Drink Dispensing And Mixing System

Abstract

A construction for preparing mixed drinks including a plurality of separate compartments holding a variety of liquid ingredients. Dispensing apparatus associated with each compartment can be individually operated for removing portions of the ingredients from outlet means positioned at a common location. A selector means is associated with the construction, and actuating means for the dispensing apparatus are moved to operating position in response to movement of the selector means. Drive means are provided for automatically achieving dispensing of the desired ingredients. A mixing station is provided for alternative use with the mixing means being driven from the same source as the drive means used for achieving dispensing action.

Description

This invention relates to a construction for preparing mixed drinks. The invention will be particularly described, and finds maximum utility, when used for preparing alcoholic beverages. It will be understood, however, that the features of the invention may be applied for the preparation of other mixtures which call for the use of varieties of ingredients and variations in the amounts of ingredients.

In the preparation of alcoholic beverages, a variety of ingredients is often called for. The recipes for drinks also specify use of the ingredients in certain proportions. It is a well-known fact that some drinks are very difficult to prepare properly unless the proper ingredients, in proper proportions, are employed.

It is difficult for any individual to achieve sufficient skill for properly preparing a large variety of drinks which require multiple ingredients. Thus, one cannot be expected to memorize the ingredients for several drinks, and it is inconvenient and time-consuming to continuously refer to recipe books for alcoholic beverages. A possibly more serious difficulty arises because of the inability to properly control proportions of ingredients, and in many cases, even small variations from a recipe can destroy the appeal of a mixed drink.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a construction which is designed for the preparation of a large variety of mixed drinks.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a construction which includes means for dispensing desired ingredients from a selection of many ingredients, while also dispensing the desired ingredients in precise amounts, whereby mixed drinks requiring a plurality of ingredients in specific proportions can be properly prepared.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a construction of the type described which includes the unique combination of selector means, and dispenser actuating means associated with the selector means, whereby an extremely large number of combinations of ingredients and proportions can be incorporated in a construction which is highly compact and which includes a highly reliable and efficient operating system.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a drink dispensing and mixing construction characterized by the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken about the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the construction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken about the line 4--4 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken about the line 5--5 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating drink ingredient compartments with covers removed;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the construction;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken about the line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view illustrating the drink ingredient dispensing compartments taken about the line 9--9 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section taken about the line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a horizontal section taken about the line 11--11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a valve element utilized in the passage employed for replenishing the ingredient compartments;

FIGS. 13 through 15 are elevational views of valve tappets used in the ingredient compartments;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a valve tappet;

FIGS. 17 through 19 are top views of the tappets shown in FIGS. 13 through 15, respectively; and,

FIG. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the outlet means employed in the construction.

The construction of this invention generally comprises a housing defining a plurality of individual compartments for holding a variety of ingredients to be used in the preparation of mixed drinks. Each compartment is provided with a dispensing means which is individually operated when ingredients are to be removed from that compartment. Each compartment communicates with outlet means and the outlet means are situated at a common location so that the various ingredients can be collected in a common container.

The invention contemplates the use of a selector means which may display the names of or a code enabling an individual using the construction to select the drink desired. Actuating elements are associated with the selector means so that these elements will be positioned in accordance with the drink selected. A drive arrangement is then actuated whereby certain ones of the actuating means will operate dispensing means for certain compartments. The actuating means and dispensing means are designed so that the ingredients from the particular compartments will be delivered in particular proportions. The construction of the invention may be manually operated, however, a motor driven arrangement is provided whereby maximum convenience and accuracy can be achieved.

In the preferred form of the invention, the individual drink dispensing compartments are associated with larger containers used for replenishing the ingredient supply. The construction is designed so that the replenishing action takes place automatically whenever ingredients are removed from a particular compartment.

The use of motor driven means for achieving the dispensing action also provides a highly convenient means for incorporating a mixing unit in association with the construction. Thus, the same motor used for achieving the movements necessary for the dispensing operation can be used to drive a mixing device located on the base of the construction.

The construction shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a base portion 10 having an upright member 12 mounted thereon. The member 12 supports a horizontally disposed plate 14 which in turn supports an annular insulating jacket 16. Upper and lower decorative strips 18 may be secured to the jacket adjacent the annular shoulders 20.

An annular cover 22 defining a downwardly extending rim 24 is fit around the jacket at the top of the construction. This extends over a plurality of liquid containing cells. As best shown in FIG. 5, the cells consist of 12 large cells 26, two sets of three smaller cells 28, and another set of four smaller cells 30. The large cells 26 each define an outlet opening 32. The cells 28 each define an outlet opening 34, and the cells 30 each define an outlet opening 36. Insulation blocks 37 may be provided beneath these cells.

