Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a canister connection apparatus designed to efficiently and easily connect a pressurized canister to an external system.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     CO 2  gas may leak from a CO 2  canister when connecting the canister to an external system. This leakage reduces the amount of useful CO 2 . The present disclosure addresses this issue and discloses a more convenient and simple connection mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a canister connection apparatus, 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the canister connection apparatus, 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another cross-sectional view of the canister connection apparatus, 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of a system including a canister connection apparatus, 
         FIGS. 5 a -5 b    illustrate three dimensional views of the canister connection apparatus, 
         FIGS. 6 a -6 b    illustrate a front view and a back view of the canister connection apparatus, 
         FIGS. 7 a -7 b    illustrate side views of the canister connection apparatus, 
         FIGS. 8 a -8 b    illustrate different views of a door of the canister connection apparatus, and 
         FIGS. 9 a -9 b    illustrate three dimensional views of canister connection apparatus components. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the proper scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. 
     Embodiments of the invention may provide a canister connection apparatus designed to efficiently and easily connect a pressurized canister to an external system.  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a canister connection apparatus  100 . Apparatus  100  may receive a pressurized canister  110  in a housing  105 . Housing  105  may be used to connect canister  110  to an external system. Canister  110  may be, but is not limited to, for example, a CO 2  canister. 
     The external system may be, but is not limited to, for example, a beverage dispensing system. Though  FIG. 1  shows apparatus  100  to include a canister  110 , a canister need not be included as part of apparatus  100 . Rather, apparatus  100  may comprise a nest  115  designed to interface with various types of canisters having various volumes. Moreover, the term ‘apparatus’, as used herein, may include any combination of components or apparatuses. 
     Canister connection apparatus  100  may be designed to connect canister  110  to the external system efficiently and easily while mitigating the risk of gas leakage. Apparatus  100  may achieve this solution by sealing and covering a canister fitment  120  with a receiver fitment  125 . Consistent with embodiments of the invention, apparatus  100  may comprise a movement mechanism  125  that may cause receiver fitment  125  to slide over canister fitment  120  as door  130  is lowered. In other embodiments, apparatus  100  may comprise a mechanism that inserts canister  110 , along with canister fitment  120 , into receiver fitment  125 . 
     Generally stated, the lowering of door  130  may serve at least two purposes. First, it may cause receiver fitment  125  to connect with canister fitment  120  and open a canister valve to enable gas flow. Second, it may serve to protect a handler of canister  110  from any leaks that may occur during the connection process by shielding the canister valve from the handler. 
     As receiver fitment  125  connects with canister fitment  120 , a valve opening component of receiver fitment  125  may open the canister valve, thereby allowing gas to flow from canister  110  into apparatus  100  (i.e. charging the apparatus). The charged apparatus  100  may then be connected to (or, in various embodiments, may already be connected to) an external system via, for example, a port in housing  105  and feed the external system with the gas contained in canister  110 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of canister connection apparatus  100 . A user of canister connection apparatus  100  may first insert canister  110  into canister housing  105 . Though hosing  105  is not show in  FIG. 2 , it is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Canister housing  105  may be equipped with a canister nest  115  designed to secure canister  110  within canister housing  105 . As mentioned above, nest  115  may be designed to receive and secure canisters of various types and sizes within canister housing  105 . In various embodiments, the nest  115  may include a landing or other cutout designed to engage with a flange or other corresponding feature on the canister fitment  120  so as to secure the canister in the housing  105  and align the canister fitment  120  with the receiver fitment  125 . 
     The user may then close door  130  of the apparatus  100  about an angle  205 . As door  130  is closed, an over-center movement mechanism  135  causes receiver fitment  125  to slide about an axis  210  and cover canister fitment  120 . For example, the over-center movement mechanism  135  may engage with a cam on the door  130 . As the door  130  is moved, the over-center movement mechanism  135  may travel along the cam in such a way as to cause motion about axis  210 . The axis  210  may be a vertical axis and/or may be parallel to an axis of a fluid flow pathway between the canister  110  and the receiver fitment  125 . In various embodiments, a different sliding mechanism may be employed to cause canister  100  to be inserted into receiver fitment  125  as door  130  is closed. Additionally, receiver fitment  125  may be designed to clamp over canister fitment  120  once it is connected to canister fitment  120  so as to further secure canister  110 . For example, a lower most portion of the receiver fitment  125  may be pushed onto the top surface of the flange on the canister fitment  120 . 
