Liquid product dispensing system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12258953-B2
Application number	US-202318502658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2023
Priority date	Nov 29, 2012
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

An embodiment system and method for dispensing multiple dairy products includes a dispenser which houses two or more dairy product bases with different formulations, which may be combined with or without water to create a multitude of homogenous dairy beverages. The two or more dairy product bases may be mixed together first and then separately mixed with water, mixed together simultaneously with water, or mixed together without adding water. They may be mixed together with or without additional flavoring, ingredients, mineral or nutritional additives. The dispenser includes a pump with a quick-release mechanism to allow for quick and clean maintenance of the system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for changing materials in a beverage dispensing system, the method comprising:
rotating a pump door handle to release a pump door;
moving the pump door to disengage the pump door from a first product base tube located between the pump door and a pump roller;
removing the first product base tube from between the pump door and the pump roller;
placing a second product base tube between the pump door and the pump roller; and
rotating the pump door handle to engage the pump door with the second product base tube and the pump roller, wherein the moving the pump door further comprises moving a first door link coupled to the pump door, wherein a first end of the first door link is coupled to the pump door at a first point and a second end of the first door link is a pivot point around which the first door link is rotatable, wherein the pump door is rotatable around the first point, wherein the pivot point has a first axis of rotation parallel with a second axis of rotation of the pump roller, and wherein a second end of the pump door is unencumbered by attachments, the second end being distal from the first point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing the first product base tube further comprises removing a first product base package with the first product base tube.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising placing a second product base package into the beverage dispensing system along with the placing the second product base tube between the pump door and the pump roller.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disconnecting the first product base tube from a pump tube prior to removing the first product base tube from between the pump door and the pump roller.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the disconnecting the first product base tube from the pump tube removes the pump tube from a first gland within the first product base tube.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing the first product base tube from between the pump door and the pump roller further comprises disconnecting the first product base tube from a first product base package.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching the second product base tube to a first pump tube.

8. A method for changing materials in a beverage dispensing system, the method comprising:
rotating a first pump handle to release a first door link and allow a first pump door to swing away from a first pump roller;
disconnecting a first liquid base product tube system from between the first pump door and the first pump roller;
connecting a second liquid base product tube system between the first pump door and the first pump roller, the second liquid base product tube system being different from the first liquid base product tube system; and
rotating the first pump handle to engage the first door link and the first pump door, wherein a first end of the first door link is coupled to the first pump door at a first point and a second end of the first door link is a pivot point around which the first door link is rotatable, wherein the first pump door is rotatable around the first point, wherein the pivot point has a first axis of rotation parallel with a second axis of rotation of the first pump roller, and wherein a second end of the first pump door is unencumbered by attachments, the second end being distal from the first point.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the disconnecting the first liquid base product tube system further comprises removing a first liquid product base package with the first liquid product base tube system.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the connecting the second liquid base product tube system further comprising adding a second liquid product base package different from the first liquid product base package.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first liquid product base package packages a dairy product.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the disconnecting the first liquid product base tube system further comprises disconnecting the first liquid product base tube system from a first liquid product base package.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the disconnecting the first liquid product base tube system further comprises disconnecting the first liquid product base tube system from a mixing chamber.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, prior to the rotating the first pump handle, disconnecting the first liquid base product tube system from a mixing chamber.

15. A method for changing materials in a beverage dispensing system, the method comprising:
disengaging a first pump door away from a first pump roller, the disengaging comprising rotating a pump handle in a first direction and moving a first door link attached to the first pump door;
after the disengaging, replacing a first liquid base product tube system with a second liquid base product tube system between the first pump roller and the first pump door; and
re-engaging the first pump door towards the first pump roller, the re-engaging comprising rotating the pump handle in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein a first end of the first door link is coupled to the first pump door at a first point and a second end of the first door link is a pivot point around which the first door link is rotatable, wherein the first pump door is rotatable around the first point, wherein the pivot point has a first axis of rotation parallel with a second axis of rotation of the first pump roller, and wherein a second end of the first pump door is unencumbered by attachments, the second end being distal from the first point.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the replacing the first liquid base product tube system simultaneously replaces a first liquid base package with the first liquid base product tube system.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first liquid base package packages a cream component.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising replacing a first liquid base package sequentially with the replacing the first liquid base product tube system.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, after the replacing, attaching the second liquid base product tube system to a mixing chamber.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
disengaging a second pump door away from a second pump roller, the disengaging comprising rotating a second pump handle in the second direction and moving a second door link attached to the second pump door;
after the disengaging the second pump door, replacing a third liquid base product tube system with a fourth liquid base product tube system between the second pump roller and the second pump door; and
re-engaging the second pump door towards the second pump roller, the re-engaging comprising rotating the second pump handle in the first direction.

Assignees

• Fairlife Llc

Inventors

• Dobbins Gerald
• Doelman Timothy Peter
• Hengesbach John
• Malsom Brett

Classifications

• B67D2210/0006

  Manifolds · CPC title

• B67D1/122

  modulating a pumping rate · CPC title

• B67D1/108

  of the peristaltic type · CPC title

• B67D1/0888

  Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means) · CPC title

• B67D1/0864

  in the form of a cooling bath · CPC title