U.S. patent number 3,880,329 [Application Number 05/350,512] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-29 for liquid dispensing, disposable container for use with a beverage dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jet Spray Cooler, Inc.. Invention is credited to Merle S. Brown, John A. Gardner, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,880,329 |
Gardner, Jr. , et
al. |
April 29, 1975 |
Liquid dispensing, disposable container for use with a beverage
dispenser
Abstract
A liquid dispensing system including a can open at the bottom
and having a cover closing the bottom and made of a flexible
material. A nipple connected to the cover extends downwardly from
it and is normally closed and remains closed under the head of the
liquid in the container. The nipple opens when the pressure in the
container exceeds the external pressure at the nipple. A rigid back
up plate lies behind the cover and has a sleeve which supports the
nipple. The can may typically contain chocolate syrup and be used
in a counter-top dispenser for hot chocolate.
Inventors: |
Gardner, Jr.; John A.
(Tewksbury, MA), Brown; Merle S. (Cohasset, MA) |
Assignee: |
Jet Spray Cooler, Inc.
(Waltham, MA)
|
Family
ID: |
26713577 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/350,512 |
Filed: |
April 12, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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36863 |
May 13, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/129.1;
222/490; 222/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D
1/0021 (20130101); G01F 11/021 (20130101); B67D
1/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01F
11/02 (20060101); B67D 1/00 (20060101); B67D
1/04 (20060101); B67d 005/56 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/181,185,325,490,567,568,570,107,129.1-129.4,394,400.8,491,494 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schacher; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Slattery; James M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 36,863,
filed May 13, 1970 and now abandoned.
Claims
Having described this invention in detail, we claim:
1. A liquid dispensing system adapted to draw liquid contents from
a disposable container open at a rim at one end comprising
a lid having a closure wall and having a skirt made of a flexible
material designed to fit over the open end of the container and
form a seal about the open container end,
a nipple connected to the closure wall and extending from the wall
away from the container, said nipple being normally closed and
remaining closed under the head of the liquid in the container when
the container is oriented with its open end facing down,
a rigid backup plate disposed against the closure wall of the lid
and adapted to lie over the rim of the open end of the container
when the lid is mounted on said container so as to prevent inward
movement of said closure wall,
said nipple carrying means for connecting the nipple to a duct for
conveying the liquid to a desired location.
2. A system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by venting
means forming part of the lid for venting the container.
3. In combination with the system of claim 2,
pump means connected to one of the nipple and venting means for
creating a differential pressure between the interior of the
container and the outside of the nipple causing the nipple to open
and liquid to flow through it.
4. In the combination of claim 3,
said venting means being a second nipple connected to the closure
wall and extending into the container and through the backup plate
and being exposed to the atmosphere, said second nipple being
normally closed and opening when the pressure within the container
reaches a preselected value below atmospheric so as to allow air to
enter the container.
5. In the combination of claim 3,
said pump means being a vacuum pump connected to said
first-mentioned nipple for reducing the pressure about the outside
of the nipple.
6. A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 1 further
characterized by
a sleeve forming part of the backup plate and extending into the
nipple for supporting it,
a bead formed on the sleeve and forming a corresponding bead on the
nipple when the plate is assembled with the sleeve in the
nipple,
a fitting for receiving the nipple and forming a seal with its
outer surface, said fitting being capable of connecting the nipple
to a duct for conveying the liquid to a desired location,
and a seal in the inside of the fitting for gripping the bead on
the nipple when the container is mounted with the nipple in the
fitting.
7. A liquid dispensing system comprising
a cylindrical drum for containing liquids, open at one end and
closed at the other,
a lid having a closure wall extending over the open end and having
a skirt engaging the cylindrical wall of said drum, said lid
sealing the open end closed,
a nipple extending outwardly from the closure wall of the lid and
having a closure biased to a closed position when the atmospheric
pressure within the drum and outside the closure are equal and
maintaining its closed position under the head of a liquid in the
container when the drum is oriented with the lid down,
pump means secured to the lid for creating a greater pressure in
the drum than outside the closure causing flow of the liquid from
the drum through the nipple,
a means comprising a unidirectional flow valve for communicating
with the interior of said drum to permit simultaneous adjustment of
pressure in said drum when said pump means is operative to cause
flow through said nipple,
said lid being made of flexible rubber-like material and said
nipple being formed as an integral part thereof,
and a rigid plate disposed against the closure wall of the lid and
operatively engaging the open end of the drum.
