U.S. patent number RE33,969 [Application Number 07/610,924] was granted by the patent office on 1992-06-23 for binary syrup system bag and valve.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Coca-Cola Company. Invention is credited to Simon J. Richter.
United States Patent |
RE33,969 |
Richter |
June 23, 1992 |
Binary syrup system bag and valve
Abstract
A binary syrup system bag and valve for beverage dispensing
including a pair of separate syrup bags holding two different syrup
components, a single spout connected to both bags and a bag valve
connected to the spout for opening or closing liquid communication
to the bags. The spout and valve have two separate liquid flow
channels therethrough, one for each bag. A quick-disconnect
coupling is connected to the valve for opening the valve and
allowing the syrup to be fed to a beverage dispenser. The
connection of the valve parts and the connection between the valve
and the spout are snap-fit, liquid-tight interference fits.
Inventors: |
Richter; Simon J. (Marietta,
GA) |
Assignee: |
The Coca-Cola Company (Atlanta,
GA)
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Family
ID: |
26918902 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/610,924 |
Filed: |
November 9, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
224645 |
Jul 27, 1988 |
04913316 |
Apr 3, 1990 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/1; 137/594;
222/105; 222/129.1; 222/136; 222/183; 222/464.1; 222/464.2; 222/94;
251/149.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D
1/0078 (20130101); B67D 1/0079 (20130101); B67D
3/0019 (20130101); B67D 1/0831 (20130101); Y10T
137/87153 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B67D
3/00 (20060101); B67D 1/08 (20060101); B67D
1/00 (20060101); B65D 035/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/105,135,136,183,129.1,129.2,129.3,129.4,130,131,94,464
;251/149.4,149.6 ;137/594 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0134142 |
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Mar 1985 |
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EP |
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0156500 |
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Oct 1985 |
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EP |
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102668 |
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Jun 1898 |
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DE2 |
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Primary Examiner: Shaver; Kevin P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A binary bag for use as a container for two syrup components to
be dispensed through a beverage dispenser comprising:
(a) a first and a second bag wall including a liquid-tight seam
down the middle of said first and second bag walls thereby defining
two chambers;
(b) a spout opening in said first bag walls directly in line with
said seam, said seam being interrupted at said spout opening;
(c) a single spout, having a pair of separate liquid flow channels
therethrough, disposed on said spout opening, with one of said flow
channels in liquid communication with one of said chambers and the
other flow channel in liquid communication with the other of said
chamber, said spout having a diametric member diametrically
disposed thereon;
(d) means for sealing .Iadd.the first .Iaddend.and said second bag
.[.wall.]. .Iadd.walls .Iaddend.on said diametric member of said
spout; and
(e) means for selectively withdrawing the two syrup components
simultaneously from said chambers.
2. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively
withdrawing the two syrup components simultaneously comprises:
a valve connected to said spout, said valve having a pair of
separate liquid flow conduits therethrough in liquid communication
with a respective one of said liquid flow channels; and
means for moving said valve from closed to open position when said
spout is coupled to the beverage dispenser.
3. The bag as recited in claim 2 wherein said valve is connected to
said spout by snapping thereinto with a liquid-tight interference
fit.
4. The bag as recited in claim 2 wherein said valve further
comprises:
a pair of poppet valves each disposed in one of said liquid flow
conduits;
means for attaching a quick-disconnect coupling to said valve;
and
wherein said means for moving said valve from closed to open
position comprises:
means coupled to said poppet valves for biasing said poppet valves
in an open position when the quick disconnect coupling is attached
to the means for attaching whereby the syrup components can be
simultaneously withdrawn from each of said chambers.
5. The bag as recited in claim 1 including a single dip strip unit
connected to said spout and including a pair of separate dip
strips, one positioned in the interior of each of said
chambers.
