METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A SUPERCOOLED BEVERAGE

Abstract

A method and device are provided for dispensing a beverage. The method comprises cooling a beverage to a first temperature below a melting point of the beverage, receiving a beverage container with a storage volume for receiving the beverage, pressurising the storage volume of the beverage container up to a first pressure, dispensing the beverage into the pressurised storage volume of the beverage container, and decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container to ambient pressure, wherein the beverage is cooled to a first temperature below a melting point of the beverage prior to decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container to ambient pressure. The device may be arranged to perform parts of the method.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing a beverage, comprising: receiving a beverage container with a storage volume for receiving the beverage; pressurising the storage volume of the beverage container up to a first pressure; dispensing the beverage into the pressurised storage volume of the beverage container; and decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container to ambient pressure, wherein the beverage is cooled to a first temperature below a melting point of the beverage prior to decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container to ambient pressure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beverage is dispensed into the pressurised storage volume at the first temperature.

3. The method according to claims 1, wherein the beverage is cooled to the first temperature after being dispensed into the pressurised storage volume of the beverage container.

4. The method according to claims 1, wherein dispensing the beverage comprises providing the beverage at a third pressure.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the third pressure is substantially equal to the first pressure.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, while dispensing the beverage, decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container from the first pressure to a second pressure.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the change from the first pressure to the second pressure is substantially stepwise.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beverage has an alcohol by volume content of 0.5% or more, preferably 2% or more.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beverage comprises a dissolved gas, in particular carbon dioxide.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beverage has a sugar content of 2 grams per litre or more, preferably 5 grams per litre or more, even more preferably between 8 and 12 grams per litre.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sampling the beverage before dispensing the beverage for obtaining beverage data indicative of at least one of: alcohol content; sugar content; and dissolved gas content.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising, while dispensing the beverage, decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container from the first pressure to a second pressure, and, based on the obtained beverage data, controlling at least one of: the first temperature; - the first pressure; - the second pressure; and - when to decrease the pressure in the storage volume from the first pressure to the second pressure.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dispensed beverage comprises solidified beverage at least after the pressure in the storage volume is decreased to the ambient pressure.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising cooling the beverage container to a temperature below ambient temperature.

15. A beverage dispensing assembly for dispensing a beverage, comprising: a cooling unit for cooling a beverage to a first temperature below the melting point of the beverage; a pressurisation unit for pressurizing a storage volume of a beverage container; a dispensing unit for dispensing the beverage into the storage volume of the beverage container; and a pressure control unit for controlling a pressure in the storage volume and arranged to decrease the pressure in the storage volume.

16. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 15, wherein the pressurisation unit comprises a sealable pressure chamber arranged to receive the beverage container therein.

17. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 15, wherein the pressurisation unit comprises a sealing mechanism for sealing of the storage volume of the beverage container, and wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a gas passage for allowing passage of a pressurised gas into the storage volume, wherein, for example, the sealing mechanism further comprises a beverage passage for allowing passage of the beverage into the storage volume.

18. (canceled)

19. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a sampling unit for sampling the beverage before dispensing for obtaining beverage data indicative of at least one of: alcohol content; sugar content; and dissolved gas content.

20. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a controller for controlling the pressure control unit and the pressurisation unit, and a sensor unit for determining dispensing data, wherein the controller is arranged for receiving the dispensing data and controlling the pressurisation unit based on the dispensing data.

21. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 20, wherein the dispensing data comprises data indicative of a volume of beverage present in the storage volume of the beverage container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0033] The aspects and embodiments thereof will be elucidated in conjunction with figures. In the figures:

[0034] FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly for dispensing a supercooled beverage;

[0035] FIG. 2 schematically depicts a method of dispensing a supercooled beverage;

[0036] FIG. 3 schematically shows another embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly for dispensing a supercooled beverage; and

[0037] FIG. 4 schematically depicts another embodiment of a method of dispensing a supercooled beverage

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly 100 for dispensing a supercooled beverage. The assembly 100 comprises a cider cooler 106 as a cooling unit for cooling cider as an example of a beverage to a first temperature below the melting point of the cider. For example, upstream of the cider cooler 106, the cider may be at ambient temperature or at a precooled temperature level. Downstream of the cider cooler 106, the cider is cooled to the first temperature by virtue of the cider cooler 106. Downstream of the cider cooler 106 an optional beverage flow valve 124 is provided to control the flow of beverage from the cider cooler 106.

