US 12,312,229 B2
Automated dispensing system for customized beverages
Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Seattle, WA (US); Andrew Corlett, Issaquah, WA (US); Jonathan Levey, Kirkland, WA (US); and Brandon Michael Roberts, Snohomish, WA (US)
Assigned to Starbucks Corporation, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Starbucks Corporation, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Jul. 24, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/783,050.
Application 17/938,167 is a division of application No. 17/837,999, filed on Jun. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,535,504, issued on Dec. 27, 2022.
Application 18/783,050 is a continuation of application No. 17/938,167, filed on Oct. 5, 2022.
Application 17/837,999 is a continuation of application No. 17/248,210, filed on Jan. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,440,784, issued on Sep. 13, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/068,292, filed on Aug. 20, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/962,079, filed on Jan. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0375928 A1, Nov. 14, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B67D 1/00 (2006.01); B67D 1/08 (2006.01); B67D 1/10 (2006.01); G07F 13/02 (2006.01); G07F 13/06 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/0037 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0078 (2013.01); B67D 1/0882 (2013.01); B67D 1/0888 (2013.01); B67D 1/10 (2013.01); G07F 13/025 (2013.01); G07F 13/065 (2013.01); B67D 2001/0097 (2013.01); B67D 2210/00034 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beverage dispensing system comprising:
a dispensing unit comprising:
a housing;
a user interface;
a main controller;
a plurality of pump assemblies in the housing;
a central dispenser spout extending from the housing, the central dispenser spout comprising a plurality of outlet orifices;
a plurality of modular dispensers configured to receive a plurality of syrups or sauces, wherein each modular dispenser of the plurality of modular dispensers comprises a housing configured to receive a syrup or sauce of the plurality of syrups or sauces,
wherein the central dispenser spout is fluidically coupled to the plurality of syrups, and each outlet orifice of the plurality of outlet orifices is fluidically coupled to a different syrup or sauce of the plurality of syrups or sauces,
wherein the main controller is configured to transmit instructions to dispense each of the plurality of syrups or sauces based on one or more dispensing parameters,
wherein the central dispenser spout is configured to simultaneously dispense two or more syrups or sauces of the plurality of syrups or sauces out of the beverage dispensing system directly from separate outlet orifices of the plurality of outlet orifices into a beverage container, so the two or more syrups or sauces of the plurality of syrups or sauces are not mixed together until after the two or more syrups or sauces are dispensed out of the beverage dispensing system,
wherein the housing of at least one of the plurality of modular dispensers is positioned horizontally adjacent to the housing of the dispensing unit.