Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
  • B67D1/0043—Mixing devices for liquids
  • B67D1/0044—Mixing devices for liquids for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
  • B67D1/0046—Mixing chambers
  • B67D1/0048—Mixing chambers with baffles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
  • B67D1/0043—Mixing devices for liquids
  • B67D1/0044—Mixing devices for liquids for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
  • B67D1/0081—Dispensing valves

Definitions

• the invention generally relates to liquid or semi-liquid dispensing systems in general, and more particularly, to beverage dispensers where one or more, concentrates are mixed in a potable liquid according to a predetermined ratio.
• Liquid dispensers are widely used in various industries. Chemical solutions including fertilizers, pesticides, and detergents and so on are often mixed from various concentrates and solvents before dispensed for use or storage. Similar dispensers also find applications in the medical field. In the food and beverage industry, liquid dispensers are widely used in all kinds of venues such as quick service restaurants. [0003] The liquid dispensers used in food and beverage industry reconstitute juice syrup concentrates with a potable diluent, e.g., potable water, and then dispense the reconstituted juice into a container at the point of consumption. This kind of dispensers are sometimes called "postmix” dispensers as they produce a final product in contrast to a . "premix” beverage that is prepackaged with the final constituents (flavor, gas, etc.) and ready for consumption. For safety and taste reasons, a postmix beverage dispenser often requires refrigeration in the dispenser of various components that eventually go into the postmix product.
• a potable diluent e.g., potable water
• the present invention relates to various features of an improved liquid dispenser. These features will be discussed, for purpose of illustration, in the context of food and beverage industry but should not be contemplated to be limited to such applications.
• the present invention provides, in one aspect, a mixing and dispensing apparatus that reduces flavor stratification and splashing at the point of dispensing.
• the present invention provides a mixing nozzle that is integrated into one piece for ease of service and replacement.
• a blocking surface is provided to force a stream of pressurized diluent into a stream of the concentrate such that turbulence is created to aid the mixing of the two.
• the present invention provides a liquid or semi-liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus that includes a housing and a body having an inlet section and an outlet section. The body defines at least one passageway from the inlet section to the outlet section and the inlet section is sized to fit inside the housing.
• the apparatus further includes a blocking surface situated near the inlet section of the body, e.g., elevated above the inlet section, and a locking structure associated with the body.
• the locking structure when engaged, locks the body inside the housing in a predetermined orientation such that the blocking surface substantially faces an entry port in the housing.
• the blocking surface may be uneven, e.g., concave, or even, hi one embodiment, the body extends along an axis, and the blocking surface and the locking structure are both situated asymmetric about the axis.
• the blocking surface and/or the locking structure may be integrated with the body.
• the locking structure includes a D-shaped collar around the apparatus's body and or two projections of differing lengths along the axis of the body, hi another feature, a corresponding locking structure that permits the locking structure to engage the body to the housing in a predetermined motion is also provided, hi one embodiment, the predetermined motion is reversible to disengage the body from housing.
• the apparatus body is configured such that a portion of the passageway includes a depressurizing section
• the body is configured such that a portion of the passageway includes a funnel
• an upstream section of the passageway is connected to the funnel through at least one elongated slot near a periphery of the funnel to reduce splashing.
• the apparatus may further include a structure for facilitating the removal of its inlet section from the housing.
• the present invention provides a liquid or semi-liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus that includes a body having an inlet section, a depressurizing section, and an outlet section.
• the invention provides a method for manufacturing a liquid or semi-liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus that includes the steps of: providing a blocking surface in the apparatus that, in a predetermined orientation, diverts an incoming diluent stream and providing a locking structure to lock the blocking surface in the predetermined orientation during use.
• both the blocking surface and the locking structure are placed asymmetric about an axis of the apparatus.
• the apparatus, the blocking surface and the locking structure may be manufactured in one integrated body.
• Figure 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of the front, upper and left sides of a beverage dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2 is cut-away view largely along line 2-2 of FIG. 1..
• Figure 3 is a cut-away view of an embodiment of a refrigeration system used in the dispenser of the invention.
• Figure 4 is an illustration of a refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration system of
• FIG. 3. is an exploded, cut-away view of a brazed plate heat exchanger used in an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the water delivery system that may function inside the dispenser depicted in FIG. 1.
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a flowmeter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 8 is an exploded side view of the flowmeter of FIG. 7.
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of the dispenser embodiment depicted in
• FIG. 1 with its front door removed and with part of the production line inside the dispenser in an exploded view on the right.
• Figure 10 is a cut-away view of part of the concentrate delivery system depicted in FIG. 9 and a perspective view of the mixing nozzle depicted in FIG. 9 before it is placed inside the mixing housing.
• Figure 11 is a detailed, perspective view of a concentrate discharge tube, a piston, and the mixing nozzle in their assembled positions according to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9.
• Figure 12 is a perspective view of the side and the top of an embodiment of the piston.
• Figure 13 A is a perspective view of the side and the top of an embodiment of a mixing nozzle.
• Figure 13B is another perspective view of the side of the mixing nozzle depicted in FIG. 13 A.
• Figure 13C is a cross sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13B along the line 13C-13C.
• Figure 14A is a top view of an embodiment of an adapter panel according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 14B is a bottom view of the adapter panel of FIG. 14A.
• Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing nozzle of FIG. 13A engaged with the adapter panel of FIG. 14A in a beverage dispenser at an unlocked position, according to a principle of the invention.
• Figure 16 is a perspective view of mixing nozzle of FIG. 13A engaged with the adapter panel of FIG. 14A in a beverage dispenser at a locked position, according to a principle of the invention.
• Figure 17 is a perspective view of part of the front of the dispenser with the front door open to reveal a data input system.
• Figure 18 is a formulaic representation of the content of a label associated with each concentrate package, according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 19 is block diagram depicting operational steps involving an operator and the control system of the dispenser, according to an embodiment of the invention.
