HK1183855B - Method and apparatus for dispensing a beverage from a liquid concentrate - Google Patents

Abstract

A nozzle system for use with a multi-flavor beverage dispenser includes a mixing chamber having a fluid outlet therefrom; a diluent injector configured to deliver a mixing fluid from without to within the mixing chamber; and a number of concentrate injectors configured to independently deliver a fluid concentrate from without to within the mixing chamber. The concentrate injector each have associated therewith a self-sealing dispensing valve configured to substantially limit fluid flow through its respective concentrate injector to from without the mixing chamber to within the mixing chamber.

Description

Method and apparatus for dispensing a beverage from a liquid concentrate

Technical Field

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to beverage dispensers, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a method and apparatus for dispensing a beverage from a liquid concentrate that is a combination of devices and has multiple flavors and self-cleaning features.

2. Discussion of related prior art

Common beverages include coffee, cappuccino and hot chocolate, all of which have added taste modifiers. Conventional brewing methods have generally failed to meet these needs, and the trend in the beverage service industry is to produce such beverages from concentrates and mixing fluids incorporated therein and dispensed through beverage dispensers. A typical beverage dispenser includes an agitator connected to a source of concentrate and a source of mixing fluid (e.g., water) and an output. The number of agitators and outputs provided in the beverage dispenser corresponds to the number of types of beverage that need to be dispensed. In operation, both the concentrate and the mixing fluid are delivered to the blender, which combines the concentrate with the mixing fluid to form the desired beverage before it is dispensed through the corresponding output. Typical beverage dispensers use powdered concentrate, or use liquid concentrate, which is more likely to be a powdered concentrate that tends to smear on the surfaces of the interior of the beverage dispenser, resulting in possible unsanitary conditions.

Although typical beverage dispensers operate to meet the demand for dispensing a desired beverage, these beverage dispensers do suffer from a number of disadvantages. Space is limited in any beverage service industry establishment. As a result, any beverage dispenser must be maintained within acceptable size ranges. Unfortunately, such limitations limit the amount of beverage that can be dispensed because each agitator and outlet end increases the size of the beverage dispenser, resulting in an undesirable variety and quantity of beverages. Moreover, the use of each additional agitator and output end increases the cost of the beverage dispenser. In addition to this, the hygienic cleaning of any beverage dispenser is problematic and must be performed according to basic regulations. However, cleaning the agitator and the chamber of the agitator often results in the wash solution entering the concentrate or mixing fluid source, resulting in loss of concentrate and mixing fluid. Furthermore, most beverage dispensers often result in wasted mixed fluid during cleaning operations and/or as a result of accidental interference with cleaning operations. This excessive extraction of mixed fluid is a costly disadvantage of the dispenser, since the mixed fluid typically contains a higher quality of water than is typically available at a faucet.

Accordingly, a beverage dispenser including a dispensing capability with multiple flavors provides more beverage options while reducing costs, and an auto-cleaning feature that can prevent over-extraction of concentrate or mixed fluid can provide more improvements over existing beverage dispensers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser that includes the ability to dispense multiple flavors of beverages, which provides for greater beverage selection while reducing costs.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a beverage dispenser with an automatic cleaning feature that minimizes over-lifting of the concentrate and mixed fluid.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following description.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention, a nozzle system for a multi-flavor beverage dispenser includes a mixing chamber having a fluid output formed therein; an injector of diluent configured to transport a mixing fluid from outside to an interior of the mixing chamber; and a plurality of concentrate injectors, each of the concentrate injectors configured to independently deliver fluid concentrate from an exterior to an interior of the mixing chamber, wherein each of the concentrate injectors has a self-sealing dispensing valve, each of the dispensing valves configured to substantially restrict fluid flow through its respective concentrate injector to flow from the exterior of the mixing chamber to the interior of the mixing chamber.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a beverage dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view illustrating various components contained in a housing of a beverage dispenser according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in cross-section illustrating a multi-flavor nozzle and blender for a beverage dispenser according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in cross-section illustrating a multi-flavor nozzle and blender for a beverage dispenser according to a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, illustrating an injector of a multi-flavor nozzle of a beverage dispenser, according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away perspective view illustrating an alternative implementation of the multi-flavor nozzle according to the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 6A is a perspective view, partly in section, of a detail according to detail 6A shown in fig. 6, illustrating various versions of an injector in an alternative implementation of a multi-flavor nozzle of a beverage dispenser according to a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, illustrating an alternate implementation of an injector for a multi-flavor nozzle of a beverage dispenser according to a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a top view of a tip illustrating an alternative implementation of the multi-flavor nozzle assembly according to the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative implementation of the multi-flavor nozzle assembled for use in accordance with the preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed below; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and may be embodied in various forms. It will be further understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components or steps. While preferred embodiments have been described, it will be understood that changes in detail may be made without departing from the invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.

Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate a beverage dispenser 10 that combines a liquid beverage concentrate and a mixing fluid to produce a dispensed beverage. In this preferred embodiment, exemplary liquid beverage concentrates include, but are not limited to, coffee, cappuccino and hot chocolate, while exemplary mixing fluids include water. It should be understood that while the beverage dispenser 10 has the ability to introduce a concentrate of beverage flavoring into the dispensed beverage, for example, milk for coffee, cinnamon, vanilla and similar flavorings. Further, while the beverage dispenser 10 according to the preferred embodiment may combine a liquid beverage concentrate with a mixing fluid, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the beverage dispenser 10 may dispense end products such as water containing flavors, e.g., lemon, cherry, strawberry, and the like.

The beverage dispenser 10 includes a housing 11 having a frame 12 for supporting a drip tray 13 and which is removable from front, top, back and side panels 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. The front panel 14 includes a user input 19 which is comprised of a user input device, such as a mechanical switch, an RF technology switch or a capacitive switch, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Within the housing 11 and supported by the frame 12, the beverage dispenser 10 includes a multi-flavor nozzle system 20 that combines a liquid beverage concentrate with a mixing fluid, and a concentrate of beverage additives as desired. By way of example, the mixing fluid may be water that is delivered to the beverage dispenser 10 from a municipal water source, from the interior of the housing 11 through line 21 to the multi-flavor nozzle system 20. The beverage dispenser 10 may include a hot water heater, known to one of ordinary skill in the art, located inside the housing 11 that delivers hot water through a line 21 to a multi-flavor nozzle system 20.

In the example set forth in the preferred embodiment, the multi-flavor nozzle system 20 has the capability of dispensing four concentrates. As such, the frame 11 comprises a space adapted to support packages 22-25 of concentrate. Frame 11 may further support pumps 26-29, which in the preferred embodiment are peristaltic pumps well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. A line 30 is wrapped around the pump 26 to connect the package 22 of concentrate with the multi-flavor nozzle system 20. A line 31 is wrapped around the pump 27 to connect the package 23 of concentrate with the multi-flavor nozzle system 20. A line 32 is wrapped around the pump 28 to connect the package 24 of concentrate with the multi-flavor nozzle system 20. A line 33 is wrapped around the pump 29 to connect the package 25 of concentrate with the multi-flavor nozzle system 20. Exemplary concentrates suitable for use in the beverage dispenser 10 include, but are not limited to, milk concentrate in a package 22 of concentrate, chocolate concentrate in a package 23 of concentrate, vanilla concentrate in a package 24 of concentrate, and coffee concentrate in a package 25 of concentrate. Correspondingly, the beverage dispenser 10 may dispense coffee with or without milk and/or herbs, and hot chocolate with or without herbs. While the beverage dispenser 10 has been described as having the capability of dispensing four concentrates according to the preferred embodiment, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that multiple flavor nozzle systems 20 may have the capability of dispensing more or less flavors of beverages, or that the beverage dispenser 10 may include more multiple flavor nozzle systems 20.

