U.S. patent number 3,898,861 [Application Number 05/389,808] was granted by the patent office on 1975-08-12 for beverage dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Cornelius Company. Invention is credited to John R. McMillin.
United States Patent |
3,898,861 |
McMillin |
August 12, 1975 |
Beverage dispenser
Abstract
A beverage dispenser is arranged to be connected to a source of
potable water and an electric power supply and also to receive
thawed-out beverage ingredient such as juice concentrate. The
dispenser is thus arranged to store the concentrate, to cool water,
to mix the concentrate and the water in the proper ratio. An
important feature includes a flushing system to flush those
portions that handle the beverage ingredient such as juice, such
portions being those that are downstream of the beverage ingredient
storage means.
Inventors: |
McMillin; John R. (St. Paul,
MN) |
Assignee: |
The Cornelius Company (Anoka,
MN)
|
Family
ID: |
23539808 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/389,808 |
Filed: |
August 20, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/177; 137/238;
222/146.6; 239/419.5; 222/145.2; 222/1; 222/148; 222/145.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D
1/0021 (20130101); B67D 1/07 (20130101); B67D
1/005 (20130101); F25D 31/002 (20130101); B67D
2210/00104 (20130101); Y10T 137/4245 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F25D
31/00 (20060101); B67D 1/07 (20060101); B67D
1/00 (20060101); F25d 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/76,1,23,129,129.3,129.4,134,135,148,145,146C ;137/238
;239/112,113,428.5,419.5 ;62/177 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Skaggs, Jr.; H. Grant
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen,
Steadman, Chiara & Simpson
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. A beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:
a. a source of flavored beverage ingredient of the liquid
concentrate type;
b. a mixing and dispensing spout;
c. a line connecting concentrate source to said spout;
d. a selectively actuatable control member in said concentrate line
for controlling flow of the beverage ingredient through said
spout;
e. a normally closed main valve for being connected to a supply of
pressurized water and connected to said spout independently of said
concentrate line so that the beverage ingredient is mixed with
diluting water within said spout when said main valve and said
control member are actuated; and
f. a normally closed flushing valve for being connected to the same
supply of water and connected to said concentrate line upstream of
said control member, said flushing valve being sized to have a flow
rate capacity which is greater than the flow rate capacity of said
control member,
whereby beverage is mixed and dispensed when said control member
and said main valve are jointly actuated, and whereby at least a
portion of said concentrate line, said control member and said
spout are flushed when said control member and said flushing valve
are jointly actuated.
2. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1
including a bypass line having a throttling valve therein, said
bypass line being connected between said main valve and said
concentrate line upstream of said control member, for partially
diluting the beverage ingredient upstream of said spout.
3. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 in
which said spout has an inlet open to the atmosphere and an air
throttling valve for adjustably controlling the amount of air
admixed to the beverage ingredient and water mixture.
4. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1
which includes a supply of water, said supply comprising:
a. a water line for being connected to a pressurized source of
water;
b. a refrigeration system having an evaporator line extending
through and along the length of said water line; and
c. a thermostatic control for said refrigeration system having a
sensing element extending along portions of said water line.
5. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 4 in
which said evaporator line is arranged as a helical coil and said
water line is arranged as a helical coil surrounding individual
turns of the evaporator line coil.
6. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 5 in
which said sensing element has portions disposed intermediate
individual turns of the water coil in direct engagement with a pair
of adjacent turns.
7. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 6 in
which said thermostatic control is of the limited vapor fill type,
a portion of said sensing element engaging turns at the inlet end
of the water coil, and another portion of said sensing element
engaging turns at the outlet end of the water coil.
8. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 5 in
which said sensing element is arranged in a zig-zag manner in
engagement with successive adjacent pairs of the water coil.
9. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 8
including an arcuate clamp forcing said sensing element into
positive engagement with said successive adjacent pairs of the
water coil.
10. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 5 in
which the refrigeration system includes an accumulator connecting
the evaporator to a suction line, said accumulator being disposed
centrally of said water line coil.
11. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 4,
including a second evaporator line connected in parallel with said
first-named evaporator line and disposed to refrigerate said source
of beverage ingredient, a second thermostatic control for said
refrigeration system responsive to the temperature of said source
of beverage ingredient, and a valve in said first-named evaporator
line under the control of said first-named thermostatic
control.
12. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 11
in which said first-named thermostatic control includes a switch,
said valve in said first-named evaporator line being a solenoid
valve, and a relay, said switch being connected through a
stationary normally closed contact in said relay to said solenoid
valve, said second thermostatic control including a switch
connected to the coil of said relay and to a stationary normally
open contact, the movable contact of said relay being connected to
power said refrigeration system.
13. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 in
which said main valve is also fluidly connected to said concentrate
line upstream of said control member, said main valve and said
control member being of electrical types and being electrically
connected in parallel, and a dispensing switch connected in series
therewith.
14. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 13
in which said flushing valve is a solenoid valve connected in an
electrical circuit parallel to said main solenoid valve and in
series with said dispensing switch, and a flushing switch in said
parallel electrical circuit.
15. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 in
which said control member is a pump.
16. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 15
including a check valve in said concentrate line upstream of the
connection of said concentrate flushing valve to said line.
17. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 16
in which a portion of the ingredient line is disposed between said
check valve and the point where said flushing valve is connected to
said line.
18. A beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:
a. a dispensing spout;
b. a source of liquid flavored beverage ingredient of the
concentrate type, including a storage tank, an ingredient line
connecting said tank to said spout and a selectively actuatable
control member in said line for controlling flow of the beverage
ingredient through said spout;
c. a diluent line connected to said spout, including a selectively
actuatable main valve and a flow restrictor downstream of said main
valve, said line being connectable to a pressurized supply of
beverage diluent;
d. a diluent bypass line having throttling means therein, said
bypass line being connected to said beverage diluent line
intermediate said main valve and said flow restrictor, and to said
source of beverage ingredient intermediate said tank and said
control member; and
e. means connected to said control member and to said main valve
for simultaneously actuating said control member and said main
valve.
19. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 18
including a check valve in said ingredient line intermediate said
control member and said concentrate tank.
20. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 19
including a flush line connected to said ingredient line
intermediate said check valve and said control member, said flush
line being connectable to a source of water and being sized to
provide a flow rate of water at least equal to the flow rate of
said control member.
21. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 20
in which said flush line is connected to said diluent line and
includes selectively actuatable valve means.
22. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 18
including a check valve in said bypass line.
23. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 18
in which said throttling means in said bypass is sized to have a
flow rate less than that of said control member.
24. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 23
in which said throttling means is adjustable.
25. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 18
in which said spout has an air inlet open to the atmosphere, and an
air throttling valve for adjustably varying the effective opening
size of said air inlet and therefore the amount of air drawn in
with the beverage ingredient.
26. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage from a supply of
flavored liquid beverage ingredient and a separate supply of
pressurized diluent, comprising:
a. transferring diluent from the pressurized supply through a line
at a predetermined rate of flow to a mixing zone while restricting
flow to maintain at least a portion of the supply pressure in the
line;
b. transferring ingredient through a line to the mixing zone;
c. transferring additional diluent at a predetermined rate of flow
from the diluent line upstream of the flow restriction into the
ingredient line to initially dilute the ingredient;
d. controlling the rate of flow of the initially diluted ingredient
to the mixing zone; and
e. mixing the initially diluted ingredient with the first-mentioned
transferred diluent to form the beverage.
27. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim
26 in which the initially diluted ingredient is positively pumped
at a predetermined rate.
28. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim
27 in which the step of transferring ingredient is augmented by
pumping suction, and in which the step of transferring additional
diluent is augmented by said portion of the supply pressure in the
diluent line.
29. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim
26 in which the transfer rate of diluent into the ingredient line
is maintained at less than the controlled rate of flow.
30. A method mixing and dispensing beverage according to claim 26
including the step of checking against flow of concentrate
ingredient in the ingredient line to the concentrate ingredient
supply.
31. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim
26 in which said restricting of diluent flow is at the downstream
end of said diluent line to increase its velocity as it enters the
mixing zone.
32. A method of mixing and dispensing according to claim 26,
including the steps of:
a. connecting the supply of pressurized diluent directly to the
ingredient line; and
b. checking against flow of diluent into the supply of ingredient
while also checking against flow of ingredient, to thereby flush a
portion of the ingredient line and the mixing zone with
diluent.
33. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage from a supply of
liquid flavored beverage ingredient and a separate supply of
pressurized diluent, comprising concurrently:
a. transferring diluent from the pressurized supply at a
predetermined rate to a mixing zone;
b. transferring ingredient through a line from the ingredient
supply to the mixing zone;
c. transferring additional diluent at a predetermined rate from the
pressurized supply into said ingredient line to initially dilute
the ingredient;
d. controlling the rate of flow of the initially diluted ingredient
to the mixing zone; and
e. mixing the initially diluted ingredient and the first-mentioned
transferred diluent to form the beverage.
34. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim
33 in which the first-mentioned transferring step and the
controlling step are simultaneously initiated.
35. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage from a supply of
liquid beverage ingredient and a separate supply of pressurized
diluent, comprising:
a. transferring diluent from the pressurized supply at a
predetermined rate to a mixing zone;
b. pumping ingredient through a line from the ingredient supply
while also pumping additional diluent from the pressurized supply
into the ingredient line to both initially dilute the ingredient
and to deliver the initially diluted ingredient at a predetermined
rate to the mixing zone;
c. checking against flow of initially diluted ingredient into the
ingredient supply; and
d. mixing said initially diluted ingredient and diluent in the
mixing zone to form the beverage.
36. A beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:
a. a dispensing spout;
b. a source of liquid flavored beverage ingredient, including a
storage tank, an ingredient line connecting said tank to said
spout, a check valve in said line intermediate said tank and said
spout and a selectively actuatable control member in said line
intermediate said check valve and said spout for controlling flow
of beverage ingredient through said spout;
c. a diluent line connected to said spout, including a selectively
actuatable main valve, said diluent line being connectable to a
pressurized supply of diluent;
d. a diluent bypass line having a throttling means and a check
valve therein, said bypass line being connected to said diluent
line and to said ingredient line intermediate said check valve and
said control member; and
e. means connected to said control member and to said main valve
for simultaneously actuating said control member and said main
valve.
37. A beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:
a. a dispensing spout;
b. a source of flavored liquid beverage ingredient, including a
storage tank, an ingredient line connecting said tank to said spout
and a selectively actuatable control member in said line for
controlling flow of the beverage ingredient through said spout;
c. a diluent line connected to said spout, including a selectively
actuatable main valve, said diluent line being connectable to a
pressurized supply of diluent;
d. a diluent bypass line having throttling means therein, said
bypass line being connected to said ingredient line intermediate
said control member and said vat, and being connected to receive
diluent from said diluent line; and
e. means connected to said control member and to said main valve
for simultaneously actuating said control member and said main
valve, and to thereby control flow in said diluent bypass line.
Description
BACKGROUND
This invention pertains to a beverage dispenser of the type that
mixes a concentrated beverage ingredient with water and dispenses
the same.
PRIOR ART
Beverage dispensers of the mixing type have been used for years,
particularly where the concentrate being utilized constitutes one
of the well known beverage syrups. However, when a concentrated
fruit juice is utilized, dispensing becomes somewhat more difficult
not only because of the pul that one finds such as in orange juice,
but also the keeping ability of a thawed-out juice concentrate is
relatively poor. Once there is spoilage the dispenser must be
appropriately cleaned, and a careful operator would much prefer to
clean the dispenser sooner. Further, local ordinaces require daily
cleaning, and with known type of dispensers, a considerable amount
of time and labor can be expended during the time that the
dispenser is out of service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a beverage dispenser that is
particularly useful with concentrated fruit juices for restoring
them to the original strength by admixing concentrate with the
proper amount of water. The dispenser includes built-in means for
flushing or cleaning the lines and components that carry such juice
concentrate from a storage container to the dispensing spout.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
beverage dispenser which can to a large extent be selfcleaning,
including a method for mixing and dispensing a beverage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage
dispenser that is particularly adapted for use with a water supply
and a concentrated beverage ingredient.
Another object of the present invention is to provide means by
which the amount of air that becomes entrained in the mixed
beverage can be regulated.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a
two-flavor beverage dispenser that is so constructed that the
water-handling components, the beverage ingredient handling
components, the components which handle flushing water,
refrigeration system and the electrical system can be conveniently
packaged in a housing that can be disposed upon a serving
counter.
Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the
present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art
upon making reference to the detailed description and the
accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural
embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is
shown by way of illustrative example.