6. A binary syrup system for dispensing beverage prepared from two
different syrup components comprising:
(a) a first and a second bag wall including a liquid-tight seam
down the middle of said first and second bag walls thereby defining
two chambers;
(b) a single spout connected partly to said first bag wall and
partly to the second bag wall;
(c) a bag valve connected to said spout and being movable between
open and closed positions; and
(d) said spout and valve each having a pair of separate liquid flow
channels therethrough, one of said flow channels being in liquid
flow communication with one of said chambers and the other of said
flow channels being in liquid flow communication with the other of
said chambers.Iadd., said valve being connected to said spout by
snapping thereinto with an interference fit therebetween and
wherein said flow channels in said spout are sealed to those in
said valve by said interference fit therebetween.Iaddend..
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said spout is
located on said seam. .[.8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6
wherein said flow channels all have circular cross-sections and
wherein said valve connects to said spout by snapping thereinto
with an interference fit therebetween and wherein said flow
channels in said spout are sealed to those in said
valve by said interference fit therebetween..]. 9. The apparatus as
recited in claim 6 wherein said bag valve comprises:
(a) a valve body;
(b) a spring retainer connector below said body;
(c) a pair of separate liquid flow channels through said body and
said connector;
(d) said connector being connected to said body by a snap fit with
a liquid-fit interference fit therebetween;
(e) a poppet valve in each of said channels between said body and
said connector, a spring in each of said channels in said connector
for biasing said poppet valve closed against a valve seat in said
body, and a poppet activating pin attached to each poppet valve and
extending upwardly through said channel in said body, said poppet
valve being in a normally closed position when no coupler is
attached to said valve; and
(f) said body including means for a hose coupler to said valve. 10.
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said valve includes
external screw
threads for connecting to a quick-disconnect hose coupling. 11. The
apparatus as recited in claim 10 including a hose coupling
connecting to said valve, said hose coupling including means for
moving said valve from
its closed to its open position. 12. A method for dispensing two
different syrup components from two separate containers therefor,
comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a first and a second bag wall including a
liquid-tight seam down the middle of said first and second bag
walls thereby defining two chambers in a single bag-in-box box;
(b) providing a single spout .Iadd.on the seam down the middle of
said first and second bag walls, the spout .Iaddend.having a pair
of separate liquid flow channels therethrough, each connected to
one of said chambers, with one of said flow channels in liquid
communication with one of said chambers and the other flow channel
in liquid communication with the other of said chambers;
(c) connecting to said spout a valve having a pair of separate
liquid flow conduits therethrough in liquid communication with a
respective one of .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.spout flow
channels.Iadd.;
(d) attaching a quick-disconnect coupling to said valve; and
(e) moving said valve from a position in which the conduits therein
are closed to a position in which the flow conduits are open in
response to
the step of attaching the quick-disconnect coupling.Iaddend.. 13.
The method as recited in claim 12 including attaching a single dip
strip unit to said spout with a pair of separate dip strips, one
positioned in the
interior of each of said chambers. 14. The method as recited in
claim 12 wherein said connecting step comprising snapping said
valve into said spout with a liquid-tight interference fit between
the members defining said respective flow channels and the
respective flow conduits. .[.15. The method as recited in claim 14
including attaching a quick-disconnect coupling to said valve, said
attaching step including moving said valve from a liquid channel
closed to a liquid channel open position..].
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to beverage dispensing systems and in
particular to a binary syrup system in which the syrup is provided
in two separate containers holding two different syrup components
rather than being provided in one single container. This allows
certain component(s) to be separated from certain other
component(s), until just prior to dispensing, when the two
components are combined to form the complete syrup.
A large number of beverage dispensing systems are known for use
with both sugar syrups and diet syrups, and for use with various
types of syrup containers such as pressurized tanks (figals) and
non-pressurized plastic bags (bag-in-box) used in conjunction with
syrup pumps. The known bag-in-box bags include a spout and a valve
connected to the spout for opening or closing liquid communication
with the syrup in the bag. At the retail outlet a quick-disconnect
coupling is attached to the bag valve to open it and to allow syrup
to be fed to a beverage dispenser by means of a syrup pump
connected between the bag and the dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A binary syrup system for beverage dispensing including a pair of
flexible, collapsible bags .Iadd.is .Iaddend.positioned inside of a
single bag-in-box box. A single spout is connected to both bags and
a valve is connected to the spout. The spout and the valve each
have two separate liquid flow channels therethrough, one for each
bag. The flow channels through the valve are open at one end
thereof to a respective bag and are closed at the other end by a
poppet valve. The valve includes means for connecting it to a syrup
hose coupler, and attachment of the coupler causes the poppet valve
to open. A pair of dip strips is preferably connected to the spout,
with one in each bag.
