US2796200A - Hot chocolate dispensing machine - Google Patents

Description

w. c. LAMBERT Erm. 2,796,200

HOT CHOCOLATE DISPENSING'uAcHINE i rJune 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 25, 1955 um fr WG Mw mw@ #n June 18, 1957 w, c. LAMBERT ErAx. 2,795,200

HOT CHOCOLATE DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25. 1955V l 2 sheets-shone Unit The present invention relates to machines for preparing and dispensing beverages, and particularly to an improved machine especially for preparing and dispensing hot chocolate.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of the indicated character which is adapted to utilize and to contain, in suitable storage facilities incorporated therein, completely dry granular or finely particulate constituents, and hot water, the water being mixed with t e dry constituents at the time of, and in connection wtih the process of, dispensing individual drinks.

An object related to that last stated is to provide such a machine which is adapted to prepare -and dispense chocolate flavored beverages of higher' and more uniform quality than has been possible with machines heretofore constructed.

Still another object ot this invention is to provide such a machine all of the component parts of which are selfcleaning, which is not subject to clogging, which is simple, rugged and reliable in operation, and which is capable of preparing and dispensing beverages rapidly and in quick succession.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure in itsY entirety.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a machine incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the machine from the front, on .a larger scale, and with the casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the side, also with the casing. removed; Y

Fig. 4 is a vertical diametric sectional view, on a still larger scale, of the feeding and mixing mechanism;

Fig. 5 lis a detail plan view taken substantially as indicated. by the line and arrows 5 5 of Fig. 4, but on a somewhat smaller scale;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram; andA Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views, partlyy in plan and partly inV section, of thev portions of Fig. 5 shown withinthe encircled areas designated 7 and ti respectively.

Referring now to` thev drawing, our improved machine is shown in the form of a relatively small, compact device intended to be placedupon. a counter, table or other support and particularly designed for usein restaurants, lunchroorns, soda fountains and the like, although it will be recognized that the size and details of construction ofthe frame and cabinet are matters of choice and are indicated by way of example and not of limitation. The basic frame structure may, as brought out in Figs. 2 and. 3, be rectangular and formed of sections of angle iron welded or otherwise suitably secured together and including a rectangular bottom frame consisting of parallelr front and rear. angle irons lli, ll respectively, bottom side angle irons'as i2, i4 respectively, rear upright corner angle: irons l5, l5, which extend' the full height of the machine, and front upright corner angle irons 18,29,

fice

each of the latter two angle irons extending upwardly only approximately one-half the height of the machine, and terminating at and being welded to intermediate horizontal side angle iron frame members 22, 24 respectively. lt will be seen that the angle irons 22, 24 extend forwardly farther than the lower .portion of the machine, so that the upper half of the casing and frame structure overhangs the lower front part 0f the machine; The front ends of the side frame members 22, 24 are joined to the top side members 25, 25 by front uprights 2S, 30, which also may be formed of angle iron and which extend between and are welded to the side . members 22 and 25 and 2d and 26, respectively, At the 'top the two side frame structures are connected by suitably welded front and rear transverse angle iron members 32, 33 respectively. lt will be observed that the frame structure constitutes merely a suitable means for supporting the several components.

As also brought out in Fig. l, the several frame members are preferably arranged in suitable planar relationships with respect to one another, so that a neat enclosure may be elfected by applying suitable flat sheet metal or other appropriate front and side enclosing panels, as 34, 35, 36.

Within the housing structure and on the right-hand-side (when viewed from the front as in Figures 1 and 2) an insulated hot Water heater is provided, generally designated riti. This may comprise a suitably jacketed tank having an electrical resistance-type heater therein, preferably controlled by a thermostat or other appropriate automatic means. Such heaters are commercially available, and it will be appreciated that the details of construction thereof are subject to variation. Water may be introduced into the bottom of the heater through a Water inlet nipple l2 which, in a conventional installation of' our machine, is connected to the public water supply system through a T joint d3, a feed pipe 44, a pressure regulating valve 45 and an elbow 46, which is connected to the water supply pipe 48.

