POST-MIX BEVERAGE DISPENSER UNIT

Abstract: A CO₂ tank (29) supplies CO₂ to a carbonator (23) and to syrup packages (S1,S2,S3). Accordingly, the flow rate of syrup from the syrup packages becomes constant due to the pressure of CO₂ from the CO₂ tank. The unit has a cabinet with a front panel (201) which has a permanent magnet (201a) thereon, and a top panel (202) which has a reed switch (202a) thereon so that the permanent magnet (201a) is adjacent to the reed switch (202a) when the front panel is disposed on the cabinet. When a package (S1) is to be replaced with a new one after syrup is exhausted, the front panel (201) is removed, thus removing the permanent magnet so that the reed switch (202a) is turned off. Accordingly, an electromagnetic valve (44) is actuated and the supply of CO₂ from the CO₂ tank (29) to the syrup packages (S1,S2,S3) is stopped. Therefore, CO₂ is automatically prevented from venting to the atmosphere by opening the front panel.

Description: The present invention relates to compact post-mix beverage dispensers which are portable and suitable for use in small offices or small dispensing volume locations, and more particularly, to a control device for controlling opening and closing operation of an electromagnetic valve which is disposed on a conduit connected between a CO₂ cylinder and a syrup package. A post-mix beverage dispenser generally includes a syrup package having a flow control tube therein which is vented to the atmosphere, as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,493,441 which is incorporated by reference. However, since there are some problems with respect to sanitation and inconstant flow rate of syrup in the above dispenser, it has been proposed to use a hermetic package as a syrup package and to use the pressure of the CO₂ from a CO₂ cylinder to vent the syrup, as shown in EP-A-336730 (to be published on 11-10-89). However, when the package is replaced with another new one after syrup is exhausted, a valve has to be switched to quit venting the CO₂ by a manual operation. It would therefore be desirable to provide a portable post-mix dispenser unit of which a syrup bottle can be easily replaced. The invention provides a post-mix dispensing system comprising an openable housing; compressed gas supply means; syrup dispensing means located generally within the housing and comprising a syrup reservoir having a syrup dispensing outlet and a compressed gas inlet for passing compressed gas from the gas supply means to the interior of the reservoir to facilitate or urge dispensing of syrup from it; and valve means for controlling passage of gas from the gas supply means to the gas inlet; characterised in that means are provided for detecting when said openable housing is open and actuating said valve means in response thereto to prevent said passage of gas. A preferred type of embodiment includes a cabinet housing which has at least a first access panel and a second access panel next thereto. A portable tank for storing potable water is detachable from the cabinet housing. A carbonator produces carbonated water by mixing cooled water from the portable tank with CO₂. A cooling reservoir cools potable water which is supplied from the portable tank to the carbonator. The CO₂ tank supplies CO₂ to the carbonator. The syrup package dispenses a selected syrup. A first pipe is partially disposed in the cooling reservoir for linking the portable tank with the carbonator. A second pipe links the CO₂ tank with the carbonator. A valve controls the flow of carbonated water from the carbonator. A third pipe links the carbonator with the valve. A fourth pipe links the second pipe to the syrup packages for supplying CO₂ from the CO₂ tank to the syrup packages to supply syrup from the syrup package to the valve. A control valve is disposed on the fourth pipe to open and close the communication between the CO₂ tank and the syrup package in accordance with detected signals from a detecting device arranged to detect whether the first and second access panels are in their open or closed configuration. An embodiment of the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the mechanical refrigeration system of the portable post-mix beverage dispenser unit in accordance with one embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation view of a portable post-mix beverage dispenser unit as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a portable post-mix beverage dispenser unit as shown in Figure 1 with access panel and the top access panel removed to illustrate a compartment for the portable tank and the syrup supply compartment; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection between a syrup package and