DISPENSING CONTROL UNIT

Abstract: In a beverage dispensing unit which includes a storing unit (32), a conducting arrangement (43) for conducting a beverage from the storing unit, and a cabinet (38), the storing unit comprises a portable tank which is removable from the cabinet. The conducting arrangement includes an end portion (47) which is detachably connected to the tank. The end portion is held to the cabinet to be radially movable in relation to a connecting axis defined by the cabinet. Preferably, the cabinet comprises guiding arrangement (41, 42) for guiding the tank substantially along the connecting axis. The beverage dispensing unit further comprises a controlling unit (60) for controlling dispensation of the beverage. For adjusting a flow rate of the beverage in a beverage path (62, 63, 64) which is opened and closed by a valve (75), the controlling unit comprises an adjusting member (82) having an end (82b) covered with an operating member (90) which is for operating the valve. The operating member is movable to expose the end of the adjusting member. Therefore, it is readily possible to adjust the flow rate of the beverage.

Description: This invention relates to a controlling unit for a dispensing unit for controlling dispensing of a beverage. Various dispensing units of the type are already known. As will presently be described, the dispensing unit comprises a cabinet, a water reservoir, a cooling unit, a conducting unit, and a controlling unit which are fixedly assembled to a cabinet. The water reservoir is for storing an original beverage, namely, drinking water and may therefore be called a storing unit. The cooling unit is combined with the storing unit for cooling the original beverage therein. The original beverage is sent from the storing unit towards the controlling unit through the conducting unit. It is advantageous that the beverage dispenser can be placed in a limited space so that the cabinet may be compact. However, it is difficult to supply the original beverage into the storing unit. Such a controlling unit is disclosed in Japanese U.M. Publication No. 51-18189 issued to Fukuo Mochizuki. The controlling unit comprises a body defining a beverage path which is connected to the above-mentioned conducting unit. The beverage path is provided with a valve member and an adjusting member. The valve member is for controlling open and close of the beverage path. The adjusting member is for changing a cross-sectional area of the beverage path to adjust a flow rate of the beverage in the beverage path. The valve member is connected to an operating member which is placed on a front surface of the body. When the operating member is operated by an operator or a user, the valve member is driven to open the beverage path. As a result, the above-mentioned mixed beverage is discharged from the controlling unit. The adjusting member has an operating end which is exposed on a rear surface of the body to be operable for adjusting the flow rate. However, it is difficult and inconvenient for the operator to operate the adjusting member because the cabinet covers the rear surface of the body together with the operating end of the adjusting member. US-A-4357972 discloses a controlling unit having a body with a fluid path that extends horizontally to a vertical bore; part way down the base; then out via an upwardly sloping outlet conduit. The base includes a valve seat and contains a valve member operable to close off the path, controlled by a control rod that extends downwardly in the base. A control plate is pivoted to the underside of the body, and acts cammingly on the rod. The outlet conduit contains a coaxial needle valve which is axially threadedly adjustable to alter the permitted flow rate. DE-C-423352 discloses a controlling unit similar to the above but lacking the second type of adjustment member (needle valve). According to the present invention there is provided a controlling unit for controlling the dispensing of a beverage, said unit including a body in which is defined a path for the beverage; valve means for controlling flow along the path; valve operating means including a control rod which is displaceable along its axis to operate the valve means; an elongate member which is displaceable along its axis for adjusting a flow rate of beverage in said beverage path; said valve operating means further including a plate portion which is pivotally mounted to the body; characterised in that said body has a principal surface which is intersected by the axes of the adjusting member and the control rod, said control rod having a portion projecting outwardly of said body surface; and wherein said plate portion generally overlies said body surface and the end of the adjusting member; said plate portion having two flange portions that project towards the body surface; said body having pivot means projecting towards the plate portion for said pivotal mounting thereof and including first pin means; said projection portion of the control rod having second pin means, both said pin means having axes extending mutually in parallel and intersecting respective flange portions; said flange portions having respective elongate slots in which the pin means engage; the slot in which the second pin means engages having at one end an opening towards the body surface; the elongation of the slots permitting the plate portion to be displaced to bring the second pin means adjacent the opening whereupon the plate portion can be pivoted about the first pin means thus freeing itself from the second pin means; further pivoting exposing the end of the adjustment member to permit adjustment thereof. