CN118475533A - Beverage dispensing system with automatic mixing - Google Patents

Abstract

A beverage dispensing system configured to automatically mix a beverage in response to user input. The beverage dispensing system includes a liquid container, a gas container, a regulator, a condiment container, and a beverage container in selective fluid communication with the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, the beverage container configured to mix liquid, gas, and condiment into the beverage from the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, respectively. The beverage dispensing system also includes a controller configured to automatically control the flow of the liquid, the gas, and the condiment to the beverage container in response to the user input, and an outlet configured to selectively dispense the beverage. The regulator is configured to regulate gas from the gas container to each of the liquid container, the condiment container, and the beverage container under a pressure.

Description

Beverage dispensing system with automatic mixing

Technical Field

Embodiments described herein generally relate to beverage dispensing. Specifically, embodiments described herein relate to beverage dispensing systems with automatic mixing.

Background Art

Beverages may be provided to consumers from, for example, a retail refrigerator or beverage dispensing system. Retail refrigerators may be deployed in a variety of scenarios, but may incentivize wasteful container packaging. Some beverage dispensing systems include complex machines with resource requirements, which inhibits the application of beverage dispensing systems in some environments.

Summary of the invention

Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing system configured to automatically mix a beverage in response to a user input. The beverage dispensing system includes: a liquid container configured to hold a liquid; and a gas container configured to hold a gas; a regulator connected to an opening of the gas container, the regulator configured to regulate the flow of gas from the gas container so that the gas is supplied from the regulator under a certain pressure. The beverage dispensing system also includes a condiment container and a beverage container, the condiment container being configured to hold a condiment, the beverage container selectively being in fluid communication with the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, the beverage container being configured to receive liquid, gas, and condiment from the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, respectively. The beverage dispensing system also includes a controller and an outlet, the controller being configured to automatically control the flow of liquid, gas, and condiment to the beverage container in response to the user input to mix the liquid, the gas, and the condiment into a beverage, the outlet being configured to selectively dispense the beverage. The regulator is connected to each of the liquid container, the condiment container, and the beverage container, and is configured to regulate gas from the gas container to each of the liquid container, the condiment container, and the beverage container at the certain pressure.

Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing system configured to automatically mix beverages in response to user input. The beverage dispensing system includes: a liquid container configured to hold a liquid; a gas container configured to hold a gas; a condiment container configured to hold a condiment; and a beverage container selectively in fluid communication with the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, the beverage container being configured to receive liquid, gas, and condiments from the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, respectively. The beverage dispensing system also includes a controller configured to automatically control the flow of liquid, gas, and condiments to the beverage container in response to user input to mix the liquid, the gas, and the condiments into the beverage. The beverage dispensing system also includes an outlet and a cooler configured to selectively dispense the beverage, the cooler being interposed between the liquid container and the beverage container. The cooler includes a passive radiator that does not directly consume power, and is configured to cool the liquid flowing from the liquid container to the beverage container to a certain temperature.

Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispensing system configured to automatically mix a beverage in response to user input. The beverage dispensing system includes: a liquid container configured to contain a liquid; a gas container configured to contain a gas; a condiment container configured to contain a condiment; and a beverage container selectively in fluid communication with the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, the beverage container being configured to receive liquid, gas, and condiment from the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, respectively. The beverage dispensing system also includes a first valve, the first valve is inserted between the fluid container and the beverage container, the first valve is configured to selectively control the flow of liquid from the fluid container to the beverage container; a second valve, the second valve is inserted between the gas container and the beverage container, the second valve is configured to selectively control the flow of gas from the gas container to the beverage container; a third valve, the third valve is inserted between the condiment container and the beverage container, the third valve is configured to selectively control the flow of condiments from the condiment container to the beverage container; and an outlet, the outlet is configured to selectively dispense beverages. The beverage dispensing system also includes a controller, the controller is operably connected to the first valve, the second valve and the third valve. The controller includes a computer with a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium includes instructions, which are executed by the computer in response to the user input to cause the computer to open and close the first valve, the second valve and the third valve to automatically mix the beverage in the beverage container. The beverage container includes a transparent material that allows a user to observe the mixing of liquid, gas and condiments into the beverage.

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a beverage dispensing system configured to automatically mix a beverage in response to user input. The beverage dispensing system includes: a liquid container configured to contain a liquid; a gas container configured to contain a gas; a condiment container configured to contain a condiment; a beverage container selectively in fluid communication with the liquid container and the gas container, the beverage container being configured to receive liquid and gas from the liquid container and the gas container, respectively; and an outlet fluidly connected to the beverage container and the condiment container, the outlet being configured to selectively dispense a beverage. The beverage dispensing system also includes: a first valve, the first valve is inserted between the fluid container and the beverage container, the first valve is configured to selectively control the flow of liquid from the fluid container to the beverage container; a second valve, the second valve is inserted between the gas container and the beverage container, the second valve is configured to selectively control the flow of gas from the gas container to the beverage container; a third valve, the third valve is inserted between the condiment container and the outlet, the third valve is configured to selectively control the flow of condiments from the condiment container to the outlet; and a controller, the controller is operably connected to the first valve, the second valve and the third valve. The controller includes a computer with a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions, which are executed by the computer in response to the user input to cause the computer to open and close the first valve, the second valve and the third valve to automatically mix the liquid and gas in the beverage container, and automatically dispense the mixture of liquid and gas and condiments through the outlet. The beverage container includes a transparent material, which allows a user to observe the mixing of the liquid and gas in the beverage container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure and to enable those skilled in the relevant art to make and use the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

2 illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

3 illustrates a rear perspective view of an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

4 illustrates a top perspective view of an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

5 illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

FIG. 7 illustrates a first step in an exemplary automatic beverage mixing process using an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

FIG. 8 illustrates a second step of an exemplary automatic beverage mixing process using an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

FIG. 9 illustrates a third step of an exemplary automatic beverage mixing process using an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

FIG. 10 illustrates a fourth step of an exemplary automatic beverage mixing process using an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

FIG. 11 illustrates a fifth step of an exemplary automatic beverage mixing process using an exemplary beverage dispensing system.

