CA2025905C - Apparatus for dispensing liquids in measured amounts - Google Patents
Apparatus for dispensing liquids in measured amountsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2025905C CA2025905C CA002025905A CA2025905A CA2025905C CA 2025905 C CA2025905 C CA 2025905C CA 002025905 A CA002025905 A CA 002025905A CA 2025905 A CA2025905 A CA 2025905A CA 2025905 C CA2025905 C CA 2025905C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- storage tank
- pump means
- concentrate
- pump
- beverage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
- B67D7/06—Details or accessories
- B67D7/58—Arrangements of pumps
- B67D7/62—Arrangements of pumps power operated
- B67D7/64—Arrangements of pumps power operated of piston type
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
- B67D1/08—Details
- B67D1/12—Flow or pressure control devices or systems, e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
- B67D1/1202—Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed
- B67D1/1204—Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed for ratio control purposes
- B67D1/1231—Metering pumps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
- B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
- B67D1/0078—Ingredient cartridges
- B67D1/0079—Ingredient cartridges having their own dispensing means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
- B67D3/0019—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes using ingredient cartridges
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
- Formation And Processing Of Food Products (AREA)
- Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
- Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
Abstract
A beverage concentrate container includes an integrally connected piston pump as a concentrate dosing unit. The container and piston pump are insertable into rigid support within a beverage dispenser cabinet for mechanical interconnection with a drive mechanism for the pump. The container and pump combination (syrup package) are fabricated from materials which are disposable.
Description
202~
APPARATUS FOR THE Dl~ ;N~lNG OF
LIQUIDS IN MEASURED AMOUNTS
Backaround of the Invention The present invention relates to a dosing device for the measured dispensing of liquids from a storage container, particularly for the measured dispensing of 5 beverage concentrates in an automatic beverage dispenser, where drinks can be prepared by mixing a base liquid, e.g.
carbonated water, and at least one b~v~L~ concentrate stored in a storage tank. The Dosing device is integrally connected with the storage container and the container/doser 10 combination is .li ~:poq~hle.
Such a device will preferably be able to provide, in automatic beverage (1 i qp~n~F~rs where carbonated water is mixed with beverage concentrates to make a soft drink, the beverage concentrates in controlled amounts from a storage 15 tank for the mixing process involved in the making of a post-mix beverage. In this connection it is particularly important, while utilizing the simplest possible means when measuring out the carbonated water, to also precisely measure out the dispensed beverage ~u.l~ellLl<ltes in order to achieve 20 with n~ cq~ry precision the desired mix proportions for the post-mix drink being prepared. These mix proportions shall achieve the same standard as the comparable ready-made (pre-mix) drinks on the market in bottles or cans.
For pl A~ L into automatic beverage dispensers 25 to ~ p-~nqe beverage cul~c~ LL~tes~ dosage chamber devices have been developed. These dosage chamber devices are attached to a storage tank with the dispensing mouth at the bottom. By means of a magnet system a control valve inside this dosage chamber device is raised from a lower position, 30 where the outlet port of the chamber is closed, to a higher position, where the inlet port of the chamber is closed, so that the contents of the dosage chamber can flow out ~y force of gravity. ~owever, the dosage chamber space can become filled with air. When the control valve resumes its lower positLon, the beverage ..c,l~cenLLc~te stored in the storage tank ends up in the dosage chamber by force of gravity, and any 5 air in the dosage chamber will flow into the storage tank.
The control force needed to activate the control valve is corrF~spon~in~ly slight, since no actual propulsion force need be produced. There are storage tanks with either rigid or flexible walls. In both cases there is an exchange of volume 10 through extracting b~v~Lc~a UU~ Lc~te6 by the use of air.
The above-described dosage chamber devices are very difficult to reduce in size due to te~hni~Al realities relating to size and the volume they dispense. They are above all suited for dispensing CO~C~ tes for l/lO drink 15 portion units. For smaller amountC greater problems with functioning and dosage precision are presented. So these known dosage chamber licp~nc~rs make it ~ fic~lt to dispense individual drinks on demand.
It is also generally known how to extract and 20 ~licp~nce liquid out of a flexible storage tank with the aid of a pump system. In such a system, a storage tank with flexible walls (bag-in-box containers) can be emptied without air having to flow into the storage tank for volume exchange.
However, for beverage co~ e-.~L~tes to achieve very precise 25 ii cp~nc~d amounts, these bag-in-box/pump systems have functional limitations.