In any event, the multi-flavor nozzle system 20 set forth in the exemplary embodiment of the preferred embodiment includes a preferably unitary nozzle body 38 including the injector housing 39, the mixing chamber 44 and the nozzle output end 49. As shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mixing chamber 44 of the preferred embodiment is provided with a stirrer 45 having a plurality of stirrer blades 46, each stirrer blade 46 preferably having modified holes adapted to increase the foam and/or bubbles of the resulting beverage. The agitator 45 is supported against a shaft 48 that is selectively rotatable by an agitator motor 47, which is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Although the particular configuration, shape and dimensions of the mixing chamber 44 may generally vary widely from the embodiment depicted as required by any particular implementation, it is noted that the fluid flow path through the mixing chamber 44 may be implemented or otherwise facilitates the natural flow of fluid within the interior of the mixing chamber 44 out of the mixing chamber 44 through the nozzle output end 49.

In addition, the multi-flavor nozzle system 20 of the embodiment set forth in the preferred embodiment includes an injector body 40 sized and shaped to be received in the injector housing 39 of the nozzle body 38. To ensure sealing into the injector housing 39, the injector body 40 preferably has one or more circumferentially disposed grooves 36 with an O-ring seal 37 in each groove. As will be better understood in conjunction with the following description, the injector body 40 includes a plurality of injector ports 41 formed therein that are adapted to dependently receive and support at least one diluent injector 50 and a plurality of concentrate injectors 58-61, each of which will be described in greater detail below. In either case, the port 41 of the injector associated with the diluent injector 50 is formed in a circular shape, as a bore leading downwardly from the top of the injector body 40, and leads downwardly into an annular dilution manifold 42 circumferentially surrounding the lower portion of the injector body 40, the annular dilution manifold 42 may further include a plurality of diluent injection ports 43 disposed downwardly therearound. As will be apparent to any one of ordinary skill in the art, the arrangement described may be adapted to deliver the mixed fluid from the injector 50 of diluent into the mixing chamber 44 such that the delivered mixed fluid may be distributed in a generally even manner around the output end at the bottom of the housing 39 of the injector.

As mentioned above, the multi-flavor nozzle system 20 includes at least one diluent injector 50 and a plurality of concentrate injectors 58-61. As shown particularly in fig. 3 and 4, the diluent injector 50 includes an input end 52 on the first preferred barbed end 51 and an open bore 54 on a base 53. The outer surface 55 of the injector 50 of diluent is dimensioned so as to be able to abut against one of the provided injector ports 41, and, in order to be able to ensure a sealing engagement between the injector 50 of diluent and the injector port 41, the outer surface 55 of the injector 50 of diluent preferably has one or more circumferentially arranged grooves 56, each of which is provided with an O-ring 57. Likewise, and as also shown in fig. 3 and 4, each of the provided concentrate injectors 58-61 includes an input 63 on its respective preferred barbed end 62. As will be better understood in conjunction with the following description, although each of the concentrate injectors 58-61 is a critical aspect of the present invention, having a self-sealing dispensing valve 72 on their respective bases 64, each of which will also be better understood in conjunction with the following description, the self-sealing dispensing valves are adapted to substantially restrict the flow of fluid through their respective concentrate injectors 58-61 from flowing from the exterior of the mixing chamber 44 into the interior of the mixing chamber 44. In either case, each concentrate injector 58-61 is sized to fit snugly into one of the provided injector ports 41 due to the diluent injector 50, and to ensure sealing engagement between each concentrate injector 58-61 and its respective injector port 41, the outer surface 67 on each concentrate injector 58-61 is preferably provided with one or more circumferentially disposed grooves 68, each of which is provided with an O-ring 69.

Finally, as particularly shown in fig. 3, each of the injectors 50, 58-61 may additionally be provided with an uppermost circumferentially disposed groove 70, such that the injectors 50, 58-61 may be secured in position to the injector body 40 from their respective first ends 51, 58 by the provision of an injector retaining clip 71 or the like. In either case, fluid communication between the injectors 50, 58-61 fixed in position in the injector body 40 may be established between the various concentrate packages 22-25 and the respective concentrate injectors 58-61, and between the source of the mixed fluid and the diluent injector 50. In particular, the communication of the mixed fluid can be established by connecting the free end of the input line of the mixed fluid to a first end 51 of the injector 50 of the dilution liquid, around its input end 52. Similarly, fluid communication may be achieved between the first concentrate package 22 and the first concentrate injector 58 by connecting the free end of the first concentrate input line 30 to a first end 62 located on an input 63 around the first concentrate injector 58; fluid communication may be achieved between the package 23 of second concentrate and the injector 59 of second concentrate by connecting the free end of the input line 31 of second concentrate to a first end 62 located on an input 63 around the second concentrate injector 58; fluid communication may be achieved between the package 24 of third concentrate and the injector 60 of third concentrate by connecting the free end of the input line 32 of third concentrate to the first end 62 located on the input 63 around the third concentrate injector 60; and fluid communication may be achieved between the package 25 of fourth concentrate and the injector 61 of fourth concentrate by connecting the free end of the input line 33 of fourth concentrate to the first end 62 on the input 63 located around the fourth concentrate injector 61.

As also mentioned hereinabove, a key aspect of the present invention includes the configuration of a self-sealing dispensing valve 72 disposed on the respective base end 64 of each concentrate injector 58-61. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each self-sealing dispensing valve 72 may be implemented substantially as described in U.S. patent No. 5,439,149, issued by brownian et al ("brownian '149'") 8/8 in 1995, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, the first concentrate injector 58 in one of the concentrate injectors (each of the other injectors 69-61 being configured with a substantially identifiable structure), the self-sealing dispensing valve includes a flange 73 on the rim, a valve head 74 having a discharge orifice 75 formed therein, and a connector sleeve 79 having one end interconnected with the flange 73 on the rim and an opposite end connected with the valve head 74 near the rim edge. As described in brown '149', the discharge orifice has a plurality of slits 76 or similar structures and the inner surface 77 and outer surface 78 are curved, thereby causing the valve 72 to open quickly under the pressure in the interior 66 of the concentrate injector 58 and close quickly in the absence of such pressure. To ensure that dispensing valve 72 is in position on base 64 of concentrate injector 58, annular grooves 65 are formed around base 64 of concentrate injector 58, which grooves generally correspond in size and shape to the rim-located flange 73 of valve 72. The multi-ring valve retainer clip 80 then snaps into engagement with the seat 64 of the first concentrate injector 58 (and the remaining concentrate injectors 59-61) to thereby clampingly retain the valve 72 in the operative position.