• control system control circuit
• control control
• liquid refers to pure liquid and a mixture where a significant portion is liquid such that the mixture may be liquid, semi-liquid or contains small amounts of solid substances.
• the present invention provides a liquid or semi-liquid dispenser that refrigerates a liquid flow inside the dispenser on demand.
• on demand it is meant to refer to the capability for chilling a target without significant delay.
• fluid flows inside the dispenser are intermittent.
• the beverage flow may be almost continuous during meal hours, but may have extended idle time up to hours during slow time.
• Existing beverage dispensers that use a cold reserve such as an ice bank necessitate constant replenishing of the reserve as the reserve constantly dissipates heat, a wasteful system that often requires constant maintenance and service by human operators.
• a desirable refrigeration system needs a high degree of efficiency in the heat- exchange section of the refrigeration system.
• the present invention provides such a refrigeration system designed to function in a liquid dispenser. Examples of such a liquid dispenser are now described.
• FIG. 1 a postmix beverage dispenser 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.
• the beverage dispenser 50 viewed from outside, includes a housing 52 that has a hinged front door 54.
• the housing 52 further includes a platform or drip tray 56 for placing receptacles 58 such as cups of various sizes that receive the postmix products.
• Dispense buttons 60a and 60b may be situated at various locations on the housing 52 for an operator to initiate a dispensing cycle.
• one set of the dispense buttons, 60a or 60b is situated on either side of the drip tray 56 to control dispensing of the product from either dispensing nozzle (not shown).
• To have the dispense buttons at a location other than the front door 54 makes it easier for wiring, and also the buttons remain visible and accessible to the operator while the front door 54 is open.
• the dispensing buttons 60a and 60b may include, as in the example illustrated, buttons corresponding to various portion sizes, e.g., small, medium, large and extra large.
• the buttons may also include those that allow the operator to cancel/interrupt a dispensing cycle that has started, or to manually dispense while the button is pressed ("top- off or "momentarily on”). They may also include lights that indicate the status of the machine.
• the dispensing buttons 60a and 60b may be back-lit to enhanced visibility, and may be part of a larger display (or interface) that provides further information on the dispenser.
• a display 62 e.g., a liquid crystal display, is illustrated underneath the drip tray 56 and on the dispenser housing 52 for displaying information pertaining to the machine. Such information may include error messages, status, diagnostic messages, operational instructions, and so on. Similar to the dispense buttons, having the display 62 off the front door 54 can be advantageous in terms of wiring and functionality.
• Other parts of the dispenser housing 52 may include metallic panels 64 with slots 66 for air intake needed for the refrigeration system.
• FIG. 2 a cut-away view of the dispenser 50 reveals its various inner parts.
• a concentrate cabinet 68 (or compartment) for placing a prepackaged supply of concentrate and for mixing the concentrate with a diluent before dispensing.
• the cabinet 68 houses at least one, preferably two, concentrate holders 70, one of which is shown in the drawing.
• a prepackaged supply (not shown) of concentrate (or additive, solute) is stored inside the concentrate holder 70 and a drainage tube 72 from the concentrate supply is fed into a concentrate delivery system 74, which in turn, delivers the concentrate into a mixing and dispensing system 76.
• Diluent typically a potable liquid, e.g., potable water, carbonated or non-carbonated
• a separate delivery system e.g., a water delivery system 78
• Postmix product is eventually dispensed through a mixing nozzle 80 into the receptacle 58.
• the beverage dispenser 50 also includes a refrigeration system 82 that provides the necessary refrigeration to chill the concentrate cabinet 68 and water supplied through the water delivery system 78.
• a control system 84 is provided to monitor, regulate and control the operation of various systems inside the dispenser 50, such as the- refrigeration system 82, the concentrate delivery system 74, the water delivery system 78, and the mixing and dispensing system 76.
• the control system 84 may also provide error diagnostics for a service technician or operator.
• a power switch 85 is located on the dispenser housing 52, specifically, outside of the drip tray 56 in the illustrated embodiment.
• a plug 86 at the back of the dispenser housing 52 connects systems that .require power to an outside power source.
• Various parts, for example, of the water delivery system 78 and/or refrigeration system 82, are wrapped in insulation materials 88.
• one beverage dispenser 50 contains at least two production lines such that most of the parts described above in reference to FIG. 2 are duplicated side-by-side in the same dispenser housing 52.
• two sets of concentrate holders 70, concentrate delivery systems 74, parts of the water delivery systems 78, mixing and dispensing systems 76 may be manufactured to fit into one dispenser 50.
• the refrigeration system 82 is also bifurcated where necessary to chill both production lines.
• the footprint or dimension of the dispenser 50 is no larger than about 11 inches (about 28.0 cm) wide, about 25 inches (63.5 cm) deep and about 55 inches (88.9 cm) tall.
• various individual parts inside the dispenser 50 may be designed as integrated modules to reduce extraneous connecting or sealing parts and to make it easier for service.
• Refrigeration System Referring now to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the refrigeration system 82 according to the present invention is illustrated, hi one embodiment, the refrigeration system 82 includes one or more evaporators, a compressor 90, a condenser 92, a fan 94, an air filter 96, a dryer 98, and one or more optional temperature sensors, parts generally known to one skilled in the art. Under the control of the control system 84, the refrigeration system 82 cools both the concentrate cabinet 68 and the water delivery system 78. In one embodiment, the control system 84 is programmed to prevent use of the refrigeration system 82 if the filter 96 is not installed.
• the present invention includes a plate heat exchanger, for example, a brazed plate heat exchanger (BPHX) 100, in its refrigeration system 82.
• BPHX brazed plate heat exchanger
• FIG. 4 An illustrative refrigerant circuit is shown in FIG. 4, where the refrigerant flows through the compressor 90, the condenser 92 next to the fan 94, and various valves 102 including solenoid valves that direct the flow of the refrigerant.
