The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 11, 2012
Filed:
May. 03, 2011
Richard John Nighy, Stratford Upon Avon, GB;
Richard John Nighy, Stratford Upon Avon, GB;
Imi Cornelius Inc., Glendale Heights, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for introducing a selected beverage into a flexible pouch, sealingly closing the pouchand dispensing the closed pouch. The apparatus comprises a housingadapted to, in use, accept a plurality of reservoirsof beverage concentrate. Each reservoirhas a concentrate pumpprovided with a diluent inlet and a mixer for mixing pumped concentrate with diluent to produce a mixed beverage. Leading from each pumpis flexible conduitterminating in a nozzlefor dispensing the mixed beverage. The apparatus further comprises a multiple dispense headfor accepting the plurality of nozzles, the nozzlesbeing movable relative to a filling position such that any one of the nozzlescan be presented at the filling position, a means for, in use, selecting a flexible pouchand bringing it into alignment with a nozzlein the filling position where it is filled via an opening therein, and a means for, in use, sealingly closing the opening and dispensing the filled sealed flexible pouchfrom the apparatus. Methods of loading a concentrate reservoirdisengaging a removable pumpand changing a removable pumpare also disclosed. A flexible pouch with rigid spout and mixing element are also disclosed.