GB2439307A

GB2439307A - Drink dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2439307A
Application number: GB0612467A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Keen; Paul Holdsworth; Ashley Stevenson; Michael Valentine
Original assignee: Autonumis Ltd
Current assignee: Autonumis Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-23
Filing date: 2006-06-23
Publication date: 2007-12-27
Also published as: WO2007148080A1; GB0612467D0

Abstract

Drink or beverage dispensing apparatus 10 for dispensing a liquid, such as a diluted juice mixture, comprising a drink dispensing outlet 16 for dispensing a liquid drink mixture into a user's receptacle 28; a water inlet; support means 12 for supporting a container 32 of liquid drink concentrate; mixing means 40, 42, 56 for mixing a portion of the liquid drink concentrate from the concentrate container with water from the water inlet to form the liquid drink mixture; comparison means 64, 66, 68, 78, 80 for deriving a light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value of the said liquid drink mixture prior to discharge from the drink dispensing outlet 16 and for comparing the derived value with a predetermined target light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value for the liquid drink mixture. Control means 82 is provided for controlling the mixing means dependent on the difference between the derived BRIX value and the predetermined target value, to alter a ratio of liquid drink concentrate to water, whereby the derived value of the liquid drink mixture matches or approaches the predetermined target value.

Description

I

DRINK DISPENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD

The present invention relates to drink or beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid drink mixture, such as a diluted juice mixture, of at least two different liquids, and more particularly to the control of a ratio of liquid drink concentrate, such as juice concentrate, to water. The present invention also relates to a method of regulating a ratio of liquid drink concentrate and water in a drink dispensing system, such as the drink dispensing apparatus.

The term drink' used herein throughout is intended to include beverage', and as such the two terms are used interchangeably.

Drink or beverage dispensing apparatus is well known, and often utilises a bag-in-box (hereinafter BIB') container of a particular, for example juice, concentrate which is placed n a dispenser housing. A user operated lever mechanism, automatic sensor mechanism, or push button mechanism is then used to discharge a portion of the juice concentrate, which is mixed with an amount of water to form a diluted juice mixture.

The phrase diluted juice mixture' means the reconstitution of a juice by the dilution of a juice concentrate with water.

The term water' is intended to cover both still or non-sparkling water and carbonated or sparkling water.

The thus formed diluted juice mixture is then dispensed into a user's glass, beaker, cup or jug.

Presently, an owner or service engineer of the known drink dispensing apparatus must manually set a mix ratio of liquid drink concentrate and water. This is achieved through trail-and-error by the owner or engineer dispensing diluted liquid drink mixture and manually testing the result, typically through tasting or through the use of expensive and independent handheld testing devices. The owner or engineer then manually makes an adjustment to the mix ratio and repeats the lest until satisfied.

This method is unsatisfactory, since it is open to abuse. If settable by the owner, it is not uncommon for the owner to excessively dilute or water down' the liquid drink concentrate in order to make the liquid drink concentrate last longer. This impacts severely on the reputation of the manufacturers of the concentrate.

The use of service engineers to set the mix ratio is also unsatisfactory, since the engineer is required each time the container is to be changed to a different liquid drink concentrate. Following the change, since no two concentrates are precisely the same, even if derived from a cormnon fruit or other source, the mix ratio has to be checked and reset. This obviously takes time and incurs undesirable cost.

Furthermore, the viscosity of a concentrate and hence a mix ratio also varies according to temperature. Although some known drink dispensing apparatus have refrigerated compartments, there can be no guarantee that the liquid container has not just been put in the machine at ambient temp or has been over pre-chilled.

Additionally, the thermostat, which controls the refrigerated compartment, operates over a temperature band. Therefore the temperature of refrigerated concentrate will cycle up and down. Variations in the flow rate of the incoming mains water also affect the ratio of concentrate to water.