The outlet openings 32 of the large cells 26 communicates by means of passages 38 with a check valve structure 40. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the check valve receives a ball 42 which when seated blocks the passage 44. This passage defines a threaded inner wall to provide for attachment of the externally threaded valve. A gasket 46 is attached to the base 48 of the valve for sealing purposes. The valve is positioned so that the passage 38 is aligned with the opening 50 defined by the valve.

The outlet openings 34 and 36 of the smaller cells 28 and 30 communicate with taps 52 formed integrally with the cell bottoms. Sections of flexible pipe 53 are attached to the members 52, and these pipe sections extend to corresponding taps 54 which are formed integrally with valve members 56 (FIG. 9). The valve members 56 have the same structure as the valve members 40 except for the provision of a bottom inlet 57 rather than a side inlet.

The valves 40 and 56 each communicate with the interior of a dispensing compartment 58. In the embodiment shown, the 12 large cells 26 communicate with a compartment 58 in the outer ring of compartments through valves 40. The 10 smaller cells 28 and 30 each communicate with one of the compartments in the inner ring by attaching pipe sections 53 of appropriate length to valve 56.

The compartments 58 and associated supply cells may be molded as an integral construction, for example using plastic molding techniques. Appropriate finishing, for example drilling of the passages 38, may be undertaken after molding.

The compartments 58 each comprise a reciprocally movable piston assembly comprising piston head 60 and piston rod 62. The piston head is preferably formed from Teflon or a similar low friction material so that a satisfactory seal relative to the cylinder wall 64 of a compartment can be achieved.

The piston rod 62 is formed integrally as part of a tappet 66 as best shown in FIGS. 13 through 19. The tappets 66 comprise a transversely extending section 68 which includes downwardly extending arms 70. These arms are received in grooves 72 defined by an inner cylinder 74 which is secured in each compartment. Each cylinder 74 defines an annular flange 76 which seats on a shoulder 78 defined around the upper edge of each compartment. The inner cylinder 74 may be permanently fixed in position in each compartment, for example by means of a suitable adhesive.

Each inner cylinder 74 defines a transverse wall 80 having a central opening 82 for receiving the piston rod 62. A spring 84 is interposed between the transverse wall 80 and the transverse section 68 of the tappet. This spring serves to normally hold the piston head 60 in a raised position in each compartment as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Each of the tappets 66 carries an upwardly extending arm 86. The respective arms 86 serve as actuating means for dispensing liquid from the compartments 58. The actuating means are adapted to operate in conjunction with downwardly extending pins 88 which are attached to a rotatably mounted upper plate 90.

The plate 90 is attached to an annular ring 92 by means of fasteners 94. The ring 92 includes an externally threaded portion which provides for removable attachment of the ring to cylinder 96. The cylinder 96 extends downwardly within the central opening defined between inner cylindrical wall 98 formed in the molded unit which carries the compartments 58 and the supply cells for the compartments. The cylinder 96 and associated plate 90 are mounted for rotation and reciprocal movement relative to the inner cylindrical wall 98.

Rotation of the plate 90 is achieved by means of a handle 100 attached to the top of the plate. The handle 100 also serves as a means for attachment of a vertically extending rod 102. The rod 102 is attached to a piston head 104 which is movable within the cylinder 106. The interior of the cylinder 106 communicates through opening 108 with a vacuum pump 110. The pump 110 is operated by means of the motor 112 mounted in the interior of the supporting cylinder 12.

The supporting cylinder 12 also provides space for holding batteries 114, and a suitable jack may be provided for recharging purposes. In addition to using battery power, the motor 112 could be connected to a conventional electrical outlet.

The motor 112 also serves to drive shaft 116 which is connected through clutch 118 to the pulley 120. The belt 122 mounted on the pulley extends to pulley 124 (FIGS. 1 and 2) for driving the element 126. Containers to be used for mixing purposes may be provided with recesses having a cross section corresponding to that of the element 126 so that the mixing can be accomplished automatically on the base of the construction.

The ingredients to be dispensed in a particular instance are delivered through discharge spout 128 defined in the bottom wall of chamber 130. The ingredients are delivered to this spout from the assembly 132 mounted within the chamber 130 on the bracket 134. The assembly 132, as best illustrated in FIG. 20, consists of upper plate 136 and lower plate 138 attached by means of bolts 140. The upper plate 136 defines a plurality of tubular inlets 142, and tubular outlets 144 are defined by the lower plate.