• the circuit includes a primary loop 104 that chills the water supply and a secondary loop 106 that chills the concentrate cabinet 68.
• the primary loop 104 lowers the water supply, e.g., a pressurized water supply at a flow rate of about 4 ounces (about 0.12 liters) per second or about 2 gallons (about 3.8 liters) per minute, by at least 5°F (about 2.8 0 C), or preferably, 10 0 F (about 5.6°C).
• the secondary loop 106 keeps the concentrate cabinet at or below 40°F (about 4.4 0 C).
• the primary loop 104 and the secondary loop 106 are never activated simultaneously — only one loop is being activated at any given time. And the primary water loop 104 always has priority over the secondary cabinet loop 106.
• water from the beverage tower or a water booster/chiller system is channeled to flow in and out of the BPHX 100 for maximum efficiency in heat exchange.
• Such BPHX are ' commercially available, for example, from Alfa Laval Corporation, hi one embodiment, the BPHX 100 is brazed with copper or nickel materials, and called copper brazed plate heat exchanger, hi another embodiment, the BPHX 100 is a stainless steel brazed plate heat exchanger.
• the corrugated BPHX plates 108 provide maximum amount of heat-exchange surfaces as a water conduit 110 formed on one plate is situated next to a refrigerant conduit 1-12 formed in a neighboring plate.
• Both the refrigerant and the water are controlled by solenoids such that the water will only flow through the BPHX 100 when the refrigerant is flowing, and vise versa, creating instant yet energy-conserving heat transfer, hi one embodiment, water and refrigerant flow in a co-flow pattern, which means they both flow from one side of the exchanger, top or bottom, to the other, hi a preferred embodiment, water and refrigerant flow in a counter-flow pattern, where warm water flows in from the top of the exchanger and cold refrigerant flows in from the bottom of the exchanger.
• the refrigeration system of the present invention is capable of chilling a water flow on demand without the use ⁇ f a cold reservoir such as an ice bank, hi other words, the refrigeration system operates in an ice-free environment.
• control system of the dispenser is programmed to prevent actuation of the refrigeration system before a sufficient amount of water has entered the circuit. For example, if the BPHX holds 12 ounces (about 0.35 L) of water, and it is determined that, from the point where water flow is measured
• the control system will be programmed to mandate 21 ounces (about 0.62 L) of water has passed through the rotameter in each power cycle before energizing the primary water chilling loop of the refrigeration system.
• the secondary cabinet loop 106 of the refrigeration system 82 can utilize any of the conventional refrigeration technique, e.g., the cold-wall technology, to chill the concentrate cabinet 68.
• the dispenser stores and makes products for consumption, it is important to maintain the concentrate cabinet 68 at a temperature that substantially inhibits growth of potentially harmful bacteria, e.g., at or below 40 0 F (about 4.4 0 C).
• the secondary cabinet loop 106 utilizes a capillary tube refrigerant control scheme since the load on the system is fairly constant. Diluent Delivery System
• Potable water is introduced into the delivery system 78 at an inlet 114 at the back of the dispenser.
• the inlet 114 is fitted to allow a 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) NPT (National Pipe Tap) inlet connection to an outside source of water supply, e.g., an in-store water chiller/booster system.
• the incoming water may be boosted, e.g., to about 20 to 100 psi (pound per square inch), and pre-chilled to about 45°F (about 7.2°C).
• the water deliver system 78 in one embodiment, provides pressurized water flow as the master in a "master- follower" mixing system.
• Such a system regulates the rate of delivery for the follower, the concentrate in this case, based on that of the master, water in this case, and therefore, only actively adjusts the rate for one of two ingredients.
• the water delivery system 78 may also, in corroboration with the refrigeration system 82, provides further chilling of the incoming water, e.g., by an additional 5°F (about 2.8°C) to 40°F (about 4.4 0 C). For that reason, parts or all of the water delivery system 78, including water conduits 116a and 116b, are insulated. [00057] Still referring to FIG. 6, the water delivery system 78 continues as water conduit 116a passes through an optional pressure regulator 118.
• the pressure regulator 118 may adjust the water flow to a desired pressure and flow rate, e.g., less or at about 30 psi and about 2 gallons (about 3.8 L) per minute. Pressure-adjusted water is then fed into part of the refrigeration system 82, specifically, the BPHX 100. Further chilled water exits the BPHX 100 into the conduit 116b. Because the illustrated embodiment has two production lines from two sources of concentrate supply, water is bifurcated here and flows into two flowmeter assemblies 120a and 120b before entering respective mixing and dispensing systems 76a and 76b, and dispensed as part of the final products eventually. [00058] Referring now to FIG.
• the flowmeter assembly 120 is designed to minimize extraneous parts, connectors and fixtures while combining the functions of flow control and monitoring into one assembly.
• the flowmeter assembly 120 includes a manifold 122 inside an integral housing 123 that has a first arm 124 and a second arm 126.
• the first arm 124 provides at least one inlet port 128 for fluid input
• the second arm 126 provides at least one outlet port 130 for fluid output.
• the inlet port 128 is in fluid communication with the outlet port 130 through a bore (not shown).
• the orientation of the second arm 126 determines the direction of fluid output.
• the second arm 126 is constructed along an axis that is about 45 to 60 degrees to the axis of the first arm 124.
• a flowmeter or rotameter (not shown) is embedded or otherwise integrated in the first arm 124 of the manifold housing 123, downstream to the inlet port 128 and upstream to the outlet port 130.
• the flowmeter responds to any fluid flow by generating an analog output signal indicative of the rate of the fluid flow.
• an adapter 132 configured and sized for a flowmeter sensor 134 to fit in its groove.
• the flowmeter sensor 134 senses the output signal generated by the flowmeter and relays through wiring 136 to a control system.
• the control system uses this information to set the pace of a concentrate pump to achieve a desired concentrate ratio as explained in a subsequent section.