As described in brown '149', the connector sleeve 79 has a resiliently flexible construction such that when the pressure in the interior space 66 of the injector 58 of concentrate is increased above a predetermined pressure, the valve head 74 can move outwardly in a manner which causes the connector sleeve 79 to collapse and extend in a swinging manner and causes the discharge orifice 75 to open, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the interior space 66 of the injector 58 of concentrate into the mixing chamber 44. However, it is also optional that connector sleeve 79 be configured to provide sufficient resiliency so that when the pressure in interior space 66 of concentrate injector 58 drops below a predetermined pressure, it automatically snaps valve head 74 back to the fully retracted position, with no back or negative pressure being drawn into concentrate injector 58 to effect closure of valve 72.

As with the implementations described herein, the multi-flavor nozzle system 20 of the present invention enables the mixing chamber 44 to be closed for cleaning operations between each dispensing cycle, since the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 is provided to prevent contamination and/or dilution by the cleaning fluid of the source of concentrate. In particular, the invention strictly performs a cleaning cycle (which may simply comprise dispensing hot water from the injector 50 of the dilution liquid through the mixing chamber 44 under the stirring action of the stirrer 45): (a) stirring is carried out manually at any time; (b) automatically upon the lapse of a predetermined length of time or according to a set threshold value; (c) prior to dispensing a selected beverage combination that is deemed to be incompatible with the taste of a previously dispensed beverage combination; (d) any conjugate dispensed once present; or (e) upon the occurrence of any other predetermined emergency.

In an exemplary embodiment of the multi-flavor nozzle system 20 of the present invention, the first concentrate package 22 may be milk for exemplary purposes, the second concentrate package 23 may be chocolate for exemplary purposes, the third concentrate package 24 may be vanilla flavoring for exemplary purposes, and the fourth concentrate package 25 may be coffee for exemplary purposes, while the mixing fluid may be assumed to be water for exemplary purposes. In addition, for purposes of illustration, a user of the beverage dispenser 10 incorporating the multi-flavor nozzle system 20 of the present invention determines the order in which the following beverages are set: coffee; coffee containing milk; nothing for a sustained period of time; coffee containing milk; a coffee containing vanilla flavoring; and then hot chocolate.

The controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is then started, operating it to dispense the first desired coffee, by first starting the flow of water at a standard flow rate, in which case, of course, conventional heating, takes place via the mixed fluid input line 21 and into the input 52 at the first end 51 of the infuser 50 of diluent. It will be apparent to any one of ordinary skill in the art, especially in light of the foregoing, that the heated water is free to flow through the openings 54 in the base end 53 on the diluent injector 50 and through the diluent manifold 42, after which the heated water will begin to spray onto the port 43 of the supplied diluent injector, around the lower portion of the exterior of the mixing chamber 44, and in a nearly even distribution.

As the heated water starts to be sprayed into the mixing chamber 44, the fourth pump 29 starts to be activated, thereby forcing the coffee product out of the package 25 of fourth concentrate and through the line 33 of fourth concentrate into the input 63 at the first end 62 of the injector 61 of fourth concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the coffee product in the inner space 66 of the injector 61 of the fourth concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 provided at the base end 64 of the injector 61 of the fourth concentrate opens rapidly, as described in the preceding article, so that the coffee product can flow and enter the mixing chamber 44, where it combines with the flowing hot water and flows together in contact with the wiper blade 46 of the beater 45, which is operated under the control of the beverage dispenser controlled by the motor 47 of the beater 45. The fully mixed coffee beverage is then free to flow through the nozzle outlet 49 and into a cup or other beverage container to meet the needs of the user.

Since the amount of coffee beverage produced needs to be as large as is needed for a particular cup or other beverage container, the fourth pump 29 may be operated at a reduced speed by the controller of the beverage dispenser, so that the pressure of the coffee product in the inner space 66 of the infuser 61 of the fourth concentrate may be reduced. As soon as the pressure in the inner space 66 of the injector 61 for the fourth concentrate drops to a pressure below the critical value, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 arranged at the base end 64 of the injector 61 for the fourth concentrate is closed quickly, as described above, which is also the case. When the coffee product flows into the mixing chamber 44, the flow will stop, and the heated water flowing through the mixing fluid inlet line 21 will also stop under the normal control of the controller of the beverage dispenser and complete the desired dispensing of the coffee beverage.

Proceeding with the description of this embodiment, it is noted that the next beverage is assumed to be coffee containing milk, and it may further be assumed that this time demand is shortly after the previous time demand for the beverage. Since the current demand is for coffee containing milk, such a beverage contains every flavouring component present in the previously claimed coffee beverage, which does not contain any of the ingredients specifically treated by the mouthpiece, and which is a demand made within a reasonable time frame after the previous dispensing, it can be assumed that the currently claimed beverage needs to be dispensed without a cleaning operation. As a result, the currently desired coffee beverage containing milk is then dispensed.

As a result of the previous dispensing of the coffee beverage, the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is first operated to cause a flow of water at a standard flow rate, which, in this case similar to the previous case, is typically conventionally heated, through the mixed fluid inlet line 21 and into the inlet port 52 at the first end 51 of the diluent infuser 50. The heated water then flows freely through the openings 54 at the base end 53 of the diluent injector 50 and into the manifold 42 through the diluent, after which the heated water sprays onto the port 43 of the diluent injector, into the mixing chamber 44 around the lower portion of the exterior and in a nearly evenly distributed manner.

As the heated water starts to be sprayed into the mixing chamber 44, the fourth pump 29 starts to be activated, thereby forcing the coffee product out of the package 25 of fourth concentrate and through the line 33 of fourth concentrate into the input 63 at the first end 62 of the injector 61 of fourth concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the coffee product in the inner space 66 of the injector 61 of the fourth concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 arranged at the base end 64 of the injector 61 of the fourth concentrate opens rapidly, as described in the preceding article, so that the coffee product can flow through the valve 72 and into the mixing chamber 44, where it combines with the flowing hot water.

Almost simultaneously, into the hot water of the coffee product, the first pump 26 is activated so as to force the milk product out of the package 22 of the first concentrate and through the line 30 of the first concentrate into the input 63 at the first end 62 of the injector 58 of the first concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the milk product in the inner space 66 of the first concentrate injector 58, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 arranged at the base end 64 of the first concentrate injector 58 is rapidly opened, as described above, so that the milk product flows through the valve 72 and into the mixing chamber 44, where it is also combined with the coffee product and the flowing hot water, which three components are mixed together and in contact with the wiper blade 46 of the whisk 45, which is operated by the control of the beverage dispenser controlled by the whisk motor 47. The coffee beverage containing milk then flows freely through the nozzle output 49 and into a cup or other beverage container to meet the needs of the user.

