Abstract:
A dispense module for both carbonated and non-carbonated beverages is connected to a postmix beverage dispenser in the same space that any well-known dispensing valve occupies. The module includes a housing having a front-loading, refrigerated chamber for receiving a disposable concentrate package, a motor and pump drive, a refrigeration system, a front door, a water on-off valve, a water flow control, and a control system. The disposable concentrate package includes an integral concentrate container and pump, mixer and nozzle unit. The dispense module can be an integral part of a new dispenser and can also be retrofitted onto existing dispensers in place of one or more dispensing valves to dispense either carbonated or non-carbonated beverages. The concentrate packages are easily and quickly inserted into and removed from the module to change flavors as desired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to postmix beverage dispensing and in particular to a unique dispensing module that can be original equipment or retrofitted onto existing beverage dispensers in place of a dispensing valve. A disposable concentrate package with integral pump, mixer and nozzle is front-loaded into the module which refrigerates the concentrate, pumps it into a mixer and dispenses the beverage. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Postmix beverage dispensers are well-known and include counter-electric units with mechanical refrigeration systems and towers with ice-cooled drop-in or cold plate units under the counter or remote. These dispensers include carbonators (built-in or separate) for providing carbonated or soda water for carbonated beverages and some also provide still water for non-carbonated beverages. The dispensers usually include a plurality of dispensing valves on the front for dispensing a variety of different beverages. Soft drink concentrates or syrups are often supplied in bag-in-box or figal containers that are separate from the dispenser, and juice concentrates, which require refrigeration, are supplied in a variety of packages that fit into the dispenser itself to provide the needed refrigeration. Juice dispensers are known with built-in pumps, such as peristaltic pumps, built into the dispenser which work with a tube that is part of a disposable juice package. Juice concentrate packages are also known in which include an integral pump and mixing nozzle disposable along with the concentrate container, to eliminate the need to sterilize any equipment. The pump connects to a motor in the dispenser. 
     Because of the different needs of equipment to dispense non-carbonated juice beverages and carbonated soft drink beverages, different types of dispensing equipment are used. That is, a restaurant often has a soft drink dispenser alongside a juice dispenser. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The dispensing module of this invention provides great flexibility and many advantages over known dispensing equipment. The dispensing module includes a housing with a front door enclosing a front-loading concentrate package chamber, a refrigeration system, a motor, a pump drive, a water valve, a water flow control and a control system. This invention also includes the disposable concentrate package itself with integral pump, mixer and nozzle. 
     The dispensing module is a small, self-contained, postmix dispenser that only needs cold water (still or soda) and electricity to dispense a beverage. A standard postmix valve can be easily removed and replaced with this dispensing module. This invention provides the following advantages: 
     (1) conversion of a soft drink valve to a juice valve, and vice versa; 
     (2) conversion of a soft drink dispenser to also be a juice dispenser; 
     (3) provides a convenient, easy to use, front loading, juice dispenser; 
     (4) allows an operator to quickly and easily change beverages, such as from orange juice to lemonade or tea; 
     (5) conversion of low volume beverages to smaller size supply containers to avoid problems of &#34;out-of-date&#34; concentrate; 
     (6) provides equipment convenient for high ratio dispensing; 
     (7) provides a front-load juice dispenser; 
     (8) all options are field retro-fittable; 
     (9) allows reduction of dispenser inventory; 
     (10) makes dispenser servicing easier; 
     (11) makes it possible to change beverages without sanitizing the dispenser; and 
     (12) eliminates nozzle sanitation altogether. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a dispensing module. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a method of retrofitting a soft drink dispenser to also be a juice dispenser. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a combination soft drink and juice dispenser. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an improved disposable concentrate package with an integral pump, mixing chamber and nozzle. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an improved concentrate pump and mixer. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an improved annular outlet port check valve. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description below when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially exploded view, of a postmix beverage dispenser having the dispensing module of this invention substituted for one of the well-known dispensing valves or faucets; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a beverage dispensing tower having the dispensing module of this invention substituted for one of the dispensing valves; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a beverage dispenser having a dispensing module of this invention substituted for each of the dispensing valves, and having a full cover placed over the modules; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a new, compact juice dispensing tower using two modules of this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a new, compact juice dispensing tower using four modules of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view through the dispensing module of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view through the pump, mixer and nozzle unit of the concentrate package of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the package of this invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing how the module mounts on a dispenser; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a low profile dispenser using a horizontal arrangement of the module of this invention; 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded, perspective view of the module; 
     FIG. 12 is a partly diagrammatic, party schematic view of the control system of this invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view through a dispenser and module showing an alternative cooling system for the module; and 
     FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air vent mechanism. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the preferred dispense module 10 of the present invention installed on a counter-electric, postmix, soft drink dispenser 12 in place of one of the dispensing valves 14, for dispensing a beverage into a cup 15. 