• an optional pressure-compensated flow control valve may be incorporated in the first manifold arm 124 to regulate water flow into the flowmeter.
• the pressure- compensated flow control valve is preferably a one-way valve.
• another one- way valve e.g., a check valve (not shown) may optionally be embedded in the second housing arm 126 to prevent any substantial fluid flow back toward the flowmeter. Backflow from the mixing system may contaminate the flowmeter and prevent it from proper functioning.
• the ports of the flowmeter assembly 120 are equipped with furnishings that allow the assembly to sealingly receive upstream and downstream conduits, preferably of a standard size, e.g., 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) in diameter.
• the inlet port 128 and the outlet port 130 are furnished with connector assemblies 138 and 140, respectively.
• the flowmeter assembly 120 further includes a gate-keeping valve, e.g., a solenoid valve 142 sealingly fastened to the manifold housing 123 and situated downstream to the flowmeter and upstream to the outlet port 130.
• the solenoid valvel42 is capable of shutting off and reopening the water flow, and is needed to control water flow from the BPHX to the mixing system.
• the solenoid valve 142 is prefabricated and then fastened onto the manifold housing 123 though a screw 144.
• a pressure-compensated flow control valve 145, a flowmeter 146 with a turbine 148, and a check valve 150 are provided.
• the manifold housing 123 can be fabricated, e.g., through injection molding using an NSF-listed food-grade thermoplastic, while assembling therein the pressure-compensated flow control valve 145, the flowmeter 146, the check valve 150, arranged sequentially down a fluid flow along the bore of the manifold.
• a port plug 152 is used to seal up a reserve port 153 on the housing 123.
• a commercially available solenoid valve 142 is then fastened to the manifold housing 123 through a two-way bolt screw 144 and a top nut 154.
• connector assemblies 138 and 140 may be furnished to the inlet port 128 and the outlet port 130, respectively, after the manifold housing 123 has been fabricated, hi one embodiment, the connector assembly is a quick disconnect fitting, and may include an expandable member configured to fit inside the port for sealingly receiving a connective conduit. As illustrated herein, each of the connector assemblies 138 and 140 may include a barbed expandable member 156 with an external o-ring 158 for sealing. In one embodiment, the expandable member 156 comprises multiple extensions arranged in a circle and separated by slots. For example, this kind of connector assembly is commercially available from Parker Hannifin Corporation of Ravenna, Ohio, under the trademark TrueSeal. Again, a flowmeter sensor 134 can be fastened to the flowmeter assembly 120 through an adapter structure 132 on the manifold housing 123.
• the present invention By integrating multiple components such as the pressure-compensated flow control valve, the flowmeter (and/or its sensor adapter), the solenoid valve, and the check valve into one manifold-based assembly, the present invention economizes all these parts into one easily serviceable assembly with only two openings. Further, the assembly is designed such that those limited number of openings can be furnished with connectors than can sealingly connect to other conduits though simple axial motions without the help of any tools, further enhancing serviceability. An integrated assembly also makes it easier to fabricate closely-molded insulation wrap or casing around it. Concentrate Delivery System [00065] Referring to FIG.
• the concentrate delivery system 74 delivers the concentrate from a reservoir into the mixing and dispensing system 76 where the concentrate meets the diluent, e.g., potable water, arid the two are blended together before being dispensed.
• Figure 9 shows the dispenser embodiment 50 of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the front door removed, and one of the two parallel production lines is depicted in a partly exploded view.
• the concentrate which may be liquid or semi-liquid and may contain solid components, e.g., juice or syrup concentrates with or without pulp, slush,-and so on, is loaded into the concentrate cabinet 68 in a package.
• the package may be a flexible, semirigid or rigid container.
• a concentrate holder 70 may be provided to accommodate the concentrate package.
• the concentrate holder 70 is a rigid box with a hinged lid that opens to reveal a ramp 162, separate or integrated with the holder housing, to aid drainage of the concentrate from its package.
• the ramp 162 can be flat or curved for better accommodation of the package.
• the concentrate holder 70 may also have corresponding ridges 164 and grooves 166 on its housing, e.g., the lid 160 and its opposite side 168, to aid stacking and stable parallel placement.
• the concentrate holder 70 may also have finger grips or handles that are easily accessible to an operator from the front of the concentrate cabinet 68 to aid the holder's removal.
• a vertical groove 165 near an edge of the holder 70 could serve that function.
• the concentrate holder 70 may include a protrusion or similar structure to facilitate the locking of the drainage tube 72 in a preferred locking position in the opening 170 to prevent kinking or misalignment that hinders pump operation. Further, such a locking position may ensure proper functioning of a sensor that monitors the liquid flow inside the drainage tube.
• the drainage tube 72 extends out of the concentrate holder 70 and is attached to a tube adapter 171 on the top of a pump head 172. Underneath the tube adapter 171 is an elongated cylindrical piston housing 176 inside which a piston 177, actuated by a rotary shaft (not shown) powered by a motor 181, moves to transfer the concentrate from the tube adapter 171 to a mixing housing 178.
• a mixing nozzle 80 Inside the mixing housing 178 are portions of a mixing nozzle 80 of which the top surface 182 forms a mixing chamber 184 with the top inner surface of the mixing housing 178. Water is also delivered into the mixing chamber 184 where mixing takes place. The reconstituted product is then dispensed through the discharge outlet 186 of the mixing nozzle 80.
• the pump head 172 is mounted onto an adapter plate 188 through a locking ring 190.
• the locking ring 190 has a feedback structure that ensures the locking ring 190 is in the proper locking position. As a result, the dispenser machine 50 is not energized unless the pump head 172 and the locking ring 190 are properly assembled.
• An example of such a feedback structure is a magnet 192 that activates a reed switch 194 (FIG. 10) placed behind the adapter plate '188 at a position that corresponds to the proper locking position of the magnet 192.
• the piston 177 is shown to extend out of an upper opening 196 of the adapter plate 188.