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage dispensing unit including embodiments of the invention, in perspective, with a left door being open and cabinet top plate and a right door being removed; Fig. 2 is a front view of a controlling unit included in the beverage dispensing unit of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the controlling unit illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the controlling unit taken along a line 10-10 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the controlling unit taken along a line 11-11 in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an agitating member included in the controlling unit of Figs. 2 to 5; Fig. 7 is a side view of an operating member included in the beverage dispensing unit of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is a rear view of the operating member illustrated in Fig. 7. Fig. 1 shows a dispensing unit for dispensing a beverage and includes a cabinet 20, a supplying station 21, and a dispensing portion 22. The cabinet 20 is of a rectangular parallelopiped shape and has a front surface 23. The supplying station 21 is fixedly attached to a lower part of the front surface of the cabinet 20 and includes a tray 24 for receiving thereon a cup (not shown). The dispensing portion 22 is placed over the supplying station 21 and is protruded from the front surface 23 of the cabinet 20. The dispensing portion 22 is provided with a plurality of, for example three, operating members 90. A combination of the dispensing portion 22 and at least one of the operating members 90 is referred to as a controlling unit. Referring to Figs. 2 to 5 in addition to Fig. 1, attention will be directed to the dispensing portion 22. The dispensing portion 22 comprises a plurality of, for example, three controlling units. But only one of the controlling units is shown in the figure for simplification of the drawing and depicted at 60. The controlling unit 60 comprises a body 61 defined by front, rear, upper, bottom, left side, and right side surfaces 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61e, and 61f. The body 61 defines syrup, original water, carbonated water paths 62, 63, and 64 and is fixed to a frame 65 of the cabinet 20 by screws or the like. The syrup path 62 extends substantially in a vertical direction along a central portion of the body 61 and has an inlet and an outlet opening which open at the upper and the bottom surfaces 61c and 61d, respectively. The original and the carbonated water paths 63 and 64 extend along left and right sides of the syrup path 62, respectively. Each of the original and the carbonated water paths 63 and 64 has an inlet and an outlet opening which open at the rear and the bottom surfaces 61b and 61d. The outlet openings of each of those paths 62, 63, and 64 communicate with a discharge tube 66 which is attached to a bottom surface 61d of the body 61. The body 61 is provided with a socket member 67 for detachably holding therein the syrup tank S1. The socket member 67 is detachably mounted on the upper surface 61c of the body 61 and is changed dependent on a size of the syrup tank S1. The inlet opening of the syrup path 62 is placed at an inside of the socket member 67. In the body 61, a gas path 68 is made to extend from the rear surface 61b to the inside of the socket member 67 as is best shown in Fig. 4 . The gas path 68 is connected to the CO₂ gas cylinder 33 through a pipe 69 and is for supplying another part of the CO₂ gas into the syrup tank S1 through a check valve 71 in order to push out the syrup therefrom into the syrup path 62. As a result, the syrup path 62 serves to conduct the syrup as a beverage towards the discharge tube 66. The original water path 63 is connected at the inlet opening thereof to the pipe 43 and serves to conduct the original water as the beverage towards the discharge tube 66. Similarly, the carbonated water path 64 is connected at the inlet opening thereof to a pipe 72 which is connected to the carbonator 36. The carbonated water path 64 serves to conduct the carbonated water as the beverage towards the discharge tube 66. In Fig. 4 , the body 61 has a cylindrical hole 73 which communicates with the syrup path 62 and which is open at the rear surface 61b. A closing member 74 is screwed in the cylindrical hole 73. The controlling