GB2496874A

GB2496874A - A dispenser for beverages with two product lines where one line can be cleaned independently of the other

Info

Publication number: GB2496874A
Application number: GB201120255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Banhidai; Mark Harrison; Paul Smith
Original assignee: Diageo Great Britain Ltd
Current assignee: Diageo Great Britain Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-24
Filing date: 2011-11-24
Publication date: 2013-05-29
Also published as: WO2013076465A1; GB201120255D0

Abstract

A dispenser for beverages that includes at least two product carrying lines 11, 12 and a pump acting to move the products through both lines. At least one of the lines 12 is switchable to a recirculation loop 12d for the purposes of cleaning the other line, such that high value product (e.g. an alcoholic spirit in line 12) is not wasted. The switchable line may include a three-way connector and a diverter. The pump may include a motor 13 driving a cam or cams 14, 15 that engage with flexible walls of at least two lines to cause product flow in the lines.

Description

A Beverage Dispenser The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser, particularly of a type that delivers at least two complimentary products, e.g. an alcoholic spirit and "mixer" in a single serve.

A common problem experienced with regard to delivering a beverage through a dispenser line in a public house or restaurant environment is the need to ciean that line regularly. However, it should be noted that beverage products that are high in alcohol (e.g. 12% or greater ABV) are generally microbiologically robust and often do not require regular cleaning.

In order to minimise the requirement and/or complexity for cleaning the various pieces of equipment associated with a beverage dispense apparatus one solution is to utilise a "Bag-in-Box" (BIB) concept where the main beverage container and lines extending therefrom are disposable. This avoids any cleaning of the beverage carrying parts as the components are simply disposed of after use. Such a system is used in beer dispense where the alcohol content is not high enough to prevent microbial growth.

A feature of BIB and some other systems is a flexible hose and connection that can be discarded rather than cleaned by a bar operator. It is possible to use pinch valves on such hoses so that the product does not come into any contact with a permanent component of the system.

BIB containers are often used to supply dispenser systems that deliver a mixed drink, e.g. an alcoholic spirit and mixer, in a single serve. However, there is a general desire to avoid the "disposable" nature of such systems for environmental and other practical (e.g. component fitting) reasons. Furthermore, since an alcoholic spirit is microbiologically robust there is no need for any regular cleaning/disposability of that part of the line.

The present invention seeks to provide a dispenser for beverages that is able to simultaneously deliver at least two products, with the facility for cleaning one beverage line independently of the other(s).

In one broad aspect of the invention there is provided a dispenser for beverages including at least two product carrying lines and a pump means acting to move a product through both lines, wherein at least one of the lines is switchable to a re-circulation loop.

Preferably the pump means includes a motor driving a cam or cams that engage with flexible walls of at least two lines to cause product flow therewithin. In this way a single motor moves product through both lines.

Preferably, in use, when a first line is flushed with fluid for cleaning, a second line is switchable to a recirculation mode for retaining viable (saleable) beverage products therein for future dispense. In other words, in a cleaning mode, fluid (which may be water) is able to be directed into and pumped through and out of the first line of the dispenser while a second product (e.g. high value spirits) continually re-circulates.

In further embodiments of the dispenser according to the invention a shut off mechanism is provided to close a delivery line when the other has "run dry" such that over-concentration of wastage of product is avoided.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of cleaning a dispenser with at least two product lines, by providing: a first line with a one-way path between an inlet and an outlet and; a second line that is switchable between a one-way path between an inlet and an outlet and a recirculation loop, bypassing the outlet; wherein, when supplying cleaning fluid to the inlet of the first line, the second line is switched to the recirculation loop so that product remains in the second line of the dispenser.

The dispenser for beverages according to the invention will be described by reference to these attached drawings wherein: -Figure 1 illustrates an internal view of components of a beverage dispenser according to the invention in a dispense mode; and Figure 2 illustrates the beverage dispenser components from Figure 1 in a re-circulation mode.

Figure 1 illustrates internal components of a beverage dispenser utilising the invention; namely a mixer line 11, a spirit line 12 and a motor 13 driving cams 14, 15 which act on flexible walls of each line 11,12 in order to pump fluid in the direction of the arrows as shown. The preferred pump as illustrated is a peristaltic pump, however, other forms of pump could be considered.