[0039] The embodiment of the beverage dispensing assembly 100 of FIG. 1 further comprises a sealing mechanism 102 comprised by a pressurisation unit 101 for pressurizing a storage volume of a beverage container. A glass 112 is provided as an example of a beverage container, which for example may have a storage volume of 200 ml, 473 mL, 500 mL, 1000 mL, or more than 1000 mL. After filling the glass 112, the glass 112 may be provided to a consumer who may consume the dispensed beverage directly from the glass 112. In other examples the beverage container may be a pitcher, jug, or another type of pouring vessel which can be used to fill a plurality of glasses.

[0040] The sealing mechanism 102 is arranged to create a gas-tight seal with the storage volume of the glass 112, such that a pressure chamber is created between the sealing mechanism 102 and the storage volume of the glass 112. To provide a pressurised gas into the pressure chamber, a gas passage 114 is provided through the sealing mechanism 102.

[0041] The sealing mechanism 102 further comprises a cider passage 114 as a beverage passage, which allows passage of the cooled cider provided by the cider cooler 106 into the pressure chamber of the glass 112. As such, beverage can be dispensed into the storage volume of the glass 112, also when the sealing mechanism 102 forms a gas tight seal with the glass 112.

[0042] The pressurisation unit 101 further comprises as an option a gas drain valve 118 which is in fluid connection with the pressure chamber through the sealing mechanism 102. Using the gas drain valve 118, the volume of gas inside the pressure chamber and thus the pressure inside the pressure chamber may be controlled. The gas drain valve 118 may be actively controllable by a controller, or may be pre-set to a pre-determined pressure level.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, a keg 104 as an example of a beverage supply container comprising cider as an example of a beverage is provided, and connected to an upstream side of the cider cooler 106. In other examples, the beverage supply container may be a tank, bag-in-container, or any other suitable container vessel for holding a large volume of beverage for filling a plurality of smaller beverage containers with.

[0044] Furthermore shown in FIG. 1 is a carbon dioxide canister 108 as an example of a pressurised gas source. In this particular embodiment, as an option, the carbon dioxide canister 108 is the pressurised gas source used for pressurising the cider keg 104 as well as for providing pressurised gas to the pressurisation unit 101.

[0045] In particular, a keg pressure valve 120 is provided between the carbon dioxide canister 108 and the cider keg 104. With the keg pressure valve 120, a pressure on the cider inside the keg 104 may be controlled. Furthermore, a pressurisation unit valve 122 is provided between the carbon dioxide canister 108 and the sealing mechanism 102, which pressurisation unit valve 122 is comprised by the pressurisation unit 101. Using the pressurisation unit valve 122, the flow of pressurised gas between the carbon dioxide canister 108 and the sealing mechanism 102 may be controlled.

[0046] A controller 110 is further comprised by the beverage dispensing assembly 100 for controlling at least part of a method dispensing a supercooled beverage. In particular embodiments, the controller 110 may be arranged to control at least one of the beverage flow valve 124, keg pressure valve 120, pressurisation unit valve 122 and drain valve 118. When a particular combination of any of these four valves, for example all four, is controllable, a substantially automatic dispensing method may be governed by the controller 110.

[0047] As an option which may be applied to any embodiment of the beverage dispensing assembly, the beverage dispensing assembly of FIG. 1 comprises a container cooler unit 113 arranged to cool the beverage container 112. Preferably, the container cooler unit 113 is arranged to cool the beverage container 112 to the first temperature. This implies that an average temperature of the beverage container 112 may lowered to the first temperature by virtue of the container cooler unit 113.

[0048] For example, the container cooler unit 113 may be shaped such that at least part of the beverage container 112 may contact the container cooler unit 113, to allow thermal energy to be transferred from the beverage container 112 to the container cooler unit via conduction. Additionally or alternatively, convection and/or radiation may be used for transfer of thermal energy.

[0049] As a further option, a beverage dispensing assembly 100 may comprise a temperature sensor unit arranged for obtaining temperature data indicative of a temperature of at least a part of the dispensing container. For example, a contactless temperature probe may be used which infers temperature from a portion of the thermal radiation emitted by the beverage container.

[0050] When the controller 110 is arranged to receive this temperature data, the beverage may only be dispensed when the temperature of the beverage container is below a pre-determined threshold, such as the first temperature.

[0051] In general, in the schematical FIGS. 1 and 3, dashed lines represent control signals associated with the controller 110, dash-dotted lines represent flows of beverage, solid lines represent flows of gas, and dotted lines represent sensor signals.

[0052] An embodiment of a method 200 for dispensing a supercooled beverage is depicted in FIG. 2, of which at least a part may be governed by the controller 110. The method 200 starts in an initialisation step 201. In practice, for example, a user input to the controller 110 may start the initialisation step 201 of the method 200. At the initialisation step 201, one or more safety checks may be performed by the controller 110 to check whether the assembly 100 is ready for dispensing beverage.

