CA-3050703-C - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCORPORATING MICRO-INGREDIENT DISPENSING FUNCTIONALITY INTO A MACRO-INGREDIENT BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract

A system for dispensing one or more beverages is disclosed. The system may include a nozzle, one or more macro-ingredients in fluid communication with the nozzle, and a number of micro-ingredients in fluid communication with the nozzle. The nozzle is configured to dispense a beverage formed by the one or more macro-ingredients and one or more of the micro-ingredients.

Inventors

• Gregg Carpenter
• Arthur G. Rudick
• David Slagley
• Dick P. WELCH
• Daniel S. Quartarone
• Douglas Jon McDougall

Assignees

• THE COCA-COLA COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20180125

Priority Date

20170127

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A method for dispensing one or more beverages, the method comprising: replacing a legacy nozzle on a first legacy beverage dispenser comprising at least one macro-ingredient with a retrofitted nozzle configured to accommodate the at least one macro-ingredient of the first legacy beverage dispenser and a plurality of micro-ingredients; providing a second retrofitted beverage dispenser separate from the first legacy beverage dispenser and in communication with the retrofitted nozzle of the first legacy beverage dispenser, wherein the second retrofitted beverage dispenser comprises the plurality of micro-ingredients; receiving an order for a beverage from a user interface of the first legacy beverage dispenser; communicating the order to the second retrofitted beverage dispenser in communication with the first legacy beverage dispenser; and dispensing from the retrofitted nozzle of the first legacy beverage dispenser a beverage formed by the at least one macro-ingredient from the first legacy beverage dispenser and one or more of the plurality of micro-ingredients from the second retrofitted beverage dispenser.

Description

1 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCORPORATING MICRO-INGREDIENT DISPENSING FUNCTIONALITY INTO A MACRO-INGREDIENT BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 5 [0001] The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/451,407, filed January 27, 2017, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/470,457, filed March 13, 2017. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 10 [0002] The disclosure generally relates to beverage dispensers and more particularly relates to systems and methods for incorporating micro-ingredient dispensing functionality into a macro-ingredient beverage dispensing system to create a hybrid beverage dispenser that includes both macro-ingredient and micro-ingredient dispensing functionality. 15 BACKGROUND [0003] Typical fountain beverage dispensing units (such as legacy and legacy plus) do not include micro-ingredient dispensing functionality because the ingredient modules (including pumping and valve mechanisms used to deliver and meter the 20 ingredients to the nozzle) used therein are not capable of delivering small enough quantities of beverage micro-ingredients to yield a beverage within specifications. Recent legacy beverage dispensing units may include levers and buttons and one or more multi-flavor nozzles (per system) and a touch screen user interface, sometimes referred to a legacy plus beverage dispensing unit. Legacy and legacy plus beverage 25 dispensing units may deliver a beverage base (e.g., a macro-ingredient bag-in-box syrup) and a diluent (e.g., water or carbonated water) to a nozzle to produce a finished beverage. Typically, the flow rate of the beverage base syrup is controlled with a mechanical flow control valve that is adjusted via a set screw. Likewise, the flow rate of the diluent is also controlled by a separate mechanical flow control valve that is 30 adjustable via a set screw. The legacy and legacy plus beverage dispensers may be calibrated by a technician adjusting the set screws on the mechanical flow control 2 valves to ensure the proper ratio of beverage base and diluent are dispensed to mix and produce a finished beverage. [0004] Some legacy and legacy plus beverage dispensers may also allow for the addition of flavor shots to the finished beverage. The flavor shots may be added at a separate flavor shot nozzle from the nozzle that dispenses the finished beverage or the 5 flavor shot may be added at the same nozzle as the one that dispenses the finished beverage. When the flavor shot is added at the same nozzle as the finished beverage, the flavor shot may be added at the beginning or end of the dispense of the finished beverage, or may be continuously dosed into the finished beverage as it is dispensed. However, the flow rate of the flavor shot may also be controlled via a mechanical 10 flow control valve that is adjustable via a set screw. The flow rate of the flavor shot may be calibrated with respect to the flow rate of the beverage base syrup. Because the flow rate of the water is already fixed with respect to the flow rate of the beverage base syrup, the finished beverage ends up being diluted with the addition of the flavor shot. 15 [0005] For example, in a 10 fl. oz. beverage, there may be 8 fl. oz. of carbonated water and 2 fl. oz. of beverage base syrup dispensed to mix and produce the finished beverage. However, when adding a flavor shot based on the above described control mechanisms, in a 10 fl. oz. beverage, there may be approximately 7.27 fl. oz. of carbonated water, 1.82 fl. oz. of beverage base syrup, and 0.91 fl. oz. of the flavor 20 shot. The above example is merely illustrative and assumes mechanical flow control valve for the flavor shot is adjusted with respect to the mechanical flow control valve of the beverage base syrup to provide a 2:1 ratio between the beverage base syrup and the flavor shot. The ratio of the flavor shot may also be set with respect to the diluent (e.g., water or carbonated water) with a similar end result. 25 [0006] Therefore, although legacy and legacy plus units may be capable of dispensing a beverage with a flavor shot, it may be desirable to improve the dispensing capabilities of the legacy and legacy plus units by incorporating micro-ingredient dispensing functionality into the macro-units. 30 CA 3050703 3 SUMMARY [0007] Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the disclosure. According to an embodiment, a system for dispensing one or more beverages is disclosed. The system may include a nozzle, one or more macro-ingredients in fluid communication with the nozzle, and a number of 5 micro-ingredients in fluid communication with the nozzle. The nozzle is configured to dispense a beverage formed by the one or more macro-ingredients and one or more of the micro-ingredients. [0007a] According to an aspect of the invention is a method for dispensing one or more beverages, the method comprising: 10 replacing a legacy no