The connections between the two parts of the valve and between the
valve and the spout are snap-in interference fits to provide easy
liquid-tight connections that can be made by automatic machinery.
When the binary syrup bag and valve are shipped to the retail
outlet, a quick-disconnect coupling that is permanently installed
in the retail outlet is attached to the valve to move the valve to
its open position to allow each of the two syrup components to be
dispensed from the two bags and fed to the beverage dispenser.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a binary (or
dual) syrup bag and valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood from the
detailed description below when read in connection with the
accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like
elements and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the overall beverage dispensing
system in which the binary bag and valve of this invention is
used;
FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the binary bag and spout of this
invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view through the spout, bag valve
and quick-disconnect coupling of this invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through FIG. 3 taken along line
4--4 thereof;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through FIG. 3 taken along line
5--5 thereof; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through a spout, bag valve, and
coupling according to an alternative embodiment of this
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 5 show the preferred
embodiment of the present invention of a binary syrup system 10
including a pair of bag-in-box syrup bags 12 and 14 each holding a
different component of the syrup, a metering device 16 for ensuring
the proper ratio of the two components being fed to a dispenser, a
syrup pump 18 and a beverage dispenser 20. The metering device
includes two inlet ports, one for each of the syrup components, and
a single outlet port for the complete syrup formed when the two
components are combined in the correct ratio, for example, 1:1. The
two bags 12 and 14 are contained in a single box 22. A well known
bag-in-box system for syrup now uses one single five gallon bag in
a box and the present invention preferably uses two two and
one-half gallon bags 12 and 14 in a single box 22.
FIG. 2 shows the two bags 12 and 14 and a spout 24 connected to
both bags 12 and 14 with a dip strip 26 connected to the spout and
contained in bag 12 and a dip strip 28 connected to the spout and
contained in bag 14. FIG. 3 also shows the spout 24 and the manner
of connecting the spout to the two bags 12 and 14. Two bags are
preferably formed from one pair of bag walls, one of the walls
having a single opening therethrough. The spout flange 30 is
preferably heat sealed to said one wall and a liquid-tight seam 32
is used to form a single larger bag into the two separate bags 12
and 14. The seam is interrupted at the spout where the other wall
is heat sealed to a bottom edge of a wall 34 which extends
diametrically across the bottom opening in the spout 24. The two
dip strips 26 and 28 are connected to a single ring 36 which snaps
into place in the bottom opening of the spout 24. Other
arrangements can be used for connecting dip strips to the spout and
other shapes and sized of dip strips can be used. Alternatively,
the present invention can be used without any dip strips.
The valve 40 of the present invention will now be described with
reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The valve 40 provides for two
separate liquid channels in one valve structure. One end of each
channel is open to one of the bags. The other end of each channel
is closed by a poppet valve which is activated (opened) when a
coupler is attached to the open side of the valve.
The valve includes the following components. A valve body 42 which
incorporates the seats for the two poppet valves 52 and 56. The
open end of the valve body has been designed to receive the coupler
80 which has two cylinders 66 and 68 which fit in the two sockets
67 and 69 containing the poppet activating pins 71 and 73. External
thread 86 is provided to receive a screw cap to protect the valve
during storage and shipping. The other end of the valve body has
been designed to receive the spring retainer/connector 44 to the
spout. The outside of the cylindrical section of the valve body has
been designed to provide two click stops inside the spout. The
first one for temporary insertion of the valve body in the bag
spout. This arrangement allows for use of the valve as a temporary
"dust cap" until each side of the dual bag is ready to be filled.