[0053] In a second step 202, the cider as an example of a beverage is cooled to a first temperature below a melting point of the beverage. This cooling may be performed by the cider cooler 106. Hence, the controller 110 may as an option also be arranged to control the cider cooler 106. Alternatively, a user may provide a set-point to the cider cooler 106 corresponding to the first temperature such that the cider cooler 106 on its own cools the cider to the first temperature.

[0054] In an optional third step 203, particular to the assembly 100 of FIG. 1, a gas-tight seal is created between the sealing mechanism 102 and the beverage container 112. The gas-tight seal may for example be created by moving at least one of the sealing mechanism 102 and the beverage container 112 towards each other to press the one against the other.

[0055] In general, the beverage container 112 may be pre-cooled to a temperature below ambient temperature before dispensing beverage into the beverage container 112. Hence, the method 200 may comprise a step of cooling the beverage container 112 to a temperature below ambient temperature, for example to a temperature above, substantially equal to, or lower than the first temperature.

[0056] In a fourth step 204 of the method 200, the pressure chamber created by the sealing mechanism 102 and the beverage container 112 is pressurised up to a first pressure. For example, this fourth step 204 may be executed by the controller 110 operating the pressurisation unit valve 122.

[0057] In a fifth step 205, the beverage is dispensed into the pressurised storage volume of the beverage container 112. For example, this dispensing of the beverage may be governed by the controller 110 controlling the beverage flow valve 124 and/or the controller 110 operating the keg pressure valve 120.

[0058] In a sixth step 206, the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container 112 is released to ambient pressure, such that the beverage container 112 which is now filled with the supercooled beverage can be removed from the assembly safely. For example, the releasing of the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container 112 may be governed by the controller 110 operating the gas drain valve 118. The method 200 ends in a terminator 207, and after the method 200 has been completed, the controller 110 may be in a waiting state waiting for a user input to start the method 200 again at the initialisation step 201.

[0059] In embodiments, the sixth step 206 further comprises decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container from the first pressure to a second pressure. Furthermore, the sixth step 206 and the fifth step 205 may be performed at least partially simultaneously. Hence, during dispensing of the beverage, the pressure in the storage volume may be decreased.

[0060] The decreasing of the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container may be substantially gradually, or may be in any number of steps. For example, the pressure may be decreased in two, three, four, or more steps, which steps may result in substantially the same pressure drop.

[0061] FIG. 3 schematically depicts another embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly 100, which in this embodiment is a cider dispensing assembly 100. The dispensing assembly 100 comprises the cider cooler 106 and is provided with the cider keg 104 and the carbon dioxide cartridge 108. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the beverage dispensing assemblies discussed herein may also be used for dispensing of beverages other than cider.

[0062] As an option, the dispensing assembly 100 of FIG. 3 comprises a compressor 208 for providing a pressurised gas to the cider keg 104 for pressurising the cider. The compressor 208 may be arranged for compressing a gas, such as air or carbon dioxide. As such, with the compressor 208, a higher pressure may be achieved than the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the carbon dioxide cartridge 108. As a further option, the controller 110 may be arranged to control the compressor 208.

[0063] In the particular embodiment of FIG. 3, the pressurisation unit 301 comprises a sealable pressure chamber 302 arranged to receive the beverage container 112 therein. The sealable pressure chamber 302 comprises a gas passage for receiving a pressurised gas and a beverage passage for receiving a beverage. As an option, the gas drain valve 118 is connected to the sealable pressure chamber 302 such that the gas drain valve 118 can be used to drain gas from the sealable pressure chamber 302. Also in this embodiment, the beverage container 112 may be cooled by means of a container cooler unit 113 as depicted by and discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1.

[0064] When the sealable pressure chamber 302 is pressurised with the beverage container 112 therein, the storage volume of the beverage container 112 also becomes pressurised. Contrary to the embodiment of FIG. 1, here, the pressure inside the storage volume is equal to the pressure on the beverage container 112. Hence, a container wall of the beverage container 112 is not subjected to pressure forces which may cause damage to the beverage container 112 when the sealable pressure chamber 302 is used.

[0065] The sealable pressure chamber 302 may comprise a door for selectively opening and closing off an access opening into the sealable pressure chamber 302. In an open state, a user can place the beverage container 112 into the sealable pressure chamber 302, and in the closed state, a substantially gas tight pressure chamber 302 is obtained. As an option, a sensor may be present which may provide a sensor signal to the controller 110 indicative of whether the sealable pressure chamber 302 is in the closed state. As a further option, a locking mechanism may be present to lock the sealable pressure chamber 302 in the closed state, which locking mechanism may be operable by the controller 110.