0~ the Tnvention ~ hi~i invention in one aspect thereo~ pert~ ins to an apparatus for iicp~ncinq of liguids in measured amounts which 30 assures that the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir is dispensed by a standardized controlled delivery system taking into consideration the physical and chemical properties of the liquids to be mixed (volume specif ic), and takinq into L~
~ 202~905 account the specific ~ rPn~;n~ volume. Besides that, the device should meet all the requirements for simple and functional handling.
An apparatus which meets these requirements is characterized by the fact that a piston pump system is mounted onto the liquid container as a pF~ n-ont fixture, and that the piston pump system is equipped with mechanical connections for a pPrr-n~nt installation of the piston pump housing on the container and for coupling to an operational drive lever of a ~-^hAn;cAl drive installation which is permanently installed as part of the entire beverage dispenser unit.
The feature whereby the piston pump is integrally mounted onto the liquid storage container, and is designed to handle different types of liquids ~lpr~n~l;n~ on their physical and chemical properties as related to a certain delivery volume per work stroke, is achieved so that the stored storage container with its piston pump system containing the liquid that is to be delivered can be connected to a mechanical drive installation. This standardized mechanical drive device assures that the correct volume of a particular liquid is delivered per work stroke (pump cycle), again taking into account the physical-rh~n;c properties (liquid-specific, density) of the liquid.
This is particularly important when used in beverage dispensers in which these beverage concentrates are mixed with a diluent such as carbonated water for preparation of a post-mix beverage in which the con~el.LL~ ion of the beverage concentrate is in the proper proportion with the added amount of carbonated water. In this case, it is desirable that empty storage tanks are to be replaced with new tanks of the same type of beverage ~ .cel.~L~te and to install storage tanks with different types of beverage 20259~
concell~La~es according to the requests of the user. Errors related to service which may result in false mixing ratios are not possible with this newly invented device. The fact that the piston pump sy6tem has --~hAn;cAl connections to 5 a~ te a pPrr^n ~nt installation of the piston pump housing on the container and is designed to couple with operational elements of a p~ nc~ntly fixed drive installation guarantees a reliable and proper operation, and simple hAnal inq by service personnel. Inside the housing 10 (dispenser cabinet) of the apparatus the corresponding mounted and coupling counterparts are arranged in a way that the piston pump system with its storage tank rests on top of it can be inserted at the front side.
According to a preferred design, the invented 15 device is characterized by the fact that the storage tank contains a laminated, flexible bag which contains the stored liquid in the correct specified volume. Particularly, with respect to the transportation, stacking and hAn-ll; n~ the laminated bag of the storage tank is enclosed by a square-20 shaped cardboard container with rigid container walls to theoutside, so that the atmospheric balance to the inside is accounted for. With respect to a piston pump system, it is possible to use a laminated bag without air circulation in the inside as the suction power transferred onto the liquid 25 of the storage tank by way of the piston pump system assures a reliable dispensing volume, even if different counterforces permeating the walls of the laminated sack would cause a temporary collapse of the laminated sack.
When designed in another preferable way, the 30 invented device is characterized by a feature in which the piston pump system is c~mn~ct~d to the storage tank by way of a cone-shaped elastic intc a; ~te piece which holds the piston pump system in its working operation and located to ~ 5 ~ 2025905 the outside of the rigid edges of the storage tank, and when set up for transport and storage, the middle piece holds the piston pump system within its rigid borders of the liquid storage tank.
Another aspect of this invention is as follows:
An apparatus for dispensing metered quantities of bevcLc~gc ~u~ LAte for mixing with a diluent to produce a post-mix beverage comprising:
a storage tank for containing the beverage ~onc~=l.LL~Ite, said storage tank having a discharge opening through which the UlI` ell~L~te may flow by gravity;
positive displ ;-~ 1 pump means integrally connected with the storage tank at the discharge opening thereof for withdrawing cu~ lLL~lte through the discharge opening from the storage tank by suction into a housing of the pump means, and discharging metered quantities of concentrate from said pump housing through an outlet thereof for mixing with the diluent in response to reciprocating ~. ~ of an actuator of said pump means;
a cabinet for housing said storage tank for operative association with a supply o~ diluent, said cabinet including a coupling member therein for engaging the pump housing and rLgidly supporting the storage tank; and drive means in said cabinet for engaging the actuator of the pump means while the storage tank is rigidly supported and imparting said reciprocating vc L thereto to thereby ~11s~p~n~e _ol.~ clll L~.te from the outlet of the pump housing, said drive means including, .