A plurality of passages 146 are defined by aligned portions of the upper and lower plates. Each of these passages holds a spring 148 which normally forces a ball 150 into seating engagement to block communication between the opening 152 in each inlet member 142 with the passage 146.

The supporting member 12 carries a switch 154 which must be turned on to provide for operation of the 5 milliamp gallery lights, which may be located at various points, for example in association with the plate 14 or the cylinder 12. The motor 112 will operate when one of the push buttons 156 and 158 is engaged. The push button 156 is engaged after the selector plate 90 is located in the desired position. A second one-way clutch 160 transmits drive from the motor 112 to the vacuum pump 110. The clutch 118 is disengaged during this time so that the mixing mechanisms will not operate.

The motor 112 is a reversible motor and, therefore, it will rotate in the opposite direction when the push button 158 is engaged. The clutch 118 then provides for operation of the mixing mechanism while the clutch 160 is disengaged so that the vacuum pump will not operate when mixing is desired.

Electrical leads may also be connected to ring contacts 162 and 164 which are positioned on the insulating member 166 supported by the transverse wall 168 attached to cylinder 106 (FIGS. 5 and 7). Spaced apart contacts 170 are mounted opposite the ring contacts and the contact portions of bulb 172 are connected between these spaced contacts. The bulb is located in receptacle 174 provided in the handle 100. A cap 176 provides access to the receptacle for replacing the bulb.

This arrangement provides a readily visible means for determining whether the piston head 104 "bottoms" during a dispensing operation. Thus, the contacts 170 will engage the ring contacts 162 and 164 when a complete stroke occurs turning on the bulb 172.

In the use of the construction described, the various cells are filled with different ingredients for mixed drinks. The specific ingredients to be used will depend upon the selection of drinks to be made available. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cover 22 is inscribed with the names of a variety of drinks, the particular example involving 40 different drinks. The pins 88 are located on the selector plate 90 to provide dispensing action from particular cells when the selector plate is in a particular position.

It will be noted when considering FIGS. 7 and 9, that the pins 88 are of different lengths. Since the stroke of the piston head 104 which controls the movement of the pins is uniform, the length of the pins will determine the extent of movement of the piston heads 60 in the dispensing chambers 58. The pins 88 thus provide a highly dependable means for controlling the proportions of ingredients in a particular drink. The dots 178 shown in FIG. 3 indicate the positions of pins on the selector plate 90, and it will be apparent that by providing pins of different length in different positions, a very large number of combinations can be worked out. The illustration of 40 different combinations in the drawings is by no means an upper limit of possibilities. It will also be appreciated that a limited number of cells could be filled, and the apparatus could then be used for making only a smaller selection of drinks. Suitable instructions can be provided so that one can determine which cells should be filled in order to provide a particular drink.

The particular dispensing action is also controlled by the position of the arms 86 on the tappets 66. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 17, one tappet may have an arm 86 at an extreme position. FIGS. 14 and 18 illustrate an arm 86 in an intermediate position, and in FIGS. 15 and 19, the arm 86 is centrally located. Since the arms 86 in the first two tappets can be either to the left or right of center, five different positions are provided. This, of course, provides additional possibilities for varying the dispensing action for a particular position of the selector plate. Since the tappets and pins can be designed for removal and replacement, it will be appreciated that variations can be made even after the structure has been built, for example if a particular change in a recipe were desired.

The selector plate 90 preferably supports a bracket 180 on its underside. The bracket holds a spring loaded detent pin 182, and this pin engages grooves 184 defined by the inner surface of the cell wall 186. This arrangement insures that the selector plate 90 will be in proper alignment when the arrow 188 on the selector plate is moved opposite one of the drink selections.

When the selector plate 90 is in the proper position, a mixed drink is obtained by depressing the push button 156. This results in operation of the vacuum pump whereby the piston head 104 moves downwardly along with the selector plate and associated pins 88. Certain ones of these pins will engage the upstanding arms 86 associated with particular dispensing compartments 58. The piston heads 60 in these compartments will move downwardly depending upon the length of the particular pin engaging the arm 86 for that compartment.

The downward stroke of a piston head 60 will force liquid in the compartment through a pipe section 190 which communicates with one of the inlets 142 in the assembly 132. The pressure of the liquid will open the ball valve for passage of the liquid through outlet 144. The assembly 132 provides a connection for each of the dispensing compartments so that all of the ingredients for a particular drink will be delivered simultaneously with the mixture passing through the discharge spout 128 for collection in a suitable container.