8. A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 7 further
characterized by
a sleeve connected to the plate and extending into the nipple,
said nipple having converging sides and a slit at the end which
forms the closure.
9. A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 7 further
characterized by
said means comprising a unidirectional flow valve being formed on
the lid for allowing air to bleed into the drum when its internal
pressure is less than atmospheric.
10. A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 9 further
characterized by
a fitting receiving the nipple internally with the drum in an
inverted position and with the lid down,
and said pump means including a suction pump secured to the fitting
and reducing the pressure outside the closure to open it.
11. A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 9 further
characterized by
said means comprising a unidirectional flow valve comprising a
second nipple formed as part of the lid and extending into the
drum.
12. A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 11 further
characterized by
said pump means being connected to the second nipple for
pressurizing the interior of the drum.
13. A beverage dispenser comprising,
a housing,
a container for carrying liquid flavor syrup, said container having
one open end and a closed end,
means for mounting said container on said housing,
a lid having a closure wall extending over the opened end and
having a skirt engaging the wall of said container,
said lid sealing the opened end closed and being removable from
said container,
a check valve extending outwardly from the closure wall of the lid
and having a closure in a closed position when the atmospheric
pressure within the container and outside the closure are equal and
maintaining its closed position under the head of syrup in the
container when the container is oriented with the lid facing
down,
electrically operated pump means interconnected with the lid for
creating a greater pressure in the container than outside the
closure causing flow of the liquid from the container through the
check valve,
and means comprising a unidirectional flow valve for communicating
with the interior of said container to permit simultaneous
adjustment of pressure in said container when said pump means is
operative to cause flow through said check valve.
14. A beverage dispenser in accordance with claim 13 and further
comprising said check valve comprising a nipple having a closure
biased to said closed position,
said pump means comprising a duct and suction pump,
a discharge nozzle for dispensing a beverage connected to the
duct,
and a fitting on the housing for receiving the nipple in sealed
relationship when the container is mounted on the housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to liquid dispensing systems and beverage
dispensers and more particularly comprises an improvement over the
system shown in our copending application Ser. No. 887,671 filed
Dec. 23, 1969 entitled HOT LIQUID DISPENSER. In the following
description the invention is described particularly as it may be
used in a hot chocolate dispenser but it is to be understood that
the invention has other applications.
Many hot chocolate dispensers store liquid chocolate concentrate in
a hopper (or bowl), conveniently located on the dispenser for easy
access and refilling. In those dispensers which utilize a hopper,
the hopper must have a lid to protect the contents from
contamination, and it must be easily removable to facilitate
replenishment of the syrup supply. Those dispensers which utilize
gravity feed for the chocolate must provide unrestricted flow so
that the chocolate and hot water may be accurately metered so as to
render uniform product. In many such devices, means have been
incorporated to assist the flow so as to preserve accuracy. These
means have taken the form of progressive cavity screws and
plungers. In hot chocolate dispensers of this type, it has also
been common practice to employ electric heaters around the hopper
to reduce the viscosity of the syrup so that it can more freely
flow in the system.
The best of the hopper-type dispensers are incapable of providing
maximum protection for the syrup, and a skin forms due to the
evaporation of the volatile components of the syrup and results in
a degradation of the syrup quality.
Many of the better syrup concentrates contain dairy products to
improve their flavor and texture, and these concentrates are
susceptible of spoilage when stored without refrigeration when the
concentrates are exposed to the air. The spoilage of course is a
function of time and temperature. Consequently during periods of
slow use it is common to lose a substantial amount of syrup due to
spoilage. And universally users of beverage dispensers in which the
syrup is stored in a hopper suffer the spoilage rather than spend
the necessary time to withdraw the syrup from the hopper so as to
refrigerate it.
In our copending application, supra, a beverage dispenser is shown
which utilizes the syrup can as a disposable hopper. A removable
cover is attached to the can and a dip tube extends into the can
through the cover to withdraw the syrup. While the dispenser shown
therein constitutes a substantial advantage over the various
arrangements described above, the system in accordance with the
present invention provides several additional advantages, which
will become clear from the following detailed description.
