WO1999058443A1

WO1999058443A1 - Beverage dispenser connection system for different products

Info

Publication number: WO1999058443A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/008451
Authority: WO
Inventors: William S. Credle, Jr.
Original assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
Priority date: 1998-05-08
Filing date: 1999-04-16
Publication date: 1999-11-18
Also published as: AU3649899A; WO1999058443A8

Abstract

Connectors for attaching different beverage containers to multibeverage dispensing apparatus. Plural connectors associated with product delivery hoses of the vending apparatus are complementary only with connector housings for replaceable beverage sources of the particular beverage for dispensing through that selected hose. The internal working parts of both connectors and connector housings may be functionally the same, but the connectors and connector housings have external structure of different dimensions selected so that misconnection of a beverage container is not possible. The connector associated with a particular beverage hose, for example, a sugar beverage, is connectable only to the mating connector housing of a container for that beverage. The present arrangement prevents inadvertent misconnection of a sugar beverage, for example, to a hose intended for dispensing a diet beverage.

Description

BEVERAGE DISPENSER CONNECTION SYSTEM FOR DIFFERENT PRODUCTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to connectors for fluid delivery applications, and relates in particular to a system of connectors used with multiple-beverage dispensing apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical post-mix beverage dispenser is capable of dispensing several beverages from a common dispensing apparatus. The dispensing apparatus includes separate hoses or other liquid- delivery lines extending to containers filled with different beverage syrups or other products for selective delivery through the dispensing apparatus. The product supply connected to each delivery hose is replenished from time to time by the operator of the vending apparatus. Typical beverage dispensing apparatus is known to those skilled in the art and need not be further described herein.

One known technique for delivering beverage products at dispensing locations is the so-called bag-in-box (BIB) syrup dispensing assembly. The BIB dispensing system is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,445,539 to Credle. As described in that patent, the collapsible bag is fitted with a quick-disconnect coupling for connecting the bag to a corresponding hose associated with the vending apparatus. This arrangement allows quick and easy replenishment of the syrup by disconnecting the hose from an empty bag and connecting that hose to the connector equipment of a fresh BIB container.

The typical postmix beverage vending system is capable of dispensing several different beverages, either through a common nozzle assembly or through separate dispensing taps. In either case, the dispenser includes separate hoses extending to connectors for attachment to corresponding bags or other sources of syrup or other product to be dispensed. These hoses, and particularly the connector ends for attachment to the bags, often are beneath a counter or in another location of limited space and visibility. The hoses often are connected to the bags of separate BIB containers placed alongside each other in that location. Although each BIB box bears a label identifying the particular kind of beverage product therein, one can inadvertently replace an empty beverage container with a fresh container holding a different beverage. Such a mistaken substitution of beverages may be immediately apparent, when a container holding a clear beverage is mistakenly connected to a hose leading to a dark-beverage dispensing nozzle. However, some other kinds of misconnections are less readily apparent and can lead to serious consequences. For example, mistakenly connecting a container holding a sugar beverage to a hose leading to a diet, i.e. sugar-free dispensing outlet could have serious consequences to persons having diabetes and mistakenly consuming the sugar beverage believing it was a diet drink. Alternatively, a diabetic faced with a sudden onset of low blood sugar must immediately consume sugar or another glucose to avoid insulin shock. If a diabetic in that circumstance were to draw a beverage from a dispenser mistakenly connected to a sugar-free diet beverage, that person could suffer real and immediate adverse effects. These risks are magnified with beverages that the ordinary consumer cannot distinguish by the appearance of the beverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Stated in general terms, the present invention comprises a system of beverage supply couplings intended for connecting a multiple-beverage dispensing apparatus having at least two supply lines, to a corresponding number of containers for supplying different beverages to the dispenser. The couplings include a connector associated with the hose leading to each nozzle or other dispensing outlet of the multi-beverage dispensing apparatus, and a connector housing associated with each beverage supply container such as a BIB assembly. However, the connectors and connector housings are configured such that the connector associated with the dispensing element for a particular beverage, e.g., a sugar beverage, is not connectable to the connector housing of any beverage container other than one containing the particular predetermined beverage for that dispensing element. The connector for a sugar beverage thus cannot be attached to the connector housing for a diet beverage, and vise versa. Stated somewhat more particularly, the connectors are mutually unique, and the connector housings likewise are mutually unique, so that each connector may be coupled only with the certain connector housing of a predetermined beverage for dispensing through the hose and dispensing element intended for dispensing that particular beverage. For example, the connector and its mating connector housing for a diet beverage may be larger than the corresponding elements for a sugar beverage. The diet connector cannot be connected to the sugar connector housing because the plug element of the connector is too large to fit into the body of the sugar connector housing. Likewise, the connector associated with the sugar beverage cannot be connected to the connector housing associated with the container for the diet beverage because the threaded sleeve of the sugar connector interferes with the body of the connector housing for the nonsugar container. Of course, the foregoing arrangement may be reversed with respect to sugar and diet beverages, and may be used as well with other diverse kinds of beverages to prevent misconnecting the beverage delivery hose to the wrong beverage container. The internal working elements of the connectors and connector housings for the present valve system preferably are the same regardless of connectability. This accomplished in the present invention by making the mutually-incompatible structure part of the threaded sleeve, body, or other external interconnecting elements of the connector and the connector housing. This particular arrangement thus means that service technicians need supply only a particular kind of internal components for servicing the connector system. Moreover, the present system for defining mutually- complementary connections avoids keyways, ribs, splines, and other so-called polarizing elements requiring a particular angular alignment of the mating parts before connection is possible. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved connector apparatus for fluid delivery lines.