12 shows a schematic diagram of an example computer of an example beverage dispensing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the representative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to a preferred embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover substitutions, modifications and equivalent forms that may be included in the spirit and scope of the embodiments defined by the claims.

Beverages can be provided to consumers in a variety of ways. For example, retail refrigerators (e.g., vending machines) can provide bottled frozen pre-mixed beverages. Retail refrigerators are advantageous because, for example, they can be economically deployed in different retail scenarios such as kiosks, small stores, large stores, etc. to reach a large number of consumers. In addition, the beverages are of high quality because the ingredients and production can be controlled by the beverage manufacturer. However, manufacturing bottles for retail refrigerators consumes materials, such as plastics and metals, which can be wasteful. In addition, retail refrigerators can include energy-intensive active cooling, which can be expensive and can hinder the use of retail refrigerators in places where electricity is unreliable and/or unaffordable.

Beverages may also be provided to consumers from a beverage dispensing system that may automatically mix and dispense one or more beverages on demand (i.e., in response to user input, such as pressing a button or squeezing a lever). Beverage dispensing systems may be advantageous because, for example, they may have a smaller footprint than a retail refrigerator and may reduce consumption of bottles (e.g., plastic).

But some beverage dispensing systems may include complex machinery that may be expensive to manufacture and maintain. Some beverage dispensing systems may also be energy intensive, which may make operating costs high and may hinder their use in locations where electricity is unreliable and/or unaffordable. Some beverage dispensing systems may also rely on local water sources to mix beverages and/or clean the beverage dispensing system, which may compromise beverage quality.

Embodiments discussed herein relate to beverage dispensing systems, which can utilize a limited number of moving parts to automatically mix and dispense one or more beverages on demand, which can reduce the cost associated with manufacturing and producing beverage dispensing systems. Beverage dispensing systems can include transparent beverage containers, which can allow consumers to observe beverage mixing processes to promote consumer participation. Beverage dispensing systems can supply beverage ingredients (e.g., water, carbon dioxide, and syrup) in a closed loop mode to improve beverage quality. Beverage dispensing systems can include a cooler with an insulated compartment that accommodates a passive radiator (e.g., ice). Beverage dispensing systems with such coolers can provide frozen beverages in places where electricity is unreliable and/or unaffordable. Structures such as beverage ingredient containers, supply lines, accessories, coolers, etc. of beverage dispensing systems can be highly accessible, which helps to clean, supplement, and/or replace such structures.

As discussed above, the beverage dispensing system can supply beverage ingredients in a closed loop manner. That is, beverage quality structures such as beverage containers, ingredient containers (e.g., liquid containers, gas containers, condiment containers), supply lines, etc. that come into contact with the beverage ingredients can be kept separate from other structures of the beverage dispensing system that do not come into contact with the beverage ingredients, such as electromechanical components.

When beverage ingredients are mixed to form a beverage, the beverage container can hold the beverage ingredients. Since the beverage container can be transparent, the consumer can observe the beverage mixing process to promote the consumer's participation in the beverage dispensing system. The beverage container can be fluidly connected to the ingredient container and can selectively receive ingredients from the ingredient container. In an embodiment, the beverage dispensing system may include a single beverage container for a single beverage. Alternatively, the beverage dispensing system may include two or more beverage containers for two or more beverages. In an embodiment, the beverage container may be tubular and may have two lids that are respectively arranged at the top and bottom of the tubular. The beverage container may be airtight and may include an outlet that may include a valve (e.g., manual or solenoid) for dispensing beverages at the bottom.

The embodiment of the beverage dispensing system can include a liquid container, which can supply liquid, such as water, to the beverage container. In this specification, the terms liquid and water can be used interchangeably. In addition, in an embodiment, the term liquid or water can include water or other consumable liquids, such as milk, juice, wine, etc. The liquid container can be a sealed pressurized container, such as a keg. The liquid container can be filled with water under the guidance of a beverage manufacturer to improve the quality of the beverage. The liquid container can be interchangeable, to facilitate the supplementation and/or maintenance of the beverage dispensing system. In addition, because the liquid container can be pressurized, water can flow through the beverage dispensing system without the need for active pumping. The liquid container can be fluidically connected to a gas container, which can pressurize the liquid container. Additionally or alternatively, the beverage dispensing system can include a pump, which can pump water to the entire beverage dispensing system.

The embodiment of the beverage dispensing system may include a condiment container, which can supply condiments, such as syrup, to the beverage container. In this specification, the terms condiments and syrup can be used interchangeably. In addition, in an embodiment, the term condiments or syrups can include any material (with or without condiments) that can be added to the liquid of a given beverage, including syrups, concentrates, vitamins, proteins, nutrients, etc. The condiment container can be a sealed pressurized container, such as a bottle. The condiment container can be filled with condiments under the guidance of a beverage manufacturer to improve the quality of the beverage. The condiment container can be interchangeable, to facilitate the supplementation and/or maintenance of the beverage dispensing system. In addition, because the condiment container can be pressurized, condiments can flow through the beverage dispensing system without the need for active pumping. The condiment container can be fluidically connected to a gas container, which can pressurize the condiment container. Additionally or alternatively, the beverage dispensing system can include a pump, which can pump condiments to the entire beverage dispensing system.

As discussed above, the embodiment of the beverage dispensing system may include a gas container, which can supply gas, such as carbon dioxide, to the beverage dispensing system. In this specification, the terms gas and carbon dioxide can be used interchangeably. In addition, in an embodiment, the term gas or carbon dioxide can include any consumable gas that can be added to the liquid of a given beverage, including, for example, nitrogen. The gas container can be a sealed pressurized container, such as a can. The gas container can be filled with gas under the guidance of a beverage manufacturer to improve the quality of the beverage. The gas container can be interchangeable, to facilitate the supplementation and/or maintenance of the beverage dispensing system. In addition, because the gas container can be pressurized, the gas can flow through the beverage dispensing system without active compression. The gas container can include a regulator to regulate the pressure of the gas discharged from the gas container. The same gas container with a regulator can be fluidically connected to a liquid container, a condiment container and/or a beverage container, and can supply gas to the liquid container, the condiment container and/or the beverage container with the same regulating pressure. This can simplify the production and maintenance of the beverage dispensing system, and can reduce the cost of the beverage dispensing system.

