GB2024159A - Beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A beverage dispenser having a base (12) and a bowl (10) mounted on the base, and the bowl contains the beverage to be dispensed. An outlet in the bowl bottom is connected by means of a duct (60) to the top of a spray tube, and a solenoid valve (66) controls the outlet. A timed control circuit is connected to the solenoid for opening the valve for a prescribed period to discharge a uniform drink size through the open valve regardless of the amount of beverage in the bowl. A refrigeration system is mounted in the base and includes an evaporator (18) extending into the bowl for cooling the beverage. A pump (20) in the bowl circulates the beverage about the surface of the evaporator to promote the heat exchange between the beverage and the evaporator. The pump also directs beverage up the spray tube (24) to create an animated visual display of the beverage in the bowl. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Beverage dispenser This invention relates to beverage dispensers having timed portion control. More particularly, this invention is an improvement over the portion control disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,385,413.

It is, of course essential in time controlled dispensers to obtain a uniform drink size for a selected "valve open" time. Such a requirement is particularly obvious in coin-operated vending dispensers where, upon the actuation of a switch by the coin, the valve controlling the beverage flow is opened for a pre-determined period.

Uniform drink size cannot be achieved with timed portion control when the beverage is drawn directly from a stored volume such as the bowl of a visual display vending machine because the flow rate from the bowl decreases as the square root of the liquid head of beverage in the bowl. Other means have been used to obtain a fixed volume such as is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,385,413 supra. As shown in that patent, a fixed volume container is filled by circulation of the pump in the bowl.

While the technique shown in Patent No. 3,385,413 is extremely accurate, it has certain disadvantages.

First, the fixed volume container in the bowl requires two orthree seconds for filling, and, therefore, drinks cannot be drawn continuously from the system. Second, the system requires that the pump be stopped as the beverage is being drawn from the fixed volume container, to preserve the metering accuracy of the system. Third, the system does not afford easy changing of drink size, for in order to change the drink size it is necessary to replace the fixed volume container in the bowl. Fourth, the fixed volume container used makes cleaning of the dispenser somewhat complicated. Fifth, the use of these volumes add to the cost of the unit and would require an initial tooling charge for the plastic molds for these parts.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a beverage dispenser comprising a bowl for containing beverage to be dispensed, a tube in the bowl extending upwardly from its bottom toward the top of the bowl and a pump connected to the tube and to the bowl for directing beverage in the bowl up the tube, an outlet at the bottom of the bowl for dispensing beverage in the bowl, an electrically operated valve for opening and closing the outlet, a duct connected to the upper portion of the tube and the outlet for discharging beverage pumped up the tube through the outlet, and a timer circuit electrical ly connected to the valve for opening the valve for a preselected time period.

Tests have shown that the flow rate remains virtually unchanged whether the bowl is full or at a minimum beverage level.

This invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a beverage dispenser embodying this invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the pump, spray tube, duct, bowl outlet and solenoid valve of the dispenser; and Figure 3 is a simplified schematic diagram showing the electrical control circuitforthe solenoid valve.

The beverage dispenser shown in the drawing includes a transparent bowl 10 mounted on a base 12 designed to be placed upon a counter or other flat supporting surface. A discharge outlet 14 is provided in the bottom wall 22 at the front of the bowl for drawing beverage from it, and a drip tray 16 is located beneath the outlet. Within the bowl 10 is an evaporator dome 18 which forms part of a refrigeration system (not shown) within the base 12. The dome 18 is designed to cool the beverage in the bowl to the desired drinking temperature.

A circulating pump 20 is mounted on bottom wall 22 of the bowl, and the pump may be of the form shown in the dispenser of above mentioned patent.

The pump includes an outlet (not shown) for circulating the beverage in the bowl about the evaporator dome 18 so as to promote the heat exchange relationship between the beverage and the evaporator.

The pump also includes an outlet 23 at its top, which carries a spray tube 24 that extends upwardly in the bowl 10, with the upper open end 26 of the tube adjacent the bowl cover 28. The pump 20 has an impeller 30 that carries a permanent magnet 32 disposed closely adjacent to the permanent magnet 34 in the base 12 on the other side of the bowl botton wall 22. The permanent magnet 34 in the base is driven by the motor 36, and operation of the motor causes the pump 20 to operate. As is explained in detail below, the pump runs continuously so as to circulate the beverage in the bowl to maximize the operation of the evaporator 18.

Discharge outlet 14 in the bottom wall 22 of the bowl forward of the stand 12 is provided with a collar 40 having an upwardly facing stepped seat 42 that receives hose coupling 44. The coupling has a first section 46 that fits into the collar 40 and engages the seat 42, a section 48 that extends upwardly into the interior of the bowl, and a flange 50 that sits on the top surface of bottom wall 22 about the opening 14.