Hot Water is taken from the top of the heater, as through the outlet nipple Sil and pipe 52. Pipe 52 is connected by a T 54 to a hot water delivery-control solenoid valve 55 and delivery pipe 56, which is conneet-'ed to a feed conduit 58 leading to the Water injectingy system, presently to'be described. The inlet T 43and outlet T 54 are interconnected through a water circulation control solenoid valve 60 and suitable pipe means at 62,v 64, so that when the solenoid valve 60 is open, the inlet and outlet of the heater are interconnected, permitting free circulation. This insures the maintenance of thoroughly heated Water in the delivery pipe 52 and outlet T 54, and it will be noted that the outlet T 54 is directly coupled by very short connections to the hot water inject-ing system, so that when the delivery valve 55` is opened, hot water at the maximum temperature is instantly fed to the injecting system. The delivery valve 55 and the circulation control valve dit are so connected to the control system that when the delivery valve 55 is opened the circula-tion valve 6G closes, and vice-versa. An adjustable orice Valve (not shown) is preferably provided in the delivery solenoid valve 55 to control the rate ofy delivery of the' hot Water, and an adjustable orifice valve (not shown) may also be incorporated in the circulation control valve 60. Strainer-sediment chamber assemblies 65, 66 are also preferably provided in the water delivery and circulation pipe 52 and in the water inlet supply pipe d8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

The means for mixing the constituents and dispensing the beverage are contained within the casing portion at the lef-t (asv viewed from the front). The dry ingredients may consist of a mixture of cocoa powder, sugar, dried t milk and dried butterfat, and this mixture is stored in a combined hopper and storage bin 70 which is open at the top, but normally covered by a removable top cover (not shown). The lower end of the funnel-like hopper 70 opens into a screw conveyor compartment 72 as shown in Fig. 3. A conventional screw conveyor member 74 extends from the front to the rear of the conveyor compartment and is arranged to discharge the dry constituents from a rearwardly opening spout 75. The screw conveyor is rotatably driven by an electric motor 76 which drives the conveyor screw 74 through suitable reduction gearing as 77. v

The conveyor discharge spout 75 is positioned over and arranged to discharge into an open-topped cylindrical vertical gravity feed tube 30. As shown in detail in Fig. 4, the lower end of the tube 80 is also open, and is positioned directly over and close to a rotatable disk 82. The disk 82 has both a mixing and pumping action and will be considered in greater detail hereinafter. The tube 80 is supported (and material falling from the lower end thereof is conned by) a cap section 84 of a disk housing 85. The cap portion 84 is tted over and spacedly encloses, but is relatively closely tted with respect to, the disk 82. Portion 84 is in turn carried by and secured to a housing portion 85, to which it is attached as by screws 86. The portions 84, 85 thus cooperate to dene an enclosure for the disk 82. The disk 82 is provided with a hub portion 88 projecting downwardly into the housing portion 85 and secured to the shaft 9) of an electric motor 49. The housing portion 85 may be directly carried by and attached to the casing 92 of the electric driving motor as by the screws 94. The enclosure or cavity for the disk 82 dened by the complemental interior congurations of the housing portions S4, 85 is generally designated 95 and will be seen spacedly but rather closely to confine the disk, as previously indicated. It will also be observed that the disk has a flat top surface 96 which is substantially concentric with and directly beneath, and which is larger in diameter than, the gravity feed tube 80, such top surface of the disk being inclined downwardly toward the front of the machine.

Formed within the cover portion 84 and opening interiorly of the cavity 95 in a position surrounding the cylindrical periphery of the disk 82 is a round bottomed groove 98. This groove is intersected at the front of the machine by a discharge passage 100 which terminates in a discharge nipple portion 102 to which a delivery spout as 104 is attached as by a conventional are fitting 105. In the construction shown, the disk 82 rotates clockwise when viewed from above. It will be noted that the discharge passage and spout are also inclined downwardly toward the front of the machine, and that they intersect the chamber 95 at the lowest point of the latter. As brought out in Fig. 5, the groove 98 extends completely around the peripheral wall of the chamber and both ends of the groove intersect the discharge passage 100. It will be noted that the groove 98 is shallowest at the point, designated 108 (see Fig. 8) which may be regarded as the point of commencement of the groove (using the discharge passage as a starting point and following thence in the direction of rotation of the disk) and is deepest at the point designated 110, which may similarly be denominated the discharge end of the groove. The bottom of the groove is thus of a spiral form, gradually deepening in the direction of rotation. Material in the groove, which tends to rotate in the direction of rotation of the disk, thus also tends to move toward the deeper portion of the groove. When such material reaches the discharge passage 100, a portion of it is arrested by the wall portion 111, on the farther side of the discharge passage 100, defined by the casing material at the commencement of the groove. At this point the casing wall projects inwardly farther than the bottom of the discharge end of the groove, since the commencement of the groove is shallower than the discharge end.

