IP Library Granted Patent US 12,060,256
Granted Patent B2
US 12,060,256 · App. 18/453,754 · Granted Aug 13, 2024

Liquid food dispenser system and method

Inventors: Timothy Peter Doelman (Glencoe, IL); Vincent A. Baxter (Temecula, CA)
Assignee: fairlife, LLC
B67D1/1277B65D47/242B65D47/244B67D1/0082B67D1/0462B67D1/0864B67D1/1245B67D1/1252B67D2001/0828B67D2210/0006B67D2210/00062
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,060,256
App. No.
18/453,754
Granted
Aug 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.

Claims (33)

1. A method of dispensing a liquid beverage, the method comprising:

providing a first container within a first chamber, the first container storing a first liquid product, wherein a first output of the first container is connected to a t-section;

providing a second container within a second chamber, the second container storing the first liquid product, wherein a second output of the second container is connected to the t-section;

providing a first set of pressures in the first chamber and the second chamber, the first set of pressures causing the first liquid product from the first container to flow from the first container without causing the first liquid product from the second container to flow from the second container;

after the providing the first set of pressures, providing a second set of pressures in the first chamber and the second chamber, the second set of pressures causing the first liquid product to flow from the first container and also to cause the first liquid product to flow from the second container; and

after the providing the second set of pressures, providing a third set of pressures in the first chamber and the second chamber, the third set of pressures causing the first liquid product to flow from the second container without causing the first liquid product to flow from the first container.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of pressures has a higher pressure in the first chamber than in the second chamber.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third set of pressures has a higher pressure in the second chamber than in the first chamber.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second set of pressures has a first pressure within the first chamber within about 0.05 psi to about 1.0 psi of a second pressure within the second chamber.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a combined flow rate of the first liquid product out of a nozzle connected to the t-section remains constant from the providing the first set of pressures, through the providing the second set of pressures, and through the providing the third set of pressures.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a time period between the providing the second set of pressures and the providing the third set of pressures is greater than one minute.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the second set of pressures occurs when the first container is almost empty.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the t-section has an output connected to a nozzle.

9. A method of dispensing a liquid beverage, the method comprising:

providing a first container within a first chamber, the first container storing a first liquid product, wherein a first output of the first container is connected to a t-section;

providing a second container within a second chamber, the second container storing the first liquid product, wherein a second output of the second container is connected to the t-section;

raising a first pressure in the first chamber above a second pressure in the second chamber, the raising the first pressure causing the first liquid product from the first container to flow from the first container without causing the first liquid product from the second container to flow from the second container;

modifying the first pressure and the second pressure a first time to cause the first liquid product to flow from the first container and also to cause the first liquid product to flow from the second container; and

modifying the first pressure and the second pressure a second time to cause the first liquid product to flow from the second container without causing the first liquid product to flow from the first container.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the first time raises the first pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the first time increases the second pressure to be within about 0.05 psi to about 1.0 psi of the first pressure.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a flow rate of the first liquid product out of a nozzle remains constant during the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the first time and during the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the second time.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein a time period between the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the first time and the modifying the first pressure and the second pressure the second time is greater than one minute.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first liquid product flows from the first container, through a first check-valve, to the t-section.

15. A method of dispensing a liquid beverage, the method comprising:

flowing a first liquid product out of a first container, through a first check-valve, and to a t-section without flowing the first liquid product out of a second container;

flowing the first liquid product out of the first container, through the first check-valve, and to the t-section while flowing the first liquid product out of the second container, through a second check-valve, and to the t-section; and

flowing the first liquid product out of the second container, through the second check-valve, and to the t-section without flowing the first liquid product out of the first container.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein during the method a flow rate of the first liquid product out of a nozzle connected to the t-section is constant.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the flowing the first liquid product out of the first container, through the first check-valve, and to the t-section without the flowing the first liquid product out of the second container is initiated by raising a first pressure within a first chamber, the first container being located within the first chamber.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the flowing the first liquid product out of the first container, through the first check-valve, and to the t-section while flowing the first liquid product out of the second container, through the second check-valve, and to the t-section is initiated by modifying the first pressure within the first chamber.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the modifying the first pressure increases the first pressure.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the flowing the first liquid product out of the second container, through the second check-valve, and to the t-section without flowing the first liquid product out of the first container is initiated at least in part by modifying a second pressure within a second chamber, the second container being located within the second chamber.

Continuity (11)
Division 17408891 · Aug 23, 2021
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Division 15894571 · Feb 12, 2018
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Division 13903658 · May 28, 2013
Division 13453996 · Apr 23, 2012
Division 12307723
Provisional Application 60912626 · Apr 18, 2007
Provisional Application 60819178 · Jul 7, 2006
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