Since the amount of coffee beverage containing milk produced needs to be as great as that needed to be suitable for a particular cup or other beverage container, both the first pump 26 and the fourth pump 29 may be operated at a reduced speed by the controller of the beverage dispenser, thereby reducing the pressure of the milk product in the interior space 66 of the first concentrate infuser 58 and the pressure of the coffee product in the interior space of the fourth concentrate infuser 61. Once the pressure in the interior space 66 of the first concentrate injector 58 drops below the threshold pressure, as described above, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 disposed on the base end 64 of the first concentrate injector 58 closes quickly, as also described above. Similarly, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 disposed on the base end 64 of the fourth concentrate injector 61 closes quickly once the pressure in the interior space 66 of the fourth concentrate injector 61 decreases to a pressure below the threshold value. When the coffee product flows into the mixing chamber 44 and the milk product flows into the mixing chamber, they will both stop flowing, and the heated water flowing through the mixing fluid inlet line 21 will also stop flowing under the normal control of the controller of the beverage dispenser, and the desired dispensing of the coffee beverage containing milk will be completed.

Further describing the previously established embodiment, it is noted that the next desired beverage may also be assumed to be coffee containing milk, but it may further be assumed that this desired time is a period of time after the previous desired beverage. As a result, at least one of the preferred implementations of the present invention contemplates that a controller adapted for use with the beverage dispenser 10 will initiate a cleaning cycle after a predetermined period of time. In addition, however, it is noted that previously dispensed beverages contain milk, which is known to be more susceptible to bacterial growth than other products. As a result, the controller of the beverage dispenser may shorten the critical predetermined time period and initiate a cleaning cycle orally after milk or similar product has been dispensed.

In either case, the cleaning cycle process begins with a first operation of the controller of the beverage dispenser for initiating the flow of water, typically heated to a very high temperature, through the mixed fluid input line 21 and into the input 52 at the first end 51 of the injector 50 of diluent. The heated water then flows through the openings 54 at the base end 53 of the diluent injector 50 and into the diluent manifold 42, after which the heated water is sprayed onto the port 43 of the configured diluent injector and completely around the mixing chamber 44. Although not set forth in the above-described embodiments, it is noted that the concentrate type injector may be configured for the purpose of introducing the desired cleaning fluid into the flow of heated water, if desired, in a manner similar to the production of the concentrate-combined product described previously.

In either case, the cleaning water or solution, which may be further distributed by the action of an agitator if desired, is discharged from the output end 49 of the nozzle and into the tray 13, where it is treated in a conventional manner according to the order of overflow onto the tray 13. A key problem, however, is that neither the cleaning water nor the solution enters any of the concentrate injectors 58-61, each of which is isolated from the mixing chamber 44 by a respective self-sealing dispensing valve 72. Finally, once the mixing chamber 44 is considered "clean", the flow of heated water through the mixed fluid inlet line 21 is stopped under normal operation of the controller of the beverage dispenser and the required cleaning cycle is completed. Thus, the nozzle system 20 of the beverage dispenser 10 is cleaned for the next use and the desired milk-containing coffee beverage is dispensed when the previously described demand arises.

The example proceeds with the next desired beverage being a vanilla flavored coffee. In this case, it is first noted that the desired coffee containing vanilla flavoring may be considered to be compatible with previously dispensed coffee containing milk, the combination of coffee and vanilla being generally more flavorful than the milk remaining in the mixing chamber 44 after the last dispensed beverage. For any reason, if desired, it is safe or of other specific handling concern, otherwise, the invention will be carried out such that the cleaning cycle will be initiated prior to any one dispensing of a composition that cannot have any of the components of the product, which allows any one prior dispensing to be truly of negligible composition. In such a case, the user is instructed that his or her cup needs to be delayed in order to be able to perform the operation of the cleaning cycle, as described hereinabove, after which the user is instructed to place his or her cup in order to receive the desired beverage. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 may be programmed to require the user to confirm receipt of the instruction, if desired, and this may of course be accomplished by user input provided on the front panel 14 of the beverage dispenser 10. In either case, the beverage dispenser 10 may be operable to dispense a beverage comprising vanilla coffee after the cleaning cycle is performed.

To dispense a beverage containing coffee with herbs, the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is first operated to generate a flow of water at a standard flow rate, which, in this case similar to the previous case, is typically conventionally heated, through the mixing fluid inlet line 21 and into the inlet port 52 at the first end 51 of the diluent infuser 50. The heated water then flows freely through the openings 54 at the base end 53 of the diluent injector 50 and into the manifold 42 through the diluent, after which the heated water sprays onto the port 43 of the diluent injector, into the mixing chamber 44 around the lower portion of the exterior and in a nearly evenly distributed manner.

As the heated water starts to be sprayed into the mixing chamber 44, the fourth pump 29 starts to be activated, thereby forcing the coffee product out of the package 25 of fourth concentrate and through the line 33 of fourth concentrate into the input 63 at the first end 62 of the injector 61 of fourth concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the coffee product in the inner space 66 of the injector 61 of the fourth concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 arranged at the base end 64 of the injector 61 of the fourth concentrate opens rapidly, as described in the preceding article, so that the coffee product can flow through the valve 72 and into the mixing chamber 44, where it combines with the flowing hot water.

Almost simultaneously into the hot water of the coffee product, the third pump 28 is activated so as to force the herb product out of the package 24 of the third concentrate and through the line 32 of the third concentrate into the input 63 at the first end 62 of the injector 60 of the third concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the herb product in the inner space 66 of the injector 60 for the third concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 arranged at the base end 64 of the injector 60 for the third concentrate is opened rapidly, as described above, so that the herb product flows through the valve 72 and into the mixing chamber 44, where it is also combined with the coffee product and the flowing hot water, which three components are mixed together and in contact with the wiper 46 of the beater 45, which is operated by the control of the beverage dispenser controlled by the motor 47 of the beater. The coffee beverage containing the herbs then flows freely through the nozzle output 49, where it flows into a cup or other beverage container placed by the user, according to the instructions described previously.

Since the amount of hot chocolate beverage produced is required to be as great as is required for a particular cup or other beverage container, both the third pump 28 and the fourth pump 29 may be operated at a reduced speed by the controller of the beverage dispenser, so that the pressure of the vanilla product in the interior space 66 of the infuser 60 of the third concentrate may be reduced, and the pressure of the coffee product in the interior space 66 of the infuser 61 of the fourth concentrate may be reduced. As soon as the pressure of the herb product in the inner space 66 of the injector 60 of the third concentrate drops to a pressure below the critical value, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 arranged at the base end 64 of the injector 60 of the third concentrate is closed quickly, as described above, which is also the case. Similarly, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 disposed on the base end 64 of the injector 61 of the fourth concentrate is also rapidly closed once the pressure in the interior space 66 of the injector 61 of the fourth concentrate is reduced to a pressure below the threshold value. When the coffee product flows into the mixing chamber 44 and the herb product also flows into the mixing chamber 44, they will both stop flowing, and the heated water flowing through the input line 21 of the mixing fluid will also stop flowing under the normal control of the controller of the beverage dispenser and complete the desired dispensing of the coffee beverage containing herbs.

Finally, the previously established embodiment meets the need to dispense a hot chocolate drink immediately after the coffee drink containing herbs has been dispensed. For this example, it can be assumed that the previously used vanilla product contains flavoring agents without requiring special handling in the milk product application as described above. In such a case, however, it is ascertained that the full body taste of the vanilla-containing coffee beverage is incompatible with the lighter taste of the hot chocolate beverage now required. As a result, the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is thus preferably programmed to initiate a cleaning cycle before the desired dispensing of hot chocolate beverage takes place.