in order to prevent escape of any of the material inwardly beneath the disk, we preferably provide upon the underside of the disk, and upon the upper surface of the housing portion which defines the bottom wall of the chamber closely spaced, intertting annular baiing ribs as 112, 114.

As shown in Fig. l, the discharge spout 104' may project through the front wall 35 of the casing and preferably terminates in a downwardly directed end portion which is accessibly positioned at a convenient height above a suitable shelf as upon which a cup may stand during lling.

In order to maintain the temperature of the beverage mixture and to prevent any cooling of the hot water during the mixing and delivery process, supplementary heating are preferably provided to heat the mixing assembly and feed tube. This heating means may conveniently comprise simply a thermostatically regulated electric resistance element 126 (Fig. 5) inserted in a cavity 128 (Fig. 4) in the housing portion 85 of the mixing assembly. This heater accomplishes two related results. First, it ensures delivery of the beverage at a desirably high temperature, and second, it improves the mixing of the ingredients and the solution of the solid ingredients in the water.

The manner in which the electrical components are connected is brought out in Fig. 6, wherein the power lines are generally designated Lil and L2. These may of course be connected to a suitable power supply cord for connection to commercially supplied electric power. The heating element 116 of the water heater and the element 126 of the mixing assembly are preferably permanently connected across the power lines, as shown. The switches and 130 represent, respectively, the thermostatically operated controls for these two heater elements.

Connections to the other electrically operated components are controlled by a manually operable switch generally designated SW which comprises a switch blade 118 selectively movable to any of three diicrent positions. The switch blade may tend to stand in any of such three positions in which it may be left or, alternatively, it may be spring-biased to tend to return to the olic position when released. A detent may be provided at each of the positions tending to indicate by a click, and by a change in the frictional resistance to movement of the switch blade7 when the blade is properly centered in each position. It will be seen that in our preferred arrangement, the switch blade normally stands at the left end of its permissible travel, at the position designated Oli When moved one step to the right, the blade reaches a position designated Water, and when moved two steps to the right, the blade reaches the third position which is designated Choc When in the Off position, the switch completes a connection between power line L1 and the solenoid 120 of the water circulation valve 60, so that such Valve is held open at all times while the switch s in the OE position.

When the switch is moved one step to the right, to the intermediate position, designated Water, the switch completes a connection to the solenoid 122 of the hot water supply valve 55, so that such Valve is opened and held open when and so long as the switch blade is in the Water position. It will also be noted that the water circulation valve 60 is spring biased so that it closes as soon as the switch blade is moved away from the Otf position, and remains closed at all times except when the blade is in the Oi position. In the intermediate or Water position, the switch also completes `a circuit to actuate the mixer motor 49.

When the switch blade is moved all the way to the right, to the position designated Choc, it maintains the connection to the hot water supply Valve and the mixer motor, and also supplies power to the screw conveyor motor 76, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

s indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 the water injecting means is arranged to discharge water into the tube 80 near the upper end at relatively high velocity in the form of two small tangential jets. A nozzle fitting 59 projects through the wall of the tube 80 and into the interior thereof and is provided with two relatively fine discharge orifices 61, 63 communicating with an internal passage 67 in the fitting 59 to which the hot water supply pipe 53 is coupled. The orifices 6l, 63 discharge in opposite directions into the interior of the tube Sti close to the wall thereof and substantially tangentially so that the discharged water tends to flow around the interior of the tube 30 and for-m a complete curtain of water on the inner surface of the tube as it falls downwardly therethrough onto the disk 82. This curtain of water, by reason of the arrangement of the control system, is present in the tube S0 before the powdered ingredients are discharged into the tube, and the water curtain prevents the dry ingredients from sticking to the tube. lt also carries the dry ingredients downwardly onto the disk, where their admixture with the water is completed, the dry ingredients being thrown together with the water outwardly over the surface of the disk and through the relatively narrow space between the disk and the enclosing surfaces of the cavity 95 in the cap 84. The rotation of the water on the inner surface of the tube Si) and the turbulence created upon the side of the tube Si) opposite to the nozzle block 59 causes a partial intermixture of the dry ingredients with the water during their travel downwardly through the tube Sti. Then when the constituents are rotated and spun outwardly by the disk and driven through the chamber 95 and the groove 93 the dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed into the water and substantially completely dissolved therein, so that the material discharged through the spout 104 is uniform and substantially free of sediment.

The proportioning of the dry ingredients with respect to the water may of course be varied by holding the switch blade for different lengths of time in each of the Water and Choc positions, but preferably the rate of feed of the dry ingredients and the rate of flow of the water are so proportioned that if the switch is moved in a normal manner through the Water position to the Choc position, without any deliberate or substantial pause in the Water position, and is held in the Choc position until the cup is :substantially filled, and then is moved back to the Off position without any substantial pause in the Water position, the drink dispensed will have the proper desired concentration. Thus practically all of the water and all of the dry ingredients are dispensed while the switch is in the Choc position. By virtue of the fact that some water is introduced first, however, as the switch is moved through the Water position to the Choc position, the tube Si) is first interiorly curtained with water, and the dry ingredients are then delivered and effectively floated on the water curtain as noted previously. The water also continues to tiow for a short period of time after delivery of the dry ingredients is stopped, i. e., while the switch is being turned back to and through the Water position toward the Off position. Thus during such return movement of the switch all remaining dry ingredients are washed downwardly through and from the tube, as well as from the disk 82, cavity 95 and discharge spout 104. This final rinse with hot water leaves the surfaces of the feeding and mixing mechanism thoroughly cleaned, eliminating the danger of clogging, spoilage and/or the generation o'f odors.

As shown in Fig. l, the operating means for the switch blade 118 may conveniently comprise a knob 125 located on the front of the cabinet and provided with a suitable pointer adapted to coact with indicia on the face of the cabinet denoting the three positions of the switch.

lt will be appreciated that although the switch SW is indicated as manually controlled, it could readily be controlled automatically and, if desired, by a coin release mechanism, and it will be understood that other additions and variations `may be made without departing from vthe spirit and intended scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Means for interrnixing liquid and dry materials comprising a feed passage portion for liquid and dry ingredients, a mixing portion and a discharge portion, a dry feed regulator actuatable to start and stop positions .to start and stop introduction of dry ingredient into said feed passage portion, a liquid feed regulator actuatable to on and off positions to start and stop introduction of liquid ingredient into said feed passage'portion, and a common controller for said regulators, said controller being actuatable to at leastthree positions, includingan off position in which both of said regulators are in their off positions, a dry feed position in which at least the dry feed regulator is in the on position, and a liquid feed position through which the controller passes in moving from the dry feed position to the off position.

2. Means for intermixing liquid and dry materials comprising a generally upright hollow tube open at its upper and lower ends, a mixing member mounted beneath the lower end of the tube, means for introducing liquid material into said tube in the form of a curtain extending around and adjacent to the inner wall of the tube, and means for introducing dry material into the tube inside the curtain, said member comprising a rotatable disk having an upper surface spacedly underlying said tube.

3. Means for interrnixing liquid and dry materials comprising a generally upright hollow Vtube open at its upper and lower ends, a mixing member mounted beneath the lower end of the tube, means for introducing liquid material into said tube in the form of a curtain extending around and .adjacent to the inner wall of the tube, and means for introducing dry material into fthe vtube inside the curtain, said member comprising a disk having a generally iiat upper surface :spaced-ly :underlying but .relatively Yclose ito the open lower lend of ysaid tube and rotatable upon .an .axis which .if projected upwardly would extend into said open lower end of the tube.