unit 60 further comprises a valve 75 placed in the cylindrical hole 73 for controlling open and close of the syrup path 62. The valve 75 is forwardly urged by a spring 76 which is between the valve 75 and the closing member 74. As a result, the valve 75 is in press contact with a valve seat 77 to close the syrup path 62. In order to certainly close the syrup path 62, a seal member 78 is mounted on the valve 75. The valve 75 is fixedly connected to a valve rod 79 which is held by the body 61 and is movable in the predetermined horizontal direction 39. The valve rod 79 has an end 79a which is forwardly projected from the front surface 61a. When the valve rod 79 is backwardly moved, the valve 75 is displaced to open the syrup path 62. The body 61 has an adjusting hole 81 which extends from the front surface 61a to the syrup path 62 in the predetermined horizontal direction 39. The adjusting hole 81 has an internal threaded portion 81a. The controlling unit 60 further comprises an adjusting member 82 inserted into the adjusting hole 81. The adjusting member 82 has an end portion 82a for adjusting a flow rate of the syrup in the syrup path 62. Another end 82b of the adjusting member 82 forwardly protrudes from the front surface 61a of the body 60. The adjusting member 82 has an external threaded portion 82c which is screwed in the internal threaded portion 81b. When the adjusting member 82 is rotated by the use of a driving member or a screw driver (not shown), it is displaced in the predetermined horizontal direction. As a result, adjustment is carried out about the flow rate of the syrup in the syrup path 62. In Fig. 5 , the controlling unit 60 is further provided with similar parts in connection with the original water path 63 which are designated by like reference numerals added with dashes. A closing member 74' has a through hole 83 which serves as a part of the original water path 63. When a valve rod 79' is backwardly moved, the valve 75' is displaced to open the original water path 63. When the adjusting member 82' is rotated, it is displaced in the predetermined horizontal direction. As a result, control and adjustment are carried out about the original water in the original water path 63. Although description will be omitted, similar construction is provided in connection with the carbonated water path 64. Therefore, similar control and adjustment are possible in connection with the carbonated water. Mixing is carried out among the syrup, the original water, and the carbonated water in an interior of the discharge tube 66. In order to favorably carry out the mixing, the discharge tube 66 is provided with a mixing member 83 in the interior thereof. Referring to Fig. 6 , the mixing member 83 comprises a cylindrical member 84 and a ring-shaped plate 85 fixed onto an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 84. The cylindrical member 84 has a central hole 84a and a plurality of small side holes 84b extending from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 84 to the central hole 84a. The cylindrical member 84 is connected to the body 61 so that the central hole 84a communicates with the syrup path 62. The ring-shaped plate 85 has a great number of grooves 85a in a peripheral surface thereof and is supported to a shoulder 66a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the discharge tube 66. As a result, the ring-shaped plate 85 is placed under the outlet opening of each of the original and the carbonated water paths 63 and 64. In addition, the peripheral surface of the ring-shaped plate 85 faces an inner peripheral surface 66b of the discharge tube 66 to produce a guiding small hole therebetween for guiding the original and the carbonated water. Returning to Figs. 2 through 5, the body 61 is provided with two arms 86 fixedly mounted on the front surface 61a thereof for fixedly holding a shaft 87. The shaft 87 has a pivot axis extending in an additional horizontal direction which intersects the first predetermined horizontal direction 39. The valve rods 79, 79', and 79'' are connected with one another through a pin rod 88 in front of the front surface 61a of the body 61. The controlling unit 60 further comprises an operating member 90 which is operated by an operator or a user. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 in addition to Fig. 4 , the operating member 90 comprises a plate portion 91, two attaching portions 92, and two hooking portions 93 as will presently be described. The plate portion 91 has a back surface 91a placed to generally face the front surface 61a of the body 61. Therefore, the end portions 82b, 82'b, and 82''b of the adjusting members 82, 82', and 82'' are covered with the plate portion 91. Each of the attaching portions 92 is formed integral with the back surface 91a of the plate portion 91 and has an attaching groove 92a for receiving both ends of the shaft 87 therein. The attaching groove 92a is extended to permit movement of the operating member 90 in the first predetermined direction. A combination of the arms 86, the shaft 87, and the attaching portions 92 serves to pivotally support the plate portion 91 and may therefore be referred to as pivotally supporting means. Each of the hooking portions 93 is formed integral with the back surface 91a of the plate portion 91 and has a hooking groove 93a for receiving the pin rod 88 therein to hook the hooking portion 91 with the pin rod 88. The hooking groove 93a is extended so that the hooking portion is removable from the pin rod 99 with the operating member 90 moved upwardly. When the plate portion 91 is pushed rearwardly by an operator or a user, the operating member 90 is pivotally moved around the shaft 87. Responsive to operation of the operating member 90, the valve rods 79, 79', and 79'' are moved rearwardly to open the syrup, the original water, the carbonated water paths 62, 63, and 64. As a result, the syrup, the original water, the carbonated water are discharged in the discharge tube 66 and then mixed with one another therein to produce a mixed beverage. The mixed beverage is discharged from the discharge tube 66 into the cup. If adjustment is desired about the flow rate of the syrup, the hooking portions 93 are removed with the operating member 90 moved upwardly. Then, an upper part of the plate portion 91 is pulled forwardly so that the operating member 90 is pivotally moved downwardly around the shaft 87. As a result, the plate portion 91 does not cover the end portion 79a of the adjusting member 79. In other words, the end portion 79a of the adjusting member 79 are exposed ahead the body 61. Therefore, the adjusting member 79 can be readily operated to adjust the flow rate of the syrup through the syrup path 61. It is a matter of course that similar operation can be carried out about the flow rate of each of the original and the carbonated water While the present invention has thus far been described in connection with one preferred embodiments thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, the shaft may be mounted to extend in the vertical direction.

Claims: A controlling unit for controlling the dispensing of a beverage, said unit including a body (61) in which is defined a path (62,63,64) for the beverage; valve means (75) for controlling flow along the path; valve operating means (79,91) including a control rod (79) which is displaceable along its axis to operate the valve means (75); an elongate member (82) which is displaceable along its axis for adjusting a flow rate of beverage in said beverage path; said valve operating means (79,91) further including a plate portion (91) which is pivotally mounted (86,87) to the body; characterised in that said body (61) has a principal surface (61a) which is intersected by the axes of the adjusting member (82) and the control rod (79), said control rod (79) having a portion (79a) projecting outwardly of said body surface (61a); and wherein said plate portion (91) generally overlies said body surface (61a) and the end of the adjusting member (82); said plate portion (91) having two flange portions (92,93) that project towards the body surface (61a); said body (61) having pivot means (86) projecting towards the plate portion (91) for said pivotal mounting thereof and including first pin means (87); said projection portion (79a) of the control rod (79) having second pin means (88), both said pin means (87,88) having axes extending mutually in parallel and intersecting respective flange portions (92,93); said flange portions having respective elongate slots (92a, 93a) in which the pin means engage; the slot (93a) in which the second pin means (88) engages having at one end an opening towards the body surface (61a); the elongation of the slots (92a, 93a) permitting the plate portion (91) to be displaced to bring the second pin means (88) adjacent the opening whereupon the plate portion can be pivoted about the first pin means (87) thus freeing itself from the second pin means (88); further pivoting exposing the end of the adjustment member (82) to permit adjustment thereof. A controlling unit as claimed in claim 1, said beverage path (62) extending in a first predetermined direction, wherein said body has a hole (81) extending from said principal surface (61a) to said beverage path in a second predetermined direction which intersects said first predetermined direction, said adjusting member (82) being inserted into said hole (81) to be movable in said second predetermined direction. A controlling unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hole (81) has an internal threaded portion, said adjusting (82) member having an external threaded portion (82c) which is screwed in said internal threaded portion (81a)

Inventors: ABE, TOMOMITSU, ARAI, YASUYUKI, HARASHIMA, IKUO, HAYAKAWA, HIROSHI, NAKAYAMA, SHUNICHI, SEKIGUCHI, RYOICHI, TAKAHASHI, YUTAKA, TAKAYANAGI, YASUSHI
Applicants: KIRIN BEVERAGE CORPORATION, SANDEN CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B67D1
IPC codes: B67D3, B67D1