A BEVERAGE FONT FOR A BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM, A BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM COMPRISING A BEVERAGE FONT AND A METHOD OF DISPENSING A MIXED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PRODUCT BY PROVIDING A BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a beverage font (10) for a beverage dispensing system. The beverage font (10) comprising a mixing conduit (24) having a first inlet (24A) for receiving a pressurized beverage defining a first alcoholic percentage and a second inlet (26) for receiving an additive defining a second alcoholic percentage. The mixing conduit (24) further having an outlet (18) for supplying a mixed alcoholic beverage product constituting a mixture of the beverage and the additive. The font (10) further comprising a control unit (38) for receiving a parameter representing a specific alcoholic percentage or a specific concentration of the additive relative to the mixed alcoholic beverage. The control unit (38) being capable of causing the additive to flow from the second inlet (26) to the mixing conduit for generating a flow of the mixed alcoholic beverage defining the specific alcoholic percentage or the specific concentration of the additive relative to the mixed alcoholic beverage through the outlet (18).

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A beverage font for a beverage dispensing system, said beverage font comprising: a mixing conduit including (a) a first inlet configured for receiving a pressurized beverage having a first alcoholic percentage, (b) a second inlet configured for receiving an additive compatible with said pressurized beverage and having a second alcoholic percentage, and (c) an outlet configured for supplying a mixed alcoholic beverage product comprising a mixture of said pressurized beverage and said additive, said first inlet comprising an electronically controlled main valve, said second inlet comprising an electronically controlled additive valve; a tapping handle having a dispensing position in which said electronically controlled main valve is open for generating a constant flow of said pressurized beverage from said first inlet via said mixing conduit to said outlet, and a non-dispensing position, in which said electronically controlled main valve is closed for preventing said pressurized beverage from flowing from said first inlet to said mixing conduit; and a control unit configured for receiving input defining a selected value of a mixture parameter, said control unit being operable to control said electronically controlled additive valve when said tapping handle is in said dispensing position and based on said selected value of said mixture parameter, thereby causing said additive to flow from said second inlet to said mixing conduit for generating a flow of said mixed alcoholic beverage product having said selected value of said mixture parameter through said outlet.

17. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said mixture parameter represents one of a specific alcoholic percentage and a specific concentration of said additive relative to said mixed alcoholic beverage product.

18. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said mixing conduit includes a venturi tube comprising an inlet section defining a first flow area connected to said electronically controlled main valve, an outlet section defining a second flow area connected to said outlet, and a mixing section interconnecting said inlet section and said outlet section and to said electronically controlled additive valve, said mixing section defining a third flow area smaller than said first flow area and said second flow area.

19. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said control unit is configured for (a) generating a pulse-width-modulated signal based on said selected value of said mixture parameter, and (b) controlling said electronically-controlled additive valve by said pulse-width-modulated signal so as to continuously switch said electronically controlled additive valve between an open state and a closed state.

20. The electronic beverage font according to claim 19, wherein said mixing conduit comprises at least one further inlet adjacent said second inlet for receiving a respective further additive that is compatible with said pressurized beverage and having a further alcoholic percentage, each of said further inlets comprising a respective further electronically controlled additive valve.

21. The electronic beverage font according to claim 20, wherein said control unit is configured for controlling each of said further electronically controlled additive valves using said pulse-width-modulated signal for opening and closing each of said further electronically controlled additive valves according to said pulse-width-modulated signal, such that only a single electronically controlled additive valve is open at each time.

22. The electronic beverage font of claim 21, wherein said pulse-width-modulated signal has a switching frequency of between 1 Hz and 1 kHz.

23. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said additive valve is a proportional valve operable to assume a partially open state based on said selected value of said mixture parameter.

24. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said mixing conduit comprises a third inlet having an electronically controlled auxiliary valve and configured for receiving a pressurized auxiliary beverage having an auxiliary alcoholic percentage, and wherein, when said tapping handle is in said beverage dispensing position, said electronically controlled main valve and said electronically controlled auxiliary valve are controlled by said control unit according to a selected value of an auxiliary mixture parameter.

25. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said control unit is configured to receive said mixture parameter from an electronic computer device.

26. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said mixed alcoholic beverage product comprises no more than 30% of said additive.

27. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said first inlet is configured for fluid connection to a beverage container, and wherein said second inlet is configured for fluid connection to an additive container.

28. The electronic beverage font according to claim 27, wherein said beverage container is pressurized.

29. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said pressurized beverage is a carbonated beverage.

30. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein said additive is a fluid selected from the group consisting of at least one of an aqueous solution, a gas including one of CO.sub.2 or N.sub.2, and an aqueous solution including one of alcohol and sugar.

31. The electronic beverage font according to claim 16, wherein one of said first alcoholic percentage and said second alcoholic percentage is zero.

32. A method of dispensing a mixed alcoholic beverage product, comprising: providing a beverage dispensing system, comprising a beverage font, a beverage container containing a pressurized beverage having a first alcoholic percentage, and an additive container containing an additive compatible with said pressurized beverage and having a second alcoholic percentage, said beverage font comprising: a mixing conduit having a first inlet connected to said beverage container, a second inlet connected to said additive container, and an outlet, said first inlet comprising an electronically controlled main valve, said second inlet comprising an electronically controlled additive valve; a tapping handle having a dispensing position in which said electronically controlled main valve is open to allow a constant flow of said pressurized beverage from said first inlet via said mixing conduit to said outlet, and non-dispensing position in which said electronically controlled main valve is closed to prevent said pressurized beverage from flowing from said first inlet to said mixing conduit; and a control unit; the method further comprising: receiving by said control unit a selected value of a mixture parameter; changing said tapping handle from said non-dispensing position to said dispensing position; and controlling said electronically controlled additive valve using said control unit, thereby causing said additive to flow from said second inlet to said mixing conduit for generating a flow of said mixed alcoholic beverage product having said selected value of said mixture parameter through said outlet.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said mixture parameter represents one of a specific alcoholic percentage and a specific concentration of said additive relative to said mixed alcoholic beverage product.

34. A beverage dispensing system comprising: a beverage font comprising an outlet configured for supplying a mixed alcoholic beverage product comprising a mixture of a pressurized beverage having a first alcoholic percentage, and an additive compatible with said pressurized beverage and having a second alcoholic percentage; a mixing conduit having a first inlet configured for receiving said pressurized beverage having a first alcoholic percentage and a second inlet configured for receiving said additive being compatible with said pressurized beverage and defining a second alcoholic percentage, said first inlet comprising an electronically controlled main valve, said second inlet comprising an electronically controlled additive valve; a beverage container connected to said first inlet; an additive container connected to said second inlet; a tapping handle having a dispensing position in which said electronically controlled main valve is open for generating a constant flow of said pressurized beverage from said first inlet via said mixing conduit to said outlet, and a non-dispensing position, in which said electronically controlled main valve is closed for preventing said pressurized beverage from flowing from said first inlet to said mixing conduit; a control unit configured for receiving a selected value of a mixture parameter, said control unit being operable for controlling said electronically controlled additive valve when said tapping handle is in said dispensing position and based on said selected value of said mixture parameter, thereby causing said additive to flow from said second inlet to said mixing conduit for generating a flow of said mixed alcoholic beverage product having said selected value of said mixture parameter through said outlet.

35. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 34, wherein said mixture parameter represents one of a specific alcoholic percentage and a specific concentration of said additive relative to said mixed alcoholic beverage product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage font according to the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 2A is a front view of a beverage font according to the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 2B is a side view of a beverage font according to the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 3 is a cutout view of a beverage font according to the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 4 is a close-up view of a beverage font according to the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 5A is a front view of a tapping head according to the present invention.