Consequently, the resulting dispensed drink can vary markedly in taste.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided drink dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid drink mixture, the apparatus comprising: a drink dispensing outlet for dispensing a liquid drink mixture into a user's receptacle; a water inlet; support means for supporting a concentrate container of liquid drink concentrate; mixing means for mixing a portion of liquid drink concentrate from the concentrate container with water from the water inlet to form the liquid drink mixture; comparison means for deriving a light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value of the said liquid drink mixture prior to discharge from the drink dispensing outlet and for comparing the derived value with a predetermined target light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value for the liquid drink mixture; and control means for controlling the mixing means, dependent on the difference between the derived value and the predetermined target value, to alter a ratio of liquid drink concentrate to water, whereby the derived value of the liquid drink mixture matches or approaches the predetermined target value, so that the dispensed liquid drink mixture has a BRIX value which matches or approaches a or the predetermined target BRIX value.

Preferable and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 20, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of regulating a ratio of liquid drink concentrate and water in a drink dispensing system, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a supply of liquid drink concentrate and water to the drink dispensing system; b) mixing a portion of the liquid drink concentrate and the water in the drink dispensing system to form a liquid drink mixture; c) deriving a light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value of the said liquid drink mixture prior to discharge from a drink dispensing outlet of the drink dispensing system; d) comparing the derived value with a predetermined light-absorption or light-transmission or BRLX value for the liquid drink mixture; and e) controlling a ratio of liquid drink concentrate and water, dependent on the difference between the derived value and the predetermined target value, so that the derived value of the liquid drink mixture matches or approaches the predetermined target value, whereby the dispensed liquid drink mixture has a BRIX value which matches or approaches a or the predetermined target BRIX value.

The present invention will now be more particularly understood, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective front side view of one embodiment of drink dispensing apparatus, in accordance with the present invention and with a door open to show a removable container and a BIB container; Figure 2 is a perspective rear side view of the drink dispensing apparatus, shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged scrap cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, with the door closed and showing the BIB container in fluid communication with mixing means and comparison means; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of elements of the mixing means, comparison means, water inlet, and drink dispensing outlet; Figure 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the elements shown in Figure 4, when assembled; and Figure 6 is another perspective cross-sectional view of the assembled elements, taken transversely to the cross-section of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of drink dispensing apparatus 10 comprising a housing 12 having an openable and closeable door 14 on its front side, a drink dispensing outlet 16 adjacent to a lower edge of the door 14, a mains water inlet (not shown), an interior compartment 18 which is formed within the housing 12 and which is accessible via the door 14, mixing means which is positioned adjacent to the interior compartment 18 and the door 14, when closed, comparison means, a compressor 20, a condenser and fan unit 22, a chilling unit 24 having a thermostat and agitator (not shown), and control means in the form of an electronic control module 25 for controlling the mixing means, comparison means, compressor 20, the condenser and fan unit 22, and the chilling unit 24.

The interior compartment can be chilled or refrigerated. In this case, the temperature of the interior compartment is thermostatically controlled by the control means. Alternatively, the interior compartment can be unrefrigerated.

A user interfce (not shown) is also provided which inter1ces with the control means to allow, for example, a portion size or sizes, typically small, medium and large, of the dispensed drink, controlled via the mixing means, and a drink temperature, controlled via the chilling unit 24, to be set.

The housing 12 comprises a deep recess 26 below the door 14 to allow a receptacle 28, such as a cup, beaker, glass or jug, to be removably placed therein to be in fluid conununication with the drink dispensing outlet 16. The lower surlIce 30 of the recess 26 on which the receptacle 28 stands is provided with a removable drip tray.

The interior compartment 18 in the housing 12 is dimensioned to receive, side-by-side, two standard 5 litre liquid drink concentrate containers 32. However, the interior compartment 18 and therefore the housing 12 can be dimensioned to receive any size and any number of containers, including a single container 32.

Typically, the container 32 is a known disposable bag-in-box (BIB) container 132, which is pre-filled and pre-sealed off-site by the manufacturer of the liquid drink, for example juice, concentrate. However, reusable, typically plastics or stainless steel, containers 232 are available to fit the interior compartment 18, as shown.

