Patent classifications
B67D1/1247
Beverage Infusion Apparatus and Method for Infusing Gas into a Beverage
A beverage infusion apparatus includes: beverage infusion apparatus comprising: (a) an infusion module for infusing a nitrogen containing gas into a beverage to form a gas infused beverage, wherein: (i) the infusion module comprises a gas draw venturi device for drawing the nitrogen containing gas into the beverage as a result of flow of the beverage through the gas draw venturi device to form the gas infused beverage; (b) a dispensing valve for dispensing the gas infused beverage and constructed to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein: (i) the open position permits dispensing of the gas infused beverage from the beverage infusion apparatus; (ii) the closed position prevents dispensing of the gas infused beverage from the beverage infusion apparatus; and (iii) the dispensing valve is constructed to move between the open position and the closed position by a user of the beverage infusion apparatus; and (c) a pump constructed to move the beverage, under pressure, from a beverage reservoir, through the dispensing valve to the dispensing valve. A method of forming a gas infused beverage at a location of purchase of the gas infused beverage is provided.
FLOW DETECTION CIRCUIT
A dispensing system for a beverage comprises in a tap system a bore for housing a duct. Along the bore, close to or on the duct, at least two electrodes are provided such that at least at some locations along the duct, the two electrodes are provided opposite to one another with the duct in between, thus constituting a capacitor. An oscillating signal is provided to one electrode and a signal is read out from the other electrode. As a beverage is drawn through the duct in a container, capacitance of the capacitor changes. The flowing beverage may have different characteristics, but capacitance may also change as the beverage in the duct is in conducting contact with a container that may be in contact with a ground contact. The change of capacitance results in a change of the amplitude of a detection circuit connected to the second electrode.
KEG SENSOR ASSEMBLIES
Keg sensors and keg sensor assemblies are disclosed. In some embodiments, the keg sensor may include a main body and a first connector attached to the main body and configured to be connected to a keg dispensing coupler. The keg dispensing coupler may be configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position; The keg sensor may additionally include a second connector attached to the main body and configured to be connected to a valve of a keg. The keg sensor may further include a sensor assembly attached to the main body and configured to detect one or more operating parameters of liquid dispensed, via the keg dispensing coupler, from the keg through the keg sensor. In some embodiments, the keg sensor assembly may include a keg sensor and a stack cage assembly. The stack cage assembly may include a cage sized to surround the keg sensor.
BEVERAGE MIXING SYSTEM
A system for mixing a liquid beverage (e.g., a beer) from multiple liquid ingredients and dispensing the liquid beverage includes: a mixing chamber having an inlet valve and an outlet valve; a pump for drawing liquid into the mixing chamber through the inlet value; a manifold in fluid communication with the inlet valve of the mixing chamber and a source of each of the liquid ingredients (e.g., a keg); a tap associated with the mixing chamber for dispensing the liquid beverage mixed in the mixing chamber; and an electronic control module in communication with the pump, the electronic control module being programmed to cause the pump to sequentially draw a predetermined volume of more than one of the liquid ingredients into the mixing chamber, the predetermined volumes corresponding to a recipe for the liquid beverage.
CONNECTED AND AUTOMATED LIQUID DISPENSING ATTACHMENT
An automated liquid dispensing attachment monitors and controls preparation of drinks poured from bottles. The automated liquid dispensing attachment attaches to a bottle and senses multiple aspects of the pouring of the drink, and based on the sensor outputs, monitors and controls the flow of fluids from the bottle through the attachment. The automated liquid dispensing attachment communicates with other electronic devices to enable individualized control and monitoring, and data aggregation and analysis.
BEVERAGE DISPENSER WITH DISPENSING AREA CAMERAS
The present application provides a beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage into a cup. The beverage dispenser may include a dispensing area with a nozzle and an optical recognition system. The optical recognition system may include a camera positioned about the dispensing area.
Monitoring Of A Beverage Dispensing System
Beverage dispensing system (10) comprising: —one or more pressure chambers comprising a connectable base (14) part and lid (12) defining a sealed inner space (16) for accommodating and encapsulating a —40 collapsible beverage container (18) having a beverage outlet connectable to the base part (14), —a tapping device (34) comprising one or more tapping heads (36) for extracting the beverage from the collapsible beverage to container(s), —a tapping line (28) extending from said base part (14) to said tapping device, said tapping line comprising one or more beverage lines, and —at least one measuring device (56) configured for monitoring at least one physical quantity of the tapping line, sealed inner space, base part, lid and/or collapsible beverage container, said measuring device configured to have a sampling rate of at least 10 Hz, wherein the beverage dispensing system is configured for —processing data from the measuring device, and —detecting an event in the system by continuously analysing data from the measuring device.
Liquid sale management device
A liquid sales management device is to be added to a liquid supply system supplying a liquid within a storage container to a dispensing device through a supply pipe with the liquid pressurized in order to cool the liquid in the dispensing device, and dispensing the cooled liquid to a drinking container. The liquid sales management device includes an actual flow rate determining unit that determines an actual measured flow rate of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container from the dispensing device, a cleaning mode detection unit that detects a cleaning mode in the liquid supply system, and a consumption flow rate acquisition unit that determines an actual consumption of the liquid based on the number of cycles of the cleaning mode, a known liquid amount consumed in one cycle of the cleaning mode in the liquid supply system, and the actual measured flow rate.
FLAVOR AND ADDITIVE DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS
Flavor and additive delivery systems and methods for beverage dispensers are disclosed. An example beverage dispenser includes flavor containers configured to contain flavor mixtures, a manifold configured to blend water with flavor mixtures, a flowrate sensor configured to detect a current flowrate of the water flowing to the manifold, memory configured to store instructions related to dispensing the water and the flavor mixtures, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a request for a selected beverage, identify a ratio between the water and one or more of the flavor mixtures for the selected beverage, transmit a water control signal to cause the water to flow at a requested water flowrate, and transmit one or more first flavor control signals to cause one or more of the flavor mixtures to flow from the flavor containers based on the ratio.
BEVERAGE DISPENSER
A beverage dispenser uses-high ratio concentrates to mix on-demand beverages. The high-ratio concentrate is pre-mixed with an alkaline water to allow for improved blending performance in the final beverage. The beverage recipe may be customized by the user to suit personal tastes. Aspects of the beverage dispenser also may include the ability to dispense room temperature, chilled, heated, sparkling, or highly alkaline beverages. Operation of a user interface to receive a beverage order includes the ability to display and employ user interfaces present on both a display on the beverage dispenser and an application on a mobile device. In some aspects, both user interfaces may be used simultaneously to receive user input. Methods of dispensing a beverage using the beverage dispensing systems are also discussed.