GB2146620A - Beverage dispensing systems - Google Patents

Abstract

In a beverage dispensing system for the dispensing of juice and still water simultaneously at a dispensing head, the juice is supplied from a sealed container 20 by means of a pump 26 contained in a line 22 connecting the sealed container and dispensing head 12, whilst the water is supplied through a solenoid valve 34, a regulator 36 and refrigeration unit 38. The juice line is connected to the sealed container by quick release valve coupling arrangement 24 of the type ensuring that when the line and package are disconnected, the juice is prevented from flowing from both the package and the line through the respective valve connections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to beverage dispensing systems This invention relates to beverage dispensing systems, and in particular concerns a system for the dispensing of a beverage which is made up of a concentrate, such as a syrup or juice, and still water (as opposed to carbonated water) and where reference is made herein to beverage, it is intended that such a still beverage be intended. The invention has particular application to the provision of a beverage which comprises a juice such as orange juice, and therefore the expression juice will be used hereinafter only in the interest of simplicity, but it is intended that the invention should not necessarily be limited to this particular material. The diluent will normally be water.

Presently known juice dispensers as used in cafeterias, snack bars and like public places suffer from a number of serious disadvantages which have not been satisfactorily resolved. The known dispensers comprise essentially a large tank into which the juice and diluent are loaded, and in which they are mixed by means of a continuously or intermittently rotated paddle. The top surface of the mixed beverage is exposed to the atmosphere.

In some cases, there is no natural fruit juice in the beverage, the "juice" portion being made up entirely of artificial material.

Coupled to the storage tank, which is invariably translucent so that the beverage can be seen by the purchaser, is a dispensing valve which is operated for the dispensing of a portion of beverage on request.

The main problem with such a dispensing system is that the diluted juice is more readily liable to contamination as a result of bacterial activity, such bacterial activity being caused by the dilution of the juice and the exposure of the diluted juice to the atmosphere over a large surface. The known dispensing system furthermore is open to abuse insofar as an unscrupulous operator could well over dilute the beverage to increase profits, and the present dispensing system is unsightly and takes up a large amount of counter space.

The present invention is concerned with a dispensing system in which said disadvantages will be obviated or mitigated, and is particularly concerned with a system which will provide a fresh, refrigerated beverage of high and consistent quality.

The system according to the invention comprises a dispensing head and leading to said head a juice line and a diluent line arranged so that the diluent and juice only come into admixing contact upon operation of the dispensing head to provide an individual drink, the juice dispensing line including a pump for propelling the juice to the dispensing head, a juice storage unit which is of a sealed nature but which can be coupled to a juice conduit by means of a quick release valving arrangement which ensures that when uncoupled, the juice in the storage unit will be sealed from atmosphere, and the juice in the conduit will be sealed from atmosphere.

The sealed storage unit may be of the nature of a sealed flexible bag which collapses progressively as juice is removed therefrom. The sealed flexible bag may be supported by an outer case, such as a case of cardboard or like sheet material. An aperture in the outer case provides a means through which the half of the quick release valving arrangement projects for engagement with the other half of the quick releasing valving arrangement which is provided at the end of the juice conduit.

Any suitable form of quick release valving arrangement can be used.

As regards the pump which is used for propeiling the juice, we prefer to use a peristaltic type pump which drives the juice by engagement with a flexible section of the juice conduit, in normal peristaltic pumping fashion. Said section of juice conduit and a casing therefor, which fits operatively and easily in relation to the peristaltic pump rotor, may be formed as an integral and removable and replaceable assembly, so that when the said flexible section of conduit is worn, the said assembly may be readily removed and replaced.

As regards the diluent supply conduit, when the diluent is water, which is usually the case, the conduit may be connected to the mains (which if at 10 p.s.i. will be at sufficient pressure for the delivery of water through the system), and from the mains the conduit leads to a solenoid valve and pressure regulator, and from the regulator, the conduit then passes through a standard refrigeration unit.

From the refrigeration unit the conduit leads to the dispensing head, and it is contained in python tube which also contains a coolant circulation system leading coolant from the refrigeration system through the python tube in order to keep standing water in the water conduit cooled, so that a chilled drink will be dispensed at all times.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows in perspective elevation, and partly exploded and partly broken away, the basic items of the control box of the system; Figure 2 shows the complete system in diagrammatic form; and Figure 3 shows an electrical wiring diagram for the system.

Referring firstly to Fig. 2, the entire system comprises a dispensing head to which juice and diluent are supplied to be mixed so as to provide a beverage contained in a vessel such as a cup held under a dispensing nozzle 12. The beverage is dispensed by depression of a lever 16 on the head, which actuates a micro switch 18, setting the system in operation.

The juice system comprises a storage box 20 containing a sealed bag in which the concentrated juice is contained, and a juice conduit 22 coupled to the juice bag tank 20 through a quick release coupling 24, as described. The juice conduit 22 passes to a peristaltic pump 26 by which the juice is pumped, and the output side of the pump 26 delivers the juice through the conduit 22 to the head 10. A section 22A of the juice conduit is contained in the chilled python tube 28, so that the juice delivered to the dispensing head will have cooling imparted thereto.

