Abstract:
The invention relates to a beverage dispense apparatus that maintains syrup containers in a housing, thereby eliminating plumbing required by prior art Bag-in-Box dispensers.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    THIS APPLICATION CLAIMS PRIORITY TO UNITED STATES PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION No. 61/750,901, ENTITLED “FRONT ROOM BEVERAGE DISPENSE APPARATUS,” FILED JAN. 10, 2013, THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH IS HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE IN ITS ENTIRETY. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing apparatus, and more particularly, to a beverage dispenser that houses the syrup, water, pumps and cooling unit in a single housing. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Prior art beverage dispensers using Bag-in-Box syrups have a front room dispenser and a back room component. The syrups for beverages are located in the back room, and are connected to the dispenser in the front room via beverage lines. 
         [0004]    The beverage lines are cumbersome because they require the installation of beverage lines from the front room to the back room. Moreover, the beverage lines may be difficult to clean, and are not cooled, therefore causing syrup to warm to room temperature. 
         [0005]    It would be extremely advantageous to have a beverage dispensing device that does not require a back room installation, and that does not allow syrup to warm to room temperature. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One embodiment of the storage and beverage dispense apparatus of the present invention includes a housing containing pumps (for example, for pressurizing water and syrup), a cooling and refrigeration system, and a syrup storage (commonly referred to as a Bag-in-Box or BIB system) in a single housing unit. The housing can be integral, or it may consist of modular components. 
         [0007]    Further the storage and beverage dispense apparatus of the present invention includes packaging these components in a housing, the need for a back room package is eliminated, thereby saving space and reducing the cost of plumbing. Moreover, the proximity of the pumps to the valves eliminates the pressure drop that can occur in long fluid lines. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes a modular system where refrigeration, a pumping system (or a different type of product delivery system) and a BIB/syrup dispense system are connected. The dispense system may consist of a tower with one or more dispense valves. The system&#39;s modules may be packaged so that they fit in an under-the-counter system. 
         [0009]    In the present invention, the dispense valves may consist of a flexible design for converting between carbonated beverage and non-carbonated beverage dispense. Moreover, the dispense valves may also convert between a cold beverage system and a hot beverage system using an optional kit. 
         [0010]    A still further embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a dispenser that uses in-line or cold carbonated technologies for providing the carbonated beverage. The carbonation system may be an in-line system, or an external system. 
         [0011]    The system of the present invention also includes methods for cooling the syrups placed in an ambient condition, before dispensing it through the dispense valve. The cooling methods are applicable for an integrated or modular beverage dispensing system. Examples of cooling methods include an indirect cooling system where refrigerant or a cold secondary medium, such as water, water mixed with glycol, or a brine solution is passed through a cold plate with embedded cooling coils. The syrup containers/BIB are directly placed on top or on the sides of the cold plate(s). 
         [0012]    Another exemplary cooling method of the present invention utilizes an indirect cooling system where a cold secondary medium such as water, water mixed with glycol, or a brine solution is passed through the cooling coils embedded in the cabinet holding the syrup containers. The cooling plate could also be chilled using a direct refrigeration system. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment in which the product delivery system, the syrup containers (or Bag-in-Box), cooling system and dispenser are contained in a single housing; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a front view of the system disclosed in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a second embodiment in which the cooling unit, syrup containers and pumps are positioned below the dispenser; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the addition of a hot kit dispenser connection. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    Referring to the drawings and more particularly to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 1A , the beverage dispensing apparatus  10  includes a housing  20 . The housing  20  includes several components but may take the form of a traditional beverage dispensing system well-known in the art. The housing  20  further includes an insulated portion  22  and a non-insulated portion  24 . The housing  20  also includes a drink cup platform  26  which may accommodate a drink cup  27 . The housing  20  also includes a refrigeration system  28  which may include a compressor, evaporator and water bath (not shown). Alternatively, the refrigeration system  28  could include an ice making system (not shown) that creates ice which could be stored within an ice storage bin  29  in a compartment within the refrigeration system  28 . The non-insulated portion  24  of the housing  20  is adapted to accommodate a water pump  30  which pumps water through a water delivery system  32 . The water delivery system  32  could provide either carbonated water or non-carbonated water. 
         [0018]    The housing  20  further accommodates a cold plate  40 . The cold plate  40  typically maintains a temperature sufficient to chill the water or carbonated water in the water delivery system  32 . It is preferred that water flowing through the water delivery system  32  is chilled by the cold plate  40 . The temperature of the cold plate  40  may be maintained by the refrigeration system  28 . Alternatively, the temperature of the cold plate  40  may be maintained through contact with the ice storage bin  29 . Examples of cooling methods include an indirect cooling system where the refrigerant from the refrigeration system  28  or a cold secondary medium from the ice storage bin  29 , such as water, water mixed with glycol, or a brine solution may be passed through a cold plate  40  with embedded cooling coils. 
         [0019]    The housing  20  also contains a syrup storage compartment  50 . In the apparatus  10  shown, the syrup storage compartment  50  that may accommodate three syrup containers  51 ,  52 , and  53 . The syrup containers of the preferred embodiment are typically a bag-in-box syrup storage container (BIB). The BIB system is well-known in the industry and typically includes syrup at a 5 to 1 mixing ratio. The syrup can be combined in a dispense nozzle to reconstruct a desired beverage. The various syrup containers  51 ,  52 , and  53  are added to deliver syrup via delivery tube  55  and pump  54  to the nozzle  60 . Each syrup storage container  51 ,  52 , and  53  would include a pump  54  and delivery tube  55 . The syrup storage containers  51 ,  52 , and  53  may be positioned directly on top or on the sides of the cold plate  40 . 
