Abstract:
A beverage dispensing apparatus including a cabinet for retaining a beverage product and from which the beverage product is controllably dispensed. The cabinet includes structures and systems to make cooling more efficient and maintain more constant product temperatures. The structures and systems function to reduce heat transfer between beverage product stored in containers in the cabinet and the ambient environment. The apparatus maintains a minimal equipment footprint, maintains ease of installing and removing the beverage containers, and accommodates a variety of types of products and types of product containers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/287,081, filed Dec. 16, 2009. The disclosure set forth in the referenced application is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including all information as originally submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A beverage dispensing apparatus including a cabinet for retaining a beverage product and from which the beverage product is controllably dispensed. In particular, the disclosure relates to improvements in structures of such apparatus to make cooling more efficient and maintain more constant product temperatures. These improvements are achieved while still maintaining minimal equipment footprint, maintaining ease of installing and removing the beverage containers, and accommodating a variety of types of products and types of product containers. 
         [0003]    By way of background, some beverage products, such as juice, dairy-based beverages, and other beverage food concentrates are retained in a chilled condition. Such beverage products are retained in a product cabinet of a beverage dispensing apparatus which is cooled for convenient storage and controlled on demand dispensing. Cooling may provided using a variety of techniques including removing heat by way of air conditioning, ice banks, or other cooling systems. Regardless of the cooling techniques or systems used, the temperature of the product retained in the cabinet should be maintained in a generally consistent reduced temperature. This may be desirable to at least maintain favorable characteristics of the product. For example, product life of the beverage product may be maintained through cooling, flavor characteristics might be maintained, as well as color characteristics. 
         [0004]    An example of a beverage product that might be retained in a cooling cabinet of a beverage dispensing apparatus or beverage dispenser is an orange juice concentrate. Orange juice is provided to the beverage dispenser in a concentrated form. In other words, the concentrated orange juice beverage product is packaged, retained in a product container and stored in a beverage dispensing apparatus for on demand controlled mixed with water when dispensed to reconstitute a juice beverage. Beverage concentrates help to at least reduce the cost of shipping product by reducing the proportion of water bulk and weight in the product and allowing the water to be added to the concentrate on site when dispensing to produce a reconstituted beverage. 
         [0005]    In order to help maintain desirable characteristics, the concentrate is packaged in sealed containers such as plastic containers referred to as “caddies” or bag-in-box (BIB) containers. A product stored in a more bag-like container may also be used. Generally, such bag-like containers can be transferred to a caddie for use in beverage dispensing apparatus. The containers generally retain the concentrate in a sealed condition until it is placed in the juice cabinet and connected to a water line for controlled dispensing and mixing. Similarly, the BIB packaging contains the juice concentrate in a sealed container. BIB packaging may include a cardboard box or other container providing some degree of structural support for the flexible plastic bag retained in the box. Both the caddie and the BIB packaging or containers include fitments or connectors which can be connected to a dispensing nozzle, water source, and equipment used to dispense and mix the concentrate. 
         [0006]    Such beverage product concentrates need to be maintained at a consistent temperature based on food product sales requirements. The containers, when placed in the cabinet cavity may swell, bow, or flex outward. Since several containers may be placed in the same cabinet the outermost containers, those placed along the inside wall surfaces of the cabinet, tend to contact the inside walls of the cabinet. This provides a relatively large potential contact area which can have a potentially negative effect on the product temperature. Contact between the container wall and the inside wall of the cabinet prevents airflow around the container. Additionally, the contact between the container wall and the inside wall of the cabinet provides a potentially, relatively large contact area permitting heat transfer between the wall and the product through the container wall. While insulation is provided in the cabinet walls, a significant temperature difference may occur between the product container in an exterior position of a group of containers and interiorly positioned containers. The temperature differential may be of several degrees which could be undesirable for maintaining product characteristics. 
         [0007]    This background information is provided to provide some information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present disclosure. No admission is intended, nor should such admission be inferred or construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention. Other aims, objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as a non-limiting example only, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a beverage dispensing apparatus, showing a dispensing area positioned proximate to and below a cooled cabinet portion, the dispensing area having a control panel positioned proximate to and above dispensing nozzles; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional side elevational view of the apparatus in  FIG. 1 , in which the view is taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  to illustrate interior structures, configurations, and associated functions including air flow and circulation paths to provide for circulating cooling air around product containers retained in the cabinet; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the apparatus with a front door of the apparatus opened to illustrate the interior structures, configurations and associated functions of the cabinet. 
       
    
    
       [0012]    The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the disclosure that are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure. The disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of structure, function, construction, or the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of various phrases and terms is meant to encompass the items or functions identified and equivalents thereof as well as additional items or functions. Unless limited otherwise, various phrases, terms, and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass all variations of such phrases and terms. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the disclosure. However, other alternative structures, functions, and configurations are possible which are considered to be within the teachings of the present disclosure. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the term “or” is to be considered inclusive. 
         [0014]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a beverage dispensing apparatus  20  is shown. The apparatus  20  includes an upper cabinet area  24 , a control area  28 , and a dispensing area  30 . The dispensing area  30  includes a cup ledge  34  and overhanging dispensing nozzles  38  positioned above the cup ledge  34 . A beverage product  40  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) is retained in the upper cabinet area  24  behind a door  44  positioned on the front of the cabinet  24 . 