a receiving portion; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of showing a part of the portable post-mix beverage dispenser unit as shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 is an electrical circuit for driving an electromagnetic valve. Figures 1-3 show a portable post-mix beverage dispenser unit in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. The unit includes a cabinet 20 having a front access panel 201, top access panel 202, right side access panel 203, left side access panel 204, rear side access panel 205, bottom access panel 206 and additional access panel 207. Front access panel 201 carries a permanent magnet 201a attached thereon adjacent the top access panel 202. The top access panel 202 includes reed switch 202a attached thereon adjacent the permanent magnet 201a on front access panel 201 so that reed switch 202a is turned on when front access panel 201 is located on cabinet 20. Permanent magnet 201a and reed switch 202a form a detecting device 60 to detect whether front access panel 201 is located on cabinet 20 or not. Pouring station 21 is located below front access panel 201 and includes a drain plate 211 for receiving cups and for draining liquid spilled from the cups through a plurality of slits. Dispensing portion 212 is located between panel 201 and pouring station 21 and includes valve levers 213 extending downwardly in front. A cooling reservoir 22 is disposed in one upper corner of cabinet 20 and is covered by an insulating material. A carbonator 23, part of a cooling pipe 24, an agitator 25, and an ice sensor 26 are all disposed within cooling reservoir 22. Reservoir 22 stores cool water which is used for cooling potable water introduced to carbonator 23 through cooling pipe 24. A portable tank 27 is removably disposed in an upper left side of cabinet 20 and is used to store and supply potable water, both to be carbonated and to be mixed directly with the syrup. Control box 28, CO₂ cylinder or tank 29, and a plurality of syrup packages S1, S2 and S3 located above and connected to dispensing portion 212, are disposed in an upper part of cabinet 20. Pump 30, compressor 31 and condenser 54 are disposed in a lower part of cabinet 20. Portable tank 27 is linked to pump 30 through sealing coupler 32 and first conduit 33. Sealing coupler 32 connects one end of first conduit 33 to portable tank 27 such that first conduit 33 can be disconnected therefrom without leakage of water. First conduit 33 is further linked with pump 30, and on the other side of pump 30 is linked to cooling pipe 24. Cooling pipe 24 has a rectangular serpentine portion 241 disposed in cooling reservoir 22. The other end of cooling pipe 24 is linked to second conduit 34 and to third conduit 35 through three-way electromagnetic valve 36. Second conduit 34 has a check valve 37 and extends to the interior of carbonator 23 located in cooling reservoir 22. Third conduit 35 is divided into three sub-conduits 35a, 35b and 35c, each sub-conduit coupled with a respective valve V1, V2 or V3 through respective flow control valves 38 disposed in dispensing portion 212. CO₂ cylinder 29 is linked to the interior of carbonator 23 through fourth conduit 39. Check valve 40 and reducing valve 41 including pressure gauge 411 are disposed in fourth conduit 39 between cylinder tank 29 and carbonator 23. Carbonated water is produced in carbonator 23 by mixing cooled water from portable tank 27 with CO₂ from CO₂ cylinder 29. A fifth conduit 42 is linked to fourth conduit 39 at a location between reducing valve 41 and check valve 40. Fifth conduit 42 includes a reducing valve 43 and an electromagnetic valve 44. After the location of electromagnetic valve 44, fifth conduit 42 splits into three subconduits 42a, 42b and 42c, each one having a respective check valve 45. Subconduits 42a, 42b and 42c are linked to syrup packages S1, S2 and S3 respectively, and are further linked with valves V1, V2 and V3 respectively through respective flow control valves 46. Reducing valve 43 reduces the pressure of CO₂ within fifth conduit 42 to a level of about 0.4 Kg/Cm2. The carbonator 23 contains cooled carbonated water. A sixth conduit 47 extends from near the bottom of carbonator 23, and is divided into three subconduits 47a, 47b and 47c at the other end. Subconduits 47a, 47b and 47c are coupled with valves V1, V2 and V3 respectively, through respective flow control valves 48. Valves V1, V2 and V3 are connected at their other ends to nozzles 49, 50 and 51, respectively, to dispense mixed beverages into respective cups 52. Evaporator 53 is disposed along the outer surface of the inner wall of cooling reservoir 22, and cools the water in cooling reservoir 22. Evaporator 53 