- 5a - 2025905 a lever arm pivotally mounted in said cabinet and having a first forked end engaging the actuator of the pump means for imparting said reciprocating movement, said lever arm having a second forked end, a rotary cam engaged within the second forked end for pivoting said lever arm as said cam rotates to reciprocate said actuator, and a motor for rotating said cam.
' Further scope of appl i cAhi 1 i ty of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specif ic examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modif ications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
Brief De8cri~tion of the Drawinqs The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the A~ _ nying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a storage tank for a beverage concentrate with an integral device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 illustrates the combined storage tank and do6er of Figure 1 and connected with a mechanical drive 3 0 system in a beverage .1 i ~.pc.n~ ~ cabinet .
According to Figure 1, a ~3torage tank 1 is provided to contain beverage col~c~l.LL~.te 2, consisting of an inside-container (a bag) with flexible walls 3 and a box-shaped container 4 with rigid outside walls, such as -- 5b -cardboard, which encloses the inside container 3. The f lexible walls 3 of the inside container adapt to the stored inlet volume of beveragQ concentrate 2 --illustrated by the broken lines--and to the stored r- i n; nq volume of conc~ te 2 .., 202~0~
illustrated by the solid lines of the sketch. Thereby, it is important that air can get through cracks, op_n;n~A or through porous material of wall 4 and can enter between wall 4 and wall 3 so that wall 3 can adapt to the decreasing 5 volume of beverage concentrate 2. In the area of delivery location 5, the dispensing device is tightly connected with the wall 3 and wall 4 of the storage tank 1 by a cone 6 made of elastic material. The connections of cone 6 to the wall 4 results in a useful and desirable hAnfll inj stability.
When getting ready to be transported or in storage position, the cone 6 ' with the dispensing device 7 ' is retracted into the inner part of the storage container 1 as shown by the f igure of cone 6 ' indicated by interrupted lines. In operation in which the storage tank 1 is put into a beverage dispenser into which beverage c~ ce~ te is added by dispensing device 7 and to be mixed with carbonated water to make a complete refreshment beverage, cone 6 with the dispensing device 7 is pulled to the outside as shown by the illustration of a solid line.
The arr InAj~ L illustrated in Figure 2 is a portion of a beverage dispenser for dispensing of beverage concentrate 2 from a storage tank 1, whereby this beverage c.~ ate is to be mixed with carbonated water to make a post-mix beverage. Furthermore, in a cabinet 9 of the beverage dispenser/device housing 8 one or more storage tanks 1 are arranged side-by-side for beverage concentrates 2. In order to assure the desired mixing ratio with the second A~t~ that is carbonated water, a piston pump system is installed serving as a dosing device 7 by which the beverage 3 0 concentrate 2 is dispensed in measured amounts, stored and delivered in the proper way.
The piston pump system consists of a housing 13 which is insertable into the cabinet 8 of the beverage 2~2~905 dispenser and rests inside this housing facing the front.
Housing 13 of the piston pump system 7 includes a groove 14 into which a horse-shoe shaped protrusion of support 8 engages. Within this housing 13 of the piston pump system 5 7 there is a sliding accelerator piston 16 which is axially mounted between impact points. The lifting speed is based on these impact points which de~orminl~ the delivery volume for the beverage concentrate 2 to be ~ p-~nc~d based on a typical work cycle. A conduit opening 17 inside the housing 10 13 of the piston pump system 7 extends to a storage tank 1 and concentrically meets with a central conduit 18 in the accelerator piston 16 so that a shaft of control piston 19 can be run inside it which can be axially shifted. The axial ~ between control piston 19 and accelerator piston 16 15 is limited by the contact surfaces 27. The control piston 19 is driven by a lever 20 with a forked end which locks into a slot 22 of the control piston 19. The lever 20 is pivotally mounted around an axis 13 located in the rigid cabinet 9 and is driven by an eccentric 24 which is enclosed 20 in a forked end by a second lever arm 25 of the lever 20.
Eccentric 2~ is driven by a motor (not shown) which rotates it in the direction of the arrow.