It is another object of the present invention to provide improved connector apparatus for use with beverage dispensing systems. It is a further object of the present invention to provide beverage connector apparatus that prevents misconnecting a particular beverage dispenser to a container of a beverage not intended for that dispenser.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a partially-sectioned view showing a mating connector and connector housing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partially-sectioned view showing the connector housing of Fig. 1 interfering with an attempted connection by a connector of different size according to the preferred embodiment. Fig. 3 is a partially- sectioned view showing another mating connector and connector housing according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a partially-sectioned view showing another form of interfering nonconnection according to the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning first to Fig. 1, there is shown generally at 10 a quick-disconnect coupling comprising a connector 12 selectively connectable to a valve housing 14 mounted at one end of a syrup or flavor container such as the bag fragmentarily shown at 16. The bag 16 may be part of a conventional BIB assembly known in the art and is not further disclosed herein. The connector 12 is mounted at one end of a hose 18 forming part of a conventional beverage dispensing apparatus (not shown).

The connector 12 includes a sleeve 21 slidably and rotatably mounted on a central core 22. The inside of the sleeve 21 is radially spaced apart from the core 22 to define an annular region 23 between the core and the inner surface of the sleeve. Threads 24 are formed in the inner surface of the sleeve 21. The core 22 includes a hollow interior passage connected in flow relation to the hose 18, with a poppet valve disposed within the core and connected to that passage. Details of the poppet valve and flow arrangements are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent 5,477,883 to Totten, which is incorporated herein by this reference thereto. The valve housing 14 includes a cylindrical body 27 extending longitudinally from a flange 28 forming part of the housing attachment to the bag 16. Threads 29 are formed in the outer surface of the body 27, matching the threads 24 formed in the sleeve 21 of the connector 12. A cylindrical stem 30 within the body 27 interacts with the poppet valve within the core 22 of the connector 12, when the connector is coupled to the valve housing 14. In that fully-coupled condition, the core 22 fits in the open region 33 within the body 27, and an O-ring seal 34 near the lower end of the core engages the inner wall defining the passage 33. Ribs (not shown) preferably are formed on the exterior of the sleeve 21 to assist in manually coupling and uncoupling the sleeve 21 of the connector 12 to the body 27 of the valve housing 14. The valve housing 14 also contains a poppet valve (not shown) closing off the passage through the valve housing into the interior of the bag 16, and actuated by the stem 30 to open when the connector engages the valve housing. Details of the poppet valve within the valve housing 14 also are disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent 5,477,883.

Fig. 1 thus describes a coupling including a connector and valve housing intended for mutual interconnection, so as to deliver the contents of the bag 16 through the hose 18 to a dispensing apparatus. The structure of the connector 12, including the diameters of the sleeve 21 and of the core 22 within that housing, are complementary to the inner and outer diameter of the body 27 on the valve housing 14, so that the connector is readily attachable to the valve housing. The coupling 10 shown in Fig. 1 thus is intended for dispensing only a single particular beverage, with the hose 18 leading to the dispensing apparatus for that beverage and the bag 16 containing only the syrup or flavor for that beverage. In a particular application and without limiting the application of the present invention, the coupling 10 of Fig. 1 may be intended for dispensing a sugar beverage.

Turning to Fig. 2, there is shown an attempted mismatch of a connector housing 14 with a connector 12a joining a hose 18a leading to a dispensing element for another particular beverage different from the one in the bag to which the valve housing 14 is fitted. This attempted interconnection fails, however, because the diameter of the core 22a within the connector 12 is larger than the open region 33 of the valve housing 14, thereby blocking entry of the core into the body of the valve housing. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the connector 12a and the hose 18a may be associated with a sugar-free beverage, while the valve housing 14, as mentioned previously, is part of a bag for a sugar beverage.

