Abstract:
A modular manifold system for distribution of post-mix and pre-mix beverages, whose peculiarity includes several modular units connected to each other, of which only one is connected to the external devices for supplying of still water and carbonated water. Each unit is able to supply, by choice of the user, or a dispensing pre-mix tap, or a post-mix tap with still water, or a post-mix tap with carbonated water or two post-mix taps with still water or carbonated water, allowing furthermore to modify the percentage of carbon dioxide diluted in the carbonated water.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to counter apparatuses for beverages dispensing and in particular to a modulated manifold system for distribution of post-mix and pre-mix beverages. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The word manifold system is used in the field of post-mix and pre-mix beverages distribution to indicate the part of the distributing apparatus comprised between the refrigerating device and the beverages dispensing front part and having the aim of feeding the taps of the dispensing front part with pre-mix beverages, syrups, still water and carbonated water necessary to obtain post-mix beverages. 
     The word post-mix beverage indicates beverages prepared by the producer as syrup or concentrated beverage which need to be diluted with still water or carbonated water before being dispensed. The word pre-mix beverage indicates beverage to be dispensed as prepared by the producer. 
     In the prior art manifold systems are constituted by units having as inlet the pipelines coming from the refrigerating system and carrying beverages, still water, carbonated water for diluting post-mix beverages, and the fluid (generally water) used for the cooling of the system. The manifold system depends on the type of dispensing front part to which the system has to be connected and in particular from the number and types of taps, such as post-mix taps with still water, post-mix with carbonated water and pre-mix, which such front part includes. 
     The inconveniences of the modular manifold systems according to such prior art are basically due to the necessity to manufacture different types of units according to the number and types of the taps disposed on the dispensing front part. Furthermore once the apparatus has been mounted it is almost impossible to modify the types of taps on the dispensing front part. 
     A further problem shown by the known systems is the maintenance which is difficult because, almost always, it is necessary to disassemble the whole dispensing front part even when the problem concerns only a single line. 
     The aim of the present invention is a modular manifold system which obviates the necessity of manufacturing different types of units according to the number and types of taps disposed on the dispensing front part. 
     Another aim is to allow, once the apparatus has been mounted, changing of one number and type of the taps on the dispensing front part. 
     A further aim is to allow the mixing of still water and carbonated water inside the same system to obtain a diluting water of the post-mix beverages with a gassing more suitable to the different types of beverages. 
     Another aim is to facilitate the assembly maneuvers and maintenance services. 
     Still another aim is to obtain a modular manifold system of easy and inexpensive manufacture without suing specialized workpeople or sophisticated technologies. 
     These and further aims are achieved by the modular manifold system according to the invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The modular manifold system of the present invention comprises: at least two units connected to each other. Inside each unit two transversal channels are placed, such channels being suitable for transporting the pre-mix beverages and the syrups for the post-mix beverages, such channels being outside communicating in order to be connected to outside feeding and dispensing three longitudinal channels suitable for transporting water, carbonated water and the refrigerating fluid, and being said modular channels adjacent and communicating with each other. Each unit also compresses three transversal channels outletting on said three longitudinal channels and being outside communicating in order to be connected to outside feeding devices. Each unit comprises a regulating means which allows choosing between water or carbonated water dilutes the syrup, and furthermore allows the regulation of the inflow of the two types of water to a mixing chamber placed inside the same unit and communicating outside through suitable channels. Each unit is further provided with gate valves which allow the opening and the closing of the channels suitable for transporting the pre-mix beverages and the syrups. 
     The present invention allows, because of its modular shape, feeding for a number of dispensing taps which can be freely varied. Thanks to the inner pipeline, to the regulating means and to the gate valves present on each unit, it is possible to vary the type of dispensing taps fed by the single unit. Furthermore it is possible, by means of the mixing chamber and of the regulating means placed on each unit, to mix still water and carbonated water in order to freely vary the gassing of the post-mix beverage supplied by the single unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will more clearly arise from the following description, made by way of example not limitative, with reference to the enclosed drawings. 
     FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the manifold system with the dispensing front part. FIG. 1 a  shows disassembly of an intermediate unit. 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a single unit and of the side closing parts of the system; 
     FIG.  3  and FIG. 4 are an sectional views of a single unit. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view, through a transversal section of the unit, of the mixing chamber, of its feeding channels, of the regulating elements and of the nonreturn valves; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the regulating elements and of the nonreturn valves shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7, FIG.  8  and FIG. 9 are sectional views, through longitudinal sections of the unit, of the longitudinal and transversal channels transport the water, carbonated water, and the refrigerating fluid. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view, through transversal sections of the unit, of the mixing chamber, of the closing element of the same and of its outlet. 
     FIG.  11  and FIG. 12 are an enlarged views of the gate valves fit for closing the feeding channels of the beverages. 
     FIG.  13  and FIG. 14 are sectional views, through transversal sections of the unit, of the feeding channels of the beverages and of the gate valves. 
     FIG. 15 shows the use of a single unit for feeding two taps with post-mix beverages. 
     FIG. 16 shows the use of an unit for feeding a tap with pre-mix beverage. 
     FIG.  17  and FIG. 18 are schematic views of the feeding pipeline network of a dispensing line carried out according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 19 shows schematically the feeding pipeline network of a dispensing line carried out according to the state of the art. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A modular manifold system, as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, has four modular units  1   a,    1   b ,  1   c  and  1   d.  Each body  2  having substantially a parallelopipe shape, having on the transversal opposite faces the surface  11  which is raised according to surfaces  12   a  and  12   b,  the surface  21 , the surface  22   a  and the surface  22   b  raised according to the surface  21 . These surfaces allow the joint fixed connection between two modular units. The surface  13   a  has the holes  9   a  and  9   c,  similar holes (not shown in figure) are disposed on the surface  13   b.  The surface  60  has the holes  9   b  and  9   d,  whereas the surface  61  has the holes  9   i  and  9   l.  the holes  9   b,    9   d,    9   i  and  9   l  are through holes. The holes  9   a ,  9   b ,  9   c  and  9   d  allow through the passing pins  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  19   d , which are L-shaped to facilitate the grip, to fasten the joint fixed connection between two modular units. As shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2 at the terminal side parts of the system of modular units the two terminal parts  5  and  6  are placed. The part  5  has the surfaces  45   a ,  45   b  and  46  which are countershaped according to surfaces  12   a ,  12   b  and  11 ; the part  6  has the surfaces  56   a ,  56   b  and  55  which are countershaped according to surfaces  22   a ,  22   b  and  21 . The surface  46   a  has the holes  9   e  and  9   f.  Similar holes (not shown in figure) are present on the surface  47   b.  The surface  57   a  has holes  9   g  and  9   h.  Similar holes (not shown in figure) are on surface  57   b.  These holes are used to fix to the body  2  the terminal parts  5  and  6  through the suitable passing pins working as a connector. As shown in FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  the body  2  is longitudinally crossed by three channels having circular section  14 ,  15  and  16 , wherein the channel  14  is the channel transporting blow-by water for the cooling, the channel  15  transporting the water and the channel  16  transporting the carbonated water. Such channels outlet on the opposite surfaces  11  and  21 . On the surface  21  corresponding to said channels three annular grooves  34 ,  35  and  36  are carried out such that the same channels  14 ,  15  and  16  project out with a cylindrical portion, allowing in such a way the connection among the corresponding channels  14 ,  15  and  16  of two jointed modular units. The seal of the fluids passing through the channels and consequently through the modular units, is obtained through the O_rings  37   a,    37   b  and  38 . The outside feeding of the longitudinal channels  14 ,  15  and  16  is obtained through the transversal channels  17 ,  18  and  19 , the channels outletting on the rear surface  60 . They are fed by external pipelines connected to the body  2  through the holes  52   a  and  52   b.  