• the piston 177 has a U-shaped depression 180 (better illustrated in FIG. 12) that temporarily holds concentrate during its operation. Still referring to FIG. 11, as the piston 177 transfers the concentrate from the drainage tube 72 towards nozzle top surface 182, pressurized and chilled water is forced out of a lower opening 198 of the adapter plate 188 to mix with the concentrate. The blended product then flows through an opening 202 in the nozzle top surface 182.
• the piston 177 is, for example, part of a positive displacement pump, e.g., a nutating pump or a valveless piston pump, such as those commercially available from Miropump Incorporated of Vancouver, Washington. Nutation is defined as oscillation of the axis of any rotating body.
• Positive displacement pumps are described in detail in co-owned U.S. application serial no. 10/955,175 filed on September 30, 2004 under the title "Positive Displacement Pump” and its entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference wherever applicable.
• the depicted nutating pump is a direct drive, positive displacement pump, used to move liquid from a starting point, in this case, the tube adapter 171, to a destination, here, the mixing chamber 184.
• the piston 177 is configured to rotate about its axis, so that its U- shaped depression 180 faces upward towards the tube adapter 171 to load the concentrate and faces downward towards the mixing chamber 184 at the end of one cycle to unload its content. Meanwhile, the piston 177 also oscillates back and forth in the direction indicted by the arrow 204, providing additional positive forces to transfer the concentrate.
• One advantage for employing positive displacement pumps such as a nutating pump or a valveless piston pump as opposed to progressive cavity pumps or peristaltic pumps is the enhanced immunity to wear or variation in concentrate viscosity.
• Prior art pumps often suffer from inconsistency in delivery due to machine wear or the need for a break-in period; they also face low viscosity limits because concentrates of higher viscosity requires greater power in those pumps.
• positive displacement pumps can deliver, with consistency and without the need for speed adjustment, concentrate loads over a wide range of viscosities. Accordingly, to deliver a predetermined amount of concentrate, one only needs to set the pump speed once.
• the pump is equipped with an encoder to monitor the number of piston revolutions — e.g., each revolution may be equal to 1/32 of an ounce (about 0.0009 L) of the concentrate.
• the encoder may be placed on the rotary shaft of the pump motor to count the number of revolutions the piston has turned in relation to the water flow.
• the number of pump revolutions is dictated by the control system based on two pieces of information: a predetermined, desired mix ratio between the concentrate and the water, and the amount of water flow sensed by the flowmeter assembly described above.
• the controller system may be programmed to ensure that the pump piston 177 is returned to the intake position at the end of each dispense operation.
• the mixing and dispensing system 76 provides a common.space for the concentrate and the diluent to meet and blend.
• the mixing and dispensing system 76 also includes parts that facilitate the blending. Referring back to FIG. 9, in one embodiment, the mixing and dispensing system 76 includes the mixing housing 178 and the mixing nozzle 80. As described earlier, top portions of the mixing nozzle 80 fit into the mixing housing 178 and forms the mixing chamber 184 (FIG. 10) therebetween. In one embodiment, the mixing housing 178 is fabricated as part of the pump head 172. [00075] Referring now to FIG.
• a barrier structure or diverter 200 on the nozzle top surface 182 faces an incoming diluent stream and forces the diluent to spray into an incoming concentrate stream being unloaded by the piston 177.
• the incoming water stream enters the mixing chamber through a lower plate opening 198 and then a water entry port 206 (FIG. 10) in the mixing chamber housing 178 (FIG. 10).
• the turbulence created by the redirected water flow continues through the entire dispensing cycle and effectively produces an evenly and thoroughly blended mixture of the concentrate and the water.
• FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C depict one embodiment of the mixing nozzle 80 according to the invention.
• a nozzle body 189 has an inlet section 191, an outlet section 195 and a depressurizing section 193 in between.
• the nozzle body 189 extends along a rotational axis 197, and defines a liquid passageway 199 from the inlet section 191 to the outlet section 195.
• the inlet section 191 consists of a nozzle top 261 and the barrier structure or diverter 200 thereon.
• the depressurizing section 193 consists of a depressurizing chamber 263 in between the nozzle top 261 and a chamber floor 264.
• the depressurizing chamber 263 may be partitioned, in part, by multiple walls 266 into multiple chambers, hi each chamber, there is an elongated diffusion slot 268 on the chamber floor 264 near the floor's periphery. There can be any number, e.g., four, of these diffusion slots, and two of them, labeled 268a and 268b, are depicted in the drawings. Compared to the inlet opening 202, these diffusion slots 268 are farther away from the nozzle axis 197 to direct the liquid flow towards the nozzle periphery.
• a funnel refers to a structure that defines a passage where the cross section of one end is larger than the other; a funnel's diameter may continually taper toward one end, or the tapering may be interrupted by sections where the diameter is unchanged.
• the funnel 270 includes an inner wall 272 that, from the top.to bottom, have a constant diameter at first, and then continually tapers toward the edge 274 of the discharge outlet 186. [00079] Specifically referring to FIG. 13C, the nozzle's liquid passageway 199 begins at the inlet opening 202 on the nozzle top surface 182.
• the nozzle top surface 182 serves as the floor of the mixing chamber when the nozzle body 189 is partly inserted in the mixing housing. While the nozzle top surface 182 can be flat, in a preferred embodiment, it is slightly curved with the inlet opening 202 at the lowest point of the floor to aid gravitational drainage.
• the initial portion of the nozzle passageway 199 is an inlet channel 262 of constant diameter that extends from the inlet opening 202 through the nozzle top 261 and into the depressurizing chamber 263.
• the inlet opening 202 is designed to be fairly restricted compared to the size of the nozzle top surface 182, so that when the postmix product flows through the inlet channel 262 and enters the depressurizing chamber 263, the substantial increase in the average cross-sectional area of the liquid passageway 199 greatly reduces the pressure and hence the momentum of the liquid flow.
