Frozen beverage dispensing machines with multi-flavor valves
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B67D-001/00
B67D-001/07
출원번호
US-0585974
(2017-05-03)
등록번호
US-10138107
(2018-11-27)
발명자
/ 주소
Zemko, Christopher F.
DiFatta, Vincenzo
출원인 / 주소
Cornelius, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Andrus Intellectual Property Law, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
6
초록▼
A beverage machine includes a valve that receives a base fluid and dispenses a mixed beverage comprising the base fluid and an additive fluid. The valve has a bore through which the base fluid flows, and the bore has a perimetral surface that defines a plurality of ports through which the additive f
A beverage machine includes a valve that receives a base fluid and dispenses a mixed beverage comprising the base fluid and an additive fluid. The valve has a bore through which the base fluid flows, and the bore has a perimetral surface that defines a plurality of ports through which the additive fluid is injected to thereby mix with the base fluid. An injector is coupled to the valve and configured to radially inject the additive fluid into the base fluid through the plurality of ports as the base fluid flows through the bore such that the additive fluid mixes into the base fluid to form the mixed beverage.
대표청구항▼
1. A beverage machine comprising: a valve that receives a base fluid and dispenses a mixed beverage comprising the base fluid and an additive fluid, the valve having a perimetral surface that defines a bore through which the base fluid flows and a channel that surrounds the bore and through which th
1. A beverage machine comprising: a valve that receives a base fluid and dispenses a mixed beverage comprising the base fluid and an additive fluid, the valve having a perimetral surface that defines a bore through which the base fluid flows and a channel that surrounds the bore and through which the additive fluid flows to a plurality of ports defined in the perimetral surface through which the additive fluid is radially injected into the bore to thereby mix with the base fluid; andan injector coupled to the valve and configured to inject the additive fluid into the channel such that the additive fluid flows through the channel and the plurality of ports to thereby mix into the base fluid to form the mixed beverage, wherein the injector has:an injector axis along which the injector extends;a surface centered about the injector axis and configured to radially inwardly direct the additive fluid toward the injector axis along which the additive fluid is injected into the channel; anda manifold configured to receive a plurality of fluid components and dispense the plurality of fluid components, wherein the surface radially inwardly directs the plurality of fluid components toward the injector axis such that the plurality of fluid components mix and form the additive fluid. 2. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the additive fluid is injected into the base fluid in a direction that is transverse to the base fluid as the base fluid flows through the bore. 3. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the bore has an upstream end that receives the base fluid and a downstream end that dispenses the mixed beverage; and wherein the valve comprises a baffle positioned in the bore downstream of the injector and configured to redirect the base fluid and the additive fluid to thereby further mix the additive fluid into the base fluid. 4. The beverage machine according to claim 3, wherein the baffle is configured to redirect the base fluid and the additive fluid from an axial flow to a radial flow. 5. The beverage machine according to claim 3, wherein the valve further comprises a deflection member positioned in the bore downstream of the baffle and configured to further mix the additive fluid into the base fluid. 6. The beverage machine according to claim 5, wherein the deflection member comprises a center column and a plurality of fins that radially extend from each other and from the center column. 7. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the manifold is further configured to receive and dispense a gas, and wherein the injector is further configured to inject the gas into the valve to thereby clear residual additive fluid from the valve. 8. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the surface is a frustoconical surface. 9. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the manifold is configured to convey the plurality of fluid components parallel to the injector axis. 10. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the injector has a cover removably coupled to the injector and configured to protect the manifold from debris and contamination. 11. A method of dispensing a mixed beverage comprising a base fluid and an additive fluid, the method comprising: receiving, with a valve having a bore with an upstream inlet end, the base fluid, wherein the bore has a downstream end and a perimetral surface that defines a plurality of ports, the valve defines a channel that surrounds the bore and through which the additive fluid flows to the plurality of ports;injecting, with an injector coupled to the valve, the additive fluid through the plurality of ports radially into the base fluid as the base fluid flows through the valve such that the additive fluid mixes with the base fluid to form the mixed beverage, the injector having: an injector axis along which the injector extends;a surface centered about the injector axis and configured to radially inwardly direct the additive fluid toward the injector axis such that the additive fluid is injected into the channel; anda manifold configured to receive a plurality of fluid components and dispense the plurality of fluid component, wherein the surface radially inwardly directs the plurality of fluid components toward the injector axis such that the plurality of fluid components mix and form the additive fluid; anddispensing the mixed beverage from the downstream end of the bore. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: providing a baffle in the bore downstream of the injector to further mix the additive fluid into the base fluid; andproviding a deflection member in the bore downstream of the baffle to further mix the additive fluid into the base fluid. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the base fluid is a frozen slush fluid, and further comprising: receiving, with a controller, a signal from an user input device that flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve is blocked; andrapidly reciprocating a piston rod, with an air cylinder piston, based on the signal from the user input device into and between a closed position in which the piston rod blocks flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve and an open position in which the piston rod is moved such that the frozen slush fluid flows through the valve, and wherein rapid reciprocation of the piston rod clears the valve of frozen particles that block flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve. 14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: sensing, with a flow sensor, absence of flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve when a piston rod is in the open position; anddetermining, with a controller that is in communication with the flow sensor, that frozen particles block flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve based on signals from the flow sensor; andrapidly reciprocating a piston rod, with an air cylinder piston, based on the signals from the flow sensor into and between a closed position in which the piston rod blocks flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve and an open position in which the piston rod is moved such that the frozen slush fluid flows through the valve, and wherein the rapid reciprocation of the piston rod clears the valve of frozen particles that block flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve. 15. A beverage machine comprising: a valve that receives a base fluid and dispenses a mixed beverage comprising the base fluid and an additive fluid, the valve having: a perimetral surface that defines a bore through which the base fluid flows and a plurality of ports; anda channel that surrounds the bore and through which the additive fluid flows to the plurality of ports such that the additive fluid is radially injected into the bore to thereby mix with the base fluid; andan injector coupled to the valve and configured to inject the additive fluid into the channel such that the additive fluid flows through the channel and the plurality of ports, the injector comprises: an injector axis along which the injector extends;an interior chamber extending along the injector axis;a manifold configured to receive a plurality of fluid components and dispense the plurality of fluid component into the interior chamber; andan interior surface centered about the injector axis and configured to radially inwardly direct the plurality of fluid components dispensed into the interior chamber toward the injector axis such that the plurality of fluid components mix and thereby form the additive fluid. 16. The beverage machine according to claim 15, wherein the manifold is configured to convey each fluid component of the plurality of fluid components parallel to and radially offset from the injector axis. 17. The beverage machine according to claim 15, wherein the interior surface is a frustoconical surface. 18. The beverage machine according to claim 17, wherein the additive fluid is injected into the base fluid in a direction that is transverse to the base fluid as the base fluid flows through the bore. 19. The beverage machine according to claim 16, wherein the manifold is further configured to receive a gas and dispense the gas into the chamber to thereby clear residual fluid components from the interior chamber and residual additive fluid from the valve. 20. The beverage machine according to claim 19, wherein the manifold is further configured to convey the gas along the injector axis. 21. The beverage machine according to claim 15, wherein the base fluid is a frozen slush fluid; and wherein the valve further comprises: an air cylinder piston that reciprocates a piston rod into and between a closed position in which the piston rod blocks flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve and an open position in which the piston rod is moved such that the frozen slush fluid flows through the valve;wherein the air cylinder piston is configured to rapidly reciprocate the piston between the open position and closed position to thereby clear the valve of frozen particles that block the flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve. 22. The beverage machine according to claim 21, further comprising: a flow sensor configured to sense absence of flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve when the piston rod is in the open position; anda controller in communication with the flow sensor and the air cylinder piston and configured to control the air control cylinder to rapidly reciprocate the piston rod when the flow sensor senses the absence of flow of the frozen slush fluid through the valve when the piston rod is in the open position.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Kadyk, Jeff; Radhakrishnan, Suresh, Component mixing method, apparatus and system.
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