It will be apparent that mixer line 11 provides a simple one-way path for fluid flow through which, in use, a mixer beverage is pumped from an inlet end 16 to an outlet end 17 and onwards to a dispenser tap (not illustrated) . By contrast spirit line 12 includes a 1-junction or three-way connector 18 and solenoid operated diverter 19 (detail of solenoid not illustrated) In the dispense operating mode illustrated by Figure 1, product (spirit beverage) is supplied in line 12 to a first pipe section l2a connected to the bottom of the I-junction 18. Product is drawn by pump cam 14 by peristaltic action on the flexible wall of a second pipe section 12b and delivered to diverter 19 that directs product to a third section 12c whereafter product is dispensed by a suitable tap (not illustrated) In the state (i.e. a normal dispense mode) shown by Figure 1 a solenoid within diverter 19 is dc-activated such that product flows through the third section 12c where preferably it is reunited for serving with mixer outlet 17 at a dispenser tap to deliver both spirit and mixer at the same time.

By contrast, Figure 2 illustrates a secondary mode specifically for enabling cleaning/filling up of the mixer line 11 (and associated inlet and dispenser hardware) without wasting high value saleable spirits. Tn this mode the solenoid within diverter 19 is energised to switch product flow from the third section 12c and divert it to a fourth section 12d that is connected back to the three-way connector or I-Junction 18.

As shown by the arrows representing product flow in Figure 2, spirit line 12 now incorporates a re-circulating loop and no new product is drawn through the first section 12a from the supply reservoir. While spirit product continues to circulate in line 12, mixer line 11 can be supplied with water or another cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid supplied to the inlet 16 acts on the entire length of mixer line 11 through to dispensing outlet 17.

In practice it is expected that motor 13 will be stopped in order to manually connect a supply of cleaning fluid to inlet 16 an the same time as diverter 19 is activated to direct product to the fourth section 12d of line 12.

It will be clear that a single motor 13 is able to drive fluid through both lines and, in fact, further lines could be added if necessary or practical. Ihe advantage of the invention is that spirit product is preserved in its re-circulating line (12) while the other line (11) is being cleaned, resulting in minimal loss of the high value liquid that would otherwise occur if both lines were cleaned or replaced. As stated previously, the spirit line 12 is microbiologically stable due to the high alcoholic content.

In one form of the beverage dispenser a shut-off mechanism can be installed in one or both lines to determine when a product has run dry; in order to avoid wastage of the other beverage as the pump continues to operate. It is most preferred to have an indication means for the mixer line since it is more important to avoid wastage or overconcentration of the high value spirit.

It should be noted that the recirculation mode (Figure 2) of the invention is also beneficial when the system is filled up with product for the first time (i.e. at installation) -For example, the spirit line 12 should be filled up first, then the dispenser unit is switched to recirculation mode which allows for the mixer line 11 to be filled up without wasting any spirit. This provides the same benefit as when the dispenser unit is cleaned as previously described.

Claims

<claim-text>WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A dispenser for beverages including at least two product carrying lines and a pump means acting to move a product through both lines, wherein at least one of the lines is switchable to a recirculation loop.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pump means includes a motor driving at least one cam/rotor engageable with flexible walls of the at least two lines to cause product flow therewithin.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The dispenser of claim 1 or 2 wherein the switchable line includes a three-way connector and a diverter.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the diverter includes a solenoid energisable to switch the line to the recirculation loop.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The dispenser of claim 3 or 4 wherein the three way oonnector includes a first inlet receiving a supply of product, an outlet directing product to the pump means and a second inlet for receiving product downstream of the diverter when switched to the recirculation loop.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The dispenser of any of the preceding claims including a means provided to shut off dispense when a product supply to a line is empty.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A method of cleaning a dispenser with at least two product lines, by providing: a first line with a one-way path between an inlet and an outlet and; a second line that is switchable between a one-way path between an inlet and an outlet and a recirculation loop, bypassing the outlet; wherein, when supplying cleaning fluid to the inlet of the first line, the second line is switched to the recirculation loop so that product remains in the second line of the dispenser.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A method of filling a dispenser with at least two product lines, by providing: a first line with a one-way path between an inlet and an outlet; and a second line that is switchable between a one-way path between an inlet and an outlet and a recirculation loop, bypassing the outlet; including the steps of: a product being filled to the one-way path of the second line; switching the second line to the reoirculation loop; a product being filled to the one-way path of the first line; switching the second line to the one-way path.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A dispenser for beverages substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A method of cleaning or filling a dispenser with at least two product lines substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>