US2772812A

US2772812A - Dispensing valve and operating means for beverage vending machines

Info

Publication number: US2772812A
Application number: US278721A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack J Booth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-03-26
Filing date: 1952-03-26
Publication date: 1956-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1973-12-04

Description

Dec. 4, 1956 J J BOOTH DISPENSING VALVE AND OPERATING MEANS FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Filed March 26, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l JACK J Boom INVENTOR.

A TMRNE'Y 1956 J. J. BOOTH 2,772,812

DISPENSING VALVE AND OPERATING MEANS FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Filed March 26, 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 2 A T TORNE Y Dec. 4, 1956 J. J. BOOTH 2,772,312

DISPENSING VALVE AND OPERATING MEANS FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Filed March 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J/Ic/r J 8007/4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent C) DISPENSING VALVE AND OPERATING MEANS FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Jack J. Booth, Dallas, Tex.

' Application March 26, 1952, Serial No. 278,721

- 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) This invention relates to timing devices and more particularly to a timing device for a drink vending machine.

'This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial Number 230,779, filed June 9, 1951, now patent No. 2,747,782 for a Machine for Vending Beverages in Cups. The machine there described in-- cludes a source of carbon dioxide under pressure, a syrup cntainer,and a refrigerated carbonator, the carbon dioxide forcing carbonated Water and syrup to a mixing and dispensing valve. A timing device is employed which opens the valve for a predetermined period of time during each dispensing operation. The present invention relates to" a new and improved form of the timing device. It is desirable that the timing device be simple in form and operation in order that wear of moving parts be reduced thus reducing maintenance and repair servicing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved device for dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved timing device.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a new a'ndimproved timing device for holding a valve open for a predetermined period of time in each cycle of .operation.

I Briefly stated, the new and improved timing device maybe used in a drink dispensing machine in which syrup and carbonated water are mixed in a mixing and (dispensing valve and then discharged into an open cup. The mixing valve has a pivoted actuating lever which :opensthe valve when moved to an actuating position. 'The timing device employed to move the actuating lever to actuating position and hold it in the actuated position for a predetermined period of time each time a manually operated handle is turned includes a dash pot assembly having a reciprocable rod which is pulled outwardly from the dash pot each time the handle is operated. The reciprocable rod moves inwardly at a speed determined by the dash pot after it is released for return movement. The rod is provided with gear teeth which mesh with pinion gear to which is secured a cam which contacts and moves the actuating lever to actuated position. The structural and operational relationship between the cam and the rod is such that the actuating lever is held in actuated position only while the rod is in a predetermined portion of its return movement.

i For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure [is a front plan view of a drink dispensing machine,'with its front door open, provided with the new .andiniproved timing device;

. Figure 2 is a sectional top plan view of the mechanical linkage connecting the, manually operated handle to the toothed rod of the dash pot;

ice

Figure 3 is a side plan view, with some parts shown in section, of the dash pot and the mixing and dispensing valve;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the mixing and dispensing valve taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing the cam and the valve actuating lever in one operative position; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view showing the cam and the valve actuating lever in another operative position.

Referring now to the drawing, the timing device 10 is illustrated as used with the drink dispensing machine 11 described and claimed in my copending application 230,779. The drink dispensing machine includes an insulated cabinet 12 having a front door 13 extending across the entire width of the cabinet and mounted on the cabinet by hinges 14. The door 13 has a central opening closed by a panel 15 which is mounted on the door by a hinge 16. The panel 15 has a coin slot, not shown, through which coins may be inserted to operate a conventional coin actuated mechanism 17 having an operating shaft 18 which can be rotated through ninety degrees by means of a handle 19 each time a coin is inserted into the coin operated mechanism 17. A linking mechanism 20 connects the operating shaft 18 to a cup dispensing mechanism 21 which drops the lowermost cup from, a vertical stack of cups stored in an appropriate space or magazine 22 in the door onto a platform 23 which is accessible to the customer through a suitable aperture, not shown, in the panel 15. The linking mechanism 20 and the cup dispensing mechanism 21 have been described in detail in the copending application and,

since they form no part of the present invention, will not, therefore, be described further.