forms part of a refrigeration circuit also including at least compressor 31 and condenser 54 located externally of cooling reservoir 22 within cabinet 20. The water in reservoir 22 is cooled by evaporator 53 until it is at a temperature of about 0 o C. Electromagnetic valve 44 is connected to control device 60, and opens and closes communication of fifth conduit 42 between reducing valve 43 and check valve 45 in accordance with instruction from detecting device 60. In operation, a user places a cup on drain plate 211 below a selected one of nozzle 49, 50 or 51 corresponding to a selected beverage. The user then pushes one of valve levers 213 which corresponds to the selected nozzle, simultaneously operating pump 30 and three way electromagnetic valve 36. Pump 30 pumps water from portable tank 27 through first conduit 33 and into serpentine portion 241 of cooling pipe 24, where it is cooled by the cooling water in reservoir 22. Thereafter, the water flows through three-way electromagnetic valve 36 into carbonator 23 where it is mixed with CO₂ from CO₂ cylinder 29 to carbonate the water. Float switch 55 controls the volume of carbonated water in carbonator 23. If the level of carbonated water is below a predetermined level, pump 30 operated and more potable water is supplied to carbonator 23 along with CO₂ to raise the level of carbonated water back to the predetermined level. The water supplied to carbonator 23 is in the form of mist. Carbonated water mixed in carbonator 23 flows through sixth conduit 47, and through the appropriate subconduit to respective flow control valve 48. Additionally, potable water is sent directly to one flow control valve 38 in dispensing portion 212 through third conduit 35 and the appropriate subconduit from electromagnetic valve 36. That is, water flows from serpentine portion 241 without passing through carbonator 23. Finally, syrup flows from one of the appropriate syrup packages S1, S2 and S3 to respective flow control valves 46 due to the pressure of the CO₂ in conduit 45 and the appropriate subconduit. Since the CO₂ in conduit 45, and e.g., subconduit 42a is supplied to the interior of syrup package S1 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and the pressure of the CO₂ is constant, the flow rate of syrup from syrup package S1 to flow control valve 46 also becomes constant. The volume of carbonated water, potable water and syrup are controlled at flow control valves 48, 38 or 46 respectively, and is supplied to the associated valve V1, V2 or V3 where they are mixed. The mixed beverages then flows through the associated nozzle 49, 50 or 51 to cup 52. Since CO₂ cylinder 29 and syrup packages S1, S2 and S3 are detachable, when the contents of the tank or a syrup package is exhausted, the tank or package is removed and replaced with a fresh supply. For this, front access panel 201 is removed from cabinet 20. The permanent magnet 201a is therefore separated from the reed switch 202a attached on top access panel 202. Therefore, reed switch 202a is turned off, thereby to stop supplying solenoid 44a of electromagnetic valve 44 with electric current from power source 61, as shown in Figure 6. Electromagnetic valve 44 thus closes the communication betwen fifth conduit 42 and respective subconduits 42a, 42b and 42c. The supply of CO₂ to respective syrup packages S1, S2 and S3 is stopped at electromagnetic valve 44. Therefore, even though one or more syrup packages S1, S2 and S3 are removed from corresponding subconduits 42a, 42b and 42c, the CO₂ in CO₂ cylinder 29 is prevented from venting to the atmosphere. After replacement with a fresh supply, when front access panel 201 is disposed on dispensing portion 212, permanent magnet 201a is adjacent to reed switch 202a. Solenoid 44a of electromagnetic valve 44 is thus connected to power source 61. Accordingly, electromagnetic valve 44 opens the communication between fifth conduit 42 and respective subconduits 42a, 42b and 42c, and thereby starts the supply of the CO₂ to appropriate syrup packages S1, S2 and S3. This invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment. The preferred embodiment, however, is merely for example only and the invention is not restricted thereto. It can be easily understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be easily made within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: A post-mix dispensing system comprising an openable housing (20); compressed gas supply means (29,39,42) syrup dispensing means (S1, S2, S3) located generally within the housing (20) and comprising a syrup reservoir (S1, S2, S3) having a syrup dispensing outlet (49,50,51) and a compressed gas inlet (42a,42b,42c) for passing compressed gas from the