EP0295132A2 - Méthode et appareil pour distribuer des matériaux susceptibles de couler - Google Patents

Méthode et appareil pour distribuer des matériaux susceptibles de couler Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0295132A2
EP0295132A2 EP88305339A EP88305339A EP0295132A2 EP 0295132 A2 EP0295132 A2 EP 0295132A2 EP 88305339 A EP88305339 A EP 88305339A EP 88305339 A EP88305339 A EP 88305339A EP 0295132 A2 EP0295132 A2 EP 0295132A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
valve
magnetic field
dispensing
beverage
field response
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88305339A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0295132A3 (fr
Inventor
Brian Schoepe
Derek William Green
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0295132A2 publication Critical patent/EP0295132A2/fr
Publication of EP0295132A3 publication Critical patent/EP0295132A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D3/0058—Details
    • B67D3/0077—Electronic circuitry
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C11/00—Funnels, e.g. for liquids
    • B67C11/06—Funnels, e.g. for liquids with automatic discharge valves
    • B67C11/063—Funnels, e.g. for liquids with automatic discharge valves for preventing spilling or dripping
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C11/00—Funnels, e.g. for liquids
    • B67C11/06—Funnels, e.g. for liquids with automatic discharge valves
    • B67C11/066—Funnels, e.g. for liquids with automatic discharge valves for preventing overflow of the filled container
    • 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
    • B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D2210/00028—Constructional details
    • B67D2210/00141—Other parts
    • B67D2210/00144—Magnets, e.g. used in valves or for stirring