The operating shaft 18 is also connected to the timing device 10 which holds open a mixing and dispensing valve 24 for a predetermined length of time to deliver a predetermined qnantity of a mixture of cooled carbonated water and cooled syrup to the cup 25 dropped onto the platform 23. The carbonated water is supplied to the valve 24 from a carbonator 26 and the syrup is supplied to the valve from a syrup tank 27. The carbonator and the syrup tank are disposed on

suitable ledges

28 and 29, respectively, provided in the cabinet 12 and are sup-.

plied with carbon dioxide from a bottle 30 also disposed on the ledge 28. The carbon dioxide maintains the water in the carbonator 26 and the syrup in tank 27 under pressure so that the water and syrup will be forced through the mixing and dispensing valve 24 and the nozzle 31 whenever the nozzle is opened.

The water from the carbonator 26 and the syrup from the syrup tank 27 are delivered to the mixing and dispensing valve 24 through the conduits 32 and 33 which are connected to the

nipples

34 and 35 threaded in the

bores

36 and 37, respectively of the valve body 38. The bore 37 communicates with the bore 36 which is enlarged y, to form a valve chamber 39. A further enlargement provides a recess 40 which receives the reduced end 41 of an abutting body 42 which is rigidly secured to the valve body by

screws

43 and 44. The reduced end is also provided with a recess 45, which receives a gasket 46 which serves as a valve seat for the ball valve 47. The ball valve is biased toward the gasket by a spring 48. The abutting body 42 is also provided with a bore 49 which'is enlarged at one end to form a concave recess 50 into which may project a portion of the ball valve. An offset bore 51 inthe abutting body communicates with the concave recess.

The reduced end 52 of the nozzle 31 is press fitted into the offset bore. A reciprocable rod 53 is slidingly disposed in the bore 49 with its inner end abutting the ball valve 47 and its outer end projecting beyond the abutting body. The rod 53 when moved inwardly displaces the ball valve from the gasket and allows fluid to pass from the chamber 39 to the offset bore 51 and thence through the nozzle 31 into a cup or other receptacle. The valve body 38 is rigidly secured to a supporting plate 54 by screws 55. The

bodies

38 and 42 are preferably made of a transparent plastic.

Since both the water in the carbonator 26 and the syrup in tank 27 are kept under substantially constant pressure, the amount of the mixed drink allowed toflow out of the nozzle 31 each time the rod 53 is reciprocated depends on the length of time the ball valve 47 is held' open; The proportion of syrup to water in the mixed drink is regulated by a needle valve 56 whose inner end projects into the bore 37 through which the syrup flows.

The length of time the ball valve is held in open position each time the operating handle is actuated is controlled by the timing device which includes a dash pot assembly 57 having a reciprocable rod 58 provided with gear teeth 59. The gear teeth 59 mesh with apinion gear 60 provided with a cam assembly 61. Each time the rod 58 is reciprocated, the cam assembly is rotated and engages the actuating lever 62 and causes it to move the reciprocable rod 53 inwardly to open the ball valve 47 and hold it open for a predetermined period of time.

The valve actuating lever 62 is disposed in a slot 63 in the abutting body 42 and is pivotally mounted by means of a transverse pin 64 which extends through the slot. A leaf spring 65 is secured to the lower end of the valve actuating lever by a screw 66 and its upper end contacts the projecting end of the reciprocating rod 53. The leaf spring 65 serves to open the ball'valve with a snap action. The closing pressure of the liquid in the chamber 39 on the ball valve 47 is greatest when the ball valve is closed so that when the valve actuated lever is pivoted toward the reciprocating rod 53, the spring 65 yields as its free upper end contacts the outer end of the reciprocating rod. The spring continues to bend until enough force is exerted on the reciprocating rod to move the ball valve slightly. This slight opening causes the closing force of the liquid pressure to decrease sufliciently that the spring 65 snaps the ball valve open. Snap opening of the ball valve is desirable since the carbonated mixture tends to form foam as it flows past small openings such as that formed by theslow opening of the ball valve.

Theslot 63 is closed by a spring member 66a which is held in place by the

screws

43 and 44. The spring member has an extension or leaf spring 67 which con tacts the upper end of the valve actuating rod 62 to limit its outward pivotal movement. The upper end of the actuating rod 62 is cut away at a bias to form the inclined surface 68. The upper end of the actuating rod is contacted by the cam assembly 61 each time the rod 58 is actuated and is pivoted thereby first outwardly as shown in Figure 7 and then inwardly as shown in Figure 8.