If the eccentric 24 illustrated in Figure 1 keeps turning in a partial direction, the control piston 19 also 25 will be moved downward over the contact points 26 of accelerator piston 16 so that the beverage concentrate 2 rrom the storage tank 8 will be drawn into the piston pump system through the inlet opening 17. further turning of the eccentric 24 results in movement of the upper shaft of the 30 control piston 19 into the region of the inlet opening 17 which is closed off thereafter. When the control piston 19 moves further upward, the contact points 27 between control piston 19 and accelerator piston 16 come together so that the 202~905 accelerator piston 16 is moved upward along with the control piston 19.
The beverage cullc~ ate volume which was originally drawn into the piston pump system 7 by suction and 5 also into the control piston 19 thereafter is transported to a central delivery channel 29 by way of side r~h~nn~l c 28.
From this central delivery channel 29 the beverage ~ .ct:l-L~te arrives at a location where it is mixed with carbonated water. Various different work cycles can 10 accumulate and can be accounted for in numbers which enables an exact dosage determination and set up of delivery amounts of the individual work cycles as well as the amount of total work cycles at a given time.
The fixed conn~tion of the dispensing device 7 to 15 a particular storage tank 1 and thus to the stored beverage concentrate contained therein serves the purpose that the beverage concentrate volume ~l;cpc.nc~cl for each work cycle or work cycles by the dispensing device can immediately be det~rm;n~cl based on a particular type of beverage concentrate 20 and thus the required mixing ratio for the makeup of a refreshment beverage. The parts of the dispensing device 1 are preferably made of plastic.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such 25 variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one sk; lled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
APPARATUS FOR THE Dl~ ;N~lNG OF
LIQUIDS IN MEASURED AMOUNTS
Backaround of the Invention The present invention relates to a dosing device for the measured dispensing of liquids from a storage container, particularly for the measured dispensing of 5 beverage concentrates in an automatic beverage dispenser, where drinks can be prepared by mixing a base liquid, e.g.
carbonated water, and at least one b~v~L~ concentrate stored in a storage tank. The Dosing device is integrally connected with the storage container and the container/doser 10 combination is .li ~:poq~hle.
Such a device will preferably be able to provide, in automatic beverage (1 i qp~n~F~rs where carbonated water is mixed with beverage concentrates to make a soft drink, the beverage concentrates in controlled amounts from a storage 15 tank for the mixing process involved in the making of a post-mix beverage. In this connection it is particularly important, while utilizing the simplest possible means when measuring out the carbonated water, to also precisely measure out the dispensed beverage ~u.l~ellLl<ltes in order to achieve 20 with n~ cq~ry precision the desired mix proportions for the post-mix drink being prepared. These mix proportions shall achieve the same standard as the comparable ready-made (pre-mix) drinks on the market in bottles or cans.
For pl A~ L into automatic beverage dispensers 25 to ~ p-~nqe beverage cul~c~ LL~tes~ dosage chamber devices have been developed. These dosage chamber devices are attached to a storage tank with the dispensing mouth at the bottom. By means of a magnet system a control valve inside this dosage chamber device is raised from a lower position, 30 where the outlet port of the chamber is closed, to a higher position, where the inlet port of the chamber is closed, so that the contents of the dosage chamber can flow out ~y force of gravity. ~owever, the dosage chamber space can become filled with air. When the control valve resumes its lower positLon, the beverage ..c,l~cenLLc~te stored in the storage tank ends up in the dosage chamber by force of gravity, and any 5 air in the dosage chamber will flow into the storage tank.
The control force needed to activate the control valve is corrF~spon~in~ly slight, since no actual propulsion force need be produced. There are storage tanks with either rigid or flexible walls. In both cases there is an exchange of volume 10 through extracting b~v~Lc~a UU~ Lc~te6 by the use of air.
The above-described dosage chamber devices are very difficult to reduce in size due to te~hni~Al realities relating to size and the volume they dispense. They are above all suited for dispensing CO~C~ tes for l/lO drink 15 portion units. For smaller amountC greater problems with functioning and dosage precision are presented. So these known dosage chamber licp~nc~rs make it ~ fic~lt to dispense individual drinks on demand.
It is also generally known how to extract and 20 ~licp~nce liquid out of a flexible storage tank with the aid of a pump system. In such a system, a storage tank with flexible walls (bag-in-box containers) can be emptied without air having to flow into the storage tank for volume exchange.
However, for beverage co~ e-.~L~tes to achieve very precise 25 ii cp~nc~d amounts, these bag-in-box/pump systems have functional limitations.