Since the previously described cleaning cycle is initiated as a special process, in such a case the user is also instructed to delay the placement of his or her cup so that the operation of the cleaning cycle can be performed, as described hereinabove, after which the user is instructed to place his or her cup to receive the desired beverage. After the cleaning cycle is performed, the beverage dispenser 10 may be operated to dispense hot chocolate beverage. To dispense a hot chocolate beverage, the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is first operated to generate a flow of water at a standard flow rate, which in this case, similar to the previous case, is typically subjected to a conventional heating process, through the mixed fluid input line 21 and into the input port 52 at the first end 51 of the diluent injector 50. The heated water then flows freely through the openings 54 at the base end 53 of the diluent injector 50 and into the manifold 42 through the diluent, after which the heated water sprays onto the port 43 of the diluent injector, into the mixing chamber 44 around the lower portion of the exterior and in a nearly evenly distributed manner.

As the heated water begins to be sprayed into the mixing chamber 44, the second pump 27 is started, forcing the chocolate product out of the second concentrate packaging bag 23 and through the fourth concentrate line 31 into the input 63 at the first end 62 of the second concentrate injector 59. Due to the pressure built up in the chocolate product in the inner space 66 of the injector 59 for the second concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 provided at the base end 64 of the injector 59 for the second concentrate opens rapidly, as described in the previous article, so that the chocolate product can flow through the valve 72 and into the mixing chamber 44, where it combines with the flowing hot water and flows in contact with the scraper 46 of the beater 45, which is operated by the control of the beverage dispenser controlled by the motor 47 of the beater. The mixed hot chocolate beverage then flows freely through the nozzle output 49 and, in accordance with the instructions previously described, flows into a cup or other beverage container placed by the user.

Since the amount of hot chocolate beverage produced is required to be as great as is required for a particular cup or other beverage container, the second pump 27 may be operated at a reduced speed by the controller of the beverage dispenser, thereby reducing the pressure of the chocolate product in the interior space 66 of the injector 59 of the second concentrate. As soon as the pressure in the inner space 66 of the injector 59 of the second concentrate drops to a pressure below the critical value, the self-sealing dispensing valve 72 arranged at the base end 64 of the injector 59 of the second concentrate is closed quickly, as described above, which is also the case. The flow of chocolate product to the mixing chamber 44 will be stopped and the heated water flowing through the mixing fluid inlet line 21 will also stop under the normal control of the controller of the beverage dispenser and complete the desired hot chocolate beverage dispensing and end the embodiment.

Turning now to fig. 6-9, illustrated therein is a preferred implementation of an alternative use of the multi-flavor nozzle system 100 embodiment set forth in the preferred embodiment, which includes the implementation described hereinabove, a preferably integrally formed nozzle body 101 including the injector housing 102, the mixing chamber 103 and the nozzle output 104. Although not shown in the drawings, the mixing chamber 103 of the preferred embodiment may alternatively be provided with an agitator 45 having a plurality of agitator blades 46, the agitator 45 being supported against a shaft 48 for selective rotation by a motor 47 provided on the agitator, said agitator motor being known to one of ordinary skill in the art. As with the previously described implementations, it is noted that the liquid flow path through the mixing chamber 103 in this implementation is implemented or such that fluid within the mixing chamber 103 can naturally flow under gravity through the nozzle output 104 and out of the mixing chamber 103.

In addition, the multi-flavor nozzle system 100 includes an injector body 105 sized and shaped to be received in the injector housing 102 of the nozzle body 101. To ensure sealing into the injector housing 102, the injector body 105 preferably has one or more circumferentially disposed grooves 139, each having an O-ring seal 140 therein. As will be better understood in conjunction with the following description, the body 105 of the injector includes a plurality of injector ports 106 formed therein that are adapted to dependently receive and support at least one diluent injector 111 and a plurality of concentrate injectors 120, 123, each of which will be described in greater detail below. In either case, the port 106 of the injector associated with the diluent injector 111 is formed in a circular shape, as a hole leading downwardly from the top of the injector body 105, and leads downwardly into an annular dilution manifold 107 at a location circumferentially around the lower portion of the injector body 105, the annular dilution manifold 107 may further include a plurality of diluent injection ports 108 disposed downwardly therearound. As will be apparent to any one of ordinary skill in the art, the arrangement described may be adapted to deliver the mixed fluid from the injector 111 of diluent into the mixing chamber 103 such that the delivered mixed fluid may be distributed in a generally even manner around the output end at the bottom of the housing 102 of the injector.

As mentioned above, the multi-flavor nozzle system 100 includes at least one diluent injector 111 and a plurality of concentrate injectors 120 and 123. As shown particularly in fig. 6 and 7, the diluent injector 111 includes an input 113 located on the first preferred barbed end 112 and an open bore 115 located on the base 114. The outer surface 116 of the diluent injector 111 is dimensioned so as to be snug against a particular one of the provided injector ports 106, and, in order to be able to ensure a sealing engagement between the diluent injector 111 and the injector port 106, the outer surface 116 of the diluent injector 111 preferably has one or more circumferentially arranged grooves 117, each of which is provided with an O-ring 118. Likewise, and as also shown in fig. 6 and 7, each of the provided concentrate injectors 120 and 123 includes an input 125 at its respective preferred barbed end 124. As will be better understood in conjunction with the following description, although each of the concentrate injectors 120-123 is a critical aspect of the present invention, having a self-sealing dispensing valve 130 on their respective bases 127, each of which will also be better understood in conjunction with the following description, the self-sealing dispensing valves are adapted to substantially restrict the flow of fluid through their respective concentrate injectors 120-123 from outside the mixing chamber 103 into the interior of the mixing chamber 103.

However, after removal from the previously described implementation, and as will be better understood herein, each of the concentrate injectors 120 and 123 formed according to the presently described implementation may be adapted so as to be sealingly assembled into one of the configured injector ports 106 without the use of an O-ring or similar sealing device. In particular, as shown in figures 6 and 7, each of the injectors 111, 120 and 123 of this implementation may be formed or may be configured with respective shoulder pads 119, 126 in the form of circular rings such that the injectors 111, 120 and 123 may be secured from their base ends 114, 127 to the interior of the injector body 105 by a configured injector support plate 109 or the like, as shown in these figures, the support plate 109 may be securely mounted to the top of the injector body 105 by a configured support plate retaining screw 110 or the like.

In either case, fluid communication between the injectors 111, 120 and 123 within the injector body 105 may be established between the various concentrate packages 22-25 and the respective concentrate injectors 120 and 123, as well as between the source of the mixed fluid and the diluent injector 111. In particular, the communication of the mixed fluid can be established by connecting the free end of the input line 21 of the mixed fluid to a first end 112 of the injector 111 of the diluent, around its input 113. Similarly, fluid communication may be achieved between the first concentrate package 22 and the first concentrate injector 120 by connecting the free end of the first concentrate input line 30 to a first end 124 located on an input 125 around the first concentrate injector 120; fluid communication may be achieved between the package 23 of second concentrate and the injector 121 of second concentrate by connecting the free end of the input line 31 of second concentrate to the first end 124 located on the input 125 around the second concentrate injector 121; fluid communication may be achieved between the package 24 of third concentrate and the injector 122 of third concentrate by connecting the free end of the input line 32 of third concentrate to a first end 124 located on the input 125 around the third concentrate injector 122; and fluid communication may be achieved between the package 25 of fourth concentrate and the injector 123 of fourth concentrate by connecting the free end of the input line 33 of fourth concentrate to the first end 124 on the input 125 located around the fourth concentrate injector 123.