The cam assembly includes a fixed cam member 69 rigidy secured to the sleeve extension 70 of the pinion gear 60 and a movable cam member 71 which may be held in any desired position on the sleeve extension by the set screw 72. The outer arcuate surfaces of the cam 1

members

69 and 71 are of the radius and, therefore, lie

in the same cylindrical plane. The pinion gear 60, and its sleeve extension 70, is rotatably mounted on a pin 73 which is journaled in the supporting plate 54 and a bracket extension 74 formed by bending an elongate strip integral with the plate back on the plate. The pin is held in place by retaining

rings

75 and 76.

A grooved roller 77 is rotatably mounted on the bracket extension 74 by means of a post 78 having a reduced threaded end 79 which extends through a'suitablaperture in the bracket extension. A washer 80 and nut 81 on the end 79 hold the post in place. The roller 77 serves to support the rod 58 as it is reciprocated.

The rod 58 is caused to move inwardly, or to the right as seen in Figure 3, by the strong spring 82 disposed between the stopper 83 closing one end of the cylindrical shell 84 of the dash pot assembly 57 and the piston 85 rigidly secured to the inner end of the rod 58. An annular packing 86 abuts the piston 85 and is held securely between the piston and a retaining member 87 which is threaded in a suitable bore 88 in the inner end of the rod 58. The retaining member has a central bore 89 which communicates with the bore 88 in order that the fluid in the dash pot may pass from one side of the piston to the other through the bores 89 and 88 and the transverse bore 90 which communicates with the bore 88. The packing 86 has an outwardly extending annular flange 91 which engages the interior surface of the cylindrical shell 84. The stopper 83 has a threaded flange 91a which engages the threaded end 92 of the cylindrical shell and a flange 93 which holds a gasket 94 against the end of the cylindrical shell to seal against fluid leakage. A gland nut 95 threaded in an enlarged portion of the central bore of the stopper 83 compresses a packing 96 to seal against fluid leakage between the stopper 83 and the rod 58. The opposite end of the cylindrical shell 84 is closed by an annular member 97 secured to the shell by welding, soldering or in any other conventional manner. The dash pot assembly is secured to a lug 98 integral with the supporting plate 54 by a screw 99 which extends into a suitably threaded bore in the annular member 97.

The cylindrical shell is filled with a non-compressible fluid such as that employed in hydraulic brake systems. The rod 58 can be moved readily against the resistance of the spring 82 since the outwardly extending flange 91 of the packing 86 will flex inwardly and allow fluid to move past it and the shell 84 as the piston 85 is moved to the left (Fig. 3). Fluid will also pass through the bores 90, 88 and 89. When the rod 58 is released to move inwardly under the force exerted by the spring 82, however, the outwardly extending flange 91 will prevent passage of fluid between it and the cylindrical shell. The speed of inward movement of the rod 58 will therefore depend on the size of orifices of the bores 90, 88 and 89 since the liquid in the cylindrical shell must move from one side of the piston to the other to allow the piston to move toward the annular member 97. This is the conventional manner of operation of dash pots and will not, therefore, be dwelt on further.

As the rod 58 is moved to the left, its teeth cause the pinion gear to rotate clockwise, as seen in Figure 3, and the cam member 69 will contact the surface 68 of the actuating lever 62 and will move it to the left, the leaf spring 67 yielding to allow this pivotal movement of the actuating member. The actuating lever is then held in the position shown in Figure 7 until the

cam members

69 and 71 are rotated to a position such that the end 100 of the cam member 71 is moved past the actuating lever. The leaf spring 67 will then move the actuating lever back to the position shown in Figure 3. When the rod 58 is next released for return movement, the end 100 will contact the outer side of the actuating lever and will move it toward the rod 53. After the end 100 moves past the actuating lever, it will be held in the position shown in Figure 8 by the arcuate outer surfaces of the cam members until the end 101 of the cam member 69 moves past the upper end of the actuating lever. The actuating lever will then be free to return to the position shown in Figure 3. The spring 48 and the pressure of the fluid will close the ball valve when the actuating lever is freed to move to its inoperative position.

