COUNTERTOP HOT AND COLD POST-MIX BEVERAGE DISPENSER

Abstract

A beverage dispense system for a countertop having a water inlet including a solenoid valve and a beverage concentrate inlet to which a bag-in-box containing a supply of liquid coffee concentrate is attached. A beverage dispense font is mounted on the countertop. A water conduit connects the water inlet with the dispense font. A separate liquid beverage concentrate conduit connects the beverage concentrate inlet with the beverage dispense font. An electric syrup pump pumps liquid coffee concentrate from the bag-in-box to the end of the dispense font. A control unit controls the separate delivery of water from the mains water inlet and/or liquid coffee concentrate to the end of the beverage dispense font. Where water and liquid coffee concentrate are delivered, they will mix in the beverage receptacle.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A beverage dispense system for a countertop comprising: a mains water connection proximal a countertop; a beverage concentrate inlet under the countertop and to which a supply of liquid beverage concentrate is attachable; a beverage dispense font on the countertop; a water conduit connecting the beverage dispense font with the mains water connection and a separate liquid beverage concentrate conduit connecting the beverage dispense font with the beverage concentrate inlet; a pump for delivering liquid beverage concentrate from the beverage concentrate inlet to the beverage dispense font; and a control unit to control the delivery of water from the mains water connection, and/or liquid beverage concentrate to the beverage dispense font and from the beverage dispense font to an appropriate beverage receptacle.

17. A dispense system according to claim 16, further comprising an undercounter water boiler, in fluid communication with the beverage dispense font by way of a boiler conduit and under the control of the control unit.

18. A dispense system according to claim 17, wherein the undercounter water boiler is an atmospheric boiler providing water at a number of temperatures through the boiler conduit.

19. A dispense system according to claim 18, wherein the atmospheric water boiler is in fluid communication with the mains water connection such that, in use, mains water is deliverable, through the water boiler to the beverage dispense font at ambient temperature, as one of the temperatures.

20. A dispense system according to claim 16, further comprising a water chiller unit located proximal to the mains water connection and the dispense font for delivering chilled water to the beverage dispense font in use.

21. A dispense system according to claim 16, wherein the supply of liquid beverage concentrate is in a bag-in-box, and the pump is an electric syrup pump that pumps the liquid beverage concentrate through the beverage concentrate conduit.

22. A dispense system according to claim 16, wherein the supply of liquid beverage concentrate is in a pressurized keg, and the pump includes a solenoid valve, located in the beverage concentrate conduit, which solenoid valve, when opened in use, releases the pressurized liquid beverage concentrate from the keg to the beverage dispense font.

23. A dispense system according to claim 16, wherein the liquid beverage concentrate inlet is mounted in a refrigerated unit, and which refrigerated unit houses the supply of liquid beverage concentrate in use.

24. A dispense system according to claim 16, wherein at least one beverage selection button is mounted on the countertop.

25. A dispense system according to claim 24, wherein the at least one beverage selection button is mounted on the beverage dispense font.

26. A dispense system according to claim 16, further comprising a supply of liquid tea concentrate attached to the beverage concentrate inlet.

27. A dispense system according to claim 16, further comprising a supply of liquid coffee concentrate attached to the beverage concentrate inlet.

28. A dispense system according to claim 27, wherein the supply of liquid coffee concentrate is cold brewed coffee concentrate.

29. A dispense system according to claim 16, further comprising a draft tap dispense unit locatable on the countertop and in separate fluid communication with an electrical syrup pump, a supply of nitrogen, and a venturi connection located between the beverage concentrate inlet and the draft tap dispense unit, through which, in use, gaseous nitrogen is introduced into the liquid coffee concentrate for delivery from the draft tap dispense unit.

30. A dispense system according to claim 16, further comprising a draft tap dispense unit locatable on the countertop and in fluid communication with a separate source of pre-nitrogenated liquid coffee concentrate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a beverage dispense system in accordance with the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a beverage dispense system in accordance with the invention;

[0045] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a beverage dispense system in accordance with the invention; and

[0046] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a beverage dispense system in accordance with the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0047] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated generally at 10, a first embodiment of a beverage dispense system for a countertop 11 in accordance with the invention. The beverage dispense system 10 has a mains water inlet 12 which includes a mains solenoid valve 13 and a beverage concentrate inlet 14 to which a bag-in-box 15 containing a supply of liquid coffee concentrate is attached, with both the mains water inlet 12 and the beverage concentrate inlet 14 being located under the countertop 11. A beverage dispense font 16 is mounted on the countertop 11 at position 17.