[0077] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a tapping head according to the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 6A is a side view of a tapping head according to the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 6B is a cutout view of a tapping head according to the present invention.

[0080] FIG. 7 is a view of a beverage dispensing system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage font 10 according to the present invention. The font 10 is forming part of a beverage dispensing system (not shown). The font 10 comprises a hollow stanchion 12, which is connected on one end to a tapping head 14 and on the other end to a bar counter or the like (not shown). The tapping head comprises a tapping handle 15, which is shown in its closed upright position which, however, may be swung into a horizontal position for initiating beverage dispensing through a beverage outlet 18. The handle 16 is connected to a main beverage valve 20, which controls the flow of beverage between a pressurized container (not shown) and the outlet 18. The main beverage valve 20 is electronically controlled. In addition, the tapping head 14 according to the present embodiment comprises six electronically controlled additive valves 22.sup.I-VI, however, the number of additive valves 22.sup.I-VI may range from a single one, which is considered the basic variant, to any feasible number above six, provided sufficient space is available. The additive valves 22.sup.I-VI control the infusion of additives into the pressurized beverage before the beverage flows out of the outlet 18. A control unit (not shown) controls the additive valves 22.sup.I-VI based on a parameter provided by the user.

[0082] FIG. 2A shows a front view of a beverage font 10 according to the present invention. In this view, an auxiliary beverage valve 20, which is used for providing an alternative pressurized beverage in addition to the pressurized beverage through the main beverage valve. When the handle 16 is swung into the horizontal position for initiating beverage dispensing through the outlet 18, the opening of the main beverage valve and/or the auxiliary beverage valve 20 is based on a user parameter provided to the control unit (not shown). Thus, either one or both of the valves 20 20 opens when the handle 16 is swung into the horizontal position, depending on the user parameter.

[0083] FIG. 2B shows a side view of a beverage font 10 according to the present invention. It can be seen that the beverage valves 20 20 and the additive valves 22.sup.I-VI are located in close proximity to the beverage outlet in order to avoid a large amount of mixed beverage remaining in the font 10, as such beverage apart from contributing a hygienically problem may also influence the taste of the next dispensing, which may be a beverage having another flavor.

[0084] FIG. 3 shows a cutout view of a beverage font 10 according to the present invention. The pressurized beverage is led from the main beverage valve 20 and/or the auxiliary beverage valve 20 via a mixing conduit 24 to the outlet 18. The mixing conduit 24 constitutes a venturi tube having a small flow area causing the beverage to flow at an increased velocity. The mixing conduit is connected to a number of additive conduits 26 at right angle to the flow of the pressurized beverage. The number of additive conduits corresponds to the number of additive valves 22.

[0085] As the handle 16 is swung into the horizontal position for initiating beverage dispensing through the outlet 18, the pressurized beverage will flow through the main beverage valve 20 and/or the auxiliary beverage valve 20 depending on the user parameter, via the mixing conduit 24 to the outlet 18. As the mixing conduit 24 and the additive conduits 26 act as a venturi tube, additive will be infused into the mixing conduit 24 via the respective additive conduits 26, provided the respective additive valve 22 is open. Whether a specific additive valve is open or not depends on the user parameter, i.e. whether or not the user desires the additive or not. Thus, only one or some of the additive valves 22 may be open depending on the parameter provided by the user.

[0086] The additive valves 22 may be partially open for infusing a reduced amount of additive compared to a fully open valve. This allows a very accurate infusion of a specific amount or concentration of the additive, either by means of a switch-mode-controlled valve, which is rapidly switching between fully open or closed, or a proportional valve, which assumes a reduced aperture, compared to the fully open aperture. The control unit (not shown), which monitors the concentration of the additive, controls the additive valves 22 and the alcohol percentage in the mixed beverage product, which is, dispensed though the outlet 18.