Also as mentioned hereinabove, a key aspect of the present invention includes the configuration of a self-sealing dispensing valve 130 disposed on the respective base end 64 of each of the concentrate injectors 120 and 123. Each self-sealing dispensing valve 130 may be implemented substantially as described in the brown '149' patent, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. More particularly, as shown in figures 6, 6A and 7, the first 120 and fourth 123 (each of the other 121, 122 is configured with substantially the same structure) concentrate injectors, among the concentrate injectors, the self-sealing dispensing valve includes a rim 131, a valve head 132 having an outlet aperture 133 formed therein, and a connector sleeve 137 having one end interconnected with the rim 131 on the valve rim and an opposite end connected with the valve head 132 adjacent the rim edge. As described in brown '149', the discharge orifice has a plurality of slits 134 or similar structures and the inner surface 135 and the outer surface 136 are curved, thereby causing the valve 130 to open quickly under the pressure in the interior 129 of the concentrate injector 120 and 123 and to close quickly in the absence of the pressure. To ensure that the dispensing valve 130 is in position at the base 127 of the concentrate injector 120-123, annular grooves 128 are formed around the base 127 of the concentrate injector 120-123, the size and shape of these grooves generally corresponding to the rim-located flange 131 of the valve 130, so that both the concentrate injector 120-123 and the valve 130 can be assembled in the same manner as shown in FIG. 6A. As the assembly of the concentrate injector 120 and 123 and the valve 130 is completed, the concentrate injector 120 and 123 is placed over the interior of the injector port 106, after which the flange 131 on the edge of the valve 10 will gradually rest on the annular valve's retaining lip 138, which is formed at the lower portion of the injector port 106. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the previously described position of the injector support plate 109 will serve to retain the valve 130 in operable sealing engagement with the injector port 106.

In either case, as described in Brown '149', the connector sleeve 137 has a resiliently flexible construction such that when the pressure in the interior space 129 of the concentrate injector 120 and 123 rises above a predetermined pressure, the valve head 132 can move outwardly in a manner that causes the connector sleeve 137 to collapse and extend in a swinging manner and causes the discharge orifice 133 to open, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the interior space 129 of the concentrate injector 120 and 123 into the mixing chamber 103. However, it is also optional that the connector sleeve 137 is configured to provide sufficient resiliency so that when the pressure in the interior space 129 of the concentrate injector 120 & 123 drops below a predetermined pressure, it automatically snaps the valve head 132 back to the fully retracted position, with no back or negative pressure being drawn into the concentrate injector 120 & 123 to effect closure of the valve 130.

As with the implementations described herein, the multi-flavor nozzle system 100 of the present invention enables the mixing chamber 103 to be closed between each dispensing cycle for cleaning operations, since the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 is provided to prevent contamination and/or dilution by the cleaning fluid of the source of concentrate. In particular, the invention strictly performs a cleaning cycle (which may simply comprise dispensing hot water from the injector 111 of the diluent through the mixing chamber 103 under the agitation of the stirrer 45): (a) stirring is carried out manually at any time; (b) automatically upon the lapse of a predetermined length of time or according to a set threshold value; (c) prior to dispensing a selected beverage combination that is deemed to be incompatible with the taste of a previously dispensed beverage combination; (d) any conjugate dispensed once present; or (e) upon the occurrence of any other predetermined emergency.

In an exemplary embodiment of the multi-flavor nozzle system 100 of the present invention (corresponding to the embodiment described above in connection with the first implementation of the multi-flavor nozzle system 20), for purposes of illustration, the first concentrate package 22 may be considered to contain milk, for purposes of illustration, the second concentrate package 23 may be considered to contain chocolate, for purposes of illustration, the third concentrate package 24 may be considered to contain vanilla flavoring, and for purposes of illustration, the fourth concentrate package 25 may be considered to contain coffee, and for purposes of illustration, the mixing fluid may be assumed to be water. In addition, for purposes of explanation, it may be assumed that a user of the beverage dispenser 10 incorporating the multi-flavor nozzle system 100 of the present invention determines the set order of the following beverages: coffee; coffee containing milk; nothing for a sustained period of time; coffee containing milk; a coffee containing vanilla flavoring; and then hot chocolate.

The controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is then started, operating it to dispense the first desired coffee, by first starting the flow of water at a standard flow rate, in which case, of course, conventional heating, takes place via the mixed fluid input line 21 and into the input 113 at the first end 112 of the diluent infuser 111. It will be apparent to any one of ordinary skill in the art, especially in light of the foregoing, that the heated water is free to flow through the openings 115 in the base end 114 on the diluent injector 111 and through the diluent manifold 107, after which the heated water will begin to spray onto the port 108 of the supplied diluent injector, around the lower portion of the exterior of the mixing chamber 103, and in a nearly even distribution.

As the heated water starts to be sprayed into the mixing chamber 103, the fourth pump 29 starts to be activated, thereby forcing the coffee product out of the package 25 of fourth concentrate and through the line 33 of fourth concentrate into the input 125 at the first end 124 of the injector 123 of fourth concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the coffee product in the inner space 129 of the injector 123 of the fourth concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged at the base end 127 of the injector 123 of the fourth concentrate opens rapidly, as described in the preceding article, so that the coffee product can flow through the valve 13 and into the mixing chamber 103, where it combines with the flowing hot water and flows together in contact with the wiper 46 of the beater 45, which is operated under the control of the beverage dispenser controlled by the motor 47 of the beater 45. The fully mixed coffee beverage is then free to flow through the nozzle outlet 104 into a cup or other beverage container to meet the needs of the user.

Since the amount of coffee beverage produced needs to be as large as is needed for a particular cup or other beverage container, the fourth pump 29 may be operated at a reduced speed by the controller of the beverage dispenser, so that the pressure of the coffee product in the inner space 129 of the infuser 123 of the fourth concentrate may be reduced. As soon as the pressure in the inner space 129 of the injector 123 for the fourth concentrate drops to a pressure below the critical value, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged at the base end 127 of the injector 123 for the fourth concentrate is closed quickly, as described above, which is also the case. After the coffee product has flowed into the mixing chamber 103, the flow will be stopped, and the heated water flowing through the mixing fluid inlet line 21 will also stop under the normal control of the controller of the beverage dispenser and complete the desired dispensing of the coffee beverage.

Continuing with this example, it is noted that the next beverage is assumed to be coffee containing milk, and it may further be assumed that this time of demand is shortly after the time of previous demand for the beverage. Since the current demand is for coffee containing milk, such a beverage contains every flavouring component present in the previously claimed coffee beverage, which does not contain any of the ingredients specifically treated by the mouthpiece, and which is a demand made within a reasonable time frame after the previous dispensing, it can be assumed that the currently claimed beverage needs to be dispensed without a cleaning operation. As a result, the currently desired coffee beverage containing milk is then dispensed.