ON THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a beverage dispenser provided in
accordance with the principles of the present invention showing the
water and beverage concentrate systems;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the refrigeration system of the
dispenser of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuitry utilized in the
dispenser of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line V--V of
FIG. 2; and
FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view in enlarged scale of a
mixing spout shown in FIG. 1.
AS SHOWN ON THE DRAWINGS
The principles of the present invention are particularly useful
when embodied in a beverage dispenser such as diagrammatically
illustrated in FIG. 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The
beverage dispensing system has a water inlet 11 for being connected
to a supply of pressurized potable water. The inlet 11 leads to a
strainer 12 which is connected to a pressure regulating valve 13
from which a water line 14 extends in the form of a helical coil.
Downstream of the water line coil 14, the line is connected to a
first main or dispensing valve 15, a further main or dispensing
valve 16, a flushing valve 17 and a further flushing valve 18. The
dispensing valves 15, 16 communicate through a pair of lines 19, 20
with a water inlet 21, 22 forming part of a mixing and dispensing
spout 23, 24. Water from the dispensing valves 15, 16 is also
carried by a pair of bypass lines 25, 26, each of which has a check
valve 27, 28 and a manually adjustable throttling valve 29, 30.
Each of the dispensing spouts 23, 24 has a flow restrictor 86 by
which a back pressure is created.
The beverage dispensing system 10 further includes a pair of
storage tanks 31, 32 which may be constructed as a partitioned unit
with a single cover 33. The cover enables air to enter the tanks
31, 32 as liquid flavored beverage ingredient is withdrawn
therefrom. Each of the tanks 31, 32 is also referred to herein as a
source of liquid flavored beverage ingredient. Each of the sources
31, 32 is connected by a line 34, 35 to the beverage ingredient
inlet 36, 37 of the spouts 23, 24. The ingredient lines 34, 35 each
have a check valve 38, 39 preferably disposed as close to the tank
31, 32 as possible, and the bypass lines 25, 26 are connected to
the ingredient lines 34, 35 as close to such check valves 38, 39 as
is practicable. Each of the ingredient lines 34, 35 further
includes a control member 40, 41, such control members here
comprising a pump, such as of the peristaltic type driven by an
electric motor 42, 43.
The flushing valves 17, 18 are connected by a pair of flushing
lines 44, 45 with the beverage ingredient lines 34, 35 close to the
point where the bypass lines 25, 26 join the ingredient lines 34,
35, such connection being upstream of the control member 40,
41.
Each of the dispensing spouts 23, 24 has an air inlet 46, 47 which
is connected to an air throttling valve 48, 49 which enables a
selected amount of air to be drawn into the mixing and dispensing
spouts 23, 24, such as air being at atmospheric pressure and
obtained from any suitable ambient location. (The down-turned
portion of the spouts 23, 24 should really be illustrated as
extending downwardly, perpendicular to the plane of the drawing as
shown in FIG. 6 in horizontal cross sectional view).
When the dispensing valve 15 and the control member 40 are
simultaneously energized, pressurized water flows through the line
19 into the water inlet 21 and through the flow restrictor 86. The
backpressure in line 19 upstream from the flow restrictor causes
water to flow through the bypass line 25, the check valve 27 and
the adjustable throttling valve 29 which are connected to the
suction side of the pump 40 so that a mixture of beverage
ingredient from the check valve 38 and water from the throttling
valve 29 are drawn into and metered by the control member or pump
40, the outlet of which is connected to the beverage ingredient
inlet 36. Within the dispensing spout 23, the stream of water and
the stream of partially diluted beverage concentrate engage against
each other to further dilute the concentrate to the proper degree,
a preselected amount of air being drawn in and also mixed therewith
through the air inlet 86. The operation of the dispensing valve 16
and control 41 in bringing water to the dispensing spout 24 and in
bringing beverage ingredient from the source 32 to the spout 24 is
identical to that explained.
When it is desired to clean the system for sanitizing purposes or
for the purpose of changing to a different flavor, the dispensing
valve 15 and the control member 40 are operated until the source 31
is empty whereupon the same can be readily wiped out. When the
flushing valve 17 is also energized, clear water flows through the
flushing line 44, bypassing the check valve 27 and the throttling
valve 29, at a flow rate at least equal to the flow capacity of the
control member 40. The check valve 27 and the throttling valve 29
do not need to be cleaned because in their ordinary operation, they
handle the same water. However, the flushing water is prevented
from entering the source 31 by the check valve 38 and is also
connected to the upstream side of the control member or pump 40,
thereby flushing the beverage ingredient line 34 including the
control member 40 and the inlet 36 of the dispensing spout 23. In
like manner, the other spout 24 receives flushing water by
energization of the flushing valve 18.