Embodiments of the beverage dispensing system may include a cooler capable of cooling water from a liquid container. For example, the cooler may be an insulated container with an insulated lid that contains a passive heat sink, such as ice. The insulated lid may be opened and ice may be loaded into the insulated container. The insulated lid may be closed after loading the ice, and the insulated container may be sealed to limit heat transfer with the environment surrounding the insulated container. A liquid supply line, which may include a stainless steel coil, may be disposed at the bottom of the insulated container below the ice to cool water flowing through the liquid supply line. The liquid supply line may have a surface area exposed to the interior of the insulated container that is large enough to allow the ice to cool the water to below 4°C.

Embodiments of the beverage dispensing system may include a housing. The housing may accommodate various structures of the beverage dispensing system, including, for example, beverage containers, gas containers, condiment containers, coolers, controllers, drip trays, etc. The structures within the housing may be arranged in an accessible manner so that the structures may be easily repaired, replenished, replaced, etc. The housing may include cutouts so that the level of ingredients in, for example, a transparent condiment container may be visually observed and monitored. The housing may also include markings such as logos, trademarks, etc., to indicate, for example, the type of beverage available and/or to indicate the identity of a beverage manufacturer.

Embodiments of the beverage dispensing system may include a controller that can automatically control beverage mixing in response to user input. The controller can automatically control beverage mixing using time-based logic and open and close the valves of the beverage dispensing system in a specific order within a specific time. For example, a user can start the automatic mixing of a beverage by pressing a button. After the user presses the button, the controller can open a valve mounted to a liquid supply line to supply water from a pressurized liquid container, which can be cooled by a cooler between the liquid container and the beverage container. The controller can open a valve mounted to a liquid supply line for a period of time based on the flow rate of the water to control the amount of water supplied to the beverage container (e.g., to about two-thirds of the capacity of the beverage container).

Once a controlled amount of water is supplied to the beverage container, the controller can close the valve installed to the liquid supply line to stop the flow of water to the beverage container. The controller can then open the valve installed to the gas supply line to supply carbon dioxide to the beverage container from the regulated gas container under regulated pressure. When carbon dioxide passes through the water in the beverage container, the controller can open the valve installed to the condiment supply line to supply condiments from the pressurized condiment container to the beverage container. The controller can open the valve installed to the condiment supply line for a period of time based on the flow rate of the condiment to control the amount of condiments added to the water in the beverage container (e.g., to reach a ratio of 1:5 condiments to water). After the controlled amount of condiments is supplied to the beverage container, the controller can close the valve installed to the condiment supply line. For example, after the valve installed to the condiment supply line is closed, the controller can close the valve installed to the gas supply line to stop the flow of carbon dioxide to the beverage container. Based on the flow rate of carbon dioxide, the controller can close the valve installed to the gas supply line after a period of time to control the amount of carbon dioxide supplied to the beverage container. The beverage may then be dispensed from the outlet of the beverage container, for example by opening the valve manually or automatically by a controller.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to Figures 1 to 10. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the specific embodiments given herein with respect to these figures are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary or clear from the context, similar structural features and relationships of any disclosed beverage dispensing system can be applied to any other disclosed beverage dispensing system.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary beverage dispensing system 100, which can automatically mix beverages in response to user input (such as, for example, pressing a button). The beverage dispensing system 100 may include a liquid container 102 (e.g., a keg with a capacity of, for example, 10L or 20L), which can contain a liquid, such as water. The beverage dispensing system 100 may include a gas container 104 (e.g., a 60L tank), which can contain a gas, such as carbon dioxide, and may include a regulator 106, which can regulate the flow of gas from the gas container so that the gas is supplied from the regulator at a certain pressure. The beverage dispensing system 100 may include a condiment container 108 (e.g., a 0.5L bottle), which is configured to contain condiments, such as syrup. The beverage dispensing system 100 may include a beverage container 110, which is selectively connected to the liquid container 102, the gas container 104, and the condiment container 108 fluid. The beverage container 110 can be airtight and can receive liquid, gas and condiments from the liquid container 102, the gas container 104 and the condiment container 108 to form a beverage. In an embodiment, the beverage container 110 can include a transparent material that allows a user to observe the mixing of liquid, gas and condiments into the beverage in the beverage container 110. This can allow consumers to observe the beverage mixing process to promote consumer participation in the beverage dispensing system 100. In an embodiment, the beverage container 110 can be tubular and can have two lids disposed at the top and bottom of the tubular shape, respectively. The beverage dispensing system 100 can include an outlet 112 that can selectively dispense beverages from the beverage container 110. The beverage dispensing system 100 can include a controller 114 that can automatically control the flow of liquid, gas and condiments to the beverage container 110 in response to user input to mix the liquid, gas and condiments into the beverage.

The regulator 106 can be fluidly connected to each of the liquid container 102, the condiment container 108, and the beverage container 110, and can regulate the pressure of the gas supplied from the gas container 104 to the liquid container 102, the condiment container 108, and/or the beverage container 110. The regulator 106 can simplify the operation of the beverage dispensing system 100 by performing multiple functions, which can reduce the number of moving parts in the beverage dispensing system 100 and reduce the costs associated with manufacturing and maintenance. For example, the regulator 106 can be fluidly connected to the liquid container 102 via a first gas supply line 116, fluidly connected to the condiment container 108 via a second gas supply line 118, and fluidly connected to the beverage container 110 via a third gas supply line 120. By supplying gas to the liquid container 102 and/or the condiment container 108 at a certain pressure, the regulator 106 can pressurize the liquid container 102 and/or the condiment container 108 to promote the flow of the corresponding liquid and/or condiment to the beverage container 110. As described below, by supplying gas to the beverage container 110 at a regulated pressure, the regulator 106 can supply gas at a regular flow rate, and the controller 114 can use the regular flow rate to supply a controlled amount of gas.

