product from the first container to flow from the first container without causing the first liquid product from the second container to flow from the second container;
modifying the first pressure and the second pressure a first time to cause the first liquid product to flow from the first container and also to cause the first liquid product to flow from the second container; and
modifying the first pressure and the second pressure a second time to cause the first liquid product to flow from the second container without causing the first liquid product to flow from the first container.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the first time raises the first pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the first time increases the second pressure to be within about 0.05 psi to about 1.0 psi of the first pressure.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a flow rate of the first liquid product out of a nozzle remains constant during the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the first time and during the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the second time.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein a time period between the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the first time and the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the second time is greater than one minute.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first liquid product flows from the first container, through a first check-valve, to the t-section.

15. A method of dispensing a liquid beverage, the method comprising:
flowing a first liquid product out of a first container, through a first check-valve, and to a t-section without flowing the first liquid product out of a second container;
flowing the first liquid product out of the first container, through the first check-valve, and to the t-section while flowing the first liquid product out of the second container, through a second check-valve, and to the t-section; and
flowing the first liquid product out of the second container, through the second check-valve, and to the t-section without flowing the first liquid product out of the first container.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein during the method a flow rate of the first liquid product out of a nozzle connected to the t-section is constant.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the flowing the first liquid product out of the first container, through the first check-valve, and to the t-section without the flowing the first liquid product out of the second container is initiated by raising a first pressure within a first chamber, the first container being located within the first chamber.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the flowing the first liquid product out of the first container, through the first check-valve, and to the t-section while flowing the first liquid product out of the second container, through the second check-valve, and to the t-section is initiated by modifying the first pressure within the first chamber.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the modifying the first pressure increases the first pressure.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the flowing the first liquid product out of the second container, through the second check-valve, and to the t-section without flowing the first liquid product out of the first container is initiated at least in part by modifying a second pressure within a second chamber, the second container being located within the second chamber.

Assignees

• Fairlife Llc

Inventors

• Doelman Timothy Peter
• Baxter Vincent A

Classifications

• B67D1/1252

  Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation (for beer engines B67D1/025) · CPC title

• B65D47/244

  being rotated without axial translation, whilst transmitting axial motion to an internal valve stem or valve seat · CPC title

• B65D47/242

  moving helically · CPC title

• B67D2210/00062

  Pipe joints · CPC title

• B67D2210/0006

  Manifolds · CPC title