The helical water coil 14 and the beverage ingredient sources 31,
32 are refrigerated by a refrigeration system shown in FIG. 2. A
hermetically sealed motor-compressor 50 has an output line 51
leading to a condenser coil 52 which is air-cooled by a ventilating
fan 53. The line 51 then leads to a strainer-dryer 54 and thence
through several feet of a first capillary tubing 55 which typically
has an inside diameter of 0.049 inch. The line 55 divides at a
point 56 and a second capillary tubing 57 of smaller inside
diameter leads to an evaporator coil 58 which is disposed in
heat-exchange relationship with the sources 31, 32. The discharge
end of the evaporator coil 58 passes through a downwardly directed
section line 59 (for draining the evaporator coil 58) to an
accumulator 60 which is connected to a suction line 61 leading to
the motor-compressor 50. The other branch 62 leads through a
solenoid valve 63 to a line 64 which is arranged in the form of a
vertical helical coil, the discharge end, as shown in dashed lines,
being also connected to the lower end of the accumulator 60 via a
vertical loop or trap 89 which prevents backflow of refrigerant
into the helical coil 64 from the evaporator 58. The upper and
lower loops of the coil 14 are bonded as at 91 to a pair of
mounting brackets 92, 93, for a purpose explained below. The
helical coil portion of the refrigerant line 64 is disposed within
the helical water coil 14 as best seen in FIG. 5. Although the
turns of the helical coil of the refrigeration line 64 are shown as
being concentric with the individual turns of the water line's
helical coil 14, the actual location is at random since the coils
are formed after the assembly is made. Refrigerant enters the upper
end of the helical coil and exits through the lower end, while the
warmer water enters the lower end of the coil 14 and flows in
surrounding relation to the refrigerant coil and exits at the upper
end. The accumulator 60 is disposed within the helical coil 14, as
shown.
To control the refrigeration system which is common to both of the
flavor systems, a first thermostatic control 65 is provided which
is responsive to the temperature of the water line helix 14, and a
second temperature control 66, shown in FIG. 1 is disposed so as to
be responsive to the temperature of the beverage ingredient source.
The first thermostatic control 65 has a sensing element 67 and an
electric switch 68, and is of the limited vapor filled type so that
it is responsive to the coldest part of the sensing element. The
sensing segment 67 is constructed with a zig-zag portion at the
lower end of the helical coil 14 and a shorter zig-zag portion near
the upper end thereof. Thus the coldest water which is at the upper
end of the helical coil 14 is sensed to open the switch 68 and the
warmest water, such as fresh incoming water is sensed at the lower
end of the water coil 14 to call for refrigeration. The sensing
element 67 extends from the top of the water line 14 and is covered
with insulation 90 which shields the elements 67 from the cold air
around the water coil 14 which air, during operation of the
refrigeration system, will be colder than the water coil 14. As is
explained below, the switch 68 is in circuit with the refrigeration
solenoid valve 63 which is normally closed so that unless the
thermostatic control 65 is calling for refrigeration, the solenoid
valve 63 will be closed. When refrigeration is called for, the
compressor 50, the fan 53 and the solenoid valve 63 are
simultaneously energized.
As seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 the various portions or stretches of the
sensing element 67 lies intermediate adjacent turns of the water
helix 14 and in direct engagement with both adjacent turns for
ensuring good heat transfer and for obtaining accurate sensing of
water temperature. To maintain the three legs of the upper zig-zag
and the four legs of the lower zig-zag in intimate engagement as
described, there is provided an arcuate clamp 69 shown only in FIG.
3 which acts through slightly yieldable insulation 70 to maintain
good contact between the sensing element 67 and the water line
helix 14, for example, as seen between the points 67a and 67b. With
this arrangement, water flowing through the helical water coil 14
has extensive and intimate contact with the helical portion of the
evaporator line 64. The bands 91 prevent axial spreading of the
loops of the coil 14 when the clamp 69 is tightened.