In an embodiment, the regulator 106 can regulate the pressure of the gas supplied to the liquid container 102 without intervening the control of the gas between the regulator 106 and the liquid container 102. Additionally or alternatively, the regulator 106 can regulate the pressure of the gas supplied to the condiment container 108 without intervening the control of the gas between the regulator 106 and the condiment container 108. This can simplify the beverage dispensing system 100 by limiting the number of moving parts.

In an embodiment, the beverage dispensing system 100 may include a cooler 122 that can cool the liquid supplied to the beverage container 110. For example, the cooler 122 may be interposed between the liquid container 102 and the beverage container 110 to cool the liquid flowing from the liquid container 102 to the beverage container 110 to a certain temperature. The cooler 122 may be an insulated compartment and may have an insulated cover that provides access to the interior of the insulated compartment. The beverage dispensing system 100 may include a liquid supply line 124 that supplies liquid from the liquid container 102 to the beverage container 110. The liquid supply line 124 may extend through the insulated compartment of the cooler 122, and the liquid flowing through the liquid supply line 124 may exchange heat with the cooler 122 through the liquid supply line 124 to cool the liquid. In an embodiment, the cooler 122 may include a passive radiator 123 that does not directly consume power, which may help the beverage dispensing system 100 provide frozen beverages in places where electricity is unreliable and/or unaffordable. The passive heat sink 123 may be, for example, ice or other cold material. Additionally or alternatively, the passive heat sink 123 may include a plate (eg, a metal plate) that may promote uniform heat transfer between the liquid supply line 124 and the passive heat sink 123 .

The cooler 122 can cool the liquid that enters the cooler 122 at a first temperature to a second temperature when the fluid leaves the cooler 122. The first temperature can be, for example, between 28°C and 35°C, and the second temperature can be, for example, below 4°C. In an embodiment, the liquid can be water that can flow through the liquid supply line 124 at a known flow rate. The liquid supply line 124 can have a surface area 125 (e.g., including a coil-shaped portion of the liquid supply line 124) exposed to the interior of the insulated compartment. The surface area 125 can be of a size sufficient to transfer heat from the water to a passive heat sink (e.g., ice) to cool the water to a second temperature when the water that enters the cooler 122 from the fluid container 102 at a first temperature and at a certain flow rate leaves the cooler 122 on the way to the beverage container 110. In an embodiment, the liquid supply line 124 can have an insulation layer between the outlet of the cooler 122 and the beverage container 110 to reduce heat transfer between the liquid in the liquid supply line 124 and the environment, thereby keeping the liquid cool.

The beverage dispensing system 100 may include one or more fittings for fluidly connecting various structures. For example, the beverage dispensing system 100 may include a first fitting 126 that fluidly connects the liquid supply line 124 to the beverage container 110 so that the liquid can flow from the liquid supply line 124 into the beverage container 110. The first fitting 126 may be disposed at the top or bottom of the container 110. The beverage dispensing system 100 may include a second fitting 128 that fluidly connects the third gas supply line 120 to the beverage container 110 so that the gas can flow from the third gas supply line 120 to the beverage container 110. The second fitting 128 may be disposed at the top or bottom of the beverage container 110. In an embodiment, the second fitting 128 is disposed at the top of the beverage container 110, and an extension line is disposed from the top to the bottom of the beverage container 110 so that the gas is supplied from the bottom of the beverage container 110. Supplying gas at the bottom of the beverage container 110 (e.g., using a second fitting 128 at the bottom of the beverage container 110 or via an extension line) can promote, for example, carbonation of the beverage by increasing exposure of the gas to the liquid in the beverage container 110. The beverage dispensing system 100 may include a third fitting 130 that fluidly connects a condiment supply line 132 to the beverage container 110 so that condiments can flow from the condiment supply line 132 to the beverage container 110. The third fitting 130 may be disposed at the top or bottom of the beverage container 110.

In an embodiment, the third fitting 130 is disposed at the bottom of the beverage container 110. Alternatively, the third fitting 130 can be disposed at the top of the beverage container 110, and an extension line can be disposed from the top to the bottom of the beverage container 110 so that the condiment is supplied from the bottom of the beverage container 110. Supplying the condiment at the bottom of the beverage container 110 (e.g., using the third fitting 130 at the bottom of the beverage container 110 or via an extension line) can facilitate mixing of the beverage, for example, by increasing exposure of the condiment to the liquid in the beverage container 110. The condiment supply line 132 can be fluidly connected to the condiment container 108, and can supply the condiment from the condiment container 108 to the beverage container 110.

Any or all of the first fitting 126, the second fitting 128, and the third fitting 130 may include a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve, respectively, which selectively open and close openings in the corresponding first fitting 126, the second fitting 128, and the third fitting 130 to selectively control the flow of fluid to the beverage container 110. For example, the first fitting 126 may include a first valve interposed between the fluid container 102 and the beverage container 110, the first valve being configured to selectively control the flow of liquid from the fluid container 102 to the beverage container 110. The second fitting 128 may include a second valve interposed between the gas container 104 and the beverage container 110, the second valve being configured to selectively control the flow of gas from the gas container 104 to the beverage container 110. The third fitting 130 may include a third valve interposed between the condiment container 108 and the beverage container 110, the third valve being configured to selectively control the flow of condiments from the condiment container 108 to the beverage container 110. The controller 114 may be operably connected to any valve of the first fitment 126 , the second fitment 128 , and the third fitment 130 , and may selectively open and close any of these valves in response to user input to automatically mix the beverage in the beverage container 110 .

In an embodiment, the outlet 112 may include a fourth valve that can be selectively opened and closed to dispense the beverage from the beverage container 110. The fourth valve may be operably connected to the controller 114, and the controller 114 may automatically open the fourth valve to dispense the beverage after the liquid, gas, and flavoring are mixed into the beverage in the beverage container 110. Additionally or alternatively, the fourth valve may be manually opened by a user (e.g., with a lever) to manually dispense the beverage from the beverage container 110.