0~ the Tnvention ~ hi~i invention in one aspect thereo~ pert~ ins to an apparatus for iicp~ncinq of liguids in measured amounts which 30 assures that the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir is dispensed by a standardized controlled delivery system taking into consideration the physical and chemical properties of the liquids to be mixed (volume specif ic), and takinq into L~
~ 202~905 account the specific ~ rPn~;n~ volume. Besides that, the device should meet all the requirements for simple and functional handling.
An apparatus which meets these requirements is characterized by the fact that a piston pump system is mounted onto the liquid container as a pF~ n-ont fixture, and that the piston pump system is equipped with mechanical connections for a pPrr-n~nt installation of the piston pump housing on the container and for coupling to an operational drive lever of a ~-^hAn;cAl drive installation which is permanently installed as part of the entire beverage dispenser unit.
The feature whereby the piston pump is integrally mounted onto the liquid storage container, and is designed to handle different types of liquids ~lpr~n~l;n~ on their physical and chemical properties as related to a certain delivery volume per work stroke, is achieved so that the stored storage container with its piston pump system containing the liquid that is to be delivered can be connected to a mechanical drive installation. This standardized mechanical drive device assures that the correct volume of a particular liquid is delivered per work stroke (pump cycle), again taking into account the physical-rh~n;c properties (liquid-specific, density) of the liquid.
This is particularly important when used in beverage dispensers in which these beverage concentrates are mixed with a diluent such as carbonated water for preparation of a post-mix beverage in which the con~el.LL~ ion of the beverage concentrate is in the proper proportion with the added amount of carbonated water. In this case, it is desirable that empty storage tanks are to be replaced with new tanks of the same type of beverage ~ .cel.~L~te and to install storage tanks with different types of beverage 20259~
concell~La~es according to the requests of the user. Errors related to service which may result in false mixing ratios are not possible with this newly invented device. The fact that the piston pump sy6tem has --~hAn;cAl connections to 5 a~ te a pPrr^n ~nt installation of the piston pump housing on the container and is designed to couple with operational elements of a p~ nc~ntly fixed drive installation guarantees a reliable and proper operation, and simple hAnal inq by service personnel. Inside the housing 10 (dispenser cabinet) of the apparatus the corresponding mounted and coupling counterparts are arranged in a way that the piston pump system with its storage tank rests on top of it can be inserted at the front side.
According to a preferred design, the invented 15 device is characterized by the fact that the storage tank contains a laminated, flexible bag which contains the stored liquid in the correct specified volume. Particularly, with respect to the transportation, stacking and hAn-ll; n~ the laminated bag of the storage tank is enclosed by a square-20 shaped cardboard container with rigid container walls to theoutside, so that the atmospheric balance to the inside is accounted for. With respect to a piston pump system, it is possible to use a laminated bag without air circulation in the inside as the suction power transferred onto the liquid 25 of the storage tank by way of the piston pump system assures a reliable dispensing volume, even if different counterforces permeating the walls of the laminated sack would cause a temporary collapse of the laminated sack.
When designed in another preferable way, the 30 invented device is characterized by a feature in which the piston pump system is c~mn~ct~d to the storage tank by way of a cone-shaped elastic intc a; ~te piece which holds the piston pump system in its working operation and located to ~ 5 ~ 2025905 the outside of the rigid edges of the storage tank, and when set up for transport and storage, the middle piece holds the piston pump system within its rigid borders of the liquid storage tank.
Another aspect of this invention is as follows:
An apparatus for dispensing metered quantities of bevcLc~gc ~u~ LAte for mixing with a diluent to produce a post-mix beverage comprising:
a storage tank for containing the beverage ~onc~=l.LL~Ite, said storage tank having a discharge opening through which the UlI` ell~L~te may flow by gravity;
positive displ ;-~ 1 pump means integrally connected with the storage tank at the discharge opening thereof for withdrawing cu~ lLL~lte through the discharge opening from the storage tank by suction into a housing of the pump means, and discharging metered quantities of concentrate from said pump housing through an outlet thereof for mixing with the diluent in response to reciprocating ~. ~ of an actuator of said pump means;
a cabinet for housing said storage tank for operative association with a supply o~ diluent, said cabinet including a coupling member therein for engaging the pump housing and rLgidly supporting the storage tank; and drive means in said cabinet for engaging the actuator of the pump means while the storage tank is rigidly supported and imparting said reciprocating vc L thereto to thereby ~11s~p~n~e _ol.~ clll L~.te from the outlet of the pump housing, said drive means including, .
