Beverage dispenser with variable-concentration additive dispensing

Abstract

Beverage dispensers and dispensing methods that facilitate mixing of one or more additives (e.g., flavorings) with a base liquid are described. In a preferred method of preparing a beverage, a base liquid is dispensed from a dispensing device into a container. A flowable additive is dispensed from the dispensing device into the container to mix the flowable additive with the base liquid during the dispensing of the base liquid to provide the beverage. Preferably, the dispensing of the base liquid and the flowable additive is controlled to vary the relative concentration of the additive in the base liquid in the container during the dispensing.

1 . A method of preparing a beverage, comprising: 
 mixing a fluid concentrate beverage component with a first liquid to provide a base liquid;    dispensing a base liquid from a dispensing device into a container;    dispensing a flowable additive from the dispensing device into the container to mix the flowable additive with the base liquid during the dispensing of the base liquid to provide a beverage; and    controlling the dispensing of the base liquid and additive to vary the relative concentration of the additive in the base liquid in the container during the dispensing.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing of the additive is commenced after commencing the dispensing of the base liquid, the method further comprising: 
 stopping the dispensing of the flowable additive; and    stopping the dispensing of the base liquid substantially no earlier than when the dispensing of the flowable additive is stopped.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dispensing of the base liquid is stopped after the dispensing of the flowable additive is stopped for varying the additive concentration in the base liquid after the additive dispensing is stopped, the method further comprising mixing the final dispensed amount of the additive with the base liquid.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the dispensing of the base liquid is stopped after a stopping time period after stopping the dispensing of the additive, wherein the stopping time period is proportional to the duration of the additive dispensing.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising operating a dispensing control to stop the dispensation of the base liquid and additive, wherein the base liquid is automatically dispensed for a predetermined period longer than the additive after the dispensing control is operated.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising dispensing the base liquid and additive for predetermined time periods automatically in response to operating a dispensing control.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the additive is dispensed in a plurality of pulses of predetermined durations, the base liquid being dispensed at least before and at the beginning of the pulses.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the base liquid is dispensed after the stopping of the pulses.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising operating a dispensing control of the dispensing device to conduct a series of said pulses.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the series of pulses is stopped in response to operating the dispensing control.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dispensing of the base liquid is commenced at least about 1 second before commencing the dispensing of the additive.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is dispensed from fewer than all of a plurality of additive sources to make a single beverage.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising operating a selection control of the dispensing device to select one or more of the additive sources from which to dispense the additive.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises one or more of: a flavoring, a nutritional supplement, a coffee or tea boost, a sweetener, a flavor enhancer or reducer, a colorant, an aromatic, and a substance formulated to add body to the liquid base.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising whipping the beverage component and the first liquid to produce a foam layer on a liquid layer in the dispensed base liquid.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the beverage component comprises a protein-enriched liquid, juice, coffee, tea, cocoa, milk, a cereal, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the beverage component comprises one or more of: 
 a coffee, cocoa, or tea base;    a sweetener; and    a whitener.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the whitener comprises a non-dairy creamer.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the whitener comprises a dairy creamer comprising milk solids.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is mixed in the base liquid in a relative concentration from about 1:1000 to about 1:25 volume of base additive to base liquid.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base liquid is dispensed at at least about 50° C.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base liquid is dispensed at less than about 50° C.  
   
   
       23 . A method of preparing a beverage, comprising: 
 dispensing a base liquid from a dispensing device into a container at less than about 50° C., wherein the base liquid comprises protein, a milk based component, fat, carbohydrates, a nondairy whitener, or a mixture thereof;    dispensing a flowable additive from the dispensing device into the container to mix the flowable additive with the base liquid during the dispensing of the base liquid to provide a beverage; and    controlling the dispensing of the base liquid and additive to vary the relative concentration of the additive in the base liquid in the container during the dispensing.    
   
   
       24 . A method of preparing a beverage, comprising: 
 dispensing a base liquid from a dispensing device into a container; and    automatically dispensing a flowable additive from the dispensing device into the container in a plurality of pulses of predetermined durations to mix the flowable additive with the base liquid during the dispensing of the base liquid, the pulses beginning after the base liquid dispensing is begun and ending up to substantially to when the dispensing of the base liquid is stopped.    
   
   
       25 . A beverage dispensing device, comprising: 
 a first liquid source;    a fluid concentrate beverage component source; and    a blending system operably associated with the first liquid and beverage component sources for receiving and blending a first liquid and a beverage component from the sources to prepare a base liquid;    a base liquid dispensing mechanism comprising a component delivery mechanism that is configured for delivering the beverage component to the blending mechanism,-the base liquid dispensing mechanism also being associated with the base blending system for dispensing a base liquid therefrom into a container;    an additive source;    an additive dispensing mechanism operably associated with the additive source for dispensing a flowable additive therefrom into the container, wherein the dispensing mechanisms are configured such that the flowable additive is mixed with the base liquid to provide a beverage during the dispensing of the base liquid; and    a controller associated with the dispensing mechanisms to vary the relative concentration of the additive in the base liquid in the container during the dispensing.    
   
   
       26 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is configured for causing the additive dispensing mechanism to start dispensing the additive after and in response to the start of the base liquid dispensing by the base dispensing mechanism and for causing the base dispensing mechanism to continue dispensing the base liquid for a predetermined time period after the dispensing of the additive by the additive dispensing mechanism is stopped.  
   
   
       27 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 26 , wherein the additive dispensing mechanism comprises a pumping mechanism associated with the additive source for pumping the additive there from for dispensing into the container.  
   
   
       28 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is configured for causing the additive dispensing mechanism to dispense the additive in pulses of a first predetermined duration.  
   
   
       29 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 25 , further comprising a heater configured for heating the first liquid source to provide a hot beverage.  
   
   
       30 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 25 , wherein the device is configured to dispense the base liquid at less than about 50° C.  
   
   
       31 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 30 , further comprising a cooling unit configured for providing the first liquid source below ambient temperature for cooling of the base liquid.