The structures of the beverage dispensing system 100 can be housed together in a housing 134. The housing 134 can house, for example, the beverage container 110, the gas container 104, the condiment container 108, the cooler 122, the controller 114, a drip tray 136 located below the outlet 112 for collecting beverages dripping from the outlet 112, the outlet 112, the first fitting 126, the second fitting 128 and the third fitting 130, the liquid supply line 124, the regulator 106, the first gas supply line 116, the second gas supply line 118, the third gas supply line 120, the condiment supply line 132, etc. The structures of the beverage dispensing system 110 housed in the housing 134 can be arranged in an accessible manner so that these structures can be easily repaired, supplemented, replaced, etc. The housing 134 can also include markings such as logos, trademarks, etc. to indicate, for example, the type of beverage available and/or indicate the identity of the beverage manufacturer.

In an embodiment, any or all structures of the beverage dispensing system 100 that are in contact with the beverage ingredients may include a smooth inner surface that can be easily cleaned. Additionally or alternatively, any or all structures of the beverage dispensing system 100 that are in contact with the beverage ingredients may be periodically flushed with, for example, water and/or carbon dioxide for cleaning. Additionally or alternatively, any or all structures of the beverage dispensing system 100 that are in contact with the beverage ingredients between the container (i.e., the fluid container 102, the gas container 104, the condiment container 108, and the beverage container 110) and the outlet 112 may be arranged in a closed loop that is sealed to isolate the external environment to prevent unwanted substances from mixing with the beverage and/or contaminating the beverage.

In an embodiment, any or all of the liquid container 102, the gas container 104, and the condiment container 108 can be refilled and/or replaced by the beverage manufacturer. Therefore, the beverage manufacturer can maintain control over the beverage ingredients, and the beverage dispensing system 100 can produce high-quality beverages.

In an embodiment, the beverage dispensing system 100 may include a single beverage container 110 and a single condiment container 108 for producing a single beverage. Alternatively, the beverage dispensing system 100 may include more than one beverage container 110, each associated with a condiment container 108, for producing multiple beverages in each corresponding beverage container 100. For example, the beverage dispensing system 100 may include two beverage containers 110 and two condiment containers 108, each beverage container 110 being associated with one of the two condiment containers 108, such that the beverage dispensing system 100 can dispense multiple beverages, with each beverage container 110 dispensing one beverage.

2-4 illustrate perspective views of an exemplary beverage dispensing system 100. In an embodiment, the housing 134 can be disposed on a countertop 138. The liquid supply 102 can be disposed on a floor 140 adjacent the countertop 138. The housing can include a cutout 142 so that the level of ingredients in, for example, a transparent condiment container 108 can be visually observed and monitored. As shown in FIG. 3 , the housing 134 can include an access panel 144 (e.g., at the rear of the housing 134) to provide access to the structure of the beverage dispensing system 100.

4, cooler 122 may include an insulated cover 146 and an insulated container 148. Insulated cover 146 may seal insulated container 148 and selectively provide access to the insulated container, such as for refilling ice insulated container 148. Surface area 125 of liquid supply line 124 may include a coil shape disposed at the bottom of insulated container 148 to provide increased surface area relative to a straight supply line.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a beverage dispensing system 100. In this embodiment, there is a single beverage container 110, wherein an outlet 112 is positioned adjacent to the beverage container 100 so that both the beverage container 110 and the outlet 112 are aligned horizontally. A drip tray 136 is located directly below the beverage container 110 and the outlet 112 to collect droplets from the outlet 110. In this embodiment, the outlet 112 is an automatic version that does not require user control (e.g., by a rod) to dispense beverages. As discussed above, a controller 114 controls the dispensing of beverages from the outlet 112. The remaining elements present in FIG. 5 are identical to those discussed above with respect to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.

Fig. 7 to Fig. 11 respectively illustrate the steps of the exemplary automatic beverage mixing process using the exemplary beverage dispensing system 100. For this exemplary automatic beverage mixing process, the beverage is composed of water, carbon dioxide and syrup. But the exemplary automatic beverage mixing process can include the mixing of any fluid, gas and condiments discussed herein. This process can start from the first step, as shown in Fig. 7, in this first step, the user can select the beverage to input controller 114. For example, controller 114 can include user interface 115, and this user interface can have buttons for each beverage that can be automatically mixed for beverage dispensing system 100. User input can include pressing a button to start the automatic mixing of the beverage associated with the button.

At the second step of the process, as shown in FIG8 , the controller 114 can control the supply of water to the beverage container 110. For example, the controller 114 can open the first valve in the first fitting 126 to control the flow of water from the liquid container 102 to the beverage container 110. The controller 114 can control the amount of water supplied to the beverage container 110 by, for example, opening the first valve in the first fitting 126 during a first time period. The first time period can be set based on the flow rate of water from the liquid container 102 to the beverage container 110 so that a controlled amount of water can be supplied to the beverage container 110. The controller 114 can open the first valve of the first fitting 126 during the first time period, and can close the first valve of the first fitting 126 after the first time period expires. Because the first time period can be set based on the flow rate of water, the controller 114 can control the amount of water supplied to the beverage container 110 (i.e., to a controlled amount). In an embodiment, the first fitting 126 can be disposed at the top of the beverage container 110 so that water can be supplied from the top of the beverage container 110. Alternatively, the first fitting 126 may be disposed at the bottom of the beverage container 110 , so that water may be supplied from the bottom of the beverage container 110 .