- 5a - 2025905 a lever arm pivotally mounted in said cabinet and having a first forked end engaging the actuator of the pump means for imparting said reciprocating movement, said lever arm having a second forked end, a rotary cam engaged within the second forked end for pivoting said lever arm as said cam rotates to reciprocate said actuator, and a motor for rotating said cam.
' Further scope of appl i cAhi 1 i ty of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specif ic examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modif ications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
Brief De8cri~tion of the Drawinqs The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the A~ _ nying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a storage tank for a beverage concentrate with an integral device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 illustrates the combined storage tank and do6er of Figure 1 and connected with a mechanical drive 3 0 system in a beverage .1 i ~.pc.n~ ~ cabinet .
According to Figure 1, a ~3torage tank 1 is provided to contain beverage col~c~l.LL~.te 2, consisting of an inside-container (a bag) with flexible walls 3 and a box-shaped container 4 with rigid outside walls, such as -- 5b -cardboard, which encloses the inside container 3. The f lexible walls 3 of the inside container adapt to the stored inlet volume of beveragQ concentrate 2 --illustrated by the broken lines--and to the stored r- i n; nq volume of conc~ te 2 .., 202~0~
illustrated by the solid lines of the sketch. Thereby, it is important that air can get through cracks, op_n;n~A or through porous material of wall 4 and can enter between wall 4 and wall 3 so that wall 3 can adapt to the decreasing 5 volume of beverage concentrate 2. In the area of delivery location 5, the dispensing device is tightly connected with the wall 3 and wall 4 of the storage tank 1 by a cone 6 made of elastic material. The connections of cone 6 to the wall 4 results in a useful and desirable hAnfll inj stability.
When getting ready to be transported or in storage position, the cone 6 ' with the dispensing device 7 ' is retracted into the inner part of the storage container 1 as shown by the f igure of cone 6 ' indicated by interrupted lines. In operation in which the storage tank 1 is put into a beverage dispenser into which beverage c~ ce~ te is added by dispensing device 7 and to be mixed with carbonated water to make a complete refreshment beverage, cone 6 with the dispensing device 7 is pulled to the outside as shown by the illustration of a solid line.
The arr InAj~ L illustrated in Figure 2 is a portion of a beverage dispenser for dispensing of beverage concentrate 2 from a storage tank 1, whereby this beverage c.~ ate is to be mixed with carbonated water to make a post-mix beverage. Furthermore, in a cabinet 9 of the beverage dispenser/device housing 8 one or more storage tanks 1 are arranged side-by-side for beverage concentrates 2. In order to assure the desired mixing ratio with the second A~t~ that is carbonated water, a piston pump system is installed serving as a dosing device 7 by which the beverage 3 0 concentrate 2 is dispensed in measured amounts, stored and delivered in the proper way.
The piston pump system consists of a housing 13 which is insertable into the cabinet 8 of the beverage 2~2~905 dispenser and rests inside this housing facing the front.
Housing 13 of the piston pump system 7 includes a groove 14 into which a horse-shoe shaped protrusion of support 8 engages. Within this housing 13 of the piston pump system 5 7 there is a sliding accelerator piston 16 which is axially mounted between impact points. The lifting speed is based on these impact points which de~orminl~ the delivery volume for the beverage concentrate 2 to be ~ p-~nc~d based on a typical work cycle. A conduit opening 17 inside the housing 10 13 of the piston pump system 7 extends to a storage tank 1 and concentrically meets with a central conduit 18 in the accelerator piston 16 so that a shaft of control piston 19 can be run inside it which can be axially shifted. The axial ~ between control piston 19 and accelerator piston 16 15 is limited by the contact surfaces 27. The control piston 19 is driven by a lever 20 with a forked end which locks into a slot 22 of the control piston 19. The lever 20 is pivotally mounted around an axis 13 located in the rigid cabinet 9 and is driven by an eccentric 24 which is enclosed 20 in a forked end by a second lever arm 25 of the lever 20.
Eccentric 2~ is driven by a motor (not shown) which rotates it in the direction of the arrow.
If the eccentric 24 illustrated in Figure 1 keeps turning in a partial direction, the control piston 19 also 25 will be moved downward over the contact points 26 of accelerator piston 16 so that the beverage concentrate 2 rrom the storage tank 8 will be drawn into the piston pump system through the inlet opening 17. further turning of the eccentric 24 results in movement of the upper shaft of the 30 control piston 19 into the region of the inlet opening 17 which is closed off thereafter. When the control piston 19 moves further upward, the contact points 27 between control piston 19 and accelerator piston 16 come together so that the 202~905 accelerator piston 16 is moved upward along with the control piston 19.