It will be apparent that'the speed of rotation of the pinion gear 60,- and therefore of the cam assembly 61, during return or inward movement of the rod 58 is predetermined and held constant by the'dash pot. The length of time the actuating lever is held in valve opening position is therefore determined by the degree of alignment of the movable cam member 71 with respect to the fixed cam member 69. If the cam members are perfectly aligned so that ends 100 and 102 and the

ends

101 and 103 are in line, the actuating lever will be held in valve opening position for a short period of time during each reciprocation of the rod 58; Conversely, if the movable cam member 71 is rotated on the sleeve extension 70 to a position wherein the end 100 is spaced from the end 102, the actuating lever will be held'in valve opening position for a long period of time during each reciprocation of the rod 58. It will be apparent, therefore, that the amount of the mixed drink dispensed during each reciprocation of the rod 58 can be regulated by adjustment of the position of the movable cam member70,- with respect to the fixed cammember.

The rod 58 may be moved outwardly by any suitable linking mechanism each time the handle 19 is actuated after the deposition of a coin in the coin operated mechanism 17. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the supporting plate 54 is maintained on the carbonator 26 immediately in front of the cabinet door 13 by means of screws 104 so that the nozzle 31 projects through an aperture 105 in the rear panel 106 immediately to the rear of the platform 23 on which cups are dispensed to receive the drink delivered through the nozzle. The rod 58 is provided with a sleeve 107 fixed to the rod by a set screw 108 and having an annular groove 109. When the door is closed, the bifurcated bracket 110 is disposed in the groove 109. The bifurcated bracket is rigidly secured to the upper end of a rod 111 which extends slidably through a bore in a block 112 mounted on a plate 113 mounted to the rear of the coin operated mechanism 17. A stop block 114 is secured to the end of the rod 111 remote from the bifurcated bracket 110. A biasing spring 115 is disposed about the rod 111 and its ends bear against the bifurcated bracket and the block 112 to bias the bifurcated bracket away from the block.

The upper end of the stop block 114 projects above the block 112 into the arcuate path of travel of the

pins

116, 117, 118 and 119 projecting perpendicularly from the gear 120 rotatably mounted on the operating shaft so that when the gear is rotated in the indicated direction one of the pins 116 to 119 engages the upper end of the stop block 114 and moves the rod 111 downward against the resistance of the spring 115 and of the dash pot spring 82. The resistance of the dash pot spring must be overcome since the bifurcated bracket 110 engages the grooved sleeve 107 and will pull outwardly the rod 58. When the gear 120 is rotated through ninety degrees, the pin engaging the stop block 114 will first engage the stop block as it moves downwardly in its arcuate path of travel and will move it downwardly. Then the pin will begin to move upwardly as it follows its arcuate path of travel and will disengage from the stop block freeing the rod 111 for upward movement. This in turn will allow the rod 115 to move inwardly under the force exerted by the spring 82 of the dash pot.

The gear 120 may be rotated ninety degrees each time the handle 19 is actuated by means of any suitable means linking the gear 120 to the handle 19. Since this linkage forms no part of the present invention and has been described fully in my copending application, it will not be described further. If desired, the leaf spring 67 can be replaced by a weight or mass secured to the lower end of the lever 62 which will bias it toward its rest position shown in Figure 3.

It will be apparent now that a new and improved timing device has been illustrated and described which includes a dash pot assembly 57 having a reciprocable rod 58 provided with teeth 59 which mesh with a pinion gear 60. It will be seen that a cam assembly 61 rotated by the pinion gear each time the rod 58 is reciprocated cams the actuating lever 62 of a mixing and dispensing valve to open the valve for a predetermined length of time each time the rod 58 is reciprocated. Furthermore, it will be seen that the assembly has an adjustable cam member 71 whose position relative to a fixed cam member 69 may be adjusted to vary this predetermined length of time.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention, and .it is intended, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 7'

