Method and System for in-Cup Dispensing, Mixing and Foaming Hot and Cold Beverages From Liquid Concentrate

Abstract

Liquid food dispensing device ( 1 ) for dispensing hot or cold beverages or other liquid foods without using any mixing or whipping chambers comprising at least one liquid component source ( 30, 31 ) and a diluent source ( 18 ), a delivery device and at least one diluent nozzle and one food component nozzle wherein the delivery device and diluent and food component nozzles are configured for ejecting at least one stream ( 6 a, 6 b ) of diluent at a predetermined spatial configuration inside a container ( 10 ) and within a velocity range effective to create turbulence and mix the food component so to produce the food product such as the hot or cold beverage.

1 . A food product dispenser comprising:
 a diluent source;   at least one diluent nozzle;   at least one food component source in a liquid form;   at least one food component nozzle;   a delivery device connecting the diluent source to the diluent nozzle and the food component source to the food component nozzle;   the delivery device and nozzles are configured such that the diluent and food component are ejected from the diluent and food component nozzles, respectively, in diluent and component streams, directly into the container; and   the delivery device and diluent nozzle are configured for ejecting the stream of diluent at a predetermined spatial configuration in which the diluent stream impacts on at least one internal wall of the container and within a velocity range effective to create turbulence and mix with the food component to produce the food product.   
   
   
       2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent nozzle ejects the diluent stream at an angle relative to vertical. 
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent nozzle ejects the stream of diluent at a spatial configuration in which the diluent stream impacts on an internal surface of the container. 
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery device and diluent nozzle eject the stream of diluent at a predetermined spatial configuration relative to vertical and within a velocity range effective to produce a layer of foam on the food product wherein a ratio of foam-to-liquid obtained within one minute after the food and diluent have been dispensed in the container is at least 1:5. 
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the streams in a region from the nozzles to the container are unsupported by any protection structure. 
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claim 1  comprising a dispensing bay configured for receiving a container at the dispensing location for receiving the food product therein in a defined position. 
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent is water and the food component is selected from the group consisting of a liquid concentrate, a liquid food and a beverage product concentrate. 
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent nozzle is configured so that the diluent stream is inclined relative to vertical by more than 5 degrees. 
   
   
       9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent nozzle is configured so that the diluent stream is inclined relative to vertical of from 10 to 35 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The dispenser of  1 , comprising a second diluent nozzle producing a second diluent stream that impacts on an internal wall of the container at a location which is offset and lower than that of the first diluent stream produced from the first diluent nozzle. 
   
   
       11 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the second diluent nozzle is oriented to direct a diluent stream relative to vertical of from 0 to 5 degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery device is configured to deliver diluent from the at least one diluent nozzle at a diluent flow rate and linear velocity of between about 1 and 120 ml/s and 10 and 3,500 cm/s, respectively. 
   
   
       13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein, for producing a foamed beverage, the delivery device is configured to deliver diluent from the diluent nozzle at a flow rate and a linear velocity of between about 5 and 40 ml/s, and 800 and 2750 cm/s, respectively, and the food component is a liquid concentrate having a viscosity between 1 and 5,000 cP. 
   
   
       14 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein for producing a foamed beverage, the delivery device is configured to deliver diluent from the diluent nozzle at a flow rate and linear velocity of from 15 to 30 ml/s, and 1100 to 2500 cm/s, respectively, and the food component is a liquid concentrate having a viscosity between 5 and 2200 cP. 
   
   
       15 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein for producing a non-foamed beverage, the delivery device is configured to deliver diluent from the diluent nozzle at flow rate and at linear velocity of between about 1 and 40 ml/s and 10 and 650 cm/s, respectively, and the food component is a liquid concentrate having a viscosity between 5 and 600 cP. 
   
   
       16 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein for producing a non-foamed beverage, the delivery device is configured to deliver diluent from the diluent nozzle at flow rate and at linear velocity of between about 10 and 40 ml/s and 10 and 150 cm/s, respectively, and the food component is a liquid concentrate having a viscosity between 10 and 500 cP. 
   
   
       17 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent nozzle comprises at least one orifice having a diameter of between 0.075 and 9.5 mm. 
   
   
       18 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent nozzle comprises at least one orifice of a diameter of between 0.1 and 3.0 mm. 
   
   
       19 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent nozzle comprises a plurality of orifices to form a plurality of streams forming a showerhead configuration. 
   