     FIG. 2 shows a tower type of dispenser 16 with the dispense module 10 installed thereon in place of one of the valves 14. 
     FIG. 3 shows a juice dispenser 18 with five modules 10 installed thereon and no valves 14 and with a cover 20 over the modules. 
     FIG. 4 shows a tower 22 specifically designed for use with two dispense modules 10. 
     FIG. 5 shows a tower 24 for use with four dispense modules 10. 
     FIGS. 6, 7 and 11 show the dispense module 10 which includes a housing 30 enclosing a chamber 32 for a disposable concentrate package 34. A layer 33 of insulation surrounds the chamber. The housing has a front door 36 hinged at its top at 38 for providing access to the chamber. The module 10 also includes a refrigeration system 40 for cooling the concentrate 42 in the package, a motor 44, a pump drive 46 connected to the motor, a water conduit 48 including an inlet port 50 and an outlet port 52, a water valve 53, a flow control 54, beverage dispense buttons 56, and a control system 58 for controlling the motor and the water valve. 
     The refrigeration system 40 is preferably a thermoelectric system including a thermoelectric chip 60 attached to the back of an aluminum block 62 and located in an opening 63 in the layer 33 of insulation. An aluminum radiator 64 is in contact with the hot side of the chip 60 and includes a plurality of fins 66 providing a plurality of vertical air passages 68. These passages 68 meet a horizontal passage 70 having a motor driven fan unit 72 adjacent an exhaust port 74. Air inlet openings 76 are provided in the housing and air inlet openings 77 are provided the outer fins. Cooling air flows in openings 76 and 77, through the passages 68 and 70 and out the exhaust port 74. A temperature sensor 75 provides input to the control system (described below). 
     The inside surface of the block 62 is in contact with a U-shaped aluminum casing 79 located inside the layer of insulation defining the chamber 32, for cooling the packages 34 and thus the concentrate 42. 
     The motor 44 is located in the top of the housing 30 and the pump drive 46 includes a drive shaft 78 connected to an eccentric 80 connected to a reciprocating rod 82, connected in turn to a lever arm 84 pivoted at 86 and having a pump drive coupling 88 on its distal end. 
     The concentrate package 34 includes a container 90 sealingly connected to an integral pump, mixer and nozzle unit 92. The container is preferably blow-molded and includes an air vent 94 in the top thereof. 
     The unit 92 includes a pump 96, a mixer 98, and an outlet nozzle 100. The pump 96 includes a pump housing 102 enclosing a pumping chamber 104 and including a reciprocable piston 106 slidably mounted thereon. The pump housing includes an inlet port 108 having an inlet check valve 110 and an outlet port 112 having an outlet check valve 114. 
     The mixer 98 includes a mixer housing 116 enclosing an annular, narrow, elongated, mixing chamber 118 surrounding the pump housing. The mixer housing includes a narrow, annular, inlet port 118, a water inlet port 120, and an outlet port 122. The outlet port from the pump is also the inlet port to the mixer. The thin, annular inlet port feeds a wide, narrow stream of concentrate into the mixing chamber for excellent mixing with the incoming water under pressure. 
     The dispensing nozzle has an inlet port 124 and a beverage dispensing outlet 126. 