At the third step of the process, as shown in FIG. 9 , the controller 114 may control the supply of carbon dioxide to the beverage container 110. For example, the controller 114 may open the second valve in the second fitting 128 to control the flow of carbon dioxide from the gas container 104 to the beverage container 110. The controller 114 may control the amount of carbon dioxide supplied to the beverage container 110 by, for example, opening the second valve in the second fitting 128 during a second time period. The second time period may be set based on the flow rate of carbon dioxide from the gas container 104 to the beverage container 110 so that a controlled amount of carbon dioxide may be supplied to the beverage container 110. The controller 114 may open the second valve of the second fitting 128 during the second time period, and may close the second valve of the second fitting 128 after the expiration of the second time period. Because the second time period may be set based on the flow rate of carbon dioxide, the controller 114 may control the amount of carbon dioxide supplied to the beverage container 110 (i.e., to a controlled amount). In an embodiment, the second time period may begin after expiration of the first time period so that carbon dioxide flows into the beverage container 110 after all water has been supplied to the beverage container 110, which may improve carbonation of the beverage by increasing the amount of water exposed to the carbon dioxide.

In an embodiment, the second fitting 128 may be disposed at the bottom of the beverage container 110 so that carbon dioxide is dispensed from the bottom of the beverage container 110, or an extension line may be provided to supply carbon dioxide at the bottom of the beverage container 110. This arrangement may improve the carbonation of the beverage because carbon dioxide rises from the bottom to the top of the beverage container 110 through the water after being supplied to the beverage container 110, thereby maximizing exposure and dissolution of carbon dioxide in the water.

In an embodiment, the controller 114 may control the flow of gas at the certain pressure from the regulator 106 to the beverage container 110, but not control the flow of gas at the certain pressure from the regulator 106 to the liquid container 102. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 114 may control the flow of gas at the certain pressure from the regulator 106 to the beverage container 110, but not control the flow of gas at the certain pressure from the regulator 106 to the condiment container 108. Instead, the gas flows from the regulator 106 to the liquid container 102 and/or the condiment container 108 without active control, which can simplify the beverage dispensing system 100 by, for example, limiting the number of moving parts.

At the third step of the process, as shown in FIG. 10 , the controller 114 can control the supply of syrup to the beverage container 110. For example, the controller 114 can open the third valve in the third fitting 130 to control the flow of syrup from the condiment container 108 to the beverage container 110. The controller can control the amount of syrup supplied to the beverage container 110 by, for example, opening the third valve in the third fitting 130 during a third time period. The third time period can be set based on the flow rate of syrup from the condiment container 108 to the beverage container 110 so that a controlled amount of syrup can be supplied to the beverage container 110. The controller 114 can open the third valve of the third fitting 130 during the third time period, and can close the third valve of the third fitting 130 after the expiration of the third time period. Because the third time period can be set based on the flow rate of syrup, the controller 114 can control the amount of syrup supplied to the beverage container 110 (i.e., control to a controlled amount). In an embodiment, the controller 114 can open the third valve of the third fitting 130 after the expiration of the first time period and during the second time period. This arrangement may improve the mixing of the syrup in the water, as the supply of carbon dioxide in the water may agitate the water and improve the mixing of the syrup during the supply of the syrup.

At the fourth step of the process, as shown in FIG11 , the mixed beverage can be dispensed, for example, into a cup, from the outlet 112. In an embodiment, the user can manually open the fourth valve of the outlet 112 using, for example, a manual lever. Alternatively, the controller 114 can automatically open the fourth valve of the outlet 112 after the mixing of the beverage is completed (e.g., after the second time period expires).

The modified example of the automatic beverage mixing process is carried out in a similar manner to that just discussed above. However, in this exemplary process, instead of guiding the condiment from the condiment container 108 to the beverage container 110, the condiment is directly guided to the outlet 112. The controller 114 is configured to synchronize the flow of the condiment to the outlet 110 with the flow of the combined liquid and carbon dioxide from the beverage container 110. The condiment and the combined liquid and carbon dioxide meet at the outlet 112, which is configured to mix the condiment and the carbonated liquid when dispensed from the outlet 112. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing that the schematic diagram of FIG. 1 is modified to adapt to this exemplary process. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the pipeline 130 is directly guided to the nozzle 112, rather than being guided to the beverage container 110. The fitting 130 (and the corresponding third valve) is also moved to the outlet 112. The controller 114 can control the condiment flowing to the outlet 112 in the same manner as the condiment flowing to the beverage container 110 in the embodiment discussed above. In some embodiments of the modified process, the controller 114 is configured to supply gas to the beverage container 110 before supplying liquid to the beverage container 110. In this case, the first time period and the second time period discussed above regarding opening the first valve and the second valve can be reversed (i.e., the second valve controlling the flow of gas is opened first before the first valve controlling the flow of liquid). This can extend the mixing time of the gas and liquid and improve the final carbonation of the liquid.

As previously discussed, the beverage dispensing system 100 may include a controller 114. FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary computer 1000, aspects of which may be incorporated into an embodiment of the controller 114.

In an embodiment, the computer 1000 may be implemented as a computer readable code. If programmable logic is used, such logic may be executed on a commercially available processing platform or a dedicated device. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be practiced with a variety of computer configurations, including multi-core multi-processor systems, minicomputers and mainframe computers, computers linked or clustered with distributed functionality, and ordinary computers or microcomputers that may be embedded in almost any device.

For example, a memory and at least one processor device may be used to implement the above embodiments. The processor device may be a single processor, multiple processors, or a combination thereof. The processor device may have one or more processor "cores".

Various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented based on this exemplary computer 1000. After reading this specification, it will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant art how to use other computers or computer architectures to implement one or more of the present invention. Although operations may be described as sequential processes, some operations may actually be performed in parallel, simultaneously, or in a distributed environment, and program code may be stored locally or remotely for access by a single processor or multi-processor machine. In addition, in some embodiments, the order of operations may be rearranged without departing from the spirit of the disclosed subject matter.

Processor 1004 may be a dedicated processor or a general purpose processor device. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art, processor 1004 may also be a single processor in a multi-core/multi-processor system, such system operating alone, or in a cluster of computing devices operating in a cluster or server farm. Processor 1004 is connected to a communication infrastructure 1006, such as a bus, message queue, network, or multi-core message passing scheme.