   
       20 . A dispenser of a food product comprising:
 a diluent source;   at least one diluent nozzle;   at least one food component source in a liquid form;   at least one food component nozzle;   a delivery device connecting the diluent source to the diluent nozzle and the food component source to the food component nozzle;   the delivery device and nozzles are configured such that the diluent and food component are ejected from the diluent and food component nozzles, respectively, in diluent and component streams, directly into the container; and   the delivery device and diluent nozzle are configured for ejecting the stream of diluent at a predetermined spatial configuration in which the diluent stream impacts on at least one internal wall of the container and within a velocity range effective to create turbulence and mix with the food component to produce the food product;   at least one diluent pump configured for pumping the diluent from the diluent source to the at least one diluent nozzle at a sufficient flow rate for producing the at least one diluent stream; and   at least one food pump configured for pumping the food component from the at least one food component source to the at least one food component nozzle at a sufficient flow rate for producing the at least one food component stream.   
   
   
       21 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one of the diluent pump and food pump is configured to deliver pulses of the diluent or food component. 
   
   
       22 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein the pumps are selected from the group consisting of peristaltic pumps, gear pumps, centrifugal pumps, vane pumps and diaphragm pumps. 
   
   
       23 . The dispenser of  20  comprising a controller associated with the pumps for controlling the flow rates and linear velocity. 
   
   
       24 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery device further comprises a pumpless diluent line under pressure connected to a tap water supply. 
   
   
       25 . The dispenser of  claim 24 , comprising a controller associated with the flow reductor for controlling the flow rates and linear velocity. 
   
   
       26 . The dispenser of  claim 1  comprising a controller configured for controlling the delivery device for substantially simultaneously ejecting diluent and food component. 
   
   
       27 . The dispenser of  claim 26 , comprising a controller configured for controlling the delivery device for ejecting diluent before the food component is ejected. 
   
   
       28 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the food component is a liquid concentrate selected from the group consisting of coffee, cocoa, milk, juice, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, flavor, nutritional and other concentrates, and a combination thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The dispenser of  1 , wherein:
 the food component source comprises a plurality of food component sources; and   the food component nozzle comprises a plurality of food component nozzles for dispensing different food components from the food component sources in the container, and the delivery device is configured for selectively activating and deactivating the flow from the food component nozzles for dispensing a selected combination of one or more of the food components in the container depending on the type of beverage product selected for dispensing.   
   
   
       30 . The dispenser of  claim 1  comprising a thermal exchange unit configured for heating or cooling the diluent to be dispensed. 
   
   
       31 . A method of preparing a food product from a food product dispenser, comprising directing separate streams of diluent and flowable food components into a container such that the stream of diluent forms an inclination angle relative to vertical and the diluent stream impacts on at least one wall of the container within a velocity range effective to create turbulence and mix with the food component so to produce the food product. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the diluent is inclined by more than 5 degrees relative to vertical. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a second diluent stream is directed into the container. 
   
   
       34 . The method  claim 31 , wherein the second diluent stream is positioned at a lower angle than the first stream. 
   
   
       35 . The method  claim 31 , wherein the diluent flow rate and diluent linear velocity is of between about 1 and 120 mL/s and 10 and 3,500 cm/s, respectively. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the food component flow rate ranges of from 1.5 to 40 mL/s and the food component is a liquid concentrate of viscosity comprised between 10 and 5,000 cP. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the velocity of the diluent stream is controllable from a reduced velocity range within which a non-foamed food product is formed to an increased velocity range within which a foamed food product is formed in the container. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the spatial configuration relative of the diluent and food streams and the diluent velocity range are effective to produce a layer of foam on the food product wherein a ratio of foam-to-liquid obtained within a minute, after the food component and diluent have been dispensed, in the container is at least 1:5. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein, for producing a foamed beverage, the diluent flow rate and diluent linear velocity range is between about 5 and 40 ml/s and 800 and 2750 cm/s, respectively, and the food component is a liquid concentrate having a viscosity between 1 and less than 5,000 cP, and the most preferably between 10 and 2200 cP. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein, for producing a non-foamed beverage, the diluent flow rate and diluent linear velocity is between about 1 and 40 ml/s and 10 and 650 cm/s, respectively, and the food component is a liquid concentrate having a viscosity between 5 and 600 cP. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  31 , wherein no stratification occurs in the dispensed food product. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein no splashing occurs from the container.