4. Means for mixing dry and liquid ingredients comprising a substantially upright and generally circular feed tube having an impervious wall and open at its upper and lower ends, means for introducing a liquid ingredient into lthe interior of an upper portion of the tube in the form of a curtain extending around and close to the inside of the wall, means for introducing a dry ingredient into the upper end of the tube for movement downwardly therethrough in an axial direction, a rotary mixing member mounted beneath the lower end of Ithe tube, a housing portion enclosing said member and having an internal chamber communicating interiorly with said tube through the lower end of the latter, and means for discharging from said chamber ingredients mixed therewithin.

5. Means as defined in claim 4 wherein said member comprises a disk of substantially greater diameter than said tube having a generally fiat upper surface spacedly underlying said tube and inclined to the horizontal in a direction downwardly toward said discharging means.

6. Means as defined in claim 4 wherein said member comprises a disk of substantially greater diameter than said tube having a generally flat upper surface spacedly underlying said tube and inclined to the horizontal in a direction downwardly toward said discharging means and rotatable upon an `axis which, if extended upwardly, would project into the open lower end of said tube.

7. In combination with means as defined in claim 4, storage means for dry ingredients, a conveyor communicating with said storage means and having a discharge portion discharging into the upper end of said tube, a driving motor for said conveyor, means for supplying a liquid ingredient to the upper end of said tube includsupply of liquid and control means for said motor and said valve, said control means being movable to three positions, said positions including a terminal off position, a terminal motor-actuating position for feeding dry ingredients, and an intermediate valve-opening liquid feed position, and being movable from one -to another of said terminal positions only by passing through said intermediate liquid feed position.

8. In combination with means as defined in claim 4, storage means for dry ingredients, a conveyor communieating with said storage means and having a discharge portion discharging into the upper end of said tube, a driving motor for said conveyor, means for supplying a liquid ingredient to the upper end of said tube including a Valve kopenable and closable to start and stop the supply of liquid and control means for said motor and said valve, said control means being movable to three positions, said positions including a terminal oif position,

a terminal motor-actuating position for feeding dry ingredients, and an intermediate valve-opening liquid feed position, and being movable from one to another of said terminal positions only by passing through said intermediate liquid feed position, said valve also being actuated to the valve-open position, to maintain the liquid feed while said control means is in the motor-actuating position, and the motor being de-energized when the control means is in the intermediate liquid feed position.

9. Means as defined in claim 4 wherein said member comprises .a disklike member having a generally ilat upper surface of greater diameter than said tube and rotatable beneath the open lower end of said tube and of larger diameter than said tube, a driving motor for said disk, a frame structure supporting said motor and disk with the disk in a position inclined to the horizontal, said 10. Means for intermixing liquid and dry materials comprising a feed passage portion for liquid and dry ingredients, a mixing portion and a discharge portion, a dry feed regulator actuatable to start and stop positions to start and stop introduction of dry ingredient into said feed passage portion, a liquid feed regulator actuatable to on and off positions to start and stop introduction of liquid ingredient into said feed passage portion, and a common controller for said regulators, said controller being actuatable -to at least three positions, including an off position in which both of said regulators are in their off positions, a dry feed position in which at least the dry feed regulator is in the o-n position, and a liquid feed position through which Ithe controller passes in moving to each of its other positions.

1l. Means for mixing dry and liquid ingredients comprising a substantially upright and generally circular feed tube having an impervious Wall and being open at its upper and lower ends, means for introducing a liquid ingredient into the interior of an upper portion of the tube in the form of a curtain extending around and close to the inside of the Wall, means for introducing a dry ingredient into the upper end of the tube for movement downwardly therethrough in an axial direction, a rotary mixing member mounted beneath the lower end of the tube, a housing portion enclosing said member and having an internal chamber communicating interiorly with said tube through the lower end of the latter, means for discharging from said chamber ingredients mixed there- Within, and heating means to maintain said rotary mixing member and said housing portion at an elevated temperature.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,597,093 Gottlieb et al May 20, 1952 2,617,690 Addison Nov. 11, 1952 2,621,838 Price Dec. 16, 1952

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