One object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispensing
system which provides a sealed container for the liquid and which
allows the liquid to be withdrawn from the container readily on
demand.
Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispensing
system which provides a sealed container for the liquid, which
affords easy withdrawal of the liquid from the container, and does
not allow any of the container contents to drip from it after
intentional withdrawal has stopped.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a syrup storage
system for beverage dispensers, which may readily be removed for
refrigeration.
To accomplish these and other objects, the beverage dispenser of
this invention includes a can of flavor syrup closed by a flexible
lid which covers one end thereof. A nipple that serves as a check
extends from the lid and is normally closed with the can in an
inverted position, even under the head of the liquid in the can. It
opens only when a differential pressure is applied between the
exterior of the nipple and the can interior. A rigid backup plate
is contained within the lid and has a sleeve which supports the
nipple. A fitting is provided on the platform which supports the
can, which receives the nipple to form a coupling between the can
and the syrup feeding system in the dispenser.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly in section of a beverage
dispenser constructed in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a detail of the
dispenser shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view suggesting an
alternative arrangement to that of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The beverage dispenser shown in the drawing is closely allied to
the dispenser shown in our copending application, supra. Like the
dispenser shown in that application, the dispenser of the present
invention includes a housing 10 that contains a syrup delivery
circuit 12 as well as a water delivery circuit (not shown) and an
electrical control circuit (not shown). The water delivery circuit
and the electrical control circuit may be identical to that in our
copending application and are incorporated by reference. The
housing 10 has a drip tray 18 attached to the bottom of its front
wall and a mixing assembly 20 mounted above the tray. The assembly
20 is shown and described in detail in copending application Ser.
No. 682,343 filed Nov. 13, 1967 entitled Hot Beverage Dispenser.
Included as part of the syrup circuit and water circuit is a
reserve cylinder and water control assembly 22 attached on the
inside of the housing 10 to the front panel 24. The syrup circuit
12 is shown in FIG. 1 isolated both from the electrical circuit and
the water circuit for clarity.
In FIG. 1 syrup can 30 is shown supported on shelf 32 forming part
of the housing 10. A hood (not shown) which forms part of the
housing and is shown in our copending application, supra,
ordinarily covers the can 30 so as to hide it from view when the
dispenser is in its normal operating condition.
In FIG. 1, the can 30 is shown connected by means of duct 34 to
cylinder 36 of positive displacement pump 38 forming part of the
syrup circuit. The means by which the duct 34 is connected to the
can 30 comprises an important aspect of this invention and is
described in substantial detail below particularly with reference
to FIG. 2.
The positive displacement pump 38 includes a piston 40 moveable in
the cylinder 36 and carried on the end of piston rod 42 which in
turn is operated by crank 44 connected to the rotating cam 46
driven by the cam motor 48. As the cam rotates, the crank 44 moves
the piston 40 up and down in the cylinder during each revolution.
The pump 38 is shown in the drawing to be mounted on partition 50
in the housing 10.
The outlet duct 52 of the pump 38 is connected to the reserve
cylinder and water control assembly 22, whose syrup outlet duct 53
in turn extends out of the housing to the mixing chamber 20. The
duct 53 carries a check valve 54 at its discharge end to prevent
air or other matter from entering the duct 53 and fouling or
contaminating the syrup circuit as well as for cutting off flow at
the end of the pump cycle to eliminate after-drip.
The syrup circuit described above is substantially identical to
that shown in our copending application supra. The can 30 and
facility for coupling the can to the duct 34 is markably different
from that shown in our copending application, and the differences
are described in detail below.
In FIG. 2, the can 30 is shown to have an open bottom end 60. The
can may be opened by a common electric or manual knurled wheel
drive can opener or any other convenient tool. The open end 60 of
the can is covered by a lid 62 having a closure wall 64 and an
upwardly extending peripheral skirt 66 which lies about the outer
surface of the lower end of the cylindrical wall of the can. A pair
of tabs 68 extend from opposite sides of the top edge of the skirt
66 to facilitate removal and installation of the lid 62.