The BIB container 132 has a flexible elongate nozzle outlet 34 on its in use lower surface, along with a valve, which can be a pinch device 36 for controlling flow from the container 32.

The reusable plastics container 232 typically has an integrally formed outlet 38 with a rotatable mechanical valve for controlling flow.

The mixing means is supported by the apparatus housing 12 below the interior compartment 18, and comprises an electric stepper motor 40 or other suitable actuator, a needle valve device 42 including a needle valve 44 and a needle valve body 46 having a concentrate inlet port 48 and a concentrate outlet port 50, a pivotable needle valve arm 52 urgeable by the stepper motor 40 to lift the needle valve 44 away from its seat within the needle valve body 46 to open the concentrate outlet port 50, and a needle valve return arm 54 which is spring biased against the needle valve 44 to urge the needle valve 44 back into the valve body 46 upon deenergisation of the stepper motor 40.

The needle valve device 42 is separable from the pivotable needle valve arm 52, needle valve return arm 54, and stepper motor 40.

The concentrate outlet port 50 discharges into a mixing conduit 56, partway therealong. The mixing conduit 56 is an elongate tubular element, typically having a circular lateral cross-section. The mains water inlet is in fluid communication with the mixing conduit 56 to in use discharge mains water, via a mains water valve device (not shown), through a mains water inlet port 58 and into the mixing conduit 56. The mains water inlet port 58 is at one end of the mixing conduit 56, spaced from and upstream of the concentrate outlet port 50.

The mains water inlet port 58 of the mixing conduit 56 has a reduced lateral cross-section to provide a venturi at the mixing conduit 56.

The mixing conduit 56 includes a mixture outlet port 60 at an end opposite the mains water inlet port 58.

The comparison means includes a measurement housing 62, a measurement chamber 64 releasably supported by the measurement housing 62, a light emitting device 66, such as a light emitting diode (LED), provided on the measurement housing 62, and a light receiving device 68, such as a photodiode, also held by the measurement housing 62.

The measurement chamber 64 has a mixture inlet port 70 which is in fluid communication with the mixture outlet port 60 of the mixing conduit 56, and a mixture outlet port 72 which is in fluid communication with, and upstream of, the drink dispensing outlet 16. The measurement housing 62 is releasably engaged with the mixing chamber, and the mixture outlet port 60 of the mixing conduit 56 is push-fittably received in the mixture inlet port 70. One or more circular seals 74 are interposed between the mixing conduit 56 and the measurement chamber 64 to prevent leakage.

The interior of the measurement chamber 64 has a circular lateral cross-section.

However, the lateral cross-section can be non-circular. The measurement chamber 64 has a transparent wall 76 or opposing portions of the wall(s) which are transparent.

The light emitting device 66 is positioned externally of the measurement chamber 64, so that a beani of light emitted thereby can pass into and through the measurement chamber 64, via the transparent wall 76. The light receiving device 68 is positioned externally of the measurement chamber 64, typically directly opposite the light emitting device 66, to receive the emitted beam of light.

BRIX is a commonly used standard for indicating a sugar content of a solution at a given temperature. It has been determined that the BRIX value of a liquid drink mixture, such as a diluted juice mixture, can be directly related to the light absorption or the light transmission properties of the mixture. In other words, a BRJX value of a particular mixture will vary according to its transparency.

Consequently, the comparison means also includes light-absorption determining circuitry 78 or logic and comparator circuitry 80 or logic, formed as part of control circuitry 82 of the electronic control module 25 of the control means, for determining a light-absorption value based on light energy output by the light emitting device 66 and an output received from the light receiving device 68, and then for comparing the determined light-absorption value with a predetermined target light-absorption value.