As a result of the previous dispensing of the coffee beverage, the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is first operated to cause a flow of water at a standard flow rate, which, in this case similar to the previous case, is typically conventionally heated, through the mixed fluid inlet line 21 and into the inlet port 113 at the first end 112 of the diluent infuser 111. The heated water then flows freely through the openings 115 at the base end 114 of the diluent injector 111 and into the manifold 107 through the diluent, after which the heated water sprays onto the port 108 of the diluent injector, into the mixing chamber 103 around the lower part of the exterior and in a nearly evenly distributed manner.

As the heated water starts to be sprayed into the mixing chamber 103, the fourth pump 29 starts to be activated, thereby forcing the coffee product out of the package 25 of fourth concentrate and through the line 33 of fourth concentrate into the input 125 at the first end 124 of the injector 123 of fourth concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the coffee product in the inner space 129 of the injector 123 of the fourth concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged at the base end 127 of the injector 123 of the fourth concentrate opens rapidly, as described in the previous article, so that the coffee product can flow through the valve 130 and into the mixing chamber 103, where it combines with the flowing hot water.

Almost simultaneously, into the hot water of the coffee product, the first pump 26 is activated so as to force the milk product out of the package 22 of the first concentrate and through the line 30 of the first concentrate into the input 125 at the first end 124 of the injector 120 of the first concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the milk product in the inner space 129 of the injector 120 of the first concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged at the base end 127 of the injector 123 of the first concentrate opens rapidly, as described above, so that the milk product flows through the valve 130 and into the mixing chamber 103, where it is also combined with the coffee product and the flowing hot water, which three components are mixed together and in contact with the wiper blade 46 of the whisk 45, which is operated by the control of the beverage dispenser controlled by the motor 47 of the whisk. The mixed coffee beverage containing milk then flows freely through the nozzle output 104 and into a cup or other beverage receptacle to meet the needs of the user.

Since the amount of coffee beverage containing milk that is produced needs to be the amount that is needed to be suitable for a particular cup or other beverage container, both the first pump 26 and the fourth pump 29 may be operated at a reduced speed by the controller of the beverage dispenser, thereby reducing the pressure of the milk product in the interior space 129 of the first concentrate infuser 120 and the pressure of the coffee product in the interior space 129 of the fourth concentrate infuser 123. Once the pressure in the interior space 129 of the injector 120 of the first concentrate drops to a pressure below the threshold value, as described above, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 disposed on the base end 127 of the injector 120 of the first concentrate closes quickly, as also described above. Similarly, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 disposed on the base end 127 of the fourth concentrate injector 123 rapidly closes once the pressure in the interior space 129 of the fourth concentrate injector 123 decreases to a pressure below the threshold value. When the coffee product flows into the mixing chamber 103 and the milk product flows into the mixing chamber 103, they will both stop flowing, and the heated water flowing through the mixing fluid inlet line 21 will also stop flowing under the normal control of the controller of the beverage dispenser and complete the desired dispensing of the coffee beverage containing milk.

Continuing with the further description of the previously established embodiment, it is noted that the next desired beverage may also be assumed to be coffee containing milk, but it may further be assumed that this desired time is a period of time after the previous desired beverage. As a result, at least one of the preferred implementations of the present invention contemplates that a controller adapted for use with the beverage dispenser 10 will initiate a cleaning cycle after a predetermined period of time. In addition, however, it is noted that previously dispensed beverages contain milk, which is known to be more susceptible to bacterial growth than other products. As a result, the controller of the beverage dispenser may shorten the critical predetermined time period and initiate a cleaning cycle orally after milk or similar product has been dispensed.

In either case, the cleaning cycle process begins with a first operation of the controller of the beverage dispenser for initiating the flow of water, typically heated to a very high temperature, through the mixed fluid input line 21 and into the input 113 at the first end 112 of the injector 111 of diluent. The heated water then flows through the openings 115 at the base end 114 of the diluent injector 111 and through the diluent manifold 107, after which the heated water is sprayed onto the port 108 of the configured diluent injector and all around the mixing chamber 103. Although not set forth in the above-described embodiments, it is noted that the concentrate type injector may be configured for the purpose of introducing the desired cleaning fluid into the flow of heated water, if desired, in a manner similar to the production of the concentrate-combined product described previously.

In either case, the cleaning water or solution, which may be further distributed by the action of the agitator 45 if desired, is discharged from the outlet end 104 of the nozzle and into the tray 13 where it is treated in a conventional manner according to the order of overflow onto the tray 13. The key issue, however, is that neither the cleaning water nor the solution enters any of the concentrate injectors 120 and 123, each of which is isolated from the mixing chamber 103 by a respective self-sealing dispensing valve 30. Finally, once the mixing chamber 103 is considered "clean", the flow of heated water through the mixed fluid inlet line 21 is stopped under normal operation of the controller of the beverage dispenser and the required cleaning cycle is completed. Thus, the nozzle system 100 of the beverage dispenser 10 is cleaned for further use, and when the previously described demand arises, the desired coffee beverage containing milk is dispensed.

The example proceeds with the next desired beverage being a vanilla flavored coffee. In this case, it is first noted that the expected coffee containing vanilla flavouring may be considered to be compatible with the previously dispensed coffee containing milk, the combination of coffee and vanilla being generally more palatable than the milk remaining in the mixing chamber 103 after the last beverage dispensed. However, for any reason, if desired, it is safe or of other specific handling concern, otherwise the invention will be carried out such that the cleaning cycle will be initiated prior to any one dispensing of a composition that cannot have any of the components of the product, which allows any one prior dispensing to be truly of negligible composition. In such a case, the user is instructed that his or her cup needs to be delayed in order to be able to perform the operation of the cleaning cycle, as described hereinabove, after which the user is instructed to place his or her cup in order to receive the desired beverage. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 may be programmed to require the user to confirm receipt of the instruction, if desired, and this may of course be accomplished through user input 19 provided on the front panel 14 of the beverage dispenser 10. In either case, the beverage dispenser 10 may be operable to dispense a beverage comprising vanilla coffee after the cleaning cycle is performed.

To dispense a beverage containing vanilla coffee, the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is first operated to cause a flow of water at a standard flow rate, which, in this case similar to the previous case, is typically conventionally heated, through the mixing fluid inlet line 21 and into the inlet port 113 at the first end 112 of the diluent infuser 111. The heated water then flows freely through the openings 115 at the base end 114 of the diluent injector 111 and into the manifold 107 through the diluent, after which the heated water sprays onto the port 108 of the diluent injector, into the mixing chamber 103 around the lower part of the exterior and in a nearly evenly distributed manner.

As the heated water starts to be sprayed into the mixing chamber 103, the fourth pump 29 starts to be activated, thereby forcing the coffee product out of the package 25 of fourth concentrate and through the line 33 of fourth concentrate into the input 125 at the first end 124 of the injector 123 of fourth concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the coffee product in the inner space 129 of the injector 123 of the fourth concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged at the base end 127 of the injector 123 of the fourth concentrate opens rapidly, as described in the previous article, so that the coffee product can flow through the valve 130 and into the mixing chamber 103, where it combines with the flowing hot water.