Fig. 3 shows the connector 12a as previously described, juxtaposed with a valve housing 14a of complementary structural configuration. The valve housing 14a includes a cylindrical body 27a having an interior region 33a configured to receive the core 22a of the connector 12a. Again considering a particular application for the disclosed embodiment of the present connector system, the valve housing 14a may be part of a beverage container for a diet beverage. The connector 12a thus is readily connectable to the valve housing 14a for that diet beverage, but is not connectable (Fig. 2) to the valve housing 14 associated with a sugar beverage. Fig. 4 illustrates an attempt to couple the connector 12 (associated with a sugar beverage, in the present discussion) with the valve housing 14 (likewise associated with a diet beverage). Although the plug 22 of the connector 12 is smaller in diameter than the open region 33a within the valve housing 14a, the diameter of the housing 12 is selected to be at least partially coextensive with the diameter of the body 27 a comprising the valve housing 14a. The threaded sleeve 21 of the connector 12 thus interferes with the end 31a on the body 27a of the valve housing 14a, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The connector 12 associated with a sugar beverage, thus is prevented from being coupled with the valve housing 14a associated with a diet beverage.

It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and that numerous changes and modifications thereto may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A system of fluid line couplings for a multibeverage dispensing apparatus of the kind connectable to a plurality of replaceable sources for beverages and operative for dispensing different beverages from the sources, the coupling system comprising: a plurality of mutually-unique connectors each operative for association with a corresponding one of plural fluid delivery lines delivering different beverages to the multibeverage dispensing apparatus; a plurality of mutually-unique connector housings associated with the replaceable sources; and each connector including structure complemen- tary only with a certain unique connector housing associated with a predetermined beverage source and operative for interconnection only with the certain connector housing, whereby each connector is connectable only to the connector housing of a predetermined beverage source for dispensing through the delivery line associated with the connector, so that no connector is connectable to a connector housing associated with a beverage source other than the predetermined beverage for the particular connector.

2. Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein: each connector has a core element at least partially surrounded by a sleeve in concentric spaced-apart relation to the core element; each connector housing has a body defining a region for receiving a plug element, and a means associated with the body for selective connecting engagement with a sleeve of a connector; and at least one of the core element and the sleeve of each connector are configured for complementary connection only with the region and the body of the corresponding certain connector housing.

3. Apparatus as in Claim 2, wherein: at least one of the core element and the sleeve of each connector is configured to interfere with the body of each connector housing other than the certain connector housing.

4. Apparatus as in Claim 3, wherein: the core elements connect to corresponding fluid delivery lines associated with the dispensing apparatus; the region of each connector housing includes a flow passage communicating with corresponding beverage sources; and each core element is operative to establish a fluid flow interconnection with the corresponding region of the certain connector housing.

5. Apparatus as in Claim 3, wherein: the body of each connector housing is sized to interfere with one of the core element or the sleeve of each connector other than the corresponding certain connector.

6. A system of fluid line couplings for a beverage dispensing apparatus for selectably dispensing a sugar beverage and a diet beverage, the coupling system comprising: first and second connectors each operative for association with corresponding fluid delivery lines delivering a sugar beverage and a diet beverage to the beverage dispensing apparatus; first and second connector housings associated with separate containers for the sugar and diet beverages; a first group of either the connectors or the connector housing having core structure at least partially surrounded by a sleeve radially spaced apart from the core structure to define an annular region; a second group of the other of the connectors and the connector housings having structure defining a socket configured to receive the core structure of only a selected connector or connector housing from the first group; and the structure defining each socket of the second group being configured to interfere with either the core structure or the sleeve of other than the selected connector or connector housing from the first group, whereby only the connector and the connector housing associated with a certain one of the beverages is connectable to establish a flow connection between the container and the delivery line for that one beverage, so that no connector is connectable to a connector housing associated with a beverage source other than the predetermined beverage for the particular connector.

7. A method for preventing connection of a beverage dispensing apparatus to a beverage container other than a particular set of containers predetermined for a certain product, comprising the steps of: providing a connector operatively associated with a beverage delivery line for delivering of a particular product by the dispensing apparatus; providing a plurality of mutually-unique connector housings associated with different sets of containers for different products; and configuring the connector for connection only with a unique connector housing associated with the particular container set predetermined for the particular product for delivery, whereby the connector is operative for connection only with a connector housing associated with a container of the particular set.

8. The method as in Claim 7, further comprising: providing a plurality of the connectors each operatively associated with a corresponding beverage delivery line for dispensing different products; and configuring the connectors with respect to the connector housings so that each connector is connectable only with a unique connector housing associated with the predetermined set of containers for the particular product dispensed through the corresponding beverage delivery line.