• the pressure drop induced by the depressurizing chamber 263 serves to reduce splashing in dispensing the product.
• the depressurizing chamber 263 has a cross"-sectional area that is at least 20 times, preferably 50 times, and more preferably 100 times larger than that of the inlet channel 262.
• the inlet opening 202 has a diameter of 0.125 inches (about 3.2 mm) and the depressurizing chamber 263 has a diameter of 1.375 inches (about 3.5 cm), therefore an 121 times increase in cross-sectional area.
• Both the nozzle top 261 and the chamber floor 264 have a. groove around its periphery that each accommodates an o-ring 276a/276b.
• the o-rings seal against the inside of the mixing housing when the nozzle body 189 is locked in.
• the last portion of the nozzle passageway 199 consists of the funnel 270.
• the diffusion slots 268 that lead to the funnel can be of a variety of shapes, including oval, kidney bean-shaped, circular, rectangular, fan-shaped, arc-shaped and so on.
• the diffusion slots 268 are situated along the edge ' Qf the chamber floor 264 to direct the product flow toward the inner funnel wall 272. As the product streams down the funnel wall 272 as opposed to free fall in the middle of the passageway 199, splashing is further reduced.
• the increase in cross-sectional area of the flow path as it enters from the diffusion slots 268 into the funnel 270 also tend to slow down the flow.
• Sections of the nozzle body 189 as well as other distinct structures described herein may be fabricated separately and assembled before use, or, fabricated as one integrated piece.
• the nozzle body 189 should be sized such that at least the inlet section 191 and the depressurizing section 193 fit into a nozzle housing, e.g., the mixing housing 178 (FIG. 10).
• the nozzle may be manufactured in a variety of food-safe materials, including stainless steel, ceramics and plastics.
• the diverter 200 provides an elevated blocking surface 201 that redirects an incoming water stream.
• the diverter 200 is depicted as substantially cylindrical, but one skilled in the art understands that it can be of any of a variety of geometrical shapes.
• the blocking surface 201 is designed to maximize contact between water and the concentrate. In this case, it changes the direction of a pressurized water stream so that the water stream meets the incoming concentrate stream head on, i.e., the two streams meet at a degree close to 180 degrees, or at an obtuse angle. Referring back to FIG.
• the blocking surface 201 creates a spray pattern as it redirects water so that water molecules bounce off the surface in a variety of directions as illustrated by arrows 203a and 203b.
• the incoming concentrate stream moves generally in the direction of gravitational fall as indicated by arrow 205.
• the two streams meet at an angle 207.
• the angle 207 is more than 90 degrees, and preferably, more than 120 degrees.
• the blocking surface 201 may be of a variety of geometry, even or uneven, uniform or sectioned.
• the blocking surface 201 may be concave or convex, corrugated, dimpled, and so on.
• the blocking surface 201 is a concave surface such that a wide, thin, powerful spray patter of diverted water is generated that cuts into the concentrate stream, and creates turbulent flow pattern inside the mixing chamber. This turbulent pattern results in a uniformly blended product that is then forced into the opening 202 on the nozzle top surface 182,
• the edge of the blocking surface 201 may be sharp or blunt, hi one embodiment, to avoid injury to the operator, the top of the diverter 200 is flattened or rounded.
• certain locking features may be added to the nozzle. Referring to FIGS.
• the blocking surface 201 is situated asymmetric about the nozzle axis 197, therefore, a locking structure that is also asymmetric about the nozzle axis 197 is provided to orient the nozzle.
• such locking structure includes an asymmetric collar that is integrated with the nozzle body 189.
• the asymmetric collar can be a D-shaped collar 278 situated between the chamber floor and a middle collar 280, and having a flat side 279.
• Both the D-shaped collar 278 and the middle collar 280 are preferably integrated with the rest of the nozzle body 189.
• another locking structure can be a set of projections that extend along the nozzle axis 197.
• the projections are a pair of wing-like handles 284 and 286 that occupy different latitudinal spans along the outside of the nozzle body 189.
• the locking handle 284 extends from just below a lower collar 288 upward and terminates level to the top of the middle collar 280.
• the regular handle 286 also extends from just below the lower collar 288 upward, but terminates below the top of the middle collar 280.
• the adapter panel 290 in one embodiment (FIG. 9), is fixedly situated behind the front door and underneath the mixing chamber 184 — its spatial relation to the water path is fixed and known.
• the adapter panel 290 defines one or more openings 292 sized and shaped to let through the asymmetric collar 278 but not the larger middle collar 280 of the nozzle body 189 (FIG. 13C).
• FIG. 14 A in the particular embodiment where the asymmetric collar 278 is D-shaped, so is the adapter opening 292.
• the D-shaped opening 292 is situated inside a largely circular recess such that the recess is a step-down from the rest of the panel 290 and the rim of the D-shaped opening 292 is surrounded by the recess floor 294.
• the recess border 296 is sized and shaped to fit the middle nozzle collar 280 snugly.
• the recess has an arc-shaped locking slb.t 298 in addition to the circle that fits the middle nozzle collar 280; the locking slot 298 is designed to dictate the locking and unlocking sequence in cooperation with the locking handle 284 (FIG. 13C).
• the locking slot 298 is sized such that the top of the locking handle 284 fits snugly in the slot and can rotate back and forth between one side 299 of the slot and the other side 300, rotating the rest of the nozzle body with it. [00089] ha operation, referring to both FIGS. 13B and 14B, the nozzle inlet section
• the nozzle body 189 is at an unlocked position with the locking handle 284 rested against the "unlocked" side 299 of the locking slot 298.
• the unlocked position is depicted in FIG. 15 which shows the adapter panel 290's recess floor 294 engaged inside the locking groove 282 between the nozzle D-shaped collar 278 and the nozzle middle collar 280, and the locking handle 284 toward the very back of the mixing chamber 184.