What is claimed is:

l. A mixed drink dispensing machine comprising a source of carbonated water under pressure; a source of syrup under pressure; a mixing and dispensing valve having a body provided with a mixing chamber; means connecting said mixing chamber to the source of syrup; means connecting said mixing chamber to said source of carbonated water, said body having an outlet opening communicating with said mixing chamber and closed by a valve; an actuating lever for opening said valve mounted on said body; a mechanical timer operatively associated with said actuating lever for contacting said actuating lever and moving it to open the valve for a predetermined period of time whereby a predetermined quantity of carbonated water and syrup is dispensed each time the timer is actuated, said mechanical timer including a reciprocable rod mounted adjacent said actuating lever, said rod having a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth, a gear rotatably mounted adjacent said rod and meshing with said gear teeth, a cam secured to said gear for rotation therewith, said cam having an arcuate outer surface, said actuating lever having an end projecting into the path of movement of said cam, said arcuate surface contacting said lever and moving it from its rest position in one direction as said gear is rotated in one direction, said arcuate surface contacting said lever and moving it in the opposite direction as said gear is rotated in the opposite direction, means for predetermining the rate of movement of said timer rod in said opposite direction; and means for moving said timer rod a predetermined distance in said one direction.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said means for predetermining the rate of movement of said timer rod comprises a dash pot having a piston, said timer rod being secured to said piston.

3. A mixed drink dispensing machine comprising a source of carbonated water under pressure; a source of syrup under pressure; a mixing and dispensing valvehav-ing a body provided with a mixing chamber; means connecting said mixing chamber to the source of syrup; means connecting said mixing chamber to said source: of carbonated water, said body having an outlet open-- ing communicating with said mixing chamber and closed: by a valve; an actuating lever for opening said valve: mounted on said body; a mechanical timer operatively associated with said actuating lever for contacting said. actuating lever and moving it to open the valve for a pre-- determined period of time whereby a predeterminedt quantity of carbonated water and syrup is dispensed each time the timer is actuated, said mechanical timer including a reciprocable rod mounted adjacent said actuat-- ing lever, said rod having a plurality of longitudinallyspaced teeth, a gear rotatably mounted adjacent said rod. and meshing with said gear teeth, a cam secured to saidi gear for rotation therewith, said cam comprising two adjacent sections, one being adjustable with respect to the other, said sect-ions having aligned outer arcuate surfaces, the combined length of said arcuate surfaces being adjustable by adjustment of said movable section, said actuating lever having an end projecting into the patlr of movement of said cam, said arcuate surface contacting said lever and moving it from its rest position in one; direction as said gear is rotated in one direction, said arcuate surface contacting said lever and moving it im the opposite direction as said gear is rotated in the op- 7 posite direction, means for predetermining the rate of movement of'saidtirnerrod in 'saidopposite direction; and meansforimovingsaid timer rod a'predetermine'd distance in said one direction;

4. The device of claim 3 in which said means for predeterminin'g therate of movement of said timer rod comprises a dash po't'having a piston, said'timer rod being'secured to'said piston.

5. A mixed" drink dispensing machine comprising a source of'c arbonated water under pressure; a source of syrup under' pressure; a mixing and dispensing valve having a body provided with a mixing chamber; means connecting said mixing chamber to a source of syrup; means connecting said mixing chamber to said source of carbonated water, said body having an outlet opening communicating with said mixing chamber and closed by a valve; an actuating lever for opening said valve mounted on said body; a mechanical timer operatively associated with-said actuating lever for contacting said actuating lever andmoving it to open the valve for a predetermined periodof time whereby a predetermined quantity of carbonated water and syrup is dispensed each time the timer is actuated, said mechanical timer including a reciprocable rod mounted adjacent said actuating lever, said rod having a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth, a gear rotatably mounted adjacent said rod and meshing with said gear teeth, a cam secured to said gear for rotation therewith, said cam having an arcuate outer surface, said actuating lever having an end projecting into the path of movement of said cam, said arcuate surfacecontacting said lever and moving it from its rest posi-- tion in "onedire'ction as said gearis rotated in one direction, means biasing said lever in the opposite direction towardsaid restposition; said arcuate surface contacb' ing said lever and moving it in the opposite direction as said gear is rotated in the opposite direction, means forpredetermining the rate of movement of said timer rod in said opposite direction; and means for moving said timer rod a predetermined distance in said one direction.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said means for predetermining the rate of movement of said timer rod comprises a dash pot having a piston, said timer rod being secured to said piston.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS