JPS61244794A - Drink distribution system and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to pressure-type beverage dispensing systems, and in preferred embodiments means for providing a near empty signal;
and a post-mixing system that includes a pre-supply of syrup so that the beverage can continue to be dispensed until the syrup container is replaced.

Prior art liquid storage container outlets have two almost completely opposing operational desires; namely, completely emptying each syrup container (e.g., Figal); and that the sale of the beverage is not impeded by COt in the tubing and beverage dispensing valve assembly that must be purged. The recommended procedure for Figal's circular rotation, if followed, would solve this problem, but it is not always used. Such procedures include checking the fig level by physical testing and checking the fig level when the fig is nearly empty, and when the fig is almost empty, the fig is full in the syrup tube between the near-empty fig and the beverage dispensing valve assembly. and inserting the . Then the nearly empty Figal is transferred to a full Figal so that the beverage continues to be dispensed. When a nearly empty figal is completely emptied, it is removed.

If this recommended procedure is not followed, the Figal is allowed to remain in place until the syrup tube to the Figal and valve assembly is filled with CO2, then the valve assembly is filled with carbonic acid, syrup and Releases a mixture of CO2. The operator must then purge the gold syrup system after connecting the new Figal, which costs him employee time, potential sales loss, COz loss, and some syrup losses. give.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,880.910 to Hanson et al includes an intermediate reservoir 30 in which the liquid level is determined when the beverage supply container is empty and no further dispensing is permitted. A sell-out indication system for a beverage dispenser that is monitored to determine is disclosed. US Patent No. 4 to Roth
, 406,382 discloses a system for signaling when a beverage container is empty.

PROBLEM SOLVED BY THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sell-out system for containers that avoids the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to continue to make the beverage dispensable;
and to provide a system for completely emptying the fig while preventing any COs from reaching the valve assembly or the syrup tube to the valve assembly.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a reservoir for holding a pre-supply of syrup in the syrup tube between the syrup container and the valve assembly, so that the syrup container can be replaced as quickly as possible. To provide a means for indicating when a syrup container is empty, while also keeping a reserve of syrup in the reservoir available for dispensing by the operator.

Yet still another object of the invention is a means for generating a signal when a syrup container is empty and a reserve of syrup in the reservoir being emptied before a full syrup container is installed in place of an empty container. and a means for disabling the valve assembly when it is empty and when it is empty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A beverage dispensing system in which syrup (or, in a premixing device, the carbonated beverage itself) is supplied under pressure through a syrup tube from a syrup container to a beverage dispensing valve assembly.

The system includes a reservoir in the syrup tube for holding a reserve amount of syrup and means for detecting when the syrup level in the reservoir has fallen to an upper level.
means for providing a signal indicating that the syrup container is empty and needs to be replaced, while still allowing beverage to be dispensed from a reserve supply within the reservoir. If the syrup container is not replaced before the liquid level falls to a lower level, means are provided for detecting a drop in the syrup level to such a lower level and then disabling the valve assembly.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals relate to like elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a beverage dispensing system 10 of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the system 10 includes a syrup container 12 (Fig.
The beverage dispensing valve assembly 16 includes, for example, one solenoid that controls the flow of carbonated water and the flow of syrup therethrough to the mixing chamber and dispensing nozzle. It can be any known valve assembly, such as a DoleSEV, having one solenoid to control flow. Valve assembly 16 is typically one of several such valve assemblies attached to beverage dispenser 18. The syrup container 12 passes through a CO2 line 20 and is
Pressurized by an o2 container (not shown).

In addition to the above-described known components of a beverage dispensing system, the present invention includes a reservoir 22 coupled to the syrup tube 14, a level sensing and transmitter system 24, and a signal receiver and alarm control system 26. The level sensing and transmitter system electronics are mounted within a housing 48 that is connected to reservoir 22 (see FIG. 2). The electronics of the signal receiver and alarm control system 26 are connected to the valve assembly 1.
6 or within a housing 27 connected to the beverage dispenser 18 (see FIG. 1).

Reservoir 22 may be mounted to a wall or any convenient structure, and associated sensing and transmitter system 24 within housing 48 may be plugged into any nearby 120 volt AC outlet. The housing 48 has a test switch 49, a purge switch 84, and a warning light 74 on the front panel of the bracket 50.
(See Figure 2). The signal reception and alarm system 26 mounted within the housing 27 includes two
- Valve assembly 16 with bin plug is coupled into the control circuit and plugs into any nearby 120 volt AC outlet. The housing 27 is a horn buzzer 76
, a warning light 74 , and a reset button 82 .

In operation, the beverage dispensing system 10 of the present invention allows a dealer to completely empty the syrup container 12 without allowing any opportunity for Cot gas to reach the valve assembly 16. The dealer is given an audible and visual warning that the syrup container 12 is empty, and then the dealer can dispense the drink to the syrup reserve in the reservoir 22. You can continue subtracting from u'a>. This allows time for syrup containers 12 to be replaced without interrupting sales. If the syrup reserve in reservoir 22 is emptied before replacing the syrup container, a second alarm is generated and valve assembly 16 is disabled.

After the new syrup container is in place, the dealer activates the purge switch 84 on the reservoir 22 (on the front panel of the bracket 50 as shown in FIG. 2). This renders the valve assembly 16 unusable and C
Otton Lenoid Vent Relief Valve 5 Valve Pipe 8 Operates. The C 2 O volume within reservoir 22 and within syrup tube 14 from syrup container 12 to reservoir 22 is vented to atmosphere as it is replaced by syrup from a new syrup container. When the syrup level in reservoir 22 is filled again, solenoid vent relief valve 58 is closed and valve assembly 16 is ready for use.

The beverage dispensing system is now reset for the next cycle.

Next, the reservoir 22 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. The reservoir 22 includes a container 30 and a lid 3 whose opening at the top of the container can be removably sealed.
2. The lid includes three conductive probes extending down from the lid into the container. These probes are an upper level probe 34 and a lower level probe 3.
6 and a ground probe 38. The upper and lower level probes, 34 and 36, are insulated down to the bottom or their extremities. Ground probe 38 is bare along its entire length. Even if the liquid level drops to the upper level blow 1, there is a predetermined reserve amount of syrup in the reservoir. A preferred amount is 800 mQ bi-cumulative Δ bi-modal.

Lid 32 also includes an inlet port 42 connected to syrup tube 14 and an outlet port 44. Outlet port 44 is connected to the top of dip tube 46, which extends near the bottom of container 30.

Level sensing and transmitter system 24 connects lid 32 and container 3.
contained within a housing 48 connected to the reservoir by a 7 lange 50 held between the Three electrical connections 52, 53 and 54 extend from the housing to the upper portions of the probes 34, 36 and 38.

Lid 32 also includes a vent port 56 and a solenoid vent relief valve 58 coupled thereto. An electrical connector 60 extends from the housing 48 to the solenoid vent relief valve 58.

The level sensing and transmitter system 24 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 and in more detail in FIG. 6, and is considered as three interrelated functional blocks 62, 64 and 66. be able to.

A common ground probe 38 residing within an enclosure 30 made of non-conductive material such as plastic or glass.
and AC level probes 34 and 36 detect the level of syrup in reservoir 22 at first and second alarm points. Seamospod 2-man Nando Schmitt trigger (0MO8quad 2-Nimisena force N
AND3chmitt trigger ) (c40
93) is used in conjunction with appropriate external components to determine the status of the syrup level within the reservoir 22 and to control the purge function of the solenoid vent relief valve 58.

The level status is sent to a second functional unit 64 which is a tone encoder. The encoding is a TCM5089 tone dialer commonly found in telecommunications systems.
This is done by a chip (Tone D 1alerChip). This generates a unique tone for each alarm level. These tones are connected to an NE566 function generator connected as an FM modulator.
ator). The level state tone is modulated onto carrier 1-- of the function generator and coupled to the AC line by a matching transformer with separate capacitors. The signal is transmitted via the aforementioned 120 volt AC line to a receiver 26 located in the valve assembly 16.

The signal reception and alarm control system 26 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 and in more detail in FIG. 7, and includes three basic functional units 68, 70 and 72. The FM modulated signal generated by transmitter 24 and coupled to the AC wiring is decoupled from the line by a tI adjuster 68 with a transformer and FM modulated by a NE565 phase-locked loop with appropriate external components. demodulated. The output from this demodulator 68 is the tone encoded by the tone dialer chip. The tone signal is transmitted to the second stage 70 of the receiver 26.
This uses two tone decoders (N2567P-L.-- for one flavor).

One chip is used to detect each unique tone generated by transmitter 24. The output from this stage 70 is fed to a final alarm logic and control stage 72;
This will generate an alarm to the operator and when the reservoir 22 has reached the lower level and G O2 venting is also in progress,
Controls the closure of valve assembly 16. This logic is CD409
3 Quad 2 inputs are processed by a Nand Schmitt trigger chip.

Under normal operation, reservoir 22 is full, solenoid controlled vent relief valve 58 is closed, and valve assembly 16 is ready for use. When syrup container 12 is empty, the syrup level within syrup reservoir 22 begins to fall as the syrup within the reservoir is replaced by CO2 gas. The upper probe 34 leaves the liquid level and will soon leave the lower probe 36 unless a new syrup container is replaced with the empty syrup container 12. When the upper probe 34 is released, it generates an alarm which is indicated by mapped light emitting diodes 73 and 74 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) and an alarm horn (see FIG. 7). There is now a reserve amount of syrup available in the reservoir 22 equal to the volume between the upper probe 34 and the lower probe 36. The dealer or operator must then attempt to replace the syrup container 12 with a new, full syrup container.

To silence the horn 76, a reset button 82 on the housing 27 of the valve assembly is pressed (see FIGS. 1 and 7B).

When the reserve in the reservoir is emptied and the lower probe 36 detects that the reservoir is not covered with syrup, the valve assembly 16 is disabled (FIG. 7A). closed, which disables the triac 79 and closes the cup actuating lever arm 8 of FIG.
0 prevents energizing the two solenoids in valve assembly 16). Once a new, full syrup container is connected in place of the empty syrup container 12, the purge button 84 is pressed, which disables the valve assembly 16 and activates the solenoid vent relief valve 58. The CO2 gas is then vented to atmosphere and replaced by the syrup until the upper probe 34 contacts the syrup.