To provide the predetermined target light-absorption value, the drink dispensing apparatus 10 is provided with data transfer means 84, typically incorporated as part of the control circuitry 82 of the control means. Electronic data is provided on the BIB container 132, typically by the manufacturer of the juice concentrate. The data can be provided on an RFJD tag 85, typically in encrypted form, in any other suitable electronic data carrier, or in any other suitable electronic form, such as a barcode, located on or in the container 32. As part of the electronic data, a target light-absorption value for a diluted mixture of the juice concentrate held therein, along with expiry date of the juice concentrate, volume of the container, and any other data are provided. The target light-absorption value is dependent on the concentrate in the container 32, and is determined by the manufacturer for each batch of concentrate, since it can change batch-by-batch, even for the same fruit or product.

In this regard, the manufacturer predetermines a target BRIX value for the liquid drink mixture to be supplied to the person requesting the think. Once the target BRIX value is determined, the target light-absorption value, which is based directly on the target BRIX value, is determined by the manufacturer and provided on the data carrier.

The data transfer means 84 includes an electronic data reader, which, typically remotely, reads the target light-absorption value from the container 32, and sets this as the predetermined target light-absorption value. As such, the predetermined target light- absorption value cannot be set by the user, and is solely settable by the data received electronically from the container 32, when the container 32 is placed in the interior compartment 18 of the apparatus housing 12. The predetermined target light-absorption value is thus also reset each time the or each BIB container 132 is replaced.

The data transfer means 84 also includes an electronic data transmitter which can send or write electronic data to the data carrier.

A flowmeter (not shown), electronically connected to the control means, is provided at or downstream of the mains water inlet. The flowmeter outputs a volume of water flowing through the mains water inlet and into the mixing chamber each time a drink is dispensed. The control means thus determine an amount of concentrate used, and this value is written to the data carrier by the data transfer means 84. Consequently, if the container 32 is temporarily removed and then replaced, the control means can determine a remaining volume of concentrate. If the control means determines that the container is empty, the apparatus will no longer operate with that container. This, for example, prevents an owner or operator from refilling the container, when the container is not intended to be refillable.

The control means also includes a light-absorption value calibration routine, and a flushing process, both of which are compensated for by the control means controlling the mixing means to increase the ratio of concentrate to water for a short period during dispensing, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

To describe the drink dispensing apparatus 10 in use, the BIB container 132 will first be considered. A BIB container 132 from a manufacturer and containing a suitable, for example juice, concentrate is first selected. The door 14 to the apparatus housing 12 is opened to reveal the interior compartment 18, and the selected BIB container 132 is inserted into a bay, with the flexible elongate nozzle outlet 34 being fluidly-tightly connected to the concentrate inlet port 48 of the needle valve device 42. The pinch valve on the nozzle outlet 34 can then be released.

The data transfer means 84 automatically reads the target light-absorption value, and sets this as the predetermined target light-absorption value of the comparison means.

With the door 14 of the apparatus housing 12 closed, the receptacle 28 is placed beneath the drink dispensing outlet 16, and an operation button 86 (shown as being on the door 14 of the apparatus housing 12 in Figures 1 and 2) is pressed by the user. The operation button 86 is electronically connected to the control means, which then firstly implements the light-absorption value calibration routine. As a result, the needle valve device 42 remains closed, and the mains water valve is initially opened, allowing water into the measurement chamber 64 of the comparison means, via the mixing conduit 56.

As the water passes through the measurement chamber 64, the light emitting device 66 is energised to emit a beam of light, and the light receiving device 68 outputs a value corresponding to the light energy received. The light-absorption determining circuitry 78 determines a baseline light-absorption value for the water, based on the output from the light receiving device 68, and the calibration routine ends.

The control means then energises the stepper motor 40 to withdraw the needle valve 44, thus opening the concentrate outlet port 50 of the needle valve device 42. Due to the ventwi in the mixing conduit 56, concentrate is drawn through the concentrate outlet port 50 of the needle valve device 42 and into the mixing conduit 56, where it is mixed with the water flowing through the mains water inlet port 58.