     One aspect of the present invention is the annular outlet port check valve 114. This valve includes a central portion that is frusto-conical in shape and tapers from a smaller to a larger diameter in the direction of liquid flow, that is, away from the pumping chamber. The valve has a mounting portion 128 adjacent its proximal end and a cylindrical freely moving cylindrical portion 130 on its distal end. This shape for the valve allows the valve to open the outlet port easily on the exhaust stroke of the piston, but seals tightly on the intake stroke. This check valve provides the following advantages: 
     The basically cylindrical shape of the check valve results in a rigid structure that can have a high back pressure or cracking pressure if desired. The check valve can be made of a very soft material since the shape of the check valve provides the strength for high back pressure. When pumping high viscosity fluids with suspended particulate matter (pulp) it is important that the outlet check valve be soft enough to seal around the pump but have a relatively high back pressure to provide for quick check valve closing and hence accurate pumping. With other inexpensive check valves, such as umbrella check valves, it is difficult to achieve high cracking pressures with soft materials. 
     The shape of the annular check valve allows it to fit around the outside of the pumping chamber resulting in a more compact pumping assembly. For example, it is much more compact than a pump with two umbrella check valves that traditionally are laid out in an &#34;in-line&#34; fashion. This annular check valve also results in a pump that requires fewer parts than existing pump designs. 
     One additional advantage of the check valve is that it directs the concentrate flow in a thin-walled annular stream into the water that is flowing into the pump. This thin-walled annular flow promotes mixing with the water and reduces the need for static mixers downstream of the confluence of water and concentrate. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a concentrate package 140 of this invention. The package 140 is a flexible, collapsible pouch with a pump and mixer unit 92 as described above. The pouch does not require the vent 94. 
     FIG. 9 shows how the dispense module 10 attaches to a dispenser 12. If done as a retrofit, a standard valve, such as one of the valves 14 in FIG. 1, is removed from the standard mounting block. The mounting block is then also removed. The module is then attached by lifting the cover 20 to access four screw holes 142 and with the male water plug 144 on the dispenser inserted into the water inlet port 50 on the dispense module. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a low profile dispenser 150 using a horizontal orientation for the module 10. 
     FIG. 12 is a partly diagrammatic, partly schematic view of the control system 58 of the present invention. The control system includes a printed circuit board 160 having a microprocessor 162. The p.c. board is connected to each of the buttons 56 on the outside of the module, such as a small, medium, large and pour/cancel button. The p.c. board is also connected to the motor 44 for the pump 96 to control the flow of concentrate to the mixer 98, and to the solenoid controlled on-off water valve 53. 
     The control system 58 carries out the functions of set-up, calibration, ratio control, system diagnostics and inventory management. The system also controls the concentrate cooling functions of temperature management and fan control and receives input from the temperature sensor 75. The p.c. board is connected to both the thermo-electric chip 60 and the fan-motor 72. Preferably, the chip is energized constantly and the temperature is controlled by turning the fan motor on and off in response to input from the temperature sensor 75 as processed by the microprocessor. 
     FIG. 13 is a partial, cross-sectional view through an alternative embodiment of a dispenser 170 and dispense module 172, having an alternative refrigeration system 174. This refrigeration system includes an aluminum plate 176 that has one end located in the package chamber 178 and the other end located in the ice-water tank 180; cooling is effected by conduction through the plate. Because the ice-water tank is already present and available, this embodiment makes use thereof and saves the expense of the thermo-electric system used in the other embodiments. 
     FIG. 14 is a partial, cross-sectional view through the air vent mechanism. The package 34 preferably has an opening 186 in its top wall 188. A duckbill check valve 190 closes the opening and is covered by a shipping cover 192. The module includes a piercing device 194 pivoted at 196. The device includes a first arm 198 that is contacted by the closing door 36, to move a second arm 200 having a sharp end 202 in a hollow tube 204, to pierce the cover 192. As concentrate is pumped out of the package 34, the valve 190 will open to allow air into the package. 
     While the preferred embodiment of this invention has been described above in detail, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the motor 44 need not be electrical; it could also be a single or double-acting pneumatic or hydraulic pump. It could be driven by the pressurized water, for example.