The evaporator line 58 is in parallel to the lines 62, 64 and is
controlled only by the capillary tubing 55 and 57 from a
refrigerant gas standpoint, while the second thermostatic control
66 is arranged to turn the compressor 50 and fan 53 on and off.
Thus when either thermostatic control 65 or 66 calls for
refrigeration, the evaporator coil 58 will receive refrigerant gas.
There is no likelihood of freezeup in the sources 31, 32 owing to
the sugar content of the beverage ingredient or concentrate, while
the thermostatic control 65 which typically operates in the
temperature range between 35.degree. and 38.degree. F keeps the
temperature of the coldest water above freezing. A liquid level
senser 71 has two sensing elements 72, 73, respectively
insulatingly disposed for extending into concentrate in the
concentrate sources 31, 32. When the liquid level falls below
either of them, a circuit is closed to a warning lamp for
indicating that the supply of beverage ingredient is low.
The electrical circuitry for operating the beverage dispenser is
shown in FIG. 4. The thermostatic control 66 has a switch 74. A
line 75 brings power to the switches 74, 68. The water thermostat
switch 68 is connected to the normally closed stationary contact 76
of a relay 77 and is also connected to bring power to the solenoid
of the refrigeration valve 63. The movable or armature contact 78
of the relay 77 is connected to bring power to the motor of the
compressor 50 and to the motor of the fan 53. Thus anytime that the
water coil 14 needs refrigerating, the thermostatic control 65
energizes the parallelconnected refrigeration valve 63, compressor
50 and fan 53.
The switch 74 which is a part of the concentrate thermostat 66
brings power to the coil of the relay 77 and also brings power to
the normally open stationary contact 79. Thus when the switch 74 is
closed alone, power is delivered to the compressor 50 and fan
53.
The circuitry for the refrigeration system is independent of other
switches so that if the dispenser 10 is plugged into a power
source, it cannot be shut off accidentally.
Power is also brought through a key-controlled switch 80 which when
locked is in the open position, thereby preventing unauthorized
dispensing. The key-operated switch 80 is in series with a master
switch 81 which controls power for the vending of both flavors. The
master switch 81 is connected to a pair of dispensing switches 82,
83 which are respectively connected to bring power to the
dispensing valve 15 and motor 42, and the dispensing valve 16 and
the motor 43 respectively. The solenoids of the flushing valves 17,
18 are also connected to receive power from the dispensing switches
82, 83 but in the return line of each of the solenoid valves 17,
18, there is a flushing switch 84, 85 so that flushing will take
place only when the same is closed. If desired, the actuators may
be mechanically ganged. With this arrangement, either or both of
the systems within the dispenser may be flushed. If desired, the
switches 84, 85 could be in series with the other terminal of the
flushing valve solenoids.
The adjustability of the throttling means 29, 30 has several
advantages. One advantage is that the apparatus can be used with
beverages that have reconstitution ratios between 1 to 3 and 1 to
5, whereby such ratio is selected. A second advantage is that
beverage ingredients reconstituted at a selected ratio do not all
have the same viscosity at a given operating temperature. The
control members 40, 41 when comprising peristaltic pumps, have a
flexible tube section which decreases in size under suction as a
function of viscosity and such decrease is compensatable by the
aforesaid adjustability.
As shown, the check valves 38 and 39 in the ingredient lines 34, 35
are preferably spaced upstream by a portion 87, 88 of each such
line from the point at which the flush lines 44, 45 are connected.
When the beverage ingredient is a citrus concentrate, some pulp
will occasionally be trapped against the seat of the check valve
38, 39, thereby slightly holding the check valve 38, 39 open. This
condition is of no consequence during ordinary sequential
dispensing. However, when one of the flushing valves 17, 18 is
actuated, there is a tendency for flush water to leak past such
partially open check valve 17, 18. This condition is overcome by
the presence of the line portions 87, 88 which contain beverage
ingredient and pulp, the liquid portion of which thus slightly
leaks past the partially stopped-open check valve 38, 39, but the
reverse-flowing pulp, under reverse pressure, seals the leak,
thereby avoiding dilution of and hence damage to beverage
ingredient upstream of the check valves 38, 39.
Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those
versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody
within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such
embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my
contribution to the art.
* * * * *