A beverage dispensing apparatus with a dispenser compartment, a flexible concentrate bag with a first opening through which a beverage concentrate is introduced at a production site and optionally a second opening at the top of the bag. The second opening is used at the dispensing location to introd
A beverage dispensing apparatus with a dispenser compartment, a flexible concentrate bag with a first opening through which a beverage concentrate is introduced at a production site and optionally a second opening at the top of the bag. The second opening is used at the dispensing location to introduce a diluent into the bag. A low acid beverage concentrate is contained in the bag. A beverage homogenizing agitator subassembly is situated inside the dispenser compartment. A beverage dispensing subassembly includes a sealed fitting located at the bottom region of the bag and a tube extending therefrom. The beverage dispensing apparatus reduces shipping and maintenance costs due to shipping concentrate rather than a finished beverage while enhancing sanitation.
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1. A beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing a finished beverage, the apparatus comprising (a) a dispenser compartment with one or more bins;(b) a flexible concentrate bag situated within a bin in the dispenser compartment, the bag having a first opening at a lower end region of the bag through
1. A beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing a finished beverage, the apparatus comprising (a) a dispenser compartment with one or more bins;(b) a flexible concentrate bag situated within a bin in the dispenser compartment, the bag having a first opening at a lower end region of the bag through which a beverage concentrate is introduced at a production site before emplacement in the bin and through which the finished beverage is dispensed at a dispensing location after emplacement in the bin, and a second opening at the top of the bag, the second opening being used at the dispensing location to introduce a diluent into the bag, (c) the beverage concentrate including a low acid beverage concentrate having a pH greater than 4.6;(c) a beverage homogenizing agitator subassembly situated inside the dispenser compartment in communication with the one or more bins and outside the bag proximate the bottom of the bag, the agitator subassembly being adapted to minimize sedimentation and to mix the beverage concentrate and the diluent within the bag by agitating at least a bottom region of the bag from the outside of the bag and its contents to form the finished beverage; and(d) a dispenser outlet subassembly including a sealed fitting located at the bottom region of the bag and a tube extending therefrom, the tube having an upstream end extending from the fitting; an intermediate region downstream from the upstream end; and a downstream end through which the beverage is dispensed, the downstream end having a terminal portion that can be severed to open the downstream end, the dispenser outlet subassembly also being hermetically sealed and having a pinch cam attached to the dispenser compartment and an activation means for closing and opening the tube at the intermediate region, the dispenser outlet subassembly being in communication with the first opening of the bag, the dispenser outlet subassembly through which the finished beverage is dispensed at a dispensing location being in fluid tight communication with the bag so that any growth of bacteria is limited; wherein the second opening for receiving the diluent is disposed upstream from the dispensing subassembly, the beverage dispensing apparatus reducing shipping and maintenance costs due to shipping concentrate rather than a finished beverage while enhancing sanitation. 2. The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further including a refrigeration unit associated with the dispenser compartment. 3. The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are two bins. 4. The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activation means includes a lever extending from a pivot. 5. The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activation means includes a button that is adapted to be depressed and is biased to an outward closed condition. 6. The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further including one or more shelves with one or more racks that receive a bag so that the bag is suspended in a vertical orientation thereby. 7. The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beverage agitator subassembly includes one or more nodules that are supported by arms radially extending from a hub, the nodules having rounded surfaces that engage a bag and agitate the bag and its contents as the beverage agitator subassembly rotates below the bag. 8. The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 7, wherein there is one nodule in the agitator subassembly associated with a bag. 9. The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further including a control unit that influences filling a bag with a diluent and agitating the bag. 10. A beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing a finished beverage, the apparatus comprising (a) a dispenser compartment with one or more bins;(b) a flexible concentrate bag situated within a bin in the dispenser compartment, the bag havinga first opening at an upper edge region of the bag through which a beverage concentrate is introduced at a production site;a second opening at an upper edge region of the bag through which a diluent is added at a dispensing location; anda third opening at the lower edge region of the bag, through which the finished beverage is dispensed at the dispensing location;(c) the beverage concentrate including a low acid beverage concentrate having a pH greater than 4.6;(c) a beverage homogenizing agitator subassembly situated inside the dispenser compartment in communication with the one or more bins and outside the bag proximate the bottom of the bag, the agitator subassembly being adapted to minimize sedimentation and to mix the beverage concentrate and the diluent within the bag by agitating at least a bottom region of the bag from the outside of the bag and its contents to form the finished beverage; and(d) a dispenser outlet subassembly including a sealed fitting located at the bottom region of the bag and a tube extending therefrom, the tube having an upstream end extending from the fitting;an intermediate region downstream from the upstream end; and a downstream end through which the beverage is dispensed, the downstream end having a terminal portion that can be severed to open the downstream end, the dispenser outlet subassembly also being hermetically sealed and having a pinch cam attached to the dispenser compartment and an activation means for closing and opening the tube at the intermediate region, the dispenser outlet subassembly being in communication with the first opening of the bag, the dispenser outlet subassembly through which the finished beverage is dispensed at a dispensing location being in fluid tight communication with the bag so that any growth of bacteria is limited; wherein the second opening for receiving the diluent is disposed upstream from the dispenser outlet subassembly, the beverage dispensing apparatus reducing shipping and maintenance costs due to shipping concentrate rather than a finished beverage while enhancing sanitation. 11. A method for dispensing a finished beverage through beverage dispensing apparatus for, the method comprising the steps of comprising (a) providing a dispenser compartment with one or more bins;(b) adding a low acid beverage concentrate having a pH greater than 4.6 into a flexible concentrate bag at a production facility(c) transporting the bag and its contents to a dispensing facility;(d) placing the bag and its contents in a bin in the dispenser compartment, the bag havinga first opening at a lower end region of the bag through which the beverage concentrate is introduced at the production facility before emplacement of the bag in the bin and through which the finished beverage is dispensed at a dispensing location after emplacement in the bin, anda second opening at the top of the bag, the second opening being used at the dispensing location to introduce a diluent into the bag,(c) activating a beverage homogenizing agitator subassembly situated inside the dispenser compartment in communication with the bin and outside the bag proximate the bottom of the bag, the agitator being adapted to minimize sedimentation and to mix the beverage concentrate and the diluent within the bag by agitating at least the bottom region of the bag from the outside of the bag and its contents to form the finished beverage;(d) positioning a dispenser outlet subassembly in relation to the dispensing compartment, the subassembly including a sealed fitting located at the bottom region of the bag and a tube extending therefrom, the tube havingan upstream end extending from the fitting;an intermediate region downstream from the upstream end; anda downstream end through which the beverage is dispensed, the downstream end having a terminal portion that can be severed to open the downstream end, the dispenser outlet subassembly also being hermetically sealed and having a pinch cam attached to the dispenser compartment; and(e) moving an activation means for closing and opening the tube at the intermediate region, the dispenser outlet subassembly being in communication with the first opening of the bag, the dispenser outlet subassembly through which the finished beverage is dispensed at a dispensing location being in fluid tight communication with the bag so that any growth of bacteria is limited;wherein the second opening for receiving the diluent is disposed upstream from the dispenser outlet subassembly, the beverage dispensing apparatus reducing shipping and maintenance costs due to shipping concentrate rather than a finished beverage while enhancing sanitation.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (19)
Schramm ; Jr. William L. (5984 Steubenville Pike McKees Rocks PA 15136), Automatic control system for accurately dispensing mixed drinks.
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