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in beverage and beverage component dispensing machines for dispensing flowable materials, and to beverage dispensing machines incorporating same.
  • An example of the application of the invention is to devices for dispensing tea, coffee, milk, cocoa, sugar and other dry flowable beverage component materials.
  • the invention is also applicable to dispensing liquid beverages and liquids used in beverages.
  • Previous proposals in this field such as GB 1518796 include devices for dispensing tea, coffee, etc., in which a solenoid operated valve controlling material flow is arranged so that the degree of valve opening is controlled by adjustable stop means which limits the travel of the solenoid and in this way limits the movement of the valve member in its opening direction. It will be understood that in this field it is essential that the degree of valve opening is well controlled so that the amount of material dispensed is likewise well controlled.
  • the armature of the solenoid is mounted for centralised sliding movement in spaced parallel guide members.
  • the shortcomings of the prior art mentioned above include the noise generated by the solenoid during dispensing. This is particularly unacceptable for beverage dispensing machines for use in offices. Also, the valve assembly tends to jam during use. Moreover, the valve assembly comprises many individual components and thus is relatively expensive to manufacture and maintain.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide improvements in relation to one or more of the shortcomings of the prior art as discussed above, or generally.
  • a method and apparatus for dispensing fluid media under external control can be manual,mechanical, electronic, electrical, or any combination of these.
  • the device operates as follows. An electrical potential difference is applied to the field winding of a solenoid. This creates a magnetic field which attracts the armature thereof. The armature is attached to a valve member which opens as the armature is moved, thereby allowing fluid media to pass through an associated valve seat from a hopper into a funnel. When the solenoid is de-energised, a return spring returns the valve to its closed condition.
  • the primary use of the apparatus is for dispensing powders used in beverage dispensing machines.
  • valve member is arranged to be self-centring by means of single point mounting on a bridge support member. This removes the need for critical alignment of the assembly during manufacture, and readjustment during use.
  • the armature of the solenoid is allowed in use to find its own centre position.
  • the armature is lengthwise adjustable on the stem of the valve assembly. Adjustment is by screw means. The setting determines the distance that the valve opens away from its seat during use, and this likewise determines the amount of flowable material that is allowed to pass in a given time.
  • armature is allowed to find its own centre position, of equilibrium, and this defines the valve open condition of the valve, this makes for extremely quiet operation as compared with those solenoids which work against a stop, which emit an annoying buzzing noise during dispensing, which is unacceptable in offices.
  • a return spring for the valve assembly is provided.
  • the connection of the spring to the valve stem is adjustable, thereby enabling adjustment of the spring compression to compensate for wear.
  • the embodiment can be manufactured in any size to suit particular applications.
  • the valve member and the valve seat can be made as one piece mouldings. The absence of an adjusting mechanism at the top of the valve stem assembly means that there is little to impede the flow of material from the supply into the receptacle.
  • the solenoid operated valve moves to the end position of the solenoid on energising same.
  • the end position of the solenoid can be adjusted to suit the degree of opening required for the valve.
  • the armature of the solenoid can adopt an equilibrium position, and indeed always does so in use. This avoids the problems of the prior art in which misalignment of the solenoid with respect to its support and guides produces jamming in use. This arises particularly from abuse of the machine by users attempting to cause it to dispense without (for example) inserting the necessary coin.
  • a beverage dispensing machine 10 comprises a reservoir or hopper 12 for flowable material such as powdered tea or coffee or cocoa or sugar or the like.
  • This ingredient hopper has a base wall 14 formed with a central circular opening 16 through which material from the hopper can flow into a funnel 18 for delivery below into a drinking vessel (not shown ).
  • a valve assembly 20 operated by a solenoid 22. Operation of solenoid 22 causes a valve member 24 to move in the generally up and down direction to open and close the valve. The valve member seats against the opening 16 in the base wall 14 of the hopper.
  • Valve member 24 has a generally frusto-conical valve-­seating surface 26 which seats against opening 16.
  • the valve member also comprises upper and lower valve stem portions 28 and 30 respectively.
  • the lower stem portion is formed with a screw thread 32 on which the armature or field response member 34 of solenoid 22 is screw-threadedly received for position-adjustment lengthwise of the stem portion 30.
  • the armature 34 is controlled by the solenoid field winding 36 which is electrically energised in the usual way.
  • the upper valve stem portion 28 is of smaller diameter than portion 30 and extends freely and slidably through a bridge or support structure 38 comprising legs 40,42 between which the powder to be dispensed freely flows to opening 16.
  • the support 38 is mounted on hopper base 14 and supports the valve member through a return spring 44 which is connected to stem 28 through a clip 46 which frictionally grips the stem but is manually position adjustable to adjust spring compression for wear.
  • valve member 24 is caused in its position of rest to be held by return spring 44 in the closed position shown in the drawing with surface 26 sealing valve opening 16.
  • the solenoid armature 34 On energising solenoid field winding 36, the solenoid armature 34 is urged by the magnetic field generally downwards so as to open the valve against the action of return spring 44.
  • the valve member freely slides through bridge 38 until it reaches a position of equilibrium. In this position it is supported from bridge 38 through spring 44 at a single point, namely the apex of the bridge.
  • the armature 34 is thus free to swing laterally from this point of suspension so that it can take up its position of equilibrium in the magnetic field with two degrees of freedom, namely up and down and lateral or sideways movement. Indeed, as the armature moves to its position of equilibrium or rest in the energised field, so this movement opens the valve to a predetermined extent.
  • return spring 44 causes the valve to close and the flow of material which commenced on opening the valve then ceases.
  • armature 34 In order to adjust the dispensing apparatus to produce the required quantity of material in a given beverage cup, all that is needed is to adjust armature 34 lengthwise on stem portion 30. Finger grip formations may be provided on the armature for this purpose.
  • the armature will always adopt substantially the same end position in the field of winding 36, but according to its adjustment on stem portion 30, the degree of valve opening will vary. This simple mechanical adjustment is easy and safe for the user to effect.
  • valve member and its armature are supported throug a spring from the single location provided by the top of bridge structure 38, the armature can adopt a position of equilibrium freely within the solenoid field and thereby avoids the generation of noise in its energised, valve-open position, which has been a problem with prior art apparatus.
  • the provision of a solenoid armature which is length adjustable relative to the valve member provides significant advantages, particularly in relation to solenoid-generated noise, by permitting simple manual adjustment of the degree of valve opening and thus of the rate dispensing during a given dispensing period.
  • the ability of the solenoid armature to adopt its own position of equilibrium or rest while being resiliently supported from the single point above in the manner of a pendulum likewise reduces noise generation and simplifies assembly and avoids the problems of jamming which have hitherto existed.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
EP88305339A 1987-06-12 1988-06-10 Méthode et appareil pour distribuer des matériaux susceptibles de couler Withdrawn EP0295132A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8713749 1987-06-12
GB878713749A GB8713749D0 (en) 1987-06-12 1987-06-12 Dispensing flowable materials

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0295132A2 true EP0295132A2 (fr) 1988-12-14
EP0295132A3 EP0295132A3 (fr) 1989-06-28

Family

ID=10618798

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88305339A Withdrawn EP0295132A3 (fr) 1987-06-12 1988-06-10 Méthode et appareil pour distribuer des matériaux susceptibles de couler

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0295132A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB8713749D0 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0466018A1 (fr) * 1990-07-13 1992-01-15 Hydraulik-Ring Gmbh Soupape magnétique proportionnelle

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3343721A (en) * 1965-07-02 1967-09-26 Warren D Paley Dispensing device for liquids
FR2169060A1 (fr) * 1972-01-28 1973-09-07 Cafe Bar Ltd
GB1518796A (en) * 1974-09-28 1978-07-26 Brown Schoepe & Parr Ltd Dispensing valves

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3343721A (en) * 1965-07-02 1967-09-26 Warren D Paley Dispensing device for liquids
FR2169060A1 (fr) * 1972-01-28 1973-09-07 Cafe Bar Ltd
GB1518796A (en) * 1974-09-28 1978-07-26 Brown Schoepe & Parr Ltd Dispensing valves

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0466018A1 (fr) * 1990-07-13 1992-01-15 Hydraulik-Ring Gmbh Soupape magnétique proportionnelle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8713749D0 (en) 1987-07-15
EP0295132A3 (fr) 1989-06-28

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