The resulting mixture flows into the measurement chamber 64 of the comparison means, the light emitting device 66 is energised, and the light receiving device 68 outputs a value based on the received light energy.

The light-absorption determining circuitry 78 determines a present light-absorption value, and this is moderated by the comparison means based on the baseline light-absorption value detennined during the calibration routine. The derived moderated light-absorption value is then compared by the comparator circuitry 80 to the predetermined target light-absorption value, which corresponds directly to the manufacturer's predetermined target BR1X value, and the control means controls the stepper motor 40 to open or close the needle valve device 42 of the mixing means, based on the difference between the two values, in order to approach the predetermined target light-absorption value.

The above-described feedback control is continued periodically through the dispensing cycle. For example, the comparison means operates at a rate of, for example, 500 times per second, and thus the control means adjusts the flow rate of concentrate through the needle valve device 42 up to 500 times per second or more, depending upon how close the moderated light-absorption value is to the predetermined target light- absorption value, in order to maintain or approach the predetermined target light-absorption value.

Once a predetermined volume of liquid drink mixture, as set via the user interface described previously, has been discharged from the drink dispensing outlet 16, the control means controls the needle valve device 42 to close, and the flushing process is initiated. As such, only water is allowed to flow through the mixing conduit 56 and measurement chamber 64 to flush any remnants of the mixture Out through the drink dispensing outlet 16, thus leaving the measurement chamber 64 ready for the next light-absorption value calibration routine.

To compensate for the use of only water in the calibration routine and flushing process, the control means is provided with flirther control circuitry or logic which automatically increases the flow of concentrate for a short period, by controlling the stepper motor 40 to open the needle valve device 42 further than required to meet the predetermined target light-absorption value.

Following the flushing process, the control means controls the mains water valve to halt the flow of water. The receptacle 28 with dispensed drink can then be safely removed from the apparatus housing 12.

The control circuitry includes a memory function which remembers the motor position of the previously dispensed liquid drink mixture or mixtures. This allows the valve, when a following liquid drink mixture is to be dispensed, to be opened by a reasonably accurate amount, and to thus allow the following liquid drink mixture to be dispensed with an immediately reasonably accurate concentrate to water ratio, based on the predetermined target value. The valve is opened to the prior position before the light-absorption value is initially determined. This learnt principle' process thus improves the initial response time of the dispense system.

IS Regarding the reusable container 232, this container 232 can also include an electronic data carrier as described above, and may be refilled and sealed on-site by, for example, the service engineer. In this case, the data on the data carrier is updated by the engineer, and the apparatus operates in the same manner as the BIB container 132.

In the case when the reusable container 232 is refillable by the owner or operator of the drink dispensing apparatus 10, then the user interface allows the required predetermined target light-absorption value to be input and thus settable by the owner or operator. Consequently, the owner or operator predetermines the target BRJX value of the discharged drink mixture.

Preferably, sensor means (not shown) are provided for determining which kind of container 32 is inserted into the interior compartment 18 of the apparatus housing 12.

In the case of a multi-bay compartment, each bay includes sensor means for determining which kind of container 32 is inserted. For example, if the data transfer means 84 does not communicate with an inserted container 32, it is assumed by the control means that the container 32 is a refillable container 32, and the control means will not run the calibration routine, and thus no diluted juice mixture will be dispensed, until a predetermined target light-absorption value is set.

If an electronic data carrier is present in or on the container 32, the control means electronically disables the manual setting of a predetermined target light-absorption value for the container 32 in question.

The electronic data carrier can also include data identifying the owner or operator of the drinks dispensing apparatus, included by the provider of the container. If the control means does not read or recognise this data when transferred by the data transfer means, then the container is assumed to be counterfeit or from a competitor, and the apparatus Will not operate with that specific container.

In the case of drink dispensing apparatus 10 which can accommodate multiple containers 32, separate mixing means, comparison means, and predetermined target light-absorption values are provided for each container 32, and the control means operates the mixing means and comparison means independently of each other and based on the specific predetermined target light-absorption value.