[0066] As an even further option which may also be used in conjunction with other embodiments, the beverage dispensing assembly comprises a sensor unit 306 for determining dispensing data, wherein the controller 110 is arranged for receiving the dispensing data and controlling at least the pressurisation unit 301 based on the dispensing data. For example, the dispensing data may comprise data indicative of a volume of beverage present in the storage volume of the beverage container. Hence, the dispensing data may be indicative of an empty or filled storage volume, and/or the dispensing data may be indicative of a particular volume of beverage inside the storage volume.

[0067] The dispensing data may further be indicative of a pressure inside the sealable pressure chamber 302 or in another pressure chamber for other embodiments of the beverage dispensing assembly 100.

[0068] As an option which may also be comprised by other embodiments of the beverage dispensing assembly 100, the embodiment of the beverage dispensing assembly 100 comprises a beverage sampling unit 304 for sampling the beverage before dispensing. In particular, the beverage sampling unit 304 may be arranged to obtain beverage data indicative of at least one of alcohol content, sugar content, and dissolved gas content.

[0069] The beverage sampling unit 304 may be used to continuously sample the beverage, or may be used to sample a number of times or one time when a new keg 104 is provided to the beverage dispensing assembly 100. In particular with beverages such as cider, at least one of alcohol content, sugar content, and dissolved gas content may differ per batch.

[0070] The beverage sampling unit 304 may be arranged to generate a sampling signal indicative of the beverage data and to send this sampling signal to the controller 110. The controller 110 may in turn be arranged for receiving the signal, and for controlling at least one of the cider cooler 106 and the pressurisation unit 301 based on at least part of the sampling signal. For example, a higher alcohol content indicated in the sampling signal may be used by the controller 110 to decrease the first temperature to which the cooling unit 106 cools the beverage.

[0071] Although not depicted in the figures, embodiments of the beverage dispensing assembly may comprise one or more temperature sensors for determining a temperature of the beverage before, during and/or after dispensing.

[0072] Furthermore, embodiments of the beverage dispensing assembly may comprise one or more pressure sensors for determining a pressure inside the storage volume of the beverage container and/or a pressure on the beverage before, during and/or after dispensing.

[0073] FIG. 4 schematically depicts another embodiment of a method of dispensing a supercooled beverage, for example using the embodiment of the beverage dispensing assembly 100 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0074] The method 400 starts in an initialisation step 401. During this step, for example, a user may open the sealable pressure chamber 302, place a beverage container 112 inside the sealable pressure chamber 302, and close the sealable pressure chamber 302. A sensor may indicate to the controller 110 that at least one of a beverage container 112 is placed inside the sealable pressure chamber 302 and that the sealable pressure chamber 302, which may cause the controller 110 to proceed with executing the method 400.

[0075] In a second step 402, the beverage is cooled to the first temperature below the melting point of the beverage. Optionally, the step of cooling the beverage may be performed continuously to allow substantially instant use of the dispensing assembly 100. A sensor may indicate to the controller 110 that the beverage has reached the first temperature, and is hence ready to be dispensed.

[0076] In a third step 403, the sealable pressure chamber 302 is pressurised up to a first pressure. This first pressure is higher than the ambient pressure. Prior to or during this increase in pressure, as an optional sub-step, at least part of the sealable pressure chamber 302 may be flushed with carbon dioxide to remove at least part of the air inside the pressure chamber 302. In particular, this may decrease the amount of oxygen inside the pressure chamber 302, which oxygen may negatively impact the quality of the dispensed beverage.

[0077] After the first pressure is reached in the sealable pressure chamber 302, which may for example be determined using the sensor unit 306, in a fourth step 404, beverage is dispensed into the pressurised storage volume of the beverage container 112. To this end, beverage may pass through the beverage passage of the sealable pressure chamber 302. The beverage can flow into the sealable pressure chamber 302 when the pressure on the beverage is at least equal to or higher than the first pressure.

[0078] In an optional fifth step 405, which may take place during the fourth step 404 of dispensing, the pressure inside the sealable pressure chamber 302, and thus also in the storage volume of the beverage container, is decreased from the first pressure to a second pressure.

[0079] Finally, for example when using the sensor unit 306 it is determined that the storage volume is sufficiently filled with beverage, dispensing is stopped in a sixth step 406 and the pressure inside the sealable pressure chamber 302 is released. When a locking mechanism is present, after decreasing the pressure inside the sealable pressure chamber 302, the locking mechanism may be released as well. The method 400 ends in a terminator 407.

[0080] It will be understood that throughout any of the steps of the embodiments of the method 200, 400 the sensor unit 306 may be used for determining dispensing data, which dispensing data may be used by the controller 110 for controlling the dispensing process.