gas supply means (29) to the interior of the reservoir to facilitate or urge dispensing of syrup from it; and valve means (44) for controlling passage of gas from the gas supply means (29) to the gas inlet (42a,42b,42c); characterised in that means (201a,202a) are provided for detecting when said openable housing (20) is open and actuating said valve means (44) in response thereto to prevent said passage of gas. In a post-mix dispensing system including a cabinet housing having at least a first access panel and a second access panel next thereto, portable tank means for storing potable water, said portable tank means detachable from said cabinet housing, carbonator means for producing carbonated water by mixing cooled water from said portable tank means with CO₂, cooling reservoir means for cooling potable water supplied from said portable tank means to said carbonator means, CO₂ tank means for supplying CO₂ to said carbonator means, syrup package means for dispensing a selected syrup, first pipe means partially disposed in said cooling reservoir means for linking said portable tank means with said carbonator means, second pipe means for linking said CO₂ tank means with said carbonator means, valve means for controlling the flow of carbonated water from said carbonator means, and third pipe means linking said carbonator means with said valve means, and fourth pipe means linking said second pipe means to said syrup package means for supplying CO₂ from said CO₂ tank means to said syrup package means to supply syrup from said syrup package means to said valve means, the improvement comprises control valve means disposed on said fourth pipe means to open and close the communication between said CO₂ tank means and said syrup package means in accordance with detected signals from detecting means to detect open and close between said first and second access panels. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 2, wherein said carbonator means is disposed in said cooling reservoir. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 3 which further comprises sealing coupler means disposed between said portable tank means and said carbonator means for allowing said portable tank means to be detached without leaking water. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of any of claims 2-4 which further comprises fifth pipe means linked to said first pipe means through a three-way electromagnetic valve at one end and linked to said valve means at its other end, said fifth pipe means serving in use for supplying cooled potable water from said portable tank means to said valve means, said valve means mixing and disposing said carbonated water, said syrup and said cooled potable water. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of any of claims 2-5 further comprises fourth pipe means linked to said first pipe means through a three-way electromagnetic valve at one end, and linked to said valve means at its other end, said fourth pipe means serving in use for supplying cooled potable water from said portable tank means to said valve means. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of any of claims 2-6 wherein said first pipe means includes a serpentine portion disposed in said cooling reservoir means for quickly cooling potable water from said portable tank means. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of any of claims 2-7 wherein said carbonator means stores carbonated water produced therein, said system further comprising sensing means disposed in said carbonator means for sensing the level of carbonated water stored in said carbonator means. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of any of claims 2 to 8 which further comprises pump means disposed in said first pipe means between said portable tank means and said carbonator means for pumping potable water from said portable tank means to said carbonator means. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of any of claims 2 to 9 wherein said first access panel and second access panel is a front panel and a top panel, respectively, and said cabinet housing has further back, side and bottom panels. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of any preceding claim wherein said control valve means (44) is an electromagnetic valve. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of any preceding claim wherein said detecting means includes a permanent magnet means (201a) and a reed switch means (202a) attached on respective panels that are relatively displaced on opening the housing.

Inventors: ARAI, YASUYUKI, NAKAYAMA, SHUNICHI, TAKAYANAGI, YASUSHI
Applicants: SANDEN CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B67D1
IPC codes: B67D1