The user interfce can be via a keypad, one or more rotary dials, or one or more push buttons on the exterior of the apparatus, for example, the door. A graphical representation, such as LED or LCD, of the set predetermined target light-absorption value can be provided.

It has been determined that the light absorption of diluted juice mixture or any liquid drink mixture varies widely, depending upon the concentrate used. For example, a diluted apple juice mixture has a relatively high transparency and therefore relatively low light absorption, and a diluted orange juice mixture has a low transparency and therefore relatively high light absorption.

To provide for this, in a second embodiment of the present invention, the control means controls the light emitting device 66 of the comparison means to provide at least two different levels of light energy output, unlike in the first embodiment in which only a single constant level of light energy can be output from the light emitting device 66.

Although at least two levels of light energy output are suggested, the light energy output can be infinitely variable over a range, depending on the specific concentrate.

The manufacturer provides, on the electronic data carrier of the container 32, information concerning the required level of light energy to be output from the light emitting device 66. This is read by the data transfer means 84, when the container 32 is inserted into the apparatus housing 12, and the control means thus controls the light emitting device 66 accordingly.

In the event that a refillable container 32 is provided without a data carrier, then the owner or operator of the apparatus is required to enter, via the user interface, the level of light energy output required for the specified container 32.

Although not specifically described above, the control means controls the compressor 20 as required and in a standard known manner, and the chilling unit 24, based on the thermostat, so that the or each container 32 is maintained at a predefined temperature.

The apparatus can include height-adjustable and/or removable legs 88 to space the housing 12 from a supporting surface. This is required in some jurisdictions to meet

sanitation specifications.

The door 14 and/or one or more sides of the apparatus housing 12 can include one or more slots to receive graphical display material and/or advertising. As such, the door 14 and/or one or more sides can also include means for illuminating the display material and/or advertising, such as back-lighting or side-lighting, via LED or other light emitting device.

By use of the disposable BIB container 132 with electronic data carrier, the manufacturer of the concentrate can ensure that the ratio of concentrate to water is accurately controlled to the manufacturer's suggested light-absorption value, which corresponds directly to the manufacturer's desired BRIX value. As such, the dispensed drink has a BRIX value which accurately corresponds to the manufacturer's suggested BRIX value. This dispenses with the frequent requirement of a service engineer,and enables the owner or operator of the drink dispensing apparatus 10 to easily and quickly replace the container 132. Since the comparison means, control means and mixing means all operate automatically in conjunction with the set predetermined target light-absorption value, the owner or operator of the apparatus does not have to spend time setting up and testing the diluted juice mixture being dispensed following the insertion of a new container 132.

Although it is preferable that a sealed container 32 with embedded electronic data carrier is utilised to reduce the possibility of the dispensed liquid drink mixture having an incorrect concentrate to water ratio, and therefore a BRIX value which is markedly different to that suggested by the manufcturer, the ability to also utilise a refillable container 32 without a data carrier increases the functionality of the apparatus, whilst also allowing automatic setup and regulation of the concentrate to water ratio via a user inputted predetermined target light-absorption value.

All parts of the apparatus which come into contact regularly with the concentrate, water, and the liquid drink mixture can be removed from the apparatus housing 12 and washed, for example in a dishwasher. As mentioned above, the needle valve device 42 can be separated from the stepper motor 40, needle valve arm 52 and the return arm 54, the mixing conduit 56 can be separated from the needle valve device 42, and the measurement chamber 64 can be separated from the mixing conduit 56.

Each item can thus be hygienically washed and sterilised, ready for re-use. Again, this reduces the requirement for a service engineer.

Although provided externally of the measurement chamber 64, the light emitting device 66 and/or the light receiving device 68 can be provided as part of and/or within the measurement chamber 64.