Almost simultaneously into the hot water of the coffee product, the third pump 28 is activated so as to force the vanilla product out of the package 24 of the third concentrate through the line 122 of the third concentrate into the input 125 at the first end 124 of the injector 122 of the third concentrate. Due to the pressure built up in the herb product in the inner space 129 of the injector 122 of the third concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged at the base end 127 of the injector 122 of the third concentrate opens rapidly, as described above, so that the herb product flows through the valve 130 and into the mixing chamber 103, where it is also combined with the coffee product and the flowing hot water, which three components are mixed together and in contact with the wiper 46 of the beater 45, which is operated by the control of the beverage dispenser controlled by the motor 47 of the beater. The blended coffee beverage containing the herbs then flows freely through the nozzle output 104, where it flows into a cup or other beverage container placed by the user, in accordance with the instructions previously described.

Since the amount of hot chocolate beverage produced is required to be as great as is required for a particular cup or other beverage container, both the third pump 28 and the fourth pump 29 may be operated at a reduced speed by the controller of the beverage dispenser, so that the pressure of the vanilla product in the interior space 29 of the infuser 122 of the third concentrate may be reduced, and the pressure of the coffee product in the interior space 129 of the infuser 123 of the fourth concentrate may be reduced. As soon as the pressure of the vanilla product in the interior space 129 of the injector 122 of the third concentrate drops to a pressure below the critical value, as described above, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged on the base end 127 of the injector 122 of the third concentrate closes rapidly, as also described above. Similarly, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 disposed on the base end 127 of the fourth concentrate injector 123 also closes quickly once the pressure in the interior space 129 of the fourth concentrate injector 123 drops below a threshold pressure. When the coffee product flows into the mixing chamber 103 and the herb product also flows into the mixing chamber 103, they will both stop flowing, and the heated water flowing through the input line 21 of the mixing fluid will also stop flowing under the normal control of the controller of the beverage dispenser and the desired dispensing of the coffee beverage containing herbs is completed.

Finally, the previously established embodiment meets the need to dispense a hot chocolate drink immediately after the coffee drink containing herbs has been dispensed. For this example, it can be assumed that the previously used vanilla product contains flavoring agents without requiring special handling in the milk product application as described above. In such a case, however, it is ascertained that the full body taste of the vanilla-containing coffee beverage is incompatible with the lighter taste of the hot chocolate beverage now required. As a result, the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is thus preferably programmed to initiate a cleaning cycle before the desired dispensing of hot chocolate beverage takes place.

Since the previously described cleaning cycle is a problem and is initiated by a special process, in such a case the user is also instructed to delay the placement of his or her cup so that the operation of the cleaning cycle can be performed, as described hereinabove, after which the user is instructed to place his or her cup to receive the desired beverage. After the cleaning cycle is performed, the beverage dispenser 10 may be operated to dispense hot chocolate beverage. To dispense a hot chocolate beverage, the controller of the beverage dispenser 10 is first operated to generate a flow of water at a standard flow rate, which in this case, similar to the previous case, is typically subjected to a conventional heating process, through the mixed fluid inlet line 21 and into the inlet port 113 at the first end 112 of the diluent injector 111. The heated water then flows freely through the openings 115 at the base end 114 of the diluent injector 111 and into the manifold 107 through the diluent, after which the heated water sprays onto the port 108 of the diluent injector, into the mixing chamber 103 around the lower part of the exterior and in a nearly evenly distributed manner.

As the heated water begins to be sprayed into the mixing chamber 103, the second pump 27 is started, forcing the chocolate product out of the second concentrate packaging bag 23 and through the fourth concentrate line 31 into the input 125 at the first end 124 of the second concentrate injector 121. Due to the pressure built up in the chocolate product in the inner space 129 of the injector 121 of the second concentrate, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged at the base end 127 of the injector 121 of the second concentrate opens rapidly, as described in the previous article, so that the chocolate product can flow through the valve 130 and into the mixing chamber 103, where it combines with the flowing hot water and flows together in contact with the wiper blade 46 of the whisk 45, which is operated by the control of the beverage dispenser controlled by the motor 47 of the whisk. The mixed hot chocolate beverage then flows freely through the nozzle output 104, and flows into a cup or other beverage container placed by the user in accordance with the instructions previously described.

Since the amount of hot chocolate beverage produced is required to be as great as is required for a particular cup or other beverage container, the second pump 27 may be operated at a reduced speed by the controller of the beverage dispenser, thereby reducing the pressure of the chocolate product in the interior space 129 of the injector 121 of the second concentrate. As soon as the pressure in the inner space 129 of the injector 121 of the second concentrate drops to a pressure below the critical value, the self-sealing dispensing valve 130 arranged at the base end 127 of the injector 121 of the second concentrate is closed quickly, as described above, which is also the case. The flow of chocolate product to the mixing chamber 103 will be stopped and the heated water flowing through the mixing fluid inlet line 21 will also stop under the normal control of the controller of the beverage dispenser and complete the desired hot chocolate beverage dispensing and end the embodiment.

While the invention has been described in terms of various embodiments as described above, any of the above descriptions are for exemplary purposes only and various modifications, variations and improvements in form will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are part of the present disclosure and are within the scope of the invention. For example, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the removal of residual flavoring prior to any dispensing cycle, and the function of the various components of the multi-flavor nozzle assembly 20, 100 of the present invention, may be readily performed, with particular adaptations of the present invention, to allow dispensing of water, whether hot or cold, and whether or not with additives. In any event, the scope of the present invention is not limited to any of the embodiments described above; but rather by the claims appended below.

Claims (1)

1. A nozzle system for use in conjunction with a multi-flavor beverage dispenser, the nozzle system comprising:

a nozzle body defining a housing of an injector, a mixing chamber and an output from the mixing chamber;

the body of the injector is disposed inside the housing of the injector, which defines the following structures:

a manifold of diluent formed circumferentially around the exterior and around a lower portion of the body of the injector, the manifold of diluent communicating with the mixing chamber,

a first concentrate injector port formed through the interior of the body of the diluent manifold injector such that the first concentrate injector port communicates with the mixing chamber without traversing the diluent manifold,

a second concentrate injector port formed through the interior of the body of the diluent manifold injector such that the second concentrate injector port communicates with the mixing chamber without traversing the diluent manifold, an

A diluent injector port formed at an exterior portion of the injector body exterior of the first and second concentrate injector ports such that the diluent injector port resides in or communicates directly with a diluent manifold;

a first concentrate injector is arranged in a port of said first concentrate injector, said first concentrate injector being connectable with a source of first concentrate for delivering the concentrate into said mixing chamber;

a second concentrate injector is arranged in a port of said second concentrate injector, said second concentrate injector being connectable with a source of a second concentrate for delivering the concentrate into said mixing chamber; and

a diluent injector is disposed in a port of the diluent injector, the diluent injector being connected to a diluent source for delivering diluent to the diluent manifold, wherein the diluent manifold delivers the diluent in a circumferential manner to the mixing chamber.