GB1242133A - Improvements in hot beverage vending machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,242,133. Dispensing beverages. GKN SANKEY Ltd. 27 March, 1969 [27 March, 1968], No. 14610/68. Heading A4T. [Also in Division G3] A boiler in a hot beverage vending machine, e.g. a tea dispenser, is fitted with a thermostatic controlled immersion heater, the boiler having a vent outlet and a thermostatic element responsive to an increase in temperature in the outlet. The boiler may supply a plurality of dispensing stations. The water supply to a boiler 13 passes through a heat exchanger 14, a chamber 41, solenoid-operated valves 21, 20, filter 18 and a pressure regulator 16. Vapour from the boiler passes along a pipe 31 into a chamber 39 in thermal relation with the chamber 41 which houses a thermostatic element which controls the supply to an electric heater 40. The boiler includes a pair of low and high water thermal float switches 44, 45, the former being in circuit with the heater 40 and the latter closing valves 20, 21. The boiler houses immersed pumps 10-12, the latter feeding hot water direct to a teamaking station 28 and the former selectively passing hot water through the heat exchanger 14 either to a coffee or chocolate making station 26 or a soup making station 27. The type of beverage desired and energization of the appropriate pump is selected by a manual switch (not shown). A fan (not shown) may be provided to draw water vapour from the boiler 13 into chamber 39, condensation from which falls into a bucket 37 fitted with an anti-flood switch 38 which closes valves 20, 21 at a determined water level. Whipper units 48, 49 may be associated with the stations 26, 27 respectively. The control of elements to dispense tea, soup, coffee, chocolate, &c. and a mechanism for disposing of spent tea leaves are not particularly described in the specification.