A dispensing nipple 70 in the form of a duck bill check is formed
at the center of the closure wall 64. The nipple 70 has a generally
cylindrical body 72 which terminates in converging walls 74 and a
downwardly extending central flap 76. The flap 76 is cut as shown
at 78, but no material is removed so that no stresses are applied
to the nipple and the flap sides are engaged to close the cup or
slit and prevent flow through the nipple.
A second nipple 80 in the form of a duck bill check extends
upwardly from the closure wall 64 of the lid adjacent its periphery
and has a cylindrical wall 82, converging wall 84 and flap 86 with
a slit 88, that may be identical to the corresponding parts of the
nipple 70.
A backup plate 90 lies within the closure wall 64 of the lid 62 and
has an opening 92 through which the nipple 80 extends into the
interior of the can 30. The periphery 94 of the backup plate 90
rests on the bead 61 of the can 30 to provide stiffness for the lid
62 and perform other functions which are described in greater
detail below. The backup plate 90 also carries as an integral part
thereof a cylindrical sleeve 96 which fits within the nipple 70 and
supports it in the position shown. The sleeve 96 has a bead 98 on
its outer surface, which stretches the nipple 70 and forms a
corresponding bead 100 on the nipple wall 72 for reasons which will
also become apparent below.
A check housing 102 is mounted on the platform 32 of the dispenser
housing 10, and its lower end 104 of reduced diameter is connected
to the end of the duct 34 which carries the syrup from the can 30
to the pump 38. The check housing 102 is sized to receive the
nipple 70 when supported on the sleeve 96, and a circular seat 106
is provided on the inner surface of the housing 102 so as to
receive the bead 100 formed in the nipple 70 by the corresponding
bead 98 on the sleeve 96.
Typically the can 30 may be a number 10 size, and after the can is
opened, the lid 62, previously assembled on the backup plate 90, is
installed over the open top of the can. The can is subsequently
inverted on the platform 32. The lid is preferably sized so that
there is an interference between the skirt 66 of the lid and the
can. The interference fit and the rolled bead 61 on the can prevent
leakage of the contents when the can is inverted. By utilizing an
elastomeric material for the lid it is possible to make the lid
slightly smaller than the can diameter, thus requiring the lid to
be stretched over the can.
The metal backup plate 90 serves a dual purpose, namely, it
prevents the lid from distorting during mounting of the can on the
dispenser, and it prevents the lid from distorting due to the
external atmospheric pressure applied to the can during dispense
cycles when syrup is drawn from the can by the dispenser pump.
In operation, the nipples 70 and 80 perform two separate but
interrelated functions. By making the slits 78 and 88 sharp and
cleanly defined slices, without removing material, thin hair-line
size slits are formed which will close by elastomeric memory once
the slitting knife or tool used to form it is removed. Thus, each
nipple serves as a check valve which will not leak liquid during
normal gravity head conditions.
The nipple 70 serves as a unidirectional flow check valve in the
syrup inlet to the pump. During a pump suction cycle, the partial
vacuum is drawn on the syrup system which causes the syrup check or
nipple 70 to open due to the influence of the pressure difference
across the tapered portion 74. Since the pump is double acting,
that is, it both pumps and refills by vacuum draw. during the
dispense cycle the pressure in the syrup circuit causes the nipple
70 to close tightly. During the refill cycle a partial vacuum is
drawn on the system within the housing 102 about the cone-shaped
end 74 and thus the slit 78 opens allowing syrup to flow out of the
can into the syrup circuit. That is, when the piston 40 moves down,
it draws syrup from the can into cylinder 36, and when it rises,
the pump discharges the cylinder contents in the direction of
control assembly 22 as described more fully in our copending
application, supra.
Each time the syrup is removed from the can 30, a partial vacuum
develops in the can causing the nipple 80 to open and thus bleed
air into the can to relieve the vacuum. Thus it is seen that the
two nipples keep the system in pressure equilibrium during the
dispensing cycle.
The backup plate 90, particularly with its sleeve 96 for the nipple
70, prevents the nipple from collapsing when it is inserted in the
check housing 102 on the platform 32. The bead 98 on the sleeve 96
forms the corresponding bead on the nipple 70 which in turn serves
as an O-ring when the can is mounted in place. The O-ring forms a
seal against the seat 106 on the inner surface of the housing 102
to prevent leakage. The bead also holds the lid with the can on the
machine. When the can is nearly empty, pressure within the housing
102 could blow the can with the lid off the machine in the absence
of some positive engagement of the nipple in the housing. The bead
and seat also serve to offer a positive seated position for the
syrup can, much the same as a detent, and a positive "feel" results
when the can is properly positioned with the nipple 70 in the
housing 102.
While in the system described, the syrup is drawn from the can 30
by the application of a vacuum in the chamber 103 of housing 102
about the nipple which in turn causes a pressure differential
between the external pressure on the nipple 70 and the pressure
within the can 30, it is to be understood that syrup could be
forced from the can 30 by applying a positive pressure in the can
in place of or in addition to the vacuum within the chamber 103 of
housing 102. Such an arrangement is suggested in FIG. 3. In that
figure, it will be noted that a duct 110 is suggested as being
inserted in the cylindrical portion 82 of the nipple 80, and the
duct 110 in turn is connected to a positive pressure pump 112. In
such an arrangement, actuation of the pump 112 pressurizes the
interior of the can 30 above the chocolate and forces the chocolate
out the nipple 70. Thus it will be appreciated that while the pump
38 forms a suction to reduce the pressure on the outside of the
nipple 70 within chamber 103 of housing 102, as an alternative or
as a supplement, a pump could be used to create excess pressure in
the can to discharge syrup. The differential pressure between that
in the can and within the housing 102 about the nipple 70 is what
causes the nipple 70 to open. The head of the liquid in the can
itself is not sufficient to open the nipple.
The arrangement described has many advantages. For example, the
nipple 80 in the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 serves as a
continuous air vent check to maintain the inside of the can at
pressure equilibrium. As syrup is drawn from the can, the partial
vacuum created is relieved by air which bleeds through the nipple
80. By locating the nipple 80 remote from the nipple 70, the
possibility of entraining air from the nipple 80 to the nipple 70
as syrup is being withdrawn during the pump cycle is
eliminated.
A very important advantage of this system is the protection of the
contents during storage as well as use. Canned products in general
are thermally processed to inactivate enzymes and bacteria. Thus
the canned contents are virtually sterile. But when the can is
open, some other means must be provided to protect the canned
contents if the life of the contents is to be prolonged. It is
apparent that the sealed closure defined by the lid 62 serves to
preserve the taste, odor, and general consistency of the syrup,
with no skin-over. Although air is admitted to the can as syrup is
drawn off, the volatile components of the syrup are trapped within
the can so as to establish an equilibrium of liquid vapor, and
minimize if not eliminate degradation of the contents.
As yet another desirable feature of this invention, when the use
rate of the syrup is low, during overnight or weekend periods, the
can 30 with the lid attached may be simply lifted from the machine
and placed in a refrigerated storage compartment. This is
particularly desirable when the syrups include dairy products such
as cream in them.
In our copending application supra, the ease with which a system
may be cleaned has been described. It is apparent that in the
present application cleaning may be achieved just as readily merely
by replacing the can 30 of syrup with a can of cleaning
solution.
As yet another advantage of this invention, the lid serves to seal
in the essential ingredients of the syrup in the can. Chocolate
syrups do vary considerably from one manufacturer to another due at
least in part to the desire of the manufacturers to achieve a
flavor unique to their own products. The uniqueness in flavor is
due in part to the flavor and odor producing ingredients in the
syrup. And they are normally additives. To maintain these additives
in intimate contact with the product during the entire time of use
so as to in turn achieve a more consistent drink from the first to
the last serving, the sealed cover for the can is necessary, and
such sealing is achieved with this invention. The seal is achieved
by means of the lid 62 even when the can is bent. The elastomeric
material of the lid conforms to can distortion and seals against a
relatively uneven or rough can surface.
While in the foregoing description the system for dispensing the
can contents has been described in connection with a beverage
dispenser, it is to be appreciated that the same combination of can
and lid with backup plate and pump could be used to dispense other
liquid products in the food line. For example, preserves and
jellies could readily be dispensed from a can with this
arrangement. The pressure differential on the dispensing nipple may
be achieved either by pressurizing the can or by creating a vacuum
about the nipple.
* * * * *