The channels  14 ,  15  and  16  of the units at the terminal side parts of the system have the terminal portions placed in contact outside respectively with the parts  5  and  6  closed through a suitable cap (not shown in figure). The same condition is for the feeding channels  17 ,  18  and  19  of the intermediate units  1   b  and  1   c  of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 which are closed with suitable cap (not shown in figure). The channel  17  is constituted by two cylindrical portions  68  and  69  having circular section of different diameters. The channel  18  is constituted by two cylindrical portions  70  and  71  having circular section of different diameter and the channel  19  is constituted by two cylindrical portions  72  and  73  having circular section of different diameter, the portions having the larger diameter  68 ,  70  and  72  outletting on the surface  60  and having the same length, the portions having the minor diameter  69 ,  71  and  73  outletting on the corresponding longitudinal channels. The length of these second portions depends on the distance of the axis of the longitudinal channel from the surface  60 . The longitudinal channels  15  and  16 , as shown in FIG. 5, can feed through the vertical cylindrical channels  26  and  27  having a circular mixing chamber  28 . The inflow of the still water and of the carbonated water into the mixing chamber  28  is controlled through the regulating means  23   a  and  23   b  and the nonreturn valves  24   a  and  24   b.  The nonreturn valves are constituted by the spear valves  48   a  and  48   b  made in gummy resin, by the stems  49   a  and  49   b  and by the springs  50   a  and  50   b.  the spear valves  48   a  and  48   b  are constituted by a cylindrical drilled portion which houses a terminal part of the stems  49   a  and  49   b,  and by a truncated-core portion. The spear valves rest on the beating annular surfaces  30   a  and  30   b.  Through the surfaces  29   a  and  29   b  having an overturned cone shape, they can move axially inside the chambers  31   a  and  31   b  having a cylindrical shape with circular section. The shape of the spear valves  48   a  and  48   b  allows that the possible presence of fluid in the chambers  31   a  and  31   b  coming from the mixing chamber  28  squash the same spear valves on the surfaces  30   a  and  30   b  preventing the passage of the fluid from the chamber  28  to the vertical feeding channels  26  and  27 . A portion of the stems  49   a  and  49   b  and the springs  50   a  and  50   b  are housed inside the regulating means  23   a  and  23   b.  The means  23   a  and  23   b  have the annular grooves  62   a  and  62   b  inside which the O_rings  63   a  and  63   b  are housed. Such regulating means can move inside the chambers  32   a  and  32   b.  Both the regulating means and the chambers  32   a  and  32   b  have threaded surfaces (not shown in figure) which allow the axial movement of the same elements. The chambers  32   a  and  32   b  are carried out inside the cap  33  of the mixing chamber  28 . The terminal portions of the regulating means  23   a  and  23   b  facing the superior surface  41  of the body  2  have the diametrical grooves  64   a  and  64   b  with which it is possible to vary the axial position of the same elements inside the chambers  32   a  and  32   b.  Such movement causes the changing of position of the spear valves  48   a  and  48   b.  The bigger the displacement downwards of the means  23   a  and  23   b,  then it is minor for the possibility of the spear valves to disjoin from the supporting surfaces  30   a  and  30   b.  Obviously the extreme condition is the closing of the feeding channels  26  and  27  of the mixing chamber  28 . The cap  33  of the mixing chamber  28  has a cylindrical shape and it is housed in the chamber  20 . It has an almost circular section and it is constrained to the body  2  through the screws  59   a  and  59   b,  in order to allow the seal of the chamber  28  in the annular groove  43  of the cap  33  of the O_ring  44  is inserted. The mixing chamber  28  is connected through the vertical channel  53  having an elliptical section, to the transversal channel  54 , such channel having a circular section projecting out from the body  2  with a cylindrical portion  74  housing the set as for possible sealing O_rings for the connection with the outside dispensing devices. The body  2  is transversally crossed by the channels  39  and  40  shown in FIG. 13 and 14. Beverages come to these channels, in particular the syrup arrives to channel  39 , whereas to channel  40  a syrup or a pre-mixed beverage can come. The channel  39  has a terminal portion  75  which comes out from the body  2  housing the seats for possible sealing O_rings for the connection with the outside dispensing devices. The channels  39  and  40  can be closed through the gate valves  65   a  and  65   b  constituted by the caps  76   a  and  76   b  and by the drilled cylindrical elements  77   a  and  77   b  made in gummy resin, connected to the caps  76   a  and  76   b  through a pivot (not shown in figure). The gate valves  65   a  and  65   b  move inside the chambers  67   a  and  67   b.  Both the gate valves and the chambers have threaded surfaces (not shown in figure) to allow the axial movement of the gate valves. The axial position is controlled using the diametrical grooves  78   a  and  78   b  disposed at the superior terminal portion of the caps  76   a  and  76   b.  The axial movement of the gate valves  65   a  and  65   b  causes the opening or the closing of the transversal channels  39  and  40 . The seal is obtained through the O_rings  66   a  and  66   b  carried by the caps  76   a  and  76   b  in the annular grooves  79   a  and  79   b.    