It is also possible to utilise a BIB container without a data carrier, to increase the functionality of the apparatus. This still allows automatic setup and regulation of the concentrate to water ratio, but via a user inputted predetenrnned target light-absorption value.

It is envisaged that the drinks dispensing apparatus can be configured to only accept either one or more BIB containers or one or more refillable containers, instead of both kinds of container. This can be accomplished by simply configuring the software of the control means to operate based on the, preferably enctypted, data provided on or in the container.

Although the reconstitution of a juice, such as obtained from apple, orange, grapefruit, mango, peach, apricot, pear, grape, and so on, by the dilution of a juice concentrate with water is generally described above, any other suitable liquid drink concentrate can be used, such as tea, ice tea, coffee, ice coffee, fruit drinks, nectars, and soda concentrate, such as cola or other soda syrups.

Although the light-absorption value calibration routine is described as utilising only water, it is envisaged that the light-absorption value calibration routine can use only air instead of water. In this case, no liquid flows through the measurement chamber during the light-absorption value calibration routine. This being the case, the control means only needs to compensate for the flushing routine.

Furthermore, although the user interface enables setting of one or more portion sizes of the dispensed drink, the user interface can also allow a free flow' option to be set, whereby the liquid drink mixture is continuously dispensed all the time the operation button or other operating mechanism is operated by the user.

Although the apparatus is connected to a mains water inlet, any suitable water supply, such as a standalone exterior or interior water container, can be utilised.

Furthermore, a carbonator device can be provided in-line to provide a supply of carbonated water to the water inlet of the mixing conduit.

The use of a venturi is suggested for drawing a portion of the liquid drink concentrate from the container and supplying the drawn portion to the mixing conduit.

However, any suitable means for drawing the liquid drink concentrate can be utilised, for example, an electrically operated pump, or even gravity.

Although the apparatus described above is a single, integral standalone unit, the parts or elements of the apparatus form a drink dispensing system and as such can be remote from each other and not housed within a single housing or support structure. For example, a bank of concentrate containers can be provided at a first location, feeding mixing means and comparison means at a second location, with the drink dispensing outlet being in a third location, in fluid communication but remote from the first and second locations. This is particularly relevant to the provision of drinks in a bar or restaurant situation, where the concentrate containers are frequently kept out of sight of the patrons.

Preferably, a needle valve is suggested for use in the mixing means. However, any suitable valve can be utilised.

Although the comparison means determines a light-absorption value, a light- transmission value or a BRIX value can be determined. In this case, the light-transmission value is typically determined in a similar manner to the light-absorption value. The BR1X value can be determined, typically either via software processing following outputs from the light-absorption or light-transmission determining circuitry, or by the use of refractometer circuitry. In these cases, the determined light-transmission value or the determined BRJX value is compared with a respective predetermined target light-transmission value or predetermined target BRIX value, typically provided by the manufacturer of the concentrate, as described above. In both cases, the light-transmission value and the BRJX value will be moderated based on the calibration routine and the flushing process. As will be understood, in the case of measurement of light-transmission, instead of light-absorption, a baseline light-transmission value is determined in the calibration routine. Similarly, in the case of measurement of BRIX, a baseline BRIX value is determined in the calibration routine.

The embodiments described above are given by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. For example, the mixing conduit can be a mixing chamber or mixing housing; and the measurement chamber similarly can have different dimensions, and thus may thus be considered a measurement conduit or measurement housing.

Claims

CLAIMS

I. Drink dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid drink mixture, the apparatus comprising: a drink dispensing outlet for dispensing a liquid drink mixture into a user's receptacle; a water inlet; support means for supporting a concentrate container of liquid drink concentrate; mixing means for mixing a portion of liquid drink concentrate from the concentrate container with water from the water inlet to form the liquid drink mixture; comparison means for deriving a light-absorption or light-transmission or BRJX value of the said liquid drink mixture prior to discharge from the drink dispensing outlet and for comparing the derived value with a predetermined target light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value for the liquid drink mixture; and control means for controlling the mixing means, dependent on the difference between the derived value and the predetermined target value, to alter a ratio of liquid drink concentrate to water, whereby the derived value of the liquid drink mixture matches or approaches the predetermined target value, so that the dispensed liquid drink mixture has a BRIX value which matches or approaches a or the predetermined target BRIX value.

2. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support means includes a housing on or in which the concentrate container can be removably positioned.

3. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein the mixing means includes a motor-operable valve device through which the liquid drink concentrate passes from the container.

4. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing means includes a mixing conduit having a first water port for the discharge of water from the water inlet, and a second concentrate port for the discharge of liquid drink concentrate, the first water port and the second concentrate port forming a venturi by which, in use, the liquid drink concentrate is drawn into the mixing conduit.

5. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the comparison means includes a measurement chamber, a light emitting device for emitting a beam of light into the liquid drink mixture, when the liquid drink mixture is in the measurement chamber, a light receiving device which can receive light emitted by the light emitting device, and light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX determining circuitry or logic for comparing light emitted by the light emitting device with light received by the light receiving device to determine the light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value of the liquid drink mixture.

6. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the comparison means operates periodically during discharge of the liquid drink mixture from the drink dispensing outlet.

7. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the light energy outputable by the light emitting device is controllable by the control means depending on the liquid drink concentrate.

8. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light energy outputable by the light emitting device is infinitely variably controllable between a predetermined minimum and maximum.

9. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the comparison means includes comparator circuitry or logic which periodically compares the derived value with the predetermined target value, and which outputs this to the control means for controlling the mixing means accordingly.

10. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said predetermined target value is manually settable by a user.

11. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising data transfer means for transferring data electronically between the liquid drink concentrate container and the control means.

12. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said predetermined target value for the liquid drink mixture is solely settable by data carried by the liquid drink concentrate container.

13. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the predetermined target value is set only when the container is supported by the support means.

14. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the control means includes means for determining an amount of liquid drink concentrate discharged from the container, and the data transferable to the container by the data transfer means includes the said discharged amount.

15. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means includes means for calibrating the comparison means by controlling the water inlet to in use provide only water to the comparison means before the mixing means discharges liquid drink concentrate, so that an initial baseline light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value is obtainable, the baseline value being used to calibrate the comparison means.

16. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means includes means for calibrating the comparison means by using only air with the comparison means before the mixing means discharges liquid drink concentrate, so that an initial baseline light-absorption or light-transmission or BRJX value is obtainable, the baseline value being used to calibrate the comparison means.

17. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means includes means for flushing remaining liquid drink mixture by controlling the water inlet to in use provide only water from the drink dispensing outlet to flush remaining liquid drink mixture through the drink dispensing outlet.

18. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the control means includes further control circuitry or control logic for controlling the mixing means to increase the ratio of liquid drink concentrate to water to compensate for the calibration means and/or the flushing means.

19. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a container of liquid drink concentrate, the liquid drink concentrate including data storage means for electronically storing data relating to the liquid drink concentrate held in the container.

20. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means includes memory for pre-setting the mixing means to a prior ratio of concentrate and water.

21. Drink dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of regulating a ratio of liquid drink concentrate and water in a drink dispensing system, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a supply of liquid drink concentrate and water to the drink dispensing system; b) mixing a portion of the liquid drink concentrate and the water in the drink dispensing system to form a liquid drink mixture; c) deriving a light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value of the said liquid drink mixture prior to discharge from a drink dispensing outlet of the drink dispensing system; d) comparing the derived value with a predetermined light-absorption or light-transmission or BRIX value for the liquid drink mixture; and e) controlling a ratio of liquid drink concentrate and water, dependent on the difference between the derived value and the predetermined target value, so that the derived value of the liquid drink mixture matches or approaches the predetermined target value, whereby the dispensed liquid drink mixture has a BRIX value which matches or approaches a or the predetermined target BRIX value.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 using drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21.