The beverage cullc~ ate volume which was originally drawn into the piston pump system 7 by suction and 5 also into the control piston 19 thereafter is transported to a central delivery channel 29 by way of side r~h~nn~l c 28.
From this central delivery channel 29 the beverage ~ .ct:l-L~te arrives at a location where it is mixed with carbonated water. Various different work cycles can 10 accumulate and can be accounted for in numbers which enables an exact dosage determination and set up of delivery amounts of the individual work cycles as well as the amount of total work cycles at a given time.
The fixed conn~tion of the dispensing device 7 to 15 a particular storage tank 1 and thus to the stored beverage concentrate contained therein serves the purpose that the beverage concentrate volume ~l;cpc.nc~cl for each work cycle or work cycles by the dispensing device can immediately be det~rm;n~cl based on a particular type of beverage concentrate 20 and thus the required mixing ratio for the makeup of a refreshment beverage. The parts of the dispensing device 1 are preferably made of plastic.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such 25 variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one sk; lled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (8)
1. An apparatus for dispensing metered quantities of beverage concentrate for mixing with a diluent to produce a post-mix beverage comprising:
a storage tank for containing the beverage concentrate, said storage tank having a discharge opening through which the concentrate may flow by gravity;
positive displacement pump means integrally connected with the storage tank at the discharge opening thereof for withdrawing concentrate through the discharge opening from the storage tank by suction into a housing of the pump means, and discharging metered quantities of concentrate from said pump housing through an outlet thereof for mixing with the diluent in response to reciprocating movement of an actuator of said pump means;
a cabinet for housing said storage tank for operative association with a supply of diluent, said cabinet including a coupling member therein for engaging the pump housing and rigidly supporting the storage tank; and drive means in said cabinet for engaging the actuator of the pump means while the storage tank is rigidly supported and imparting said reciprocating movement thereto to thereby dispense concentrate from the outlet of the pump housing, said drive means including, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said cabinet and having a first forked end engaging the actuator of the pump means for imparting said reciprocating movement, said lever arm having a second forked end, a rotary cam engaged within the second forked end for pivoting said lever arm as said cam rotates to reciprocate said actuator, and a motor for rotating said cam.
a storage tank for containing the beverage concentrate, said storage tank having a discharge opening through which the concentrate may flow by gravity;
positive displacement pump means integrally connected with the storage tank at the discharge opening thereof for withdrawing concentrate through the discharge opening from the storage tank by suction into a housing of the pump means, and discharging metered quantities of concentrate from said pump housing through an outlet thereof for mixing with the diluent in response to reciprocating movement of an actuator of said pump means;
a cabinet for housing said storage tank for operative association with a supply of diluent, said cabinet including a coupling member therein for engaging the pump housing and rigidly supporting the storage tank; and drive means in said cabinet for engaging the actuator of the pump means while the storage tank is rigidly supported and imparting said reciprocating movement thereto to thereby dispense concentrate from the outlet of the pump housing, said drive means including, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said cabinet and having a first forked end engaging the actuator of the pump means for imparting said reciprocating movement, said lever arm having a second forked end, a rotary cam engaged within the second forked end for pivoting said lever arm as said cam rotates to reciprocate said actuator, and a motor for rotating said cam.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said storage tank comprises a substantially rigid outer container and a flexible bag therein, said flexible bag containing said concentrate, said discharge opening being formed through aligned openings in both said outer container and flexible bag.
3. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said positive displacement pump means is a piston pump.
4. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein the integral connection between the pump means and storage tank is a flexible membrane movable between inboard and outboard positions of a wall of the storage tank in which said discharge opening is disposed such that said pump means is also movable to inboard and outboard positions with respect to the wall of the storage tank.
5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said positive displacement pump means is a piston pump.
6. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the integral connection between the pump means and storage tank is a flexible membrane movable between inboard and outboard positions of a wall of the storage tank in which said discharge opening is disposed such that said pump means is also movable to inboard and outboard positions with respect to the wall of the storage tank.