     Each described modular unit can be used to supply a pre-mix tap, in such case the transversal channel  39  will be closed using the gate valve  65   b  and the transversal channel  54  using the regulating means  23   a  and  23   b  in order to close the vertical channels  26  and  27 . Furthermore, the adapter  7  is inserted as shown in FIG.  15 . The adapted  7  is comprised of drilled pate  85  having a drilled truncated-cone position  86  presenting the thread  87  in order to allow the connection with the rear threaded portion  25  of the tap  4 . 
     The unit can as alternative be used to supply one or two taps for post-mix beverages. In the first case only the transversal channel  39  is fed and the transversal channel  40  is closed through the gate valve  65   a.  In the second case the transversal channels  32  and  40  are fed and the outlet of the channel  40  is modified through the adapter  8 , shown in FIG.  16 . The adapted  8  comprises two cylindrical portions  80  and  88 , of which the portion  80  having a larger diameter is housed in the channel  40 , and the portion  88  having a smaller projects out from the body  2  in order to be connected to the dispensing front part. In FIG. 16, it is further shown a tap  89  suitable to the dispensing of two post-mix beverages. 
     It is possible to adapt the system to any dispensing front part combining opportunely the several units, making the system easy to change. 
     The single unit can be used for post-mix non carbonated beverages or for post-mix carbonated beverages with the possibility of relating the dilution of the carbon dioxide inside the water using the regulating means  23   a  and  23   b.  As it is shown in FIG. 17 only the modular unit  1   a,  positioned at one terminal side part of the set of units, is connected directly to the cooling apparatus for the supplying of still water, through the pipeline  81  and for the carbonated water through the pipeline  82 . The modular unit  1   a  is further fed with blow-by water through the pipeline  83   a,  water which is carried back to the cooling coils through the pipeline  83   b  connected to the modular unit if placed at the other terminal side part of the set. The intermediate modular units  1   b,    1   c,    1   d  and  1   e  are fed with the still water, carbonated water and refrigerating water through the longitudinal channels  14 ,  15  and  16  which are connected between the modular adjacent units, whereas each unit is fed directly with the respective pre-mix or post-mix beverages through the channels  84   a,    84   b,    84   c ,  84   d,    84   e  and  84   f.  In FIG. 17 it is schematically shown a dispensing front part constituted by five post-mix taps  3   a,    3   b,    3   c ,  3   d  and  3   f  and by the pre-mix tap  4 , using the means  23   a  and  23   b  it is determined the opening or the closing of the longitudinal channels  15  and  16 . As schematically shown in FIG. 18, the taps  3   b,    3   c  and  3   d  are in such a way post-mix taps with still water, with carbonated water and with diluted carbonated water and the tap  4  is a pre-mix tap mounted directly on a modular unit in which the channels  15  and  16  have been closed. The same dispensing front part is shown in FIG. 19 wherein the elements  90  and  91  are the units obtained according to the state of art. The unit  90  supplies the post-mix taps  3   a  and  3   b  with still water coming from the pipeline  81 . The unit  91  supplies the post-mix taps  3   c,    3   d  and  3   e  with carbonated water coming from the pipeline  82 . The cooling system is outside the units and the blow-up is obtained through the pipelines  83   a  and  83   b.  The beverages arrive to each tap coming from the pipelines  84   a,    84   b,    84   c,    84   d,    84   e  and  84   f.  The pre-mix tap  4  is mounted on a supporting member (not shown in figure) different from said units because it does not need dilution water. 
     The modular units carried out according to the present invention allow mounting the post-mix taps directly on the single units through the holes  58   a,    58   b,    58   c  and  58   d  without the necessity of inserting intermediate valve bases having the aim to allow the interruption of the inflow of still or carbonated water and of the syrup when the taps are dismounted. The presence of the regulating means  23   a  and  23   b  and the gate valves  65   a  and  65   b  allow the same unit to carry out such operation. In case of maintenance service it is possible to remove and substitute the single modular unit as shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 1 a  without being forced to dismount the adjacent units, because the simple connection system is based upon the joint connection, which furthermore prevents the use of possible intermediate joints increasing the sealing of the whole dispensing front part. 
     The present invention is suitable to variations and changing all belonging to the same inventive concept, furthermore all the details can be substituted with other technically equivalent elements.