• FIGS. 13B and 14B the orientation of the locking slot 298 dictates that the locking handle 284 can only rotate counterclockwise (note that FIG. 14B is a view from the bottom) until it is stopped at the "locked" side 300 of the locking slot 298.
• the locked position is depicted in FIG. 16 in which the elevated blocking surface 201 faces directly at the water stream entering from the direction of the opening 198.
• To unlock the nozzle simply reverse the above-described sequence of motion by turning the handles 284 and 286 clockwise until they stop at the unlocked position depicted in FIG. 15. The operator can then use the lower nozzle collar 288 as a gripping aide to pull the nozzle body 189 downward out of the opening 292 in the adapter panel 290.
• the control system may include a microprocessor, one or more printed circuit boards and other components well known in the industry for performing various computation and memory functions.
• the control system maintains and regulates the functions of the refrigeration system, the diluent delivery system, the concentrate delivery system, and the mixing and dispensing system. More specifically, the control system, with regard to: • refrigeration system: monitors filter placement, activates water chilling loop, supports water chilling loop over cabinet chilling loop;
• • diluent delivery system regulates one ore more gate-keeping switches that control the water flow at various points, regulates pressure of the water flow; receives and stores flow rate output; • concentrate delivery system: monitors pump head lock, receives and stores information regarding the concentrate including desired mix ratio of the product, ascertains concentrate status, computes and regulates pump speed and fill volumes, controls piston position;
• mixing and dispensing system activates cleaning of the system, dispenses the right fill volumes
• diagnostics identifies errors and provides correctional instructions.
• control system In performing refrigeration-related functions, the control system, as described earlier, ensures that the refrigeration system cannot be energized if the filter is not properly installed. In that case, the control system may further provide a diagnostic message to be displayed reminding an operator to install the filter.
• the control system further monitors, through output signal from the flowmeter, the amount of water that has passed through the flowmeter, and allows the activation of the primary water chilling loop only after sufficient amount of water, e.g., 21 ounces (about 0.62 L), has passed to prevent freeze-up of the water circuit.
• the diluent delivery system may include gate-keeping switches such as solenoid valves at various points along the water route.
• the control system controls the operation of these switches to regulate water flow, e.g., in and out of water chilling loop, specifically, as water enters and exits the BPHX.
• the control system also regulates the pressure of the water flow, through pressure regulators, for instance. Output signals from the flowmeter are sent to the control system for processing and storage.
• the control system determines when the request has been fulfilled by reading the water flow from the flowmeter and adding the volume dispensed from the concentrate pump. Each of the portions will be capable of being calibrated through a volumetric teach routine. Provisions to offset the portion volume for the addition of ice may be incorporated into the control scheme.
• the control system ensures that no dispensing cycle starts if the pump head is not properly assembled through the locking ring, as described earlier. The control system, following the master-follower plan where water is the master and the concentrate is the follower, regulates the pump speed based on computed fill volumes and detected water flow rate to achieve a desired mix ratio.
• the control scheme of the present invention only actively adjusts one parameter (pump speed), making the system more reliable, easier to service, and less prone to break-down.
• the control system ensures that the piston in the concentrate pump is returned to the intake position so that a seal is effectively formed between the concentrate delivery system and the mixing and dispensing system.
• the present invention provides a data input system.
• the system includes a label 208a or 208b and a label reader 210 installed in the dispenser 50.
• the label reader 210 maybe an optical scanner, e.g., a laser scanner or a light-emitting diode (LED) scanner.
• the label reader 210 is an Intermec® E 1022 Scan Engine, commercially available from Intermec Technologies Corporation, housed behind a protective cover.
• the data input system employs radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and the label reader 210 is a radio frequency sensor.
• RFID radio frequency identification
• the label 208a is detachably affixed to the concentrate drainage tube 72, which is preferably made of a pliable material, in the form of a tag, tape, sticker, chip, or a similar structure, while label 208b is permanently associated with, e.g., directly printed onto, the concentrate drainage tube 72.
• the label 208a is made of waterproof mylar and backed with adhesive.
• the label 208a or 208b each includes certain information in a machine-readable form 212 regarding the particular concentrate package that the label is associated with.
• the machine-readable form 212 may be optically, magnetically or electronically or otherwise readable. In one embodiment, the machine-readable form 212 is readable by radio frequency.
• the information may include: data on desired compositional ratio between the concentrate and the diluent in the postmix product, whether the product requires a low (product with ice) or high (product without ice) fill volume of the concentrate for any given portion size, the expiration date to ensure food safety, flavor identity of the concentrate, and so on.
• the label includes some unique information about each package, such that a unique and package- specific identifier can be generated. For example, the label may indicate when the concentrate was packaged up to the second, which would typically be unique for each package. [00098] Referring now to FIG. 18, in an example of the label, the data is presented in a barcode that corresponds to the parameters represented graphically herein.
• the first data set 214 represents the packaging date "January 7, 2000.”
• the second data set 216 represents the packaging time in the format of "hour-minute-second" (the illustrated example uses a random integer of five digits).
• the third data set 218 represents an indicium for a desired compositional ratio between a diluent and the concentrate in the postmix product, as in this particular example, 5:1.
• the fourth data set 220 represents the expiration date of the package "January 26, 2000.”
• the fifth data set 222 represents ice status, i.e., whether ice is typically added to the postmix product derived from this concentrate.
• the sixth data set 224 represents concentrate's flavor identity, in this case, "A" for orange juice.
• the control system is programmed to translate each data set into real information according to preset formulas.
• the reader 210 obtains package-specific information from the label 208a or 208b, it sends the information to the control system.
• the control system is then able to display such information for the user, to regulate the mixing and dispensing of the product, to track the amount of remaining concentrate, and to monitor freshness of the concentrate to ensure safe consumption.
• step 226 a concentrate holder with an empty or expired concentrate package is removed from the concentrate cabinet.
• step 2208 it is then determined which side of the dispenser was the holder removed from or otherwise emptied.