The spring 192 positioned around the vacuum piston rod 102 results in return movement of the piston rod and selector plate assembly when the action of the vacuum pump terminates. The circuitry employed could include control means for providing a specific time for operation of the vacuum pump, or this could be controlled by the person using the construction if the vacuum action is removed when the finger is taken off the push button 156.

The springs 84 in the dispensing compartments provide for return movement of the piston heads 60. This return movement creates suction in the compartments which unseats the ball 42 for that compartment thereby drawing in a fresh supply of liquid. It will be noted that the liquid supply for a particular dispensing operation includes a liquid in the pipe section 190 as well as the liquid in a dispensing compartment. The ball valves associated with the assembly 132 prevent leaking.

Once a drink has been received in a container, the mixing means provided by operating push button 156 may be employed. It will be appreciated that this is an alternative arrangement applicable for certain types of drinks.

If desired, a counter may be associated with the switch 158 so that the number of drinks obtained with the construction can be determined at any given time.

It should be noted that the angular deployment of the different ingredients is a rigid answer statistically inseparable from the radial line along which the tappet arms 86 are located, as well as the angular and radial deployment of the pins 88 and their lengths. All these physical elements are rigidly linked to the number and proportions of ingredients necessary to produce particular drinks.

It will be appreciated that there are an infinite number of possibilities from the standpoint of angular deployment of the various ingredients, the locations of the tappet arms 86, and the deployment and lengths of the pins 88. This arrangement renders the system particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a computer. Thus, a computer program can be developed whereby the computer can be fed data including the number and kinds of ingredients and the identification of drinks requiring the ingredients. The computer can then be asked to produce a certain set of drinks, or as many drinks as possible from the ingredients available. The readout of the computer will then provide information which will enable one to deploy the ingredients and tappet arms, and to position and select the pins, so that the minimum number of pins and the maximum number of drink combinations can be achieved within a certain available space.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the above described construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. A construction for preparing liquid mixtures comprising a plurality of compartments holding a variety of ingredients for said mixtures, said compartments being included in a common housing, and including separate cells in said housing communicating with said compartments for replenishing said ingredients to maintain a constant amount of ingredients in the compartments, dispensing means associated with each compartment adapted to be individually operated for removing ingredients from the compartments, outlet means connected to said compartments, said outlet means being positioned at a common location so that the ingredients from said compartments can be collected in a container, a movable selector means, actuating means for said dispensing means, operating means for said actuating means, said operating means being positioned relative to the dispensing means in response to movement of said selector means, said dispensing means including piston means for forcing liquid from said compartments, and wherein said operating means comprise elements adapted to be moved into contact with said piston means to achieve the dispensing action, said elements comprising a plurality of pins of different lengths mounted on a supporting plate, the length of an element determining the stroke imparted to piston means engaged by the element to thereby control the amount of ingredients dispensed, said supporting plate comprising said selector means, said plate being rotatably mounted for positioning said elements relative to the dispensing means, and said plate being receiprocally mounted whereby said elements can be driven into engagement with said piston means to achieve dispensing action, said selector plate being attached to a piston of a vacuum operated piston and cylinder construction, a vacuum pump, and an electrically operated means for moving said piston and associated selector plate in response to the drawing of a vacuum by said vacuum pump, and wherein the particular operating means in position for actuating selected dispensing means depends on the position of the supporting plate.

2. A construction for preparing liquid mixtures comprising a plurality of compartments holding a variety of ingredients for said mixtures, said compartments being included in a common housing, and including separate cells in said housing communicating with said compartments for replenishing said ingredients to maintain a constant amount of ingredients in the compartments, dispensing means associated with each compartment adapted to be individually operated for removing ingredients from the compartments, outlet means connected to said compartments, said outlet means being positioned at a common location so that the ingredients from said compartments can be collected in a container, a movable selector means, actuating means for said dispensing means, operating means for said actuating means attached to said selector means, said dispensing means including pistons mounted on each compartment, said actuating means comprising a tappet construction secured to each piston, each tappet construction including an upwardly extending arm adapted to be engaged by said operating means to thereby effect movement of a tappet construction and an associated piston in a compartment whereby the piston operates to force liquid from the compartment, said operating means comprising pins attached to a reciprocally movable plate, said pins being located on said plate for engagement with selected ones of said arms depending upon the position of the plate relative to the arms, and said pins being of varying length whereby the stroke of a piston in a compartment will depend upon the length of the pin engaging the tappet arm associated with that piston, means for moving said selector means in a first direction for selectively positioning different operating means relative to the dispensing means in response to movement of said selector means, and means for moving said selector means in a second direction for operating said dispensing means by means of said operating means, the particular operating means in position for actuating selected dispensing means depending on the position of the selector means.

