초록 ▼

A device for dispensing individual servings of a cold beverage, either having a refrigeration unit to chill the beverage or a removable pitcher that may be put in a refrigerator. A special disposable beverage cartridge or beverage pouch fits into the holder. This cartridge or pouch may have pressure

A device for dispensing individual servings of a cold beverage, either having a refrigeration unit to chill the beverage or a removable pitcher that may be put in a refrigerator. A special disposable beverage cartridge or beverage pouch fits into the holder. This cartridge or pouch may have pressure rupturable seals or diaphragms and contain beverage concentrate. A dispensing mechanism puts pressure on the cartridge or the pouch to break the pressure rupturable seal or diaphragm to discharge the concentrate into a mixing structure. The mixing structure also receives chilled liquid from the refrigeration unit or the pitcher, and ensures that the concentrate mixes with the liquid without contacting the walls of the mixing structure.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A beverage dispensing pouch, comprising: a pouch void enclosed in an impermeable seal substantially impermeable to liquids at room temperature, said pouch void having a lower end; anda pouch fitment sealing the lower end of the pouch void, the pouch fitment having a fitment body, the fitment body

1. A beverage dispensing pouch, comprising: a pouch void enclosed in an impermeable seal substantially impermeable to liquids at room temperature, said pouch void having a lower end; anda pouch fitment sealing the lower end of the pouch void, the pouch fitment having a fitment body, the fitment body having an interior, an upper opening, and a lower opening, and the pouch fitment further comprising: a sealing member removably sealing the lower opening of the fitment body;a pressure rupturable diaphragm sealing the upper opening of the fitment body;an outflow valve having a center portion and an outlet located at the center portion of the outflow valve; the outflow valve covering the lower opening of the fitment body and positioned closer to the interior of the fitment body than the sealing member, wherein the outflow valve is flexed before the beverage dispensing pouch is being used, with the center portion of the outflow valve protruding to the interior of the fitment body and wherein when a liquid pressure is applied to the outflow valve from the interior of the fitment body, the outflow valve flexes away from the pressure, the center portion of the outflow valve protrudes to a direction away from the interior of the fitment body, and the outlet on the center portion opens to allow liquid flow from the pouch void through the interior of the fitment body, and wherein when the liquid pressure is removed, the outflow valve flexes so that the center portion protrudes to the interior of the fitment body and the outlet on the center portion closes, preventing dripping. 2. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is removable and pressure is applied to the pouch void to rupture the pressure rupturable diaphragm, allowing liquid in the pouch void to flow through the pouch fitment. 3. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is a screw cap that can be screwed on the fitment body. 4. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is a detachable cap that is attached to the fitment body through weakened connections. 5. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is a foil further comprising a peel-away tab. 6. The beverage dispensing pouch according to claim 1, further comprising liquid in the pouch void. 7. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 1, wherein the pouch void has an exterior and further comprises positioning fins attached to the exterior of the pouch void, wherein the positioning fins are integrally attached to the impermeable seal. 8. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 1, further comprising a pressure applying device that applies pressure to the pouch void. 9. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 8, wherein the pressure applying device comprises at least one roller pressed against the pouch void. 10. A beverage dispensing pouch, comprising: a pouch void enclosed in an impermeable seal substantially impermeable to liquids at room temperature, said pouch void having a lower end; anda pouch fitment sealing the lower end of the pouch void, the pouch fitment having a fitment body, the fitment body having an interior, an upper opening, and a lower opening, and the pouch fitment further comprising: a pressure rupturable diaphragm sealing the upper opening of the fitment body;and a outflow valve having a center portion and an outlet located at the center portion of the outflow valve; the outflow valve covering the lower opening of the fitment body and positioned closer to the interior of the fitment body than the sealing member, wherein the outflow valve is flexed before the beverage dispensing pouch is being used, with the center portion of the outflow valve protruding to the interior of the fitment body and wherein when a liquid pressure is applied to the outflow valve from the interior of the fitment body, the outflow valve flexes away from the pressure, the center portion of the outflow valve protrudes to a direction away from the interior of the fitment body, and the outlet on the center portion opens to allow liquid flow from the pouch void through the interior of the fitment body, and wherein when the liquid pressure is removed, the outflow valve flexes so that the center portion protrudes to the interior of the fitment body and the outlet on the center portion closes, preventing dripping. 11. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 10, wherein the center portion of the outflow valve is a “+” shaped outlet, a “T” shaped outlet or a“” shaped outlet. 12. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 10, wherein the pressure rupturable diaphragm comprises a surrounding ring and a rupturable membrane covering a center opening of the surrounding ring. 13. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 10, wherein the pouch fitment further comprises: a sealing member that seals the lower opening of the fitment body, the sealing member being positioned below the outflow valve. 14. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 10, further comprising: liquid housed in the pouch void. 15. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 14, wherein there is a marking on the impermeable seal, the marking signals the type of liquid housed in the pouch void. 16. The beverage dispensing pouch of claim 14, wherein the marking is a bar code or an RFID tag. 17. A beverage dispensing device, comprising: a main unit comprising: a head compartment having a pouch groove, the pouch groove being capable of accommodating a beverage dispensing pouch,a main unit housing,rollers aligned above the pouch groove,a dispenser nozzle,and an inlet unit connected to the dispenser nozzle with an inlet tube;and a pitcher comprising: a bottom having a bottom concave,and an outlet channel residing the bottom concave; whereinthe inlet unit removably and fluidly engages the outlet channel, connecting the pitcher to the main unitwherein the inlet unit comprises: a unit base capable of being flipped up into the main unit housing and flipped down out of the main unit housing,an inlet nozzle residing on the unit base, wherein the inlet nozzle is capable of removably and fluidly engaging the outlet channel. 18. The beverage dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the pitcher further comprises: a spring valve disposed in the outlet channel,and an O-ring attached to the spring valve and positioned above the outlet channel,wherein the spring valve and the O-ring are capable of sealing the outlet channel. 19. The beverage dispensing device of claim 18, wherein the inlet nozzle engages the outlet channel to prevent the spring valve and the O-ring from sealing the outlet channel. 20. The beverage dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the pitcher is capable of being detached from the main unit and being chilled in a refrigerator. 21. The beverage dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the pouch groove comprises: a pouch cassette,a front rack connected to the pouch cassette with a front hinge, allowing the front rack to pivot to and away from the pouch cassette,and a back rack connected to the pouch cassette with a back hinge, allowing the back rack to pivot to and away from the pouch cassette,wherein the pouch cassette is capable of embracing pouch seal side strips of a beverage dispensing pouch,and the front rack and back rack are capable of securing a pouch seal body of the beverage dispensing pouch. 22. The beverage dispensing device of claim 21, wherein lower parts of the front rack and the back rack curves away from the pouch cassette. 23. The beverage dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the head compartment further comprises: vertical gear tracks;gear wheels co-axially connected to the rollers,wherein the gear wheels engage the vertical gear tracks, capable of moving the rollers down so that the rollers press against a beverage dispensing pouch. 24. The beverage dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the head compartment further comprises: a CO2 valve body;a CO2 cylinder connected to the CO2 valve body;a carbonation/dispensing tank connected to the CO2 valve body through a CO2 supply line;the first solenoid operatively connected to the CO2 valve body, the first solenoid controls CO2 flowing from the CO2 cylinder through the CO2 valve body to the carbonation/dispensing tank;a water pump fluidly connected to the inlet tube, the water pump being capable of pumping liquid from the pitcher to the carbonation/dispensing tank. 25. The beverage dispensing device of claim 24, wherein the head compartment further comprises: an air pump connected to the carbonation/dispensing tank and operatively controls air pressure in the carbonation/dispensing tank;a second solenoid connected to the carbonation/dispensing tank,wherein applying air pressure to the carbonation/dispensing tank by the air pump triggers the second solenoid to allow liquid housed in the carbonation/dispensing tank to flow through a main manifold supply line and into the dispensing nozzle.