Apparatus and method for dispensing frozen carbonated beverages

Abstract

Frozen carbonated beverage apparatus and method is illustrated, and has a freeze chamber in which beverage is frozen wherein the addition of beverage to the freeze chamber is controlled in response to pressure in the freeze chamber. Controlling the addition of unfrozen beverage to the freeze chamber in response to the pressure provides a method of controlling the beverage in the freeze chamber. As freeze chamber pressure falls to a pre-determined lower pressure, beverage is added to the freeze chamber until a pre-determined upper pressure. Beverage may be added to the freeze cylinder at a rate that matches the cooling rate of the beverage within the freeze chamber so that unfrozen beverage added to the freeze chamber is rapidly frozen and does not significantly alter the viscosity (consistency) of the frozen carbonated beverage.

1 . An apparatus for dispensing a frozen carbonated beverage comprising a freeze chamber in which the beverage is frozen, means for providing the addition of beverage to the freeze chamber in response to the pressure in the freeze chamber, said pressure in the freeze chamber being related to the level (volume) of frozen carbonated beverage in the freeze cylinder and controlling the addition of unfrozen beverage to the freeze chamber in response to the pressure.  
   
   
       2 . In an apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the freeze chamber falls until a pre-determined lower pressure is detected at which beverage is added to the freeze chamber until a pre-determined upper pressure is detected at which the addition of beverage is stopped.  
   
   
       3 . In an apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein the difference between the upper and lower pressures may be such that several frozen carbonated beverages may be dispensed before beverage is added to the freeze cylinder.  
   
   
       4 . In an apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein beverage is added to the freeze cylinder at a rate that matches the cooling rate of the beverage within the freeze cylinder so that unfrozen beverage added to the freeze chamber is rapidly frozen and does not significantly alter the viscosity (consistency) of the frozen carbonated beverage within the freeze cylinder.  
   
   
       5 . In the apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage and carbonating gas are added simultaneously to the freeze chamber.  
   
   
       6 . In the apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the carbonating gas may be introduced to the beverage line upstream of the freeze cylinder so that the beverage/carbonating gas mixture is introduced simultaneously into the freeze cylinder, and some in-line carbonation of the beverage may then occur in the beverage line with the carbonation process being completed within the freeze cylinder.  
   
   
       7 . In the apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the freeze chamber is maintained at a temperature below the freezing temperature of the beverage during a freeze mode of operation, for example below 0° C. for a beverage containing water and syrup, and carbonation may be carried out below the freezing point of the beverage within the freeze chamber.  
   
   
       8 . In the apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a control unit includes means for mixing the components in the required ratio for the beverage to be produced, said means for mixing comprises a ratio pump comprising a separate pump unit for each component and an actuator for simultaneously operating the pump units to deliver the components to a line for mixing and delivering the components to the freeze chamber in the correct ratio.  
   
   
       9 . In the apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the ratio pump may be adjustable to vary the amounts of the components for achieving the desired ratio of components for the beverage to be produced and/or the flow rate of the combined components for achieving the desired fill rate in the freeze cylinder.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , which avoids the provision of a separate carbonator to carbonate the beverage.  
   
   
       11 . A method of dispensing a frozen carbonated beverage comprising providing a freeze cylinder in which the beverage is frozen for dispense and controlling the addition of beverage to the freeze chamber in response to the pressure in the freeze cylinder.  
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein carbonation of said occurs in the freeze cylinder.  
   
   
       13 . A method of dispensing a frozen carbonated beverage as in  claim 11 , comprising providing a freeze cylinder in which the beverage is carbonated and frozen for dispense.  
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 11 , comprising a mixture of at least two components with a ratio pump controlling the addition of the controlling the required ratio.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising providing a separate pump unit for each component and means for simultaneously actuating the pump units to provide the components in the required ratio.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising the actuating the means controls and making pumping stroke to achieve a desired fill rate in the freeze chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising dispensing a frozen carbonated beverage from the freeze chamber and adding beverage to the freeze chamber at a rate that substantially matches the rate of cooling of beverage within the freeze chamber.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , including matching the fill rate to the cooling rate and maintaining the viscosity (consistency/quality) of the frozen beverage in the freeze chamber.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , including providing some carbonization in the freeze chamber and some carbonation prior to the beverage being introduced into the freeze chamber.