The water side of the system comprises a conduit 30 receiving water from the mains 32 at mains pressure (which is sufficient for driving the water through the system, but an augmenting pump may be provided if desired), and the conduit 30 leads to a control solenoid 34 for controlling the flow of water on an on/off basis, and then the water passes through a regulator 36 for controlling the rate of delivery of the water to the dispensing head 16. An adjustor 38 provides a means for varying the rate of water delivery. Conduit 30 passes from the regulator 36 to standard cooling unit 38, from the cooler 38, the conduit 30 passes through the python 28. The python 28 contains circulating conduits through which coolant is led in order to keep the standing water in the section of conduit in python 28 in chilled condition.

When the system is made operational by depression of the lever 16, achieved for example by the positioning of a cup under the nozzle 12, juice and water are delivered through the two systems, but only mix at the point of dispensing in the nozzle 12, to provide a chilled extremely palatable drink.

There is no risk of contamination of the juice because water is kept out of contact with same until the point of mixing at the dispensing head.

Fig. 1 shows in more detail the housing 42 which is shown in Fig. 1, and contains the control elements of the system. It will be seen that the solenoid 34 and the regulator 36 are contained inside the housing 42, whereas the peristaltic pump 26 is mounted so that its rotors 44 are located outside the housing 42. A cover 46 of the pump containing the flexible tube portion 22A of the juice conduit 22 is adapted to be positioned over the rotors 44 and clipped thereto by means of a spring clip 48. The assembly comprising cover 46 and tube 22A is removable as a unit, and can therefore readily be replaced without requiring access to the interior of the housing. It is noted that a second peristaltic pump can be mounted in the region 50 if the system is required to provide a second flavour.

The housing 42 also houses a key switch 52 operated by a key 54, and this switch has two positions, the first being a position in which juice and water are supplied in a predetermined ratio to provide the beverage, and a second position in which only water is supplied through the dispensing head, in order to clean same.

Other control devices may be embodied to provide for example a post-rinse of the system with water or a pre-rinse, or both in order to ensure that the nozzle is kept as clean as possible automatically.

The electrical circuit for the system is illustrated diagrammaticaily in Fig. 3, and operates as follows.

Upon insertion of the key 54 in the switch 52, and upon turning of same to the water and juice position, two relays 60 and 62 are energised, closing relay switches 64 and 66, enabling the peristaltic pump and solenoid to be operated upon operation of the microswitch 16. In this position of the switch, both switch contacts 68 and 70 are closed, but in the other position of the switch, only switch contact 70 is closed so that only the water solenoid will be operated upon operation of the microswitch 16.

The electrical circuit includes various indicator lights to indicate the condition of the equipment.

The equipment described is extremely advantageous in that there is little danger of contamination of the juice circuit and the juice supply 20 is simple by virtue of the quick release coupling 24 and the easy disconnection of the peristaltic pump cover 46. If water flow only is required, it is also possible to achieve this by detachment of the cover 46 so that whilst the peristaltic pump 26 may be driven, its rotors 44 will be ineffective.

It is preferred that the switch 52 be located remote from the head 16 so that an operator cannot vary the quantity of juice which is dispensed.

The system provides an arrangement which overcomes all of the disadvantages of the prior arrangements.

Claims (10)

1. A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing head and leading to said head a juice line and a diluent line arranged so that the diluent and juice only come into admixing contact upon operation of the dispensing head to provide an individual drink, the juice dispensing line including a pump for propelling the juice to the dispensing head, a juice storage unit which is of a sealed nature but which can be coupled to a juice conduit by means of a quick release valving arrangement which ensures that when uncoupled, the juice in the storage unit will be sealed from atmosphere, and the juice in the conduit will be sealed from atmosphere.

2. A beverage dispensing system according to Claim 1 wherein the storage unit is in the nature of a sealed flexible bag which collapses progressively as juice is removed therefrom.

3. A beverage dispensing system according to Claim 2 wherein the flexible bag is supported by an outer case, such as a case of cardboard or the like sheet material.

4. A beverage dispensing system according to Claim 3 wherein an aperture in the outer case provides a means through which the half of the quick release valving arrangement projects for engagement with the other half of the quick release valving arrangement which is provided at the end of the juice line.

5. Beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the pump which is used for propelling the juice comprises a peristaltic type pump which drives the juice by engagement with the flexible section of the juice line.

6. A dispensing system according to Claim 5 wherein the said section of the juice conduit and a casing therefor are formed as an integral and re movable assembly, so that when the said flexible section of the juice line is worn, the said assembly may be readily removed and replaced.

7. Beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim wherein the water line is adapted to be connected to the mains through a solenoid valve and pressure regulator.

8. A beverage dispensing system according to Claim 7 wherein the water line passes through a refrigeration unit.

9. A dispensing system according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein the water line is contained in a python tube which also contains a coolent circulation system leading coolent from the refrigeration system through the python tube in order to keep the standing water in the water conduit cooled.

10. A beverage dispensing system substantially as hereinebfore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.