7. The apparatus of Claim 6 wherein said positive displacement pump means is a piston pump.
8. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said positive displacement pump means is a piston pump.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/410,882 US5058780A (en) | 1989-09-22 | 1989-09-22 | Dosing system for an unvented container |
| US410,882 | 1989-09-22 | ||
| DEP3940877.9 | 1989-12-11 | ||
| DE19893940877 DE3940877A1 (en) | 1989-12-11 | 1989-12-11 | Liq. dispenser with reservoir and pump |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2025905A1 CA2025905A1 (en) | 1991-03-23 |
| CA2025905C true CA2025905C (en) | 1996-10-01 |
Family
ID=25887869
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002025905A Expired - Fee Related CA2025905C (en) | 1989-09-22 | 1990-09-21 | Apparatus for dispensing liquids in measured amounts |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0418927B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2610604B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR910006141A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE97636T1 (en) |
| AU (2) | AU644100B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2025905C (en) |
| DD (1) | DD297616A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE59003590D1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK0418927T3 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2046639T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0418927B1 (en) * | 1989-09-22 | 1993-11-24 | BOSCH-SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GmbH | Dispensing device for metered quantities of liquids |
| US5312017A (en) * | 1991-08-30 | 1994-05-17 | The Coca-Cola Company | Product identification system for beverage dispenser |
| US5211314A (en) * | 1991-12-27 | 1993-05-18 | Ebtech, Inc. | Syrup dispenser and valve assembly |
| US7905373B2 (en) * | 2006-03-06 | 2011-03-15 | Deka Products Limited Partnership | System and method for generating a drive signal |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2464030A (en) * | 1946-05-31 | 1949-03-08 | Oscar L Engstrom | Liquid measuring dispenser |
| FR1064626A (en) * | 1951-02-20 | 1954-05-17 | Bahrmann & Cie | Piston pouring cap |
| US4015755A (en) * | 1975-12-12 | 1977-04-05 | Edward Lerner | Electromagnetically actuatable metering valve for successive delivery of measured volumes of fluid from a fluid reservoir |
| DK146933C (en) * | 1978-11-01 | 1984-07-30 | Sterwin Ag | PORTION PUMPS |
| ATE1358T1 (en) * | 1978-11-21 | 1982-08-15 | Sterwin Ag. | DEVICE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF VISCOUS SUBSTANCES LIKE PASTE OR CREAM. |
| WO1980002546A1 (en) * | 1979-05-11 | 1980-11-27 | M Quinsee | Improved dispensing valve |
| US4854721A (en) * | 1986-03-25 | 1989-08-08 | Equip-Mark, Inc. | Blending and dispensing beverages |
| DE3622777A1 (en) * | 1986-07-07 | 1988-02-04 | Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete | ARRANGEMENT FOR PREPARING AND DOSING DISPENSING OF LIQUIDS |
| JPS6382994A (en) * | 1986-09-19 | 1988-04-13 | トキコ株式会社 | Lubrication control system |
| EP0418927B1 (en) * | 1989-09-22 | 1993-11-24 | BOSCH-SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GmbH | Dispensing device for metered quantities of liquids |
-
1990
- 1990-09-21 EP EP90118208A patent/EP0418927B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-09-21 AT AT90118208T patent/ATE97636T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-09-21 DD DD90344137A patent/DD297616A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-09-21 DK DK90118208.9T patent/DK0418927T3/en active
- 1990-09-21 DE DE90118208T patent/DE59003590D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-09-21 ES ES199090118208T patent/ES2046639T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-09-21 CA CA002025905A patent/CA2025905C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-09-22 KR KR1019900015123A patent/KR910006141A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1990-09-24 AU AU63168/90A patent/AU644100B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1990-09-24 AU AU63176/90A patent/AU641180B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1990-09-25 JP JP2254991A patent/JP2610604B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU6317690A (en) | 1991-03-28 |
| CA2025905A1 (en) | 1991-03-23 |
| JPH03212398A (en) | 1991-09-17 |
| DD297616A5 (en) | 1992-01-16 |
| AU6316890A (en) | 1991-03-28 |
| ATE97636T1 (en) | 1993-12-15 |
| EP0418927B1 (en) | 1993-11-24 |
| EP0418927A1 (en) | 1991-03-27 |
| AU644100B2 (en) | 1993-12-02 |
| DK0418927T3 (en) | 1994-04-25 |
| JP2610604B2 (en) | 1997-05-14 |
| KR910006141A (en) | 1991-04-27 |
| AU641180B2 (en) | 1993-09-16 |
| DE59003590D1 (en) | 1994-01-05 |
| ES2046639T3 (en) | 1994-02-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |