GB997913A - Dispensing mechanism for beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

997,913. Beverage making machines. C. TERRELL. Oct. 16, 1963 [July 16, 1962], No. 27293/62. Heading A4D. A mechanism for dispensing individually receptacles to be filled with a beverage has in combination a dispenser for cups as disclosed in Specification 970,090, a pump for dispensing a pre-determined quantity of beverage into an individual cup, an electric motor for operating the pump and push-button means for operating the motor by way of a relay associated with a switch arranged to operate the motor so that after operation of the button the motor operates automatically to initiate only one cycle of operation of the pump to dispense the predetermined quantity of beverage. The mechanism is housed in a casing which includes a thermostatically controlled tank 10 for hot water with a solenoid-operated water metering valve 11 which on the reception of an electrical impulse releases a predetermined quantity of hot water, four containers (not shown) containing respectively liquid coffee concentrate, liquid tea concentrate, milk and a liquid concentrate of sugar, a pump (not shown) associated with each container, refrigeration means (not shown) associated with all the containers and a cup dispenser as Specification 970,090. Each pump is connected to an electric motor by a common shaft 14 and a rock arm 15 and spring loaded connecting rod 16 which is connected to a rod 17 with arms 18, 19 of which shorter arm 19 slides in a guide 20 on which is mounted a horizontally movable blade 21 serving as an abutment to prevent downward movement of arm 19 and associated arm 18 which serves as a piston rod for the pump unless the blade 21 is retracted by a solenoid 23. Insertion of a coin, for example threepence, closes a microswitch in circuit with a relay to operate a motor to dispense a cup and operation of the push-button closes the solenoids controlling the pump for dispensing tea, sugar and milk which flow into the common channel for mixing with hot water and thence through a nozzle to the cup, a delay mechanism preventing operation until the cup has been dispensed. To obtain coffee a further coin, for example one penny, is inserted before operation of the button to energize through a switch the coffee pump instead of the tea pump. Other buttons may be provided to provide other combinations such as coffee alone, tea alone &c. The coin operated switches may be replaced by push-button controls.