         [0015]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  20  as shown in a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . The cross-sectional view shows a beverage product container  40  positioned inside of the upper cabinet area  24  behind the door  44 . With further reference to  FIG. 3 , the upper cabinet area  24  includes an insulated wall  50 . The insulated wall defines a cavity  52  which is sized and dimensioned for retaining a beverage product container. A cooling unit  56  is positioned for communication with the cavity  52  to provide controlled cooling of the cavity  52 . Cooling coils  58  run through the cooling unit  56  and fans  60  blow against the cooling coils  58 . As such the direction of flow of the fan driven air is towards the rear curved area  62  of the cavity  52 . This rear directional flow of air  64  is a reduced temperature. The temperature is as a result of the heat exchange created by the cooling system  70 . 
         [0016]    Air  64  cooled by the cooling unit  56  is directed into a directional channel  74 . The directional channel connects the curved rear area  62  of the cavity  52  with a front area  76  of the cavity. Air exits the channels  74  in a direction upwardly over the product dispensing area  78 . The product dispensing area includes tubes  82  coupled to the product containers  40  and configured for use with a peristaltic pump  84 . The tubes provide the dispensing nozzle  38  in the dispensing area  30 . Passage of the cooled air through this dispensing area  76  helps to maintain the product, which is not retained in the container, such as the product fitting in the tubes, remains chilled at a desirable temperature to maintain various beverage characteristics. The protrusions may also be retro-fitted into an existing cabinet by attachment to an inside surface of the wall by adhesive, fasteners or other means of attachment. The protrusions may also be provided on a panel which is attached to the inside wall of the cabinet cavity. 
         [0017]    At least one protrusion  88 , illustrated in the form of ribs  88  are provided on an inside surface  90  of the wall  50 . These ribs  88  provide a structural member to space the product container walls away from the insider surface  90 . Even if the container  40  tends to sag, bow or otherwise become distorted towards the inside surface  90  of the wall  50 , the ribs  88  will help maintain a space between the outside surface of the container  40  and the inside surface  90  of the dispenser wall  50 . The air  64  continues to flow around the containers  40  and back to the fans  60 . 
         [0018]    As such, the ribs  88  help to prevent heat exchange between the wall  50  and the outside surfaces  92  of the containers  40 . This helps to maintain the temperature of the outside containers  94 ,  96  at approximately the same temperature as the inner containers  98 ,  100 . Air is recirculated through the cavity  52  in the path as described. The protrusions  88  are shown as ribs but could be provided in a variety of other embodiments that provide a structure to space the product container walls away form the inside surface of the cavity. Reference to protrusions  88  is to be broadly interpreted to include ribs and all variations of other protrusions, regardless of whether they can be identified or defined as ribs, as long as these structures provide the spacing function needed to help maintain a preferred, desired, or required product temperature. 
         [0019]    In use, a user places a beverage container  40  into the cavity  52  of the apparatus  20 . Once placed in the cavity, the door  44  is closed. The cooling cycle is initiated whereby the cooling unit  70  operates to reduce the temperature of material flowing through the cooling coils  58 . Fans  60  of the cooling assembly  56  blow across the coils to reduce the temperature of air moved by the fans  60 . Air flows through the cooling assembly  56  in through the channel  74 . In other words, the fans  60  force a flow pattern of the air  64  flowing through the cavity  52 . The air  64  flowing from the channel  74  flows past the dispensing assembly  78  and up around the container  40  outside the surfaces  92 . 
         [0020]    The walls  50  include the protruding ribs  88  positioned thereon. The ribs  88  extend marginally outwardly away from the inside surface  90  of the cabinet  24  to help provide a passage between the outside surface  92  of the product wall and the inside surface of the cabinet wall. The ribs  88  provide channels  110  defined by the ribs  88 , the outside surfaces  92  of the packaging containers  40 , and the inside surface  90  of the cabinet walls, to promote airflow  64  there between. Also, the ribs  88  significantly reduce the potential contact area between the product packaging and the cabinet. Similarly, ribs  112  can be provided on a bottom surface of the cabinet to allow airflow underneath the product packaging containers. The ribs  88  can be directionally oriented, as shown by way of illustration and not limitation to help induce directional flow of air along the packaging. Similarly, airflow can be directed by way of the blowing of cooled air or suction of cooled air through the cabinet. 
         [0021]    In at least one configuration, the airflow can be directed from the rear of the cabinet  62 , through a passage  74  along the bottom of the product packaging, upwardly along the front face of the packaging and back through the upper, rear portion of the cabinet cavity  52 . This airflow may be desirable so as to provide cooled air towards the front portion of the cabinet where the connectors or fitments are connected to the product packaging. This helps provide cooling in the front portion  78  where the product may be dispensed and slightly exposed to elevated temperatures where the product tube  82  passes from the cabinet towards the ambient atmosphere. 
         [0022]    While the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not so limited. To the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover various modifications, uses, adaptations, and equivalent arrangements based on the principles disclosed. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within at least the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalent structures and functions without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the following claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.