PREMIX DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract: A premix dispenser system including a housing for holding three replaceable four-liter PET beverage bottles, a refrigeration system, a CO₂ cylinder, three adapters for connecting the CO₂ cylinder to the bottles for pressurizing the bottles to dispense therefrom and to maintain the carbonation thereof, and three beverage dispensing valves, for dispensing a desired quantity of cold beverage from a selected one of the bottles. The refrigeration system can be easily switched between an electrical system and a cold plate system.

Description: This invention relates to beverage dispensers, and in particular to a premix beverage dispenser that is inexpensive, simple, easy to operate and to maintain, and can be operated in either an electrical or a non-electrical mode. Beverage dispensers are well-known, particularly for post-mix operation in which a syrup is mixed with carbonated water in a valve and nozzle, for example, as shown in U.S. Patents 4,357,284; 4,479,520; and 4,493,441. U.S. Patent 4308975 discloses a premix beverage dispenser comprising a housing having a refrigeration system mounted therein, a cylinder containing a pressurised gas and connected via gas conduit means and a pressure regulator to openings in respective ones of a plurality of premix beverage containers, a plurality of beverage dispensing valves connected by beverage conduits to the respective containers, and a plurality of buttons for actuating respective ones of said valves to dispense a beverage. Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a premix beverage dispenser comprising; (a) a housing; (b) a refrigeration system mounted in said housing and including a plurality of beverage cooling coils; (c) a CO₂ cylinder; (d) a plurality of beverage dispensing valves and a plurality of buttons for actuating a respective one of said valves to dispense a beverage; (e) a plurality of adapters for connecting to a respective one of a plurality of premix beverage containers; (f) CO₂ conduit means connecting said CO₂ cylinder to each of said adapters; (g) a plurality of beverage conduits connected one each between a respective one of said adapters and a respective one of said cooling coils; (h) a plurality of beverage valve conduits connected one each between a respective one of said cooling coils and a respective one of said valves; and (i) regulator means for controlling the pressure of CO₂ applied to said adapters; (j) each of said adapters including: (i) a beverage passageway having an external fitting for connecting to one of said beverage conduits and having a dip tube for extending down into a beverage container; and (ii) a CO₂ passageway including valve means therein movable between a normally closed first position closing said CO₂ passageway, and a second, open position opening said CO₂ passageway; and (iii) said adapter including means for automatically moving said CO₂ valve means from said first to said second position when said adapter is connected to a container. Viewed from another aspect the invention provides a method of dispensing any one of a plurality of cold beverages, comprising the steps of: (a) pressurizing a plurality of premix containers with CO₂ gas at a pressure of about 55 psi (3.85 kg/sq. cm.) to both dispense beverage therefrom and to maintain their carbonation; (b) feeding beverage from each of said containers through a respective adapter and a beverage conduit connected to said adapter to a beverage dispensing valve; and (c) cooling the beverages in said conduits; (d) said pressurizing step comprising connecting a CO₂ conduit to said adapter, which adapter has a normally closed CO₂ valve, coupling means for connecting said adapter to an opening of a beverage container through which opening said container is completely open to atmosphere, and valve actuating means for automatically opening said CO₂ conduit when said adapter is connected to a container, and connecting said adapter to a container to pressurize said container. In a preferred form the invention provides a premix dispensing system for use with three replaceable fourliter PET beverage bottles including a CO₂ cylinder, adapters for connecting the CO₂ cylinder to the respective bottles for pressurizing the bottles for dispensing therefrom and for maintaining the carbonation thereof, a refrigeration system for cooling beverage conduits extending from the bottles to dispensing valves, and three dispensing valves for dispensing the desired amount of cold beverage from a particular bottle. The adapters allow an empty bottle to be easily replaced with a new full bottle. The entire refrigeration system can be easily removed for switching between an electrical system and a cold plate system. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a broken-away, perspective view of a premix dispenser according to this invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the adapter used in the dispenser of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adapter of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter in its closed position taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the adapter open; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the adapter of Fig. 3 taken along line VI-VI, and showing the CO₂ passage open; and Fig. 7 is a front, top left side perspective of the dispenser of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, the dispenser 100 includes a housing 112; three four-liter PET premix beverage bottles 114, 115, and 116; a CO₂ cylinder 118; a refrigeration system 120; three mechanical beverage dispensing valves 122, 123 and 124 actuated by three push buttons 122′, 123′, and 124′, respectively; three nozzles 126, 127 and 128; a CO₂ tube 130 