     As receiver fitment  125  connects with canister fitment  120 , an o-ring of canister fitment  120  seals the connection. In various embodiments of the invention, a valve opening component of receiver fitment  125  may force open a valve of canister  110  upon its connection to canister fitment  120 . The opening of the valve may allow gas to flow from canister  110  to canister connection apparatus  100 . In various embodiments, the o-ring of the canister fitment  120  seals the connection prior to the valve opening component of the receiver fitment  125  opening the valve of canister  110 . In various embodiments, canister connection apparatus  100  may be designed so that the opening of canister valve occurs when door  130  has already been substantially closed. 
     The connection between receiver fitment  125  and canister fitment  120  effectively shield the user from accidental gas discharge in case of a defective o-ring or other anomaly. Moreover, since the canister valve may be opened only as door  130  is lowered, door  130  may also serve as shield protecting the user from accidental gas discharge. 
     As door  130  is opened about angle  205 , receiver fitment  125  may be disconnected from canister fitment  120  in a similar way that it was connected to canister fitment  120  (e.g., about axis  210 ). In various other embodiments, canister fitment  120  may be disconnected from receiver fitment  125  in a similar way that it was connected to receiver fitment  125 . The disconnection between receiver fitment  125  and canister fitment  120  may shut the canister valve, thereby stopping the gas flow. In this way, the user may be shielded from the potential gas discharge from disconnecting canister  110  from apparatus  100  in a similar way in which the user was shielded when connecting canister  110 . In various embodiments, the o-ring of the canister fitment  120  seals the connection until after the valve opening component of the receiver fitment  125  disengages with the valve of canister  110  and allows the valve of the canister  110  to close. 
     Consistent with embodiments of the invention, canister connection apparatus  100  may comprise a locking mechanism. For example, door  130  may be latched to housing  105  when closed. The latch may comprise, but is not limited to, for example, an electrical solenoid. The opening of door  130  may be, for example, password protected. Any suitable locking mechanism may be used. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a system comprising canister connection apparatus  100 . The system may comprise a beverage dispenser  400  and includes a user interface  402 , a push to pour button  404 , a carbonator  406 , and a nozzle  408 . Syrups may be stored in a plurality of syrup cartridges (e.g., a first syrup cartridge  410 , a second syrup cartridge  412 , a third syrup cartridge  414 , and a fourth syrup cartridge  416 ). Flavors may be stored in a plurality of flavor cartridges (e.g., a first flavor cartridge  118 , a second flavor cartridge  420 , a third flavor cartridge  422 , a fourth flavor cartridge  424 ). The plurality of syrup cartridges and the plurality of flavor cartridges are connected to the nozzle  408 . 
     During operation, a user may select a beverage using the user interface  402 . When the user presses the push to pour button  404 , carbonated water flows from the carbonator  406  to the nozzle  408  and the appropriate syrups and/or flavors flow from the plurality of syrup cartridges and/or the plurality of flavor cartridges. In a post mix beverage dispenser the, the syrups, flavors, and carbonated water mix about the nozzle  408 . For example, if a user selects a cherry flavored cola, carbonated water will flow from the carbonator  406  to the nozzle  408 . The cola syrup and cherry flavoring will flow from the appropriate cartridges to the nozzle  408 . The ingredients will then flow through the nozzle  408  and may air mix within the exiting fluid stream and a cup  426 . 
     The carbonated water is formed within the carbonator  406 . To form the carbonated water, CO 2  flows from a carbon dioxide source (e.g., canister connection apparatus  100 ) to the carbonator  406 . Still water may flow into the carbonator  406  from an external source  430 . The cooperation of the beverage dispenser may be controlled by a control module  432 . The control module  432  may also monitor a backpressure, via a pressure sensor  434 , within the plumbing between the carbonator  406  and the nozzle  408 . 
       FIG. 5 a    is a first three dimensional view of canister connection apparatus  100 .  FIG. 5 b    is a second three dimensional view of canister connection apparatus  100 .  FIG. 6 a    is a front view of canister connection apparatus  100 .  FIG. 6 b    is a back view of canister connection apparatus  100 .  FIG. 7 a    is a first side view of canister connection apparatus  100 .  FIG. 7 b    is a second side view of canister connection apparatus  100 .  FIG. 8 a    is a front view door  130 .  FIG. 8 b    is a back view door  130 .  FIGS. 9 a   - 9 B are three dimensional view of canister  110 , nest  115 , canister fitment  120 , receiver fitment  125 , and movement mechanism  135 .