The second click stop is for permanent installation of the valve
after filling.
The valve 40 also includes the two poppet valves 52 and 56 with
integral activating pins 71 and 73. A pair of springs 50 and 54
bias the poppets against the valve seats.
The spring retainer/connector 44 to the spout contains the springs
50 and 54 providing sealing pressure for each of the two poppets.
The connector 44 is held in place by a groove 92 in the valve body.
Each of the two flow channels in the connector 44 containing a
spring is locked into the valve body with a snap in interference
fit seal. The same sealing arrangement is used to seal the other
end of each channel into a corresponding socket 94 and 96 in the
spout 24.
The valve body, the connector, the two springs and two poppet
valves, when assembled together are the valve.
The spout is permanently sealed to the bags. Each bag compartment
is connected to one of the two channels in the valve.
FIG. 3 shows the valve 40 in its closed position in solid lines and
in open position in dotted or phantom lines. FIG. 3 also shows the
coupler 80 including a pair of stainless steel barb connectors 81
and 82 connected to hoses 83 and 84 (the hoses are not transparent
but are shown as such for clarity). The valve 40 includes external
screw threads 86 that mate with internal screw threads 87 in the
coupler 80. The quick-disconnect coupler 80 is simply screwed on to
the valve 40 to open the valve allowing syrup to be pumped out of
the bags 12 and 14. The coupler 80 includes the connectors 81 and
82, preferably of stainless steel molded to a central element 98,
the nut 99 that can rotate relative to the element 98, and the two
cylinders 66 and 68 with their spring loaded caps 72 and 76 that
contact and move the poppet activating pins 71 and 73. The two
cylinders are attached or made integrally with the element 98. The
caps 72 and 76 have flow passages therethrough. As the coupler 80
moves downwardly (as viewed in FIG. 3) the springs 70 and 74
eventually are compressed to an extent that they exert a greater
force on the poppet valves than is exerted by the springs 50 and 54
causing the poppet valves 52 and 56 to open (to move downwardly
away from their valve seats as viewed in FIG. 3). The valve 40 is
now open, so that when the pump 18 is operated, syrup will be fed
out of the bags 12 and 14 to the dispenser.
The spring retainer/connector 44 is attached to the body 42 by a
snap-in, liquid-light interference fit at 108 and also by the
groove 92. The lower end (as viewed in FIG. 3) of the two cylinders
47 and 49 snap-fit in a liquid-tight interference fit to the upper
end of the two cylinders 102 and 104 that extend up from a lower
wall 106 of the spout. The body 42 is snap-fit to the spout at 41
with an interference although a liquid-tight fit is not necessary
at 41.
The connector 44 has two flow channels 46 and 48 therethrough in
cylinder 47 and 49 which retain the springs 50 and 54. The two
cylinders 66 and 68 in the coupler 80 have two flow channels 62 and
64 respectively and retain the springs 70 and 74 respectively.
The snap-fit feature of the valve body and connector and of the
valve into the spout allow for ease of assembly and also of
automated assembly, if desired.
When it is desired to fill the bags, the valve is removed from the
spout, the bags filled, and then the spout is reinserted .[.and.].
.Iadd.at .Iaddend.this time for a permanent attachment. The various
snap-fits are made possible because of the use of circular
cross-section passages and circular retaining flanges.
To properly orient the coupler 80 to the valve 40 so that the
liquid flow channels will be in proper alignment and so that the
cylinders 66 and 68 will be properly inserted into the sockets 67
and 69, a keyway is provided. A rib 110 in the valve body is
received in a slot 112 in the plate 114 connected to the cylinders
66 and 68. FIG. 5 shows guide ribs 116 for the pins 71 and 73. It
is understood that chamfered or tapered edges are provided at all
snap-fit area.
FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a valve and coupler
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
While the preferred embodiment of this invention has been described
above in detail, it is to be understood that variations and
modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention. Although the two bags are shown
as being connected, this is not essential; they can be separated
with the only connection being the spout.
* * * * *