A duct 60 having its lower end connected to the hose coupling 44 is connected at its upper end to nipple 62 formed on the upper end 64 of spray tube 24. The nipple 62 diverts a portion of the beverage flow up the spray tube and discharges the beverage through the outlet 14. A solenoid valve 66 is connected to the lower end of collar 40 and the outlet by means of a sleeve 68, and the solenoid valve opens and closes outlet 14 to control the discharge of beverage from the bowl.

The solenoid valve 66 is time controlled, and a simplified coin-operated control circuit for the solenoid is suggested schematically in Figure 3. In that drawing, coin-operated switch 70 is shown in circuit with the coil of a relay 72 and the coil is energized upon closing of the switch 70. The energized relay 72 closes switch 74 which in turn starts the timer motor 76. The timer motor drives two cams 78 and 80. Cam 80 controls switch 82 which forms a running circuit for the timer motor once it is instantaneously energized by the closing of switch 74, and cam 78 controls switch 84 which energizes the solenoid coil 86 forming part of the solenoid valve assembly 66.

Thus, each time the coin actuated switch 70 is energized, the solenoid valve 66 is opened for a prescribed period set by the cam 80 which allows the motor to run for one revolution of the motor shaft 77.

It is to be understood that the circuit described in Figure 3 is merely representative of a number of circuits which may be used, and the details of the circuit do not form part of this invention. Rather, the invention is broad enough to encompass the use of any time controlled solenoid valve for controlling the period during which beverage may discharge from the bowl.

In operation the beverage dispenser performs as follows. The cup to be filled with the beverage in the bowl may be placed on the drip tray 16, or alternatively it may be held beneath and immediately adjacent to the outlet 14 in the bowl. The motor which drives the pump 20 continuously operates, and therefore the pump constantly circulates the beverage in the bowl to promote the cooling of the beverage as it flows about the evaporator surface. In addition, beverage is continuously driven up the spray tube 24, and when the valve 66 is closed, the beverage is discharged from the upper end of the spray tube against the cover 28, and it runs down the sides of the bowl to create an appealing animated visual image. When the beverage is to be withdrawn from the bowl, a coin is deposited in the coin slot, which actuates the timer circuit shown in Figure 3.

The solenoid valve 66 is thereby opened, and beverage from the top of the spray tube is diverted through nipple 62 and duct 60 and discharges through the solenoid valve into the cup disposed beneath the outlet 14. After the selected timed period, the valve 66 closes to stop the dispensing cycle.

In one embodiment of the invention, pump 20 generates approximately 18 to 20 inches of pressure in the duct 16 when valve 66 is open, and the nipple 62 is approximately 10 inches above outlet 14.

Therefore, a substantial portion of the head for discharging the beverage is achieved by virtue of the height of the spray tube itself, and the flow rate does not depend upon the level of the beverage in the bowl.

Consequently the flow rate through the duct 60 when the valve is open remains virtually constant regardless of the amount of beverage in the bowl.

Thus, the dispenser achieves a constant flow rate so as to provide a uniform volume of discharge for a selected time interval without the use of metering cups or other devices, etc. which complicate and make more costly the dispensing system.

It will also be appreciated that cups may be filled one immediately after another upon the actuation of the starting switch 70. And throughout the operation, the pump 20 may remain operative. When the valve 66 closes, all of the flow through the spray tube is discharged out its upper end and creates the visual display.

It will also be understood that starting switch 70 may be coin actuated or operated by a starter button of any other means. It is only necessary that the motor run for a measured time period to obtain the results desired. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the timer circuit in practice may have some means for varying the time interval of the dispensing operation to enable the operator to vary the size of the drink discharged.

While the system has been described in terms of a specific dispenser, it will be understood that the same system may be used in other dispensers as well. Therefore, it is not intended that the breadth of this invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A beverage dispenser comprising a bowl for containing beverage to be dispensed, a tube in the bowl extending upwardly from its bottom toward the top of the bowl and a pump connected to the tube and to the bowl for directing beverage in the bowl up the tube, an outlet at the bottom of the bowl for dispensing beverage in the bowl, an electrically operated valve for opening and closing the outlet, a duct connected to the upper portion of the tube and the outlet for discharging beverage pumped up the tube through the outlet, and a timer circuit electrically connected to the valve for opening the valve for a preselected time period.

2. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for continuously operating the pump independently of the condition af the valve.

3. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a refrigeration system including an evaporator is mounted in the bowl for cooling the beverage in the bowl, a circulator being provided in the bowl for causing the beverage in the bowl to move in contact with the evaporator to promote the heat exchange between the beverage and the evaporator.

4. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tube is connected to the circulator and extends upwardly in the bowl above the normal maximum beverage level therein for discharging at least a portion of the beverage from the circulator above the beverage in the bowl.

5. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the circulator includes the pump in the bowl and a motor in a base for driving the pump.

6. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve is connected to the outlet outside the bowl.

7. A beverage dispenser substantially as hereindescribed with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.