[0048] A water conduit 18 connects the water inlet 12 with the dispense font 16, through which it runs to emerge at end 19 thereof. A separate liquid beverage concentrate conduit 20 connects the beverage concentrate inlet 14 with the beverage dispense font 16, through which it runs to also emerge at end 19 thereof. An electric syrup pump 21 pumps liquid coffee concentrate from the bag-in-box 15 to end 19 of the dispense font 16, when required. A selection button 22 is mounted on the dispense font 16 at position 23.

[0049] A control unit 24 is mounted under the countertop 11 and is in electrical communication with the water inlet 12 through wire 25, to the electric syrup pump 21 by wire 26 and to the selection button 22 by wire 27, with each of the wires 25, 26 and 27 being indicated by dotted lines.

[0050] In use, the control unit 24 controls the separate delivery of water from the mains water inlet 12, and/or liquid coffee concentrate to end 19 of the beverage dispense font 16 and from end 19 to an appropriate beverage receptacle 28, with the delivery being initiated by pressing selection button 22. Where water and liquid coffee concentrate are delivered, they will mix in the beverage receptacle 28.

[0051] The mains water inlet 12, beverage concentrate inlet 14, electrical syrup pump 21, and control unit 24 are all located in an undercounter housing unit 29.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated generally at 30, a further embodiment of a beverage dispense system for a countertop 31 in accordance with the invention. The beverage dispense system 30 has a mains water inlet 32 which includes a mains solenoid valve 33 and a beverage concentrate inlet 34 to which a bag-in-box 35 containing a supply of liquid coffee concentrate is attached, with both the mains water inlet 32 and the beverage concentrate inlet 34 being located under the countertop 31. A beverage dispense font 36 is mounted on the countertop 31 at position 37.

[0053] An undercounter atmospheric water boiler 38 is connected by a water conduit 39 with the dispense font 36, through which it runs to emerge at end 40 thereof. The mains water inlet 32 is connected to the water boiler 38 at position 41. A separate liquid beverage concentrate conduit 42 connects the beverage concentrate inlet 34 with the beverage dispense font 36, through which it runs to also emerge at end 40 thereof. An electric syrup pump 43 pumps liquid coffee concentrate from the bag-in-box 35 to end 40 of the dispense font 36, when required. A selection button 44 is mounted on the dispense font 36 at position 45.

[0054] A control unit (not shown) is housed in the water boiler 38 and is in electrical communication with the water inlet 32. The control unit is also in electrical connection with the electric syrup pump 43 by wire 46 and to the selection button 44 by wire 47, with each of the wires 46 and 47 being indicated by dotted lines.

[0055] In use, the control unit in the water boiler 38 controls the separate delivery of water from the water boiler 38, and/or liquid coffee concentrate to end 40 of the beverage dispense font 36 and from end 40 to an appropriate beverage receptacle 48, with the delivery being initiated by pressing selection button 44. Where water and liquid coffee concentrate are delivered, they will mix in the beverage receptacle 48.

[0056] The beverage concentrate inlet 34 and the electrical syrup pump 43, are located in an undercounter housing unit 49.

[0057] The water boiler 38 can deliver water at different temperatures, including ambient temperature, depending on the particular beverage being prepared.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated generally at 60, a further embodiment of a beverage dispense system for a countertop 61 in accordance with the invention. The beverage dispense system 60 has a mains water inlet 62 which includes a mains solenoid valve 63 and a beverage concentrate inlet 64 to which a bag-in-box 65 containing a supply of liquid coffee concentrate is attached, with both the mains water inlet 62 and the beverage concentrate inlet 64 being located under the countertop 61. A beverage dispense font 66 is mounted on the countertop 61 at position 67.

[0059] An undercounter atmospheric water boiler 68 is connected by a water conduit 69 with the dispense font 66, through which it runs to emerge at end 70 thereof. The mains water inlet 62 is connected to the water boiler 68 at position 71. The water boiler 68 is also connected by an ambient water conduit 72 with the dispense font 66, through which it runs to emerge at end 70 thereof.

[0060] A separate liquid beverage concentrate conduit 73 connects the beverage concentrate inlet 64 with the beverage dispense font 66, through which it runs to also emerge at end 40 thereof. An electric syrup pump 74 pumps liquid coffee concentrate from the bag-in-box 65 to end 70 of the dispense font 66, when required.