• An internal flag is set for the control regarding the empty/out status.
• the machine may have a sensor that monitors the position of the concentrate holder, or the machine can be manually taught which side the concentrate holder was removed from.
• a magnet is embedded in the concentrate holder (e.g., at the bottom) such that removal the holder triggers a reed switch at a corresponding position inside the dispenser to signal the removal to. the control system.
• step 230 once the control learns that a concentrate holder has been removed from the dispenser, in step 230, it actuates the label reader, e.g., an optical scanner, and in step 232, turns on indicators for the affected side, e.g., a red and amber LED.
• step 234 an operator refills the holder with a new concentrate package and places the holder back into dispenser.
• step 236 the operator manually presents a new label on the new drainage tube for the activated scanner and scans the barcode.
• the label is automatically detected and read by a sensor or reader in the dispenser, hi step 238, the control determines if the scan is successful. If not, it will direct the operator to rescan the barcode in step 240.
• the scanner will power off and a unique product identifier is generated by the control in step 242.
• This unique identifier specific for each concentrate package, is kept in a registry on the control as a permanent record to prevent product tempering.
• the control system can monitor the amount of concentrate dispensed from a particular package at any given time and assign the information to the unique identifier. Accordingly, the control system can compute and display the theoretical volume left in a given package or to alert the operator when the concentrate is running low. Once the package is emptied out, the control will flag the associated identifier with a null status and not allow the package to be reinstalled.
• the unique product identifier will also be used by the control system to track how many times the package associated with it has been installed, and to continually monitor concentrate usage throughout the life of the package. If a package is removed from the dispenser prior to being completely used, the control will recognize the same package when it is reinstalled in the dispenser and will begin counting down the ' volume from the last recorded, level. [000103] Referring again to FIG. 19, the unique identifier is used to monitor and regulate other aspects of concentrate usage. For example, in step 244, the control determines if the concentrate has expired or passed the best-used-by date. In step 246, if the answer is affirmative, the control will flag that product identifier and disallow any further dispensing from the current package.
• step 248 a warning signal is indicated, e.g., through two red LEDs.
• the control also reactivates the scanner and the sequence reverts to step 234 to start replacing the package. If it is determined that the concentrate has not expired in step 244, however, the control continues to determine if the barcode is still valid in step 250. If the answer is negative, step 248 and subsequent steps are initiated. If the answer is affirmative, step 252 is initiated where information on desired compositional ratio setting and previously obtained from scanning the package label is processed. In step 254, the control further determines, also from scanned information on the label, whether ice is normally required in the postmix product.
• control Based on information gathered in steps 252 and 254, the control computes the volume of the concentrate needed for each portion size requested by the operator. In step 256, default fill volumes are used for all portion sizes when it is indicated that no ice is needed for the postmix product. Otherwise, as in step 258, fill volumes are offset by a predetermined value if need for ice is indicated. In either case, the control proceeds to step 260 to update the dispenser display with the appropriate flavor identity, also obtained from the scanning of the label in step 236. [000105] According to one feature of the invention, the control system is programmed and configured to regulate the mixing and dispensing process to achieve consistency in compositional ratio, e.g., between about 10:1 to about 2:1 for the ratio between the diluent and the concentrate.
• the control system needs two pieces of information to accomplish this task: desired compositional ratio and the flow rate of the diluent.
• the former can be obtained, as described above, through the data input system where a label provides the information to the control.
• the latter is received as an output signal generated by a metering device, e.g., a flowmeter, that is in electrical communication with the control circuit.
• a metering device e.g., a flowmeter
• the control system further based on portion size information, i.e., the specific portion size requested and whether ice is needed in the postmix product — this last information preferably also comes from a package label — decides on the duration of a dispensing cycle.
• a positive displacement pump e.g., a nutating pump
• the motor is configured to actuate the nutating pump, and the amount of concentrate transferred by each motor revolution is fixed.
• encoder can be configured to regulate a rotary speed of the motor, and hence, the rate of concentrate transfer.
• the control system in electrical communication with the encoder, sends a command to the encoder once it has computed a desired rotary speed and/or duration for a given dispensing cycle. Accordingly, the right amount/volume of the concentrate is added to each dispensing cycle.
• the control receives, from the package label, the desired compositional ratio between the water and the concentrate as 10:1. Further, the flowmeter signals the control that water is flowing at a ' rate of about 4 ounces (about ' 0.12 L) per second. That means the concentrate needs to be pumped at a rate of about 0.4 ounce (about 0.012 L) per second. Since each revolution of the pump piston always delivers 1/32 ounce (about 0.0009 L) of the concentrate, the control sets the piston to run at 12.8 revolutions per second. If a portion size of 21 ounces (about 0.62 L) is requested for a dispensing cycle and no ice is needed in the product according to.
• the control- will determine that the dispensing cycle should last for about 4.8 seconds.
• the control system can adjust the pump's motor speed.
• the encoder sends a feedback signal in relation to a current rotary speed to the control, and the control, in turn, sends back an adjustment signal based on the desired compositional ratio, and the water flow rate detected by the flowmeter. This is needed when water flow rate fluctuates, e.g., when a water supply is shared by multiple pieces of equipment. This is also necessary when the desired compositional ratio in the postmix product needs to be adjusted as opposed to have a fixed value.
• a preferred embodiment of the control system automatically adjusts the pump speed to ensure the desired compositional ratio is always provided in the postmix product.

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• 2005
  • 2005-12-12 CA CA002632665A patent/CA2632665A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-12-12 AU AU2005339117A patent/AU2005339117A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-12-12 CN CN2005800522782A patent/CN101432221B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-12-12 EP EP05853902.4A patent/EP1968881B1/de active Active
  • 2005-12-12 WO PCT/US2005/045087 patent/WO2007070030A1/en active Search and Examination
• 2009
  • 2009-10-30 HK HK09110149.0A patent/HK1132487A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation

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