Beverage dispenser having selectable temperature

Abstract

The present invention dispenses hot coffee or other beverage by the cup at a selected temperature, which can be varied from cup-to-cup. The beverage is brewed in a conventional way, and in one embodiment is stored in a conventional holding tank at elevated temperature. The holding tank communicates with two smaller reservoirs. A quantity of beverage is stored in a first reservoir at an elevated temperature, at or above the maximum desired dispensing temperature. A second quantity of beverage is cooled and stored in a second reservoir at a lower temperature, at or below the minimum desired dispensing temperature. When a cup of beverage is to be dispensed, the temperature is selected, and a quantity of beverage is dispensed from each of the reservoirs, proportioned so that the resulting dispensed beverage is at the selected temperature. In another embodiment, the first reservoir is omitted, and beverage from the holding tank provides the elevated temperature beverage for mixing. In several other embodiments, no cooling mechanism is needed. Instead, the holding tank is at a cooler temperature than the lowest vend temperature, and the beverage must be heated to the hot reservoir temperature and, in one embodiment, the cold reservoir temperature. In another embodiment, the holding tank functions as a cold reservoir. In still another embodiment requiring no heaters, the holding tank is eliminated, and the beverage is held in insulated chambers at the higher and lower temperatures.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of parent patent application Ser. No. 09 / 769,151, filed Jan. 24, 2001. The aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The invention pertains to the field of fluid dispensers. More particularly, the invention pertains to beverage dispensing machines having temperature regulation of the dispensed product.[0004] 2. Description of Related Art[0005] In most aspects of our life, each individual person has his or her own preferences. For example, people prefer different kind of food, different kind of spices in food and so on. This is also true when it comes to coffee--each person likes to drink his coffee at a different temperature. Especially in fast food restaurants and coffee shops, the temperature of the coffee that is sold is most often very hot, much too hot for most people to drink. So each person has to wait until his co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] In the present invention the cold and the hot reservoirs are refilled automatically from the main holding tank. Therefore the system requires only one single mixing valve to control the coffee temperature, making the present system simpler and more reliable. The simple system of the invention also allows much more accurate control of temperature than the reheat or dilution systems.

[0020] In one embodiment, the system of the invention can be directly added to existing commercial coffee makers without making any changes to the coffee makers, improving the quality and the taste of the coffee because:

[0022] in the two-reservoir plus holding tank embodiment of the invention, the coffee in the holding tank can be stored at lower temperature which will extend the time that the coffee can stand without loosing its quality. This is possible because in our system the coffee temperature that is poured out is independent on the coffee temperature in the holding tank.

Problems solved by technology

Especially in fast food restaurants and coffee shops, the temperature of the coffee that is sold is most often very hot, much too hot for most people to drink.

This become very irritating, especially when you want to drink your coffee right away and the only way to do it is by small sips, and even then you will burn your tongue.

Therefore its takes quite a long time until the coffee cools down to the desired drinkable temperature for each individual.

By doing so he might burn his tongue and the inside of his mouth.

The Haynes device cannot set a specific temperature for each cup of coffee.

Verheijn does not provide brewed coffee, but rather water of a selected temperature, and requires complicated flow-through heaters, mixing valves, and timing circuitry.

Three valves control water dispensed, so the user has a choice of hot, cold or water at something between room temperature and tap temperature, but cannot select a specific temperature of the water.

There is no option for dispensing a cup of brewed beverage at a specific temperature, and, as a dilution system, the lower the temperature to be dispensed, the weaker the beverage.

Images