Automated dispensing system for customized beverages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304798-B2
Application number	US-202418783317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2024
Priority date	Jan 16, 2020
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and/or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and/or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A beverage dispensing system comprising:
a dispensing unit comprising:
a housing;
a memory configured to store a plurality of recipes;
a user interface on the housing, the user interface comprising a display;
a plurality of pumps;
a central dispenser spout extending from the housing, the central dispenser spout comprising a plurality of outlet orifices extending through a bottom surface of the central dispenser spout;
a controller configured to receive a beverage order and retrieve, from the memory, a recipe of the plurality of recipes corresponding to the beverage order;

a plurality of external modular dispensers configured to receive a plurality of syrups or sauces, wherein each external modular dispenser of the plurality of external modular dispensers comprises a housing configured to receive a syrup or sauce of the plurality of syrups or sauces,
wherein each outlet orifice of the plurality of outlet orifices is fluidically coupled to a different syrup or sauce of the plurality of syrups or sauces,
wherein the controller is configured to instruct dispensing of two or more syrups or sauces of the plurality of syrups or sauces based on the recipe,
wherein the central dispenser spout is configured to simultaneously dispense the two or more syrups or sauces of the plurality of syrups or sauces in the recipe out of the beverage dispensing system into a container directly from the plurality of outlet orifices, wherein each syrup or sauce of the two or more syrups or sauces is dispensed from a separate outlet orifice so the two or more syrups or sauces are not mixed together prior to dispensing,
wherein at least one external modular dispenser of the plurality of external modular dispensers is stacked on top of another external modular dispenser of the plurality of external modular dispensers.

2. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to display an amount of the plurality of syrups or sauces remaining in the plurality of external modular dispensers.

3. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the display is a touch screen display.

4. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote server to transmit information on consumption of beverages made by the beverage dispensing system.

5. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more remote devices via a Wi-Fi connection.

6. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct dispense of the two or more syrups or sauces upon receipt of a user input by the user interface.

7. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the beverage order from a remote point of sale system.

8. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the beverage order from a scanner configured to scan a QR code.

9. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the beverage order from a remote server.

10. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the beverage order from a user input by the user interface.

11. The beverage dispensing system of claim 10 , wherein the user interface is configured receive the user input at a location on the display corresponding to the beverage order.

12. The beverage dispensing system of claim 11 , wherein the location on the display corresponds to an icon representative of the beverage order.

13. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive a user input of a modification to an amount of at least one of the two or more syrups or sauces in the recipe.

14. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a power source.

15. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein a first external modular dispenser of the plurality of external modular dispensers is positioned adjacent a second external modular dispenser of the plurality of external modular dispensers.

16. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing unit further comprises a plurality of supply lines, wherein each supply line of the plurality of supply lines is configured to fluidically couple an outlet orifice to a syrup or sauce of the plurality of syrups or sauces.

17. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16 , wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps is configured to pump sauce or syrup through a different supply line of the plurality of supply lines.

18. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein every outlet orifice of the plurality of outlet orifices is fluidically coupled to a syrup or sauce of the plurality of syrups or sauces.

19. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pumps are in the housing of the dispensing unit.

Assignees

• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Venkatakrishnan Natarajan
• Corlett Andrew
• Levey Jonathan
• Roberts Brandon Michael

Classifications

• G07F13/065

  for drink preparation · CPC title

• G07F13/025

  wherein the volume is determined during delivery · CPC title

• B67D2210/00034

  Modules · CPC title

• B67D2001/0097

  using a pump · CPC title

• B67D1/10

  Pump mechanism (in general F04) · CPC title