from the CO₂ cylinder 118 to a manifold 119 and from there to the bottles 114, 115 and 116; three beverage conduits 132, 133 and 134 from the bottles to the refrigeration system; and three valve conduits (of which only two are shown, i.e. 136 and 137) from the refrigeration system to the valves. The housing 112 is a rectangular box having a beverage dispensing station 140 with the nozzles 126, 127 and 128 and a drip tray 142. Three selector buttons 360, 361 and 362 are located above the station 140 for pushing the buttons 122′, 123′ and 124′. The housing includes a top panel 364 and a front panel 146 for providing access to the bottles and the cylinder 118 for replacing empties. A front panel 366 provides access to the valves. The left rear portion of the housing includes a water bath enclosure 150. The housing can be made of any desired material. The front panel includes an upper panel 340 hinged to a lower panel 342. The lower panel includes a pair of sidewalls 343 and 344 and a floor (not shown) on which a CO₂ bottle fitting 131 is mounted. The floor is connected to a pair of slides 346, whereby the front panel can be slid out from the dispenser. A holder 348 rests on the floor and receives the three bottles and the CO₂ cylinder. Thus, access to the bottles and CO₂ cylinder is easily provided by folding down the upper panel 340 and pulling out entire assembly on the slides 346. One half of each of the slides 346 is connected to the floor of the housing 112 while the movable half of each slide is connected to the floor of the front panel. The three beverage bottles 114, 115 and 116 are the source of the beverages. Preferably, four-liter PET bottles are used; however, other containers such as two- and three-liter PET bottles can be used. The CO₂ cylinder 118 is preferably a 2.5 pound (1.13 kg) cylinder with a 44 psi (3.85 kg/cm²) regulator. The CO₂ cylinder and regulator can be as described, for example, in U.S. Patents 4,357,284 and 4,479,520. The refrigeration system 120 as shown in Fig. 1, includes a deck 152, adapted to rest on the water bath enclosure 150, a 1/12 hp compressor 154, a condenser 156, three sets of beverage cooling metal coils (not shown), an ice bank control 160, a motor-agitator 162, and a refrigerator coil 158. This is a standard refrigeration system, such as is shown in U.S. Patent 4,493,441, incorporated herein by reference, and thus it need not be shown and described herein in detail. This refrigeration system can include handles for use in lifting the entire system 120 out of the housing 112. The system 120 can be replaced with a standard cold plate system cooled by ice, for use when electricity is not available. The beverage cooling coils are preferably each 25 feet long. The water bath enclosure 150 contains fifteen pounds of water. This system can make approximately one pound (0.45 kg) of ice. When a cold plate system is used, it can hold twenty pounds (9 kg) of ice. Product inlet and outlet quick connects facilitate the easy exchange of one cooling system for the other. The valves 122, 123 and 124 are standard mechanical valves for premix application. Beverage is dispensed as long as the spring loaded buttons are depressed. Plastic tubing, e.g. 136 and 137, connects each valve to one of the three metal coils in the refrigeration system. Each valve dispenses the beverage through a respective one of the nozzles 126, 127 and 128. The CO₂ tube 130 carries CO₂ gas to each of the bottles 114, 115 and 116 via the manifold 119. The beverage conduits 132, 133 and 134 are connected from the bottles to a respective one of the refrigeration system cooling coils. The dispenser 110 includes three adapters 170, each connected to a respective one of the beverage conduits 132, 133 and 134. The adapters 170 are shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 6. The adapter 170 includes a beverage passageway 300 with a check valve 312, a CO₂ passage 302 with a Schraeder valve 316, CO₂ vent holes 304, and coupling means 306 for connecting the adapter 170 to a bottle. The beverage passageway 300 includes a fitting 308 to attach to one of the beverage conduits 132, 133 or 134, and a tube 310 extending down into the bottle and into which the top end of a dip tube 184 is inserted. The top end of the tube 310 includes the check valve 312; this check valve can prevent product in the dip tube from leaking out of the adapter when the product conduit is disconnected. The CO₂ passage includes a fitting 314 and the Schraeder valve 316. The valve 316 includes a movable valve stem 318 (Fig. 2) that controls CO₂ flow though the valve 316 from an inlet port 320 to an outlet port 322. An O-ring 324 provides a seal between those two ports. The adapter 170 also includes a valve actuator 326. The valve actuator 326 includes a movable plate 328 biased downwardly (as viewed in Figs. 4 to 6) by a spring 330, but movable upwardly by the top edge of a bottle as the adapter is screw-threaded thereon. As the bottle moves up into the adapter, the plate 328 contacts the valve stem 318 and eventually opens the CO₂ passage 302. The CO₂ then can flow through the fitting 314, into port 320, out port 322, through a slanted passage 334, and then through port 336 in the plate 328 and into the bottle. A plug 332 (Fig. 2) holds the valve 316 in place. The adapter 170 includes the following venting feature. As the bottle is removed from the adapter 170, the stem 318 moves enough to close the CO₂ passage while the screw threads still hold the bottle. Then, as the bottle continues to move down, but while the screw threads continue to hold the bottle, the CO₂ vent passages 304 are uncovered allowing the pressure in the bottle to be released, while the bottle is still connected to the adapter 170. Further unscrewing will finally