The computer 1000 may include a main memory 1008, such as a random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory 1010. The secondary memory 1010 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 1012 or a removable storage drive 1014. The removable storage drive 1014 may include a floppy disk drive, a tape drive, an optical disk drive, a flash memory, a universal serial bus (USB) drive, etc. The removable storage drive 1014 reads from or writes to a removable storage unit 1018 in a well-known manner. The removable storage unit 1018 may include a floppy disk, a tape, an optical disk, etc., which can be read and written by the removable storage drive 1014. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art, the removable storage unit 1018 includes a computer-usable storage medium having computer software or data stored therein.

Computer 1000 may include a display interface 1002 (which may include input and output devices such as a keyboard, mouse, etc.) that forwards graphics, text, and other data from communications infrastructure 1006 (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on display unit 1030 .

In a particular implementation, the secondary memory 1010 may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into the computer 1000. Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit 1022 and an interface 1020. Examples of such devices may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM or PROM) and an associated socket, and other removable storage units 1022 and interfaces 1020 that allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit 1022 to the computer 1000.

The computer 1000 may also include a communication interface 1024. The communication interface 1024 allows software and data to be transferred between the computer 1000 and other devices, such as communication between the controller 114 and the valve of the beverage dispensing system 100, or communication between remote devices for initiating dispensing without directly contacting the dispenser. The communication interface 1024 may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communication port, a PCMCIA slot and card, etc. The software and data transmitted via the communication interface 1024 may be in the form of signals, which may be electrical signals, electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or other signals that can be received by the communication interface 1024. These signals may be provided to the communication interface 1024 via a communication path 1026. The communication path 1026 carries signals and may be implemented using wires or cables, optical fibers, telephone lines, cellular phone links, RF links, or other communication channels.

The computer 1000 may include non-transitory computer readable media, computer program media, computer usable media, and the like, such as a removable storage unit 1018, a removable storage unit 1022, and a hard disk installed in the hard disk drive 1012. Computer program media and computer usable media may also refer to memories, such as a main memory 1008 and an auxiliary memory 1010, which may be memory semiconductors (e.g., DRAM, etc.).

Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) or databases are stored in the main memory 1008 or the secondary memory 1010. Computer programs may also be received via the communication interface 1024. Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer 1000 to implement the embodiments as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor 1004 to implement the processes of the embodiments discussed herein. Thus, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer 1000. Where software is used to implement the embodiments, the software may be stored in a computer program product and may be loaded into the computer 1000 using the removable storage drive 1014, the interface 1020 and the hard disk drive 1012 or the communication interface 1024.

Embodiments of the present invention may also be directed to computer program products comprising software stored on any computer usable medium. When executed in one or more data processing devices, such software causes the data processing devices to operate as described herein. Embodiments of the present invention may employ any computer usable or readable medium. Examples of computer usable media include, but are not limited to, primary storage devices (e.g., any type of random access memory), secondary storage devices (e.g., hard drives, floppy disks, CD ROMs, ZIP disks, magnetic tapes, magnetic storage devices, and optical storage devices, MEMS, nanotechnology storage devices, etc.).

In an embodiment of a beverage dispensing system, the beverage dispensing system is configured to automatically mix a beverage in response to a user input, the beverage dispensing system comprising: a liquid container configured to contain a liquid; a gas container configured to contain a gas;

a condiment container configured to contain condiments; a beverage container selectively in fluid communication with the liquid container and the gas container, the beverage container configured to receive liquid and gas from the liquid container and the gas container, respectively; an outlet fluidly connected to the beverage container and the condiment container, the outlet configured to selectively dispense a beverage;

a first valve interposed between the fluid container and the beverage container, the first valve being configured to selectively control the flow of liquid from the fluid container to the beverage container; a second valve interposed between the gas container and the beverage container, the second valve being configured to selectively control the flow of gas from the gas container to the beverage container; a third valve interposed between the condiment container and the outlet, the third valve being configured to selectively control the flow of condiment from the condiment container to the outlet; and a controller operably connected to the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve, the controller comprising a computer having a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executed by the computer in response to the user input to cause the computer to open and close the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve to automatically mix the liquid and gas in the beverage container and automatically dispense the mixture of the liquid and gas and the condiment through the outlet, wherein the beverage container comprises a transparent material that allows a user to observe the mixing of the liquid and gas in the beverage container.

In another embodiment of the beverage dispensing system, the instructions executed by the computer cause the computer to open the second valve for a second time period to allow gas to flow from the gas container to the beverage container, and to close the second valve after expiration of the second time period.

In another embodiment of the beverage dispensing system, the instructions executed by the computer cause the computer to open the first valve within the first time period after the second time period expires to allow liquid to flow from the liquid container to the beverage container and mix with the gas in the beverage container, and to close the first valve after the first time period expires.

Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing system includes a fourth valve fluidly connected to the beverage container and the outlet and operably connected to the controller, wherein the instructions cause the computer to open the third valve for a third time period after expiration of the first time period and during the second time period to allow condiment to flow from the condiment container to the outlet, and wherein the instructions also cause the computer to open the fourth valve and the third valve simultaneously to allow a mixture of gas and liquid in the beverage container to flow to the outlet.

In another embodiment of the beverage dispensing system, the computer comprises a button providing an interface between the user and the computer, and the user input comprises pressing the button.

In another embodiment of the beverage dispensing system, the outlet is configured to mix the liquid and gas from the beverage container with the condiment from the condiment container to produce a beverage.

It should be understood that it is the detailed description section, rather than the summary section and the abstract section, that is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The summary section and the abstract section may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention contemplated by the inventors, and are therefore not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.

The above description of the specific embodiments will fully reveal the general nature of the present invention, so that others can easily modify or adjust such specific embodiments for various applications without departing from the general concept of the present invention by applying the knowledge of the technical field without excessive experimentation. Therefore, based on the teachings and guidance given herein, such adjustments and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and scope of the equivalent forms of the disclosed embodiments. It should be understood that the wording or terminology herein is for the purpose of description rather than limitation, so that the terms or wording of this specification should be interpreted by those skilled in the art according to the teachings and guidance herein.

References to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," etc. indicate that the described embodiment may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. In addition, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with an embodiment, it is considered that one skilled in the art will be able to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.