[0061] Four selection buttons 75, 76, 77 and 78 are mounted on the top 79 of the dispense font 66.

[0062] A control unit (not shown) is housed in the water boiler 68 and is in electrical communication with the water inlet 62. The control unit is also in electrical connection with the electric syrup pump 74 by wire 80 and to the selection buttons 75, 76, 77 and 78 by wire 81, with each of the wires 80 and 81 being indicated by dotted lines.

[0063] In use, the control unit in the water boiler 68 controls the separate delivery of water from the water boiler 68, and/or liquid coffee concentrate to end 70 of the beverage dispense font 66 and from end 70 to an appropriate beverage receptacle 82, with the delivery being initiated by pressing one of selection buttons 75, 76, 77, or 78. If selection button 75 is activated a shot of concentrated coffee is delivered from the dispense font 66. If selection button 76 is activated cold water and coffee concentrate are delivered from the dispense font 66. If selection button 77 is activated hot water and coffee concentrate are delivered from the dispense font 66. Finally, if selection button 78 is activated hot water is delivered from the dispense font 66. Where water and liquid coffee concentrate are delivered, they will mix in the beverage receptacle 82.

[0064] A draft dispense unit 83 is mounted on the countertop 61 at position 84. A second liquid beverage concentrate conduit 85 connects the electric syrup pump 74 with the draft dispense unit 83. A second mains water inlet 86 connects into the second liquid beverage concentrate conduit 85 at position 87. A nitrogen source connects to the second liquid beverage concentrate conduit 85 through a venturi connection 89. A nitro control unit 90 is in electrical communication with the electrical syrup pump 74, the second mains inlet 86 and a pressure switch 91, such that, in use, operation of the draft dispense unit 83 causes nitrogen infused coffee concentrate and water to be delivered to receptacle 92.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated generally at 100, a further embodiment of a beverage dispense system for a countertop 101 in accordance with the invention. The beverage dispense system 100 has a mains water connection 102 which includes a mains solenoid valve 103 and a beverage concentrate inlet 104 to which a bag-in-box 105 containing a supply of liquid coffee concentrate is attached, with both the mains water inlet 102 and the beverage concentrate inlet 104 being located under the countertop 101. A beverage dispense font 106 is mounted on the countertop 101 at position 107.

[0066] An undercounter atmospheric water boiler 108 is connected by a water conduit 109 with the dispense font 106, through which it runs to emerge at end 110 thereof. The mains water inlet 102 is connected to the water boiler 108 at position 111. The water boiler 108 is also connected by an ambient water conduit 112 with the dispense font 106, through which it runs to emerge at end 110 thereof.

[0067] A separate liquid beverage concentrate conduit 113 connects the beverage concentrate inlet 104 with the beverage dispense font 106, through which it runs to also emerge at end 110 thereof. An electric syrup pump 114 pumps liquid coffee concentrate from the bag-in-box 105 to end 110 of the dispense font 106, when required.

[0068] Four selection buttons 115, 116, 117 and 118 are mounted on the top 119 of the dispense font 106.

[0069] A control unit 120 is mounted below the countertop and is in electrical communication with the water inlet 102. The control unit 120 is also in electrical connection with the electric syrup pump 114 by wire 121 and to the selection buttons 115, 116, 117 and 118 by wire 122. The control unit 120 is also in electrical communication with the water boiler 108 by wire 123 with each of the wires 121,122, and 123 being indicated by dotted lines.

[0070] In use, the control unit 120 controls the separate delivery of water from the water boiler 108, and/or liquid coffee concentrate to end 110 of the beverage dispense font 106 and from end 110 to an appropriate beverage receptacle 124, with the delivery being initiated by pressing one of selection buttons 115, 116, 117, and 118. If selection button 115 is activated a shot of concentrated coffee is delivered from the dispense font 106. If selection button 166 is activated cold water and coffee concentrate are delivered from the dispense font 106. If selection button 117 is activated hot water and coffee concentrate are delivered from the dispense font 106. Finally, if selection button 118 is activated hot water is delivered from the dispense font 106. Where water and liquid coffee concentrate are delivered, they will mix in the beverage receptacle 124.

[0071] A draft dispense unit 125 is mounted on the countertop 101 at position 126. A source of pre-nitrogenated liquid coffee concentrate 127 is located under the countertop 101 and a nitro conduit 128 connects it to the draft dispense unit 125. In use operation of the draft dispense unit 125 causes nitrogen-infused coffee concentrate to be delivered to a receptacle 129.