3. A construction for preparing liquid mixtures comprising a plurality of compartments holding a variety of ingredients for said mixtures, dispensing means associated with each compartment adapted to be individually operated for removing ingredients from the compartments, outlet means connected to said compartments, said outlet means being positioned at a common location so that the ingredients from said compartments can be collected in a container, a movable selector means, actuating means for said dispensing means, operating means for said actuating means attached to said selector means, means for moving said selector means in a first direction for selectively positioning different operating means relative to the dispensing means in response to movement of said selector means, and means for moving said selector means in a second direction for operating said dispensing means by means of said operating means, the particular operating means in position for actuating selected dispensing means depending on the position of the selector means, and including a reversible motor for driving said selector means in said second direction when the motor is driven in one direction to thereby achieve dispensing action, clutch means for disengaging driving connection with said selector means when the motor is driven in the opposite direction, a mixing means for mixing ingredients in a container, and second clutch means for providing driving movement between said motor and said mixing means during driving of the motor in said opposite direction, said second clutch means removing driving engagement between said mixing means and said motor when said motor is driven in said one direction.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including a light attached in the construction, and relatively movable contacts, said contacts being brought together for turning on said light when said piston has completed its stroke for achieving dispensing action.

5. A construction for preparing liquid mixtures comprising a plurality of compartments holding a variety of ingredients for said mixtures, dispensing means associated with each compartment adapted to be individually operated for removing ingredients from the compartments, outlet means connected to said compartments, said outlet means being positioned at a common location so that the ingredients from said compartments can be collected in a container, a movable selector means, actuating means for said dispensing means, operating means attached to said selector means adapted to be moved into engagement with said actuating means, said operating means comprising a plurality of pins of different lengths means normally retaining said operating means out of engagement with said actuating means, means for moving said selector means in a first direction for selectively positioning different operating means relative to the dispensing means in response to movement of said selector means, and means for moving said selector means in opposition to said retaining means in a second direction for operating said dispensing means by means of said operating means, the particular operating means in position for actuating selected dispensing means depending on the position of the selector means the length of the pins comprising said operating means determing the degree of movement imparted to said actualing means.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein each of said compartments defines an outlet opening, a conduit extending from each outlet opening to said common location, and a check valve included in each conduit, said check valves normally blocking movement of liquid through said conduits, and wherein actuation of said dispensing means operates to force liquid through said check valves.

7. A construction in accordance with claim 6 wherein said conduits extend to an assembly comprising upper and lower plates which when assembled define a plurality of flowthrough passages, means connecting said conduits to said assembly for communication with each passage, and wherein said check valves are mounted within said passages.

8. A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein said compartments are included in a common housing, and including separate cells in said housing communicating with said compartments for replenishing said ingredients to maintain a constant amount of ingredients in the compartments.

9. A construction in accordance with claim 8 including conduit means extending between the respective replenishing cells and compartments, and check valves in said conduit means, said check valve operating to block communication between a compartment and its associated replenishing cell during dispensing movement of the operating means, and wherein liquid is automatically drawn into a compartment through its check valve from its associated replenishing cell on the return movement of said dispensing means.

10. A construction in accordance with claim 8 wherein said dispensing means include pistons mounted on each compartment, a tappet construction secured to each piston, each tappet construction including an upwardly extending arm adapted to be engaged by said operating means to thereby effect movement of a tappet construction and an associated piston in a compartment whereby the piston operates to force liquid from the compartment.

11. A construction in accordance with claim 10 wherein said operating means comprise pins attached to a reciprocally movable plate, said pins being located on said plate for engagement with selected ones of said arms depending upon the position of the plate relative to the arms.

12. A construction in accordance with claim 8 wherein a plurality of different types of operating means are provided, and wherein each type of operating means dispenses a different amount of ingredients when operating a dispensing means.

13. A construction in accordance with claim 12 wherein said dispensing means include piston means for forcing liquid from said compartments, and wherein said operating means comprise elements adapted to be moved into contact with said piston means to achieve the dispensing action.

14. A construction in accordance with claim 13 wherein said supporting plate comprises said selector means, said plate being rotatably mounted for movement of the plate in said first direction to position said elements relative to the dispensing means, and said plate being reciprocally mounted for movement of the plate in said second direction whereby said elements can be driven into engagement with said piston means to achieve dispensing action.

15. A construction in accordance with claim 14 wherein said housing displays means for identifying the drink selection available, said means for moving said selector plate in said first direction operating to move the plate to positions assigned to each selection, and wherein detent means for accurately aligning the selector plate are located in each position.