The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (21)

1. A beverage dispensing system configured to automatically mix a beverage in response to user input, the beverage dispensing system comprising:

A liquid container configured to hold a liquid;

a gas container configured to contain a gas;

A regulator connected to an opening of the gas container, the regulator configured to regulate a flow of gas from the gas container such that the gas is supplied from the regulator at a pressure,

A condiment container configured to hold a condiment;

a beverage container in selective fluid communication with the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, the beverage container configured to receive the liquid, the gas, and the condiment from the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, respectively;

A controller configured to automatically control the flow of the liquid, the gas, and the flavoring to the beverage container in response to the user input to mix the liquid, the gas, and the flavoring into the beverage; and

An outlet configured to selectively dispense the beverage,

Wherein the regulator is connected to each of the liquid container, the condiment container, and the beverage container and is configured to regulate the gas from the gas container to each of the liquid container, the condiment container, and the beverage container at the certain pressure.

2. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein

The controller controls the flow of the gas from the regulator to the beverage container at the certain pressure, but does not control the flow of the gas from the regulator to the liquid container at the certain pressure.

3. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the regulator is configured to regulate the gas supplied to the liquid container at the certain pressure without intervening in the control of the gas between the regulator and the liquid container.

4. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein

The controller controls the flow of the gas from the regulator to the beverage container at the certain pressure, but does not control the flow of the gas from the regulator to the condiment container at the certain pressure.

5. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the regulator is configured to supply the gas to the condiment container at the certain pressure without intervening in the control of the gas between the regulator and the condiment container.

6. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the beverage container comprises a transparent material that allows a user to observe mixing of the liquid, the gas, and the flavoring into the beverage.

7. A beverage dispensing system configured to automatically mix a beverage in response to user input, the beverage dispensing system comprising:

A liquid container configured to hold a liquid;

a gas container configured to contain a gas;

a condiment container configured to hold a condiment;

An outlet configured to selectively dispense the beverage;

A beverage container selectively in fluid communication with the liquid container and the gas container, the beverage container configured to receive the liquid and the gas from the liquid container and the gas container, respectively;

An outlet fluidly connected to the beverage container and fluidly connected to the condiment container, the outlet configured to selectively dispense the beverage;

a controller configured to automatically control the flow of the liquid and the gas to the beverage container in response to the user input and to automatically control the flow of the combined gas and liquid from the beverage container to the outlet and the flow of the condiment from the condiment container to the outlet to mix the liquid, the gas, and the condiment into the beverage.

8. The beverage dispensing system of claim 7, further comprising a cooler interposed between the liquid container and the beverage container, wherein the cooler comprises a passive heat sink that does not directly consume power and is configured to cool liquid flowing from the liquid container to the beverage container to a temperature.

9. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein the cooler includes an insulated compartment with an insulated cover providing access to an interior of the insulated compartment.

10. The beverage dispensing system of claim 9, further comprising a supply line connected to the liquid container and the beverage container, the supply line extending through the insulated compartment.

11. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 10, wherein the passive heat sink comprises ice filling the insulated compartment.

12. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 11, wherein the passive heat sink further comprises a metal plate in close proximity to the supply line.

13. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 11, wherein

The liquid is water flowing through the supply line at a flow rate, and

The supply line includes a surface area exposed to the interior of the insulated compartment, the surface area configured to transfer heat from the water to the ice to cool water flowing at the flow rate from the fluid container into the cooler at a first temperature to a second temperature as the water exits the cooler.

14. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 13, wherein the first temperature is between 28 ℃ and 35 ℃ and the second temperature is less than 4 ℃.

15. A beverage dispensing system configured to automatically mix a beverage in response to user input, the beverage dispensing system comprising:

A liquid container configured to hold a liquid;

a gas container configured to contain a gas;

a condiment container configured to hold a condiment;

a beverage container in selective fluid communication with the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, the beverage container configured to receive the liquid, the gas, and the condiment from the liquid container, the gas container, and the condiment container, respectively;

a first valve interposed between the fluid container and the beverage container, the first valve configured to selectively control the flow of the liquid from the fluid container to the beverage container;

A second valve interposed between the gas container and the beverage container, the second valve configured to selectively control the flow of the gas from the gas container to the beverage container;

a third valve interposed between the condiment container and the beverage container, the third valve configured to selectively control the flow of the condiment from the condiment container to the beverage container;

An outlet configured to selectively dispense the beverage; and

A controller operatively connected to the first, second and third valves, the controller comprising a computer having a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that are executed by the computer in response to the user input to cause the computer to open and close the first, second and third valves to automatically mix the beverage in the beverage container,

Wherein the beverage container comprises a transparent material that allows a user to view the mixture of the liquid, the gas, and the flavoring in the beverage container.

16. The beverage dispensing system of claim 15 wherein the instructions executed by the computer in response to the user input to cause the computer to open and close the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve to automatically mix the beverage in the beverage container cause the computer to open the first valve for a first period of time to flow the liquid from the fluid container to the beverage container, and to close the first valve after expiration of the first period of time.

17. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the instructions executed by the computer in response to the user input to cause the computer to open and close the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve to automatically mix the beverage in the beverage container cause the computer to open the second valve for a second period of time after expiration of the first period of time to cause the gas to flow from the gas container to the beverage container and mix with the liquid in the beverage container and to close the second valve after expiration of the second period of time.

18. The beverage dispensing system of claim 17 wherein the instructions executed by the computer in response to the user input to cause the computer to open and close the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve to automatically mix the beverage in the beverage container cause the computer to open the third valve after expiration of the first time period and during the second time period for a third time period to flow the condiment from the condiment container to the beverage container and mix with the liquid and the gas in the beverage container to form the beverage and to close the third valve after expiration of the third time period but before expiration of the second time period.

19. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 15, wherein the computer includes a button that provides an interface between the user and the computer, and the user input includes a depression of the button.

20. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 15, wherein the outlet includes a fourth valve operatively connected to the controller.

21. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 20, wherein the controller opens the fourth valve to dispense the beverage after the liquid, the gas, and the flavoring are mixed into the beverage.