At this time, solenoid controlled vent relief valve 58 is de-vented, thus closing vent port 56, valve assembly 16 is enabled, and light emitting diodes 73 and 74 are de-energized. The system will now return to standard operation.

A test button 49 (see FIG. 2) on the housing 48 can be pressed to check if the system is operational. When the test button is pressed, both light 74 and horn buzzer 76 in receiver housing 27 are activated.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it is understood that changes and changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. is understood. For example, the invention can be used in both pre-mix and post-mix systems. Furthermore, different types and arrangements of signals can be provided. Also, when a downward level is detected, rather than disabling the valve assembly, the syrup tube from the reservoir to the valve assembly can be simply closed, or the valve in the dip tube can be closed. can be A large amount of reserve syrup is stored in reservoir 2.
Can be used within 2. Other level sensing systems besides those specifically described above can be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic, partially schematic view of a beverage dispensing system of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a reservoir of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional side elevational view of the reservoir of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4; FIG. The second time when
FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic diagram of the level sensing and transmitter system of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the reservoir lid of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of electricity. 10...Dispensing system 12...Syrup container 14...Tubing 16...Beverage dispensing valve assembly 22...Reservoir 24...Sensing and transmitter system 26...Alarm control system 30. ... Container 32 ... Lid 34, 36, 38 ... Probe 42 ... Inlet port 44 ... Outlet port 46 ... Immersion tube 58 ... Vent relief valve Patent Applicant The Coker-Cola Company IGJ IG5 IG 7A

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. In a pressurized beverage dispensing system: (a) a liquid tube conveying liquid from a pressurized liquid container to a beverage dispensing valve assembly; (b) coupled to the liquid tube; (c) means for detecting when the liquid level in the liquid reservoir falls to an upper level and then to a lower level; (d) energizes a signaling device when the liquid level in the reservoir falls to the upper level to indicate that the liquid container is empty; (e) the liquid level in the reservoir is below the lower level; and means for preventing further flow of liquid from the reservoir to the valve assembly when descending. 2. A beverage dispensing valve assembly as claimed in claim 1, including a beverage dispensing valve assembly connected to the outlet end of the liquid tube, the prevention means comprising means for disabling the valve assembly. Beverage dispensing system. 3. The valve assembly is an electrically operated valve assembly having a cup actuating lever arm, and the disabling means prevents the cup actuating lever arm from energizing the valve assembly. 3. A beverage dispensing system as claimed in claim 2, including means. 4. a container having a sealed lid removably connected to the top of the container, and three conductive probes extending from the lid down into the container; and from the lid to the container; an outlet tube for liquid extending downwardly adjacent the bottom of the lid, a liquid inlet port in the lid, and a vent orifice having a solenoid control valve for opening and closing the vent orifice. 3. A beverage dispensing system according to claim 2, further comprising a vent orifice in said lid. 5. The beverage dispensing system of claim 2, wherein said detection means comprises three electrically conductive probes within said reservoir, including an upper probe, a lower probe and a ground probe. . 6. The beverage dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the signaling device includes a sound source and manual means for de-energizing the sound source. 7. The beverage dispensing system of claim 2 including means for venting gas from the reservoir when a new liquid container is connected to the inlet end of the liquid tube. 8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reserve volume of liquid is approximately 900 ml. 9. The beverage of claim 2, wherein the liquid is a syrup, the system is a post-mix system, the gas is CO_2, and the reserve amount is about 30 ounces (about 851 grams). distribution system. 10. The liquid is adapted to be supplied from the liquid container to the beverage dispensing valve assembly under gas pressure, and a sold-out alarm is provided for the liquid container to provide such a beverage dispensing system; A method of operating a beverage dispensing system of a type capable of continuing to dispense beverages during the alarm, comprising: (a) supplying liquid from a liquid container through a liquid tube to a beverage dispensing valve assembly; (b) said liquid; a liquid reservoir connected to the tube;
and supplying liquid from the liquid container to the liquid reservoir and from the liquid reservoir to the valve assembly; (c) detecting when the liquid level in the liquid reservoir falls to an upper level; (d) providing an indication that the liquid container is empty, provided that at that level a predetermined reserve of liquid remains in the reservoir and the liquid container is emptied into the reservoir; (e) generating a signal when the liquid level has fallen to the upper level, during which beverage can continue to be dispensed using the reserve amount of the liquid in the reservoir; (e) the storage; detecting that the liquid level in the reservoir has fallen to a lower level; (f) detecting that the liquid level has fallen to a lower level to prevent gas from entering the valve assembly or the liquid tube from the reservoir; A method comprising the step of preventing any further flow of liquid from the reservoir to the valve assembly when detected at a lower level. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said preventing step comprises disabling said valve assembly. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signaling device includes an audible alarm and including the step of disabling the audible alarm. 13. the system is a post-mix system, the liquid is syrup, the gas is CO_2, and providing about 30 ounces of syrup in the reserve volume. The method according to claim 10.