[0087] FIG. 4 is a close-up view of a beverage font 10 according to the present invention. In the present view, the main beverage valve 20, the auxiliary beverage valve 20 and two of the additive valves 22 are shown together with the corresponding mixing conduit 24 and the additive conduits 26 entering the hollow stanchion 12. The beverages and the additives are provided from containers located in the vincinity of or below the bar counter (now shown). The valves 20 22 are controlled by the control unit (not shown) by wires 28 which are led through the hollow stanchion 12.

[0088] The flows of the beverage and of the additives are shown by the arrows. At the outlet 18, the additives and the beverage are mixed to form a homogeneous mixed beverage product having a pre-determined alcoholic content.

[0089] FIG. 5A shows a front view of a tapping head 14 according to the present invention. The central part of the tapping head 14 defines a circular shape and a central mixing conduit 24.

[0090] FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of a tapping head 14 according to the present invention. The mixing section 24B of the mixing conduit 24 defines a smaller flow area than the inlet section 24A and the outlet section 24c of the mixing conduit 24 for establishing a high velocity through the mixing section 24A to enhance the Venturi effect for infusing the additives via the additive conduits 26.

[0091] FIG. 6A shows a side view of a tapping head 14 according to the present invention. The additive conduits 26 enter the tapping head 14 and fluidly connect to the mixing conduit 24 from a radial direction.

[0092] FIG. 6B shows a cut-out view of a tapping head 14 according to the present invention. Each of the six additive conduits 26 connects to the mixing conduit by a 60 degree angle relative to the neighboring additive conduits 26.

[0093] FIG. 7 is a view of a beverage dispensing system 30 according to the present invention. The beverage dispensing systems 30 comprises two pressurized beverage containers 32 32 including a respective beverage, preferably a carbonated beverage such as beer. The beverage containers 32 32 are connected to a respective electronic beverage valve 20 20 via a respective beverage conduit 34 34. The beverage valves 20 20 are connected to a common mixing conduit 24. The mixing conduit 24 leads to a beverage outlet 18 via an optional dispensing valve 42, which is controlled by the handle 16.

[0094] The mixing conduit is between the beverage valves 20 and the outlet 18 further connected to a set of additive conduits forming a substantially right angle in relation to the mixing conduit 24. Each of the additive conduits 26 are connected to a respective additive container 36 including a respective additive via a respective additive valve 22. The beverage valves 20 and the additive valves 22 are controlled by a control unit 38.

[0095] The control unit 38 is controlled via an electronic computer device 40, which may be a laptop, or a tablet or a similar device integrated in the system 30, which functions as a user interface for the user operating the beverage dispensing system 30. The electronic computer device 40 may include a graphical user interface allowing the user to set the parameters defining a user specified mixed beverage product which is defined as a mixture between one or more beverages and additives at specific user defined concentrations. The user may also be informed about and amend the alcohol content of the beverage. As the user swings the handle 16 into a horizontal position for initiating beverage dispensing through a beverage outlet 18, the beverage valves and the additive valves are opened and/or closed by the control unit according to the parameters specified by the user.

[0096] It is evident that the above-described embodiments merely describe possible realizations according to the present invention and that further modifications and specifications such as choice of specific materials and dimensions will as such be apparent to the skillful individual.

REFERENCE NUMERALS WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

[0097] 10. Beverage font [0098] 12. Stanchion [0099] 14. Tapping head [0100] 16. Tapping handle [0101] 18. Beverage outlet [0102] 20. Main valve [0103] 22. Additive valve [0104] 24. Mixing conduit [0105] 26. Additive conduit [0106] 28. Electrical wiring [0107] 30. Beverage dispensing system [0108] 32. Beverage container [0109] 34. Beverage conduit [0110] 36. Additive container [0111] 38. Control unit [0112] 40. Electronic computer device [0113] 42. Optional dispensing valve [0114] () and roman letters denote variants [0115] (a), (b) and (c) denote sub-parts