         [0020]    The housing  20  also includes a nozzle  60 . The water delivery system  32  and syrup delivery tube  55  deliver water and syrup to the nozzle  60 . Typically, the ratio of water to syrup delivered to the nozzle  60  is 5 parts water to 1 part syrup. However, other ratios may be used within the apparatus  10 . The syrup storage compartment  50  is positioned above the cold plate  40 . The syrup storage compartment  50  and the syrup storage containers  51 ,  52 , and  53  are placed in contact with the cold plate  40  such that the syrup may be chilled from ambient temperature of the room to a temperature necessary for storing the syrup. Typically, in prior embodiments of beverage dispense apparatuses, BIBs are located in a separate room away from the beverage dispense system. Placing the syrup storage containers  51 ,  52  and  53  in a separate room requires additional plumbing for the delivery tube  55  disclosed in the present invention. In other words, beverage lines must be installed to connect the dispense nozzle  60 , which is in the front room, to the BIB in the back room. 
         [0021]    Having the syrup storage compartment  50  in close proximity to the delivery nozzle  60  and contained within the housing  20  eliminates the need for a backroom storage package, thus, saving space and reducing plumbing costs. Moreover, the proximity of the pumps to the delivery valves in the nozzle  60  eliminates the pressure drop that occurs in lengthy fluid delivery tubes  55 . A further advantage of the invention is that the syrup can be cooled on the cold plate  40 . 
         [0022]    The beverage dispensing apparatus  10  of the present invention includes a housing  20 , a product delivery system  30 , a nozzle  60 , a cold plate  40 , and a syrup storage compartment  50 . 
         [0023]    Referring to a second embodiment in  FIG. 2 , the configuration essentially includes all of the components of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 1A , with the exception that the components are arranged in a different configuration. The beverage dispense apparatus  100  includes a housing  120  positioned below a counter  200  in which the beverage dispense apparatus is installed. The beverage delivery system  110  is positioned above the counter  200 . 
         [0024]    The housing  120  includes a beverage storage compartment  150 , a cold plate  140 , and a refrigeration system  128 . The housing  20  includes an insulated portion  22  and a non-insulated compartment  24 . The housing  120  also includes a drink cup platform  126  which may accommodate a drink cup  127 . The housing  120  also includes a refrigeration system  128  which may include a compressor, evaporator and water bath (not shown). Alternatively, the refrigeration system  128  could include an ice making system (not shown) that creates ice which could be stored within an ice storage bin  129  in a compartment within the refrigeration system  128 . The non-insulated portion  124  of the housing  120  is adapted to accommodate a water pump  130  which pumps water through a water delivery system  132 . The water delivery system  132  could provide either carbonated or non-carbonated water. 
         [0025]    The housing  120  further accommodates a cold plate  140 . The cold plate  140  is typically maintained at a temperature sufficient to chill the water or carbonated water in the water delivery system  132 . It is preferred that water flowing through the water delivery system  132  is chilled by the cold plate  140 . The temperature of the cold plate  140  may be maintained by the refrigeration system  128 . Alternatively, the temperature of the cold plate  140  may be maintained through contact with the ice storage bin  129 . Examples of cooling methods include an indirect cooling system where the refrigerant from the refrigeration system  128  or a cold secondary medium from the ice storage bin  129 , such as water, water mixed with glycol, or a brine solution may be passed through a cold plate  140  with embedded cooling coils. 
         [0026]    The housing  120  also contains a syrup storage compartment  150 . In the beverage delivery system  110  shown, the syrup storage compartment  150  that may accommodate three syrup containers  151 ,  152  and  153 . The syrup containers of the preferred embodiment are typically a bag-in-box syrup storage container (BIB). The BIB system is well-known in the industry and typically includes syrup at a 5 to 1 mixing ratio. The various syrup containers  151 ,  152  and  153  are added to deliver syrup via delivery tube  155  and pump  154  to nozzle  160 . Each syrup storage container  151 ,  152  and  153  would include a pump  154  and delivery tube  155 . The syrup storage containers  151 ,  152  and  153  may be positioned directly on top or on the sides of the cold plate  140 . 
         [0027]    The beverage delivery system  110  houses a water supply tube  132  and one or more delivery tubes  155 . The beverage delivery system  110  may also include a water pump  130  connected to the water supply tube  132 . The beverage delivery system  110  may also include a syrup delivery pump  154  connected to the syrup delivery tube  155 . The beverage delivery system  110  also includes a nozzle  160  wherein the water supplied by the water supply tube  132  is mixed with the syrup delivery tube  155 . 
         [0028]    The water supply tube  132  may optionally pass through a hot kit  300  for delivering a warm beverage to a user. A beverage line passing through the hot kit  300  preferably does not come in contact with the cold plate  140 . 
         [0029]    Typically the ratio of water to syrup delivered to the nozzle  160  is 5 parts water to 1 part syrup; however, other ratios may be used. The syrup storage compartment  150  is positioned above the cold plate  140 . The syrup storage compartment  150  and the syrup storage containers  151 ,  152 , and  153  are placed in contact with the cold plate  140  such that the syrup may be chilled from ambient temperature of the room to a temperature necessary for storing the syrup. Typically, in prior embodiments of beverage dispense apparatuses or BIBs are located in a separate room away from the product delivery system. Placing the syrup storage containers  151 ,  152  and  153  in a separate room requires additional plumbing for the delivery tube  155  disclosed in the present invention. Having the syrup storage compartment  150  in close proximity to the delivery nozzle  160  and contained within the housing  120  eliminates the need for a backroom storage package, thus, saving space and reducing plumbing costs. Moreover, the proximity of the pumps  154  to the delivery valves in the nozzle  160  eliminates the pressure drop that occurs in lengthy fluid delivery tubes  155 .