disconnect the bottle from the adapter. While the adapter can be made in any way and of any desired material, it is preferably made of upper and lower bodies 350 and 352, respectively, held together by screws. The lower body includes the coupling means 306 which are preferably internal screw threads 354. The movable plate 328 includes an opening 356 to accommodate the lower end of the tube 310 into which the dip tube 184 is inserted. While an 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 scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, while standard bottles have been shown, especially shaped containers can be used to increase capacity. Also, other numbers and sizes of bottles can be used. The preferred adapter has been shown, but other designs can be used. Other types and locations of valves and nozzles can be used. The preferred pressure has been described, but others can be used, especially if different containers are used. It will thus be seen that the present invention, at least in its preferred forms, provides an inexpensive and simple to use premix beverage dispenser; and furthermore provides a premix beverage dispenser that can be easily converted from electrical to non-electrical operation; and furthermore provides a simple, inexpensive, and easy to operate adapter for connecting a CO₂ cylinder to a bottle, and to a dispensing valve through a cooling system; and furthermore provides an adapter that automatically opens and closes the CO₂ line to the bottle as the bottle is connected thereto and disconnected therefrom, respectively.

Claims: 1. A premix beverage dispenser comprising; (a) a housing (112); (b) a refrigeration system (120) mounted in said housing and including a plurality of beverage cooling coils; (c) a CO₂ cylinder (118); (d) a plurality of beverage dispensing valves (122-124) and a plurality of buttons (122′-124′) for actuating a respective one of said valves to dispense a beverage; (e) a plurality of adapters (170) for connecting to a respective one of a plurality of premix beverage containers (114-116); (f) CO₂ conduit means (130) connecting said CO₂ cylinder to each of said adapters; (g) a plurality of beverage conduits (132-134) connected one each between a respective one of said adapters and a respective one of said cooling coils; (h) a plurality of beverage valve conduits (136,137) connected one each between a respective one of said cooling coils and a respective one of said valves (122-124); and (i) regulator means for controlling the pressure of CO₂ applied to said adapters; (j) each of said adapters (170) including: (i) a beverage passageway (300) having an external fitting (308) for connecting to one of said beverage conduits (132-134) and having a dip tube (184) for extending down into a beverage container; and (ii) a CO₂ passageway (302) including valve means (316) therein movable between a normally closed first position closing said CO₂ passageway, and a second, open position opening said CO₂ passageway; and (iii) said adapter including means (326) for automatically moving said CO₂ valve means from said first to said second position when said adapter is connected to a container. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adapter (170) includes movable valve actuator means (326) for moving said CO₂ valve means (316). 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said adapter (170) includes CO₂ vent means (304) for venting to atmosphere CO₂ from a container connected to said adapter, after the container has been disconnected far enough to close said CO₂ valve means (316) but not far enough to disconnect the container from said adapter. 4. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including a plurality of premix beverage containers (114-116) connected one to each of said adapters (170). 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said containers (114-116) are four-liter PET beverage bottles. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connecting means between the said bottles (114-116) and the said adapters (170) are screw threads (354). 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said CO₂ vent means (304) is at least one gas passageway through said adapter (170) extending from an inlet port in said screw threads (354) to an outlet port on an outside surface of said adapter. 8. A method of dispensing any one of a plurality of cold beverages, comprising the steps of: (a) pressurizing a plurality of premix containers (114-116) with CO₂ gas at a pressure of about 55 psi (3.85 kg/sq. cm.) to both dispense beverage therefrom and to maintain their carbonation; (b) feeding beverage from each of said containers through a respective adapter (170) and a beverage conduit (132-134) connected to said adapter to a beverage dispensing valve (122-124); and (c) cooling the beverages in said conduits; (d) said pressurizing step comprising connecting a CO₂ conduit (130) to said adapter, which adapter has a normally closed CO₂ valve (316), coupling means (354) for connecting said adapter to an opening of a beverage container through which opening said container is completely open to atmosphere, and valve actuating means (326) for automatically opening said CO₂ conduit when said adapter is connected to a container, and connecting said adapter to a container to pressurize said container. 9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the further step of disconnecting said adapter (170) from said container (114-116) includes venting the pressure in said container to atmosphere after beginning said disconnecting step but while said adapter is still connected to said container.

Inventors: CREDLE, WILLIAM S., JR., KIRSCHNER, JONATHAN
Applicants: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B67D1
IPC codes: B67D1