Abstract:
A beverage dispenser includes a container, a transmission shaft, and at least one partitioning plate mounted to the transmission shaft to move therewith. The container includes a compartment for receiving a beverage. The container includes an inlet through which beverage enters the container and an outlet through which the beverage exits the container. The transmission shaft is movable relative to the container. The at least one partitioning plate divides the compartment of the container into at least two subcompartments. At least one passageway is defined between the at least one partitioning plate and an inner circumference of the container to allow communication between the at least two subcompartments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser. More particularly, the present invention relates to a beverage dispenser including a stirring member for preventing the beverage from freezing or becoming thick in local areas. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional beverage dispenser with a stirring device. The beverage dispenser comprises a container  7 , a transmission shaft  8 , and a cooler unit  9 . The container  7  receives a beverage and includes an inlet  71  and an outlet  72 . The transmission shaft  8  is rotatably extended through the container  7  and includes an end connected to and thus driven by a power unit  80  such as a motor. A stirring member  81  is provided on the shaft  8  and in the form of a continuous screw structure for stirring the beverage. The cooler unit  9  surrounds and in contact with an outer circumference of the container  7  for cooling the beverage in the container  7 . 
         [0005]    In use, the beverage is filled into the container  7  and the cooler unit  9  is activated to cool the container  7  and the beverage in the container  7 . Then, the power unit  80  drives the transmission shaft  8  to turn, causing the beverage to circulate in the container  7 , thereby mixing the beverage and preventing the beverage from freezing or becoming thick in local areas. 
         [0006]    However, there is no partitioning device in the container  7  such that the beverage flows rapidly from the inlet  71  to the outlet  72 . Hence, the beverage cannot reach the desired low temperature, as the time for heat exchange between the beverage and the container  7  is relatively short. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage dispenser comprising at least one partitioning plate for dividing the container into at least two compartments that are in communication with each other by at least one passageway, prolonging the time of heat exchange for the beverage in the container and enhancing the heat exchange efficiency. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention comprises a container, a transmission shaft, and at least one partitioning plate mounted to the transmission shaft to move therewith. The container includes a compartment for receiving a beverage. The container comprises an inlet through which beverage enters the container and an outlet through which the beverage exits the container. The transmission shaft is movable relative to the container. The at least one partitioning plate divides the compartment of the container into at least two subcompartments. At least one passageway is defined between the at least one partitioning plate and an inner circumference of the container to allow communication between the at least two subcompartments. 
         [0009]    Due to provision of the at least one partitioning plate, the beverage in the container must flow through the at least two subcompartments before reaching the outlet. Thus, the time of heat exchange for the beverage is prolonged and the heat exchange efficiency is enhanced. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the at least one passageway has an area not larger than one third of a sectional area of the container, and more preferably not larger than one fourth of the sectional area of the container. 
         [0011]    In an example, the at least one partitioning plate includes at least one notch in a portion of an outer circumference thereof. 
         [0012]    In another example, the at least one partitioning plate includes a plurality of guiding holes. 
         [0013]    Preferably, an overall area of the guiding holes and the at least one passageway is not larger than one third of the sectional area of the container. 
         [0014]    Preferably, each guiding hole has an opening extends in a longitudinal direction or in a direction at an angle with the longitudinal direction. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the inlet is defined in a higher portion of the container and the outlet is defined in a lower portion of the container. 
         [0016]    Preferably, a cooler unit is provided for changing temperature of the beverage in the container. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the cooler unit includes at least one of a tube in which a coolant is received and an electric cooling device. 
         [0018]    The cooler unit is mounted outside the container or in a circumferential wall of the container. 
         [0019]    In another example, the cooler unit is mounted to the inner circumference of the container and located in the at least one passageway. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the transmission shaft includes a first end extending out of the container and connected to a power unit and a second end having an insertion section, allowing the transmission shaft to move in a longitudinal direction. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the container includes a fixed axle mounted to a bottom thereof. The fixed axle is slidably received in the insertion section of the transmission shaft. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the power unit is a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a motor or a gear train. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the transmission shaft is capable of at least one of reciprocating and rotating relative to the container. 
         [0024]    The power unit provides a longitudinal reciprocating force or a rotational force to drive the transmission shaft to reciprocate or rotate, which causes reciprocating movement or rotational movement of the at least one partitioning plate in the container. Hence, the beverage is forced to flow in each subcompartment, preventing the beverage from freezing or becoming thick in local areas. The taste is better and the utility is improved. 
         [0025]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a conventional beverage dispenser; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, partly cutaway, of a first embodiment of a beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view, partly cutaway, of a second embodiment of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view, partly cutaway, of a third embodiment of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a first embodiment of a beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention is used for stirring beverage to produce cold beverage with fine frozen particles and thus can be used with machines for producing snow cones, granita, or ice wine. 
         [0033]    Still referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first embodiment of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention comprises a container  1 , a cooler unit  2 , a transmission shaft  3 , and at least one partitioning plate  4  (three in this embodiment). Each partitioning plate  4  is spaced from an inner circumference of the container  1  by at least one passageway  5 . 
         [0034]    The container  1  is preferably made of metal with excellent conductivity, such as stainless steel. The container  1  receives a beverage. The cooler unit  2  may include a tube in which coolant is received or an electric cooling device or both. The cooler unit  2  is mounted to an outer circumference of the container  1  or mounted inside a circumferential wall (not shown) of the container  1  for cooling the beverage in the container  1 . 
         [0035]    The transmission shaft  3  is rotatably extended through the container  1  for actuating the partitioning plates  4 . Each partitioning plate  4  may be a single plate mounted to or integrally formed with the transmission shaft  3 . The partitioning plates  4  divide a compartment  10  of the container  1  into a plurality of subcompartments (not labeled). In this example, a passageway  5  is defined between an outer circumference of each partitioning plate  4  and the inner circumference of the container  1 . The passageways  5  allow communication between the subcompartments. To prolong the time of heat exchange for the beverage, the area of each passageway  5  is preferably not larger than one third of a sectional area of the container  1 , and more preferably not larger than one fourth of the sectional area of the container  1 . 
         [0036]    Still referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , more specifically, the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention comprises a compartment  10 , an upper shaft-mounting hole  11 , a fixed axle  12 , an inlet  13 , and an outlet  14 . The partitioning plates  4  are mounted in the compartment  10  and the beverage is received in the compartment  10 . The upper shaft-mounting hole  11  is defined in a center of a top wall of the container  1 , and the transmission shaft  3  extends through the upper shaft-mounting hole  11 . The fixed axle  12  is fixed to a bottom wall of the container  10  for positioning the transmission shaft  3 . The inlet  13  is defined in an upper portion of the container  1 , allowing the beverage to be filled into the container  10 . The outlet  14  is defined in a lower portion of the container  1 , allowing dispensing of the beverage after cooling. 
         [0037]    Still referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an end of the transmission shaft  3  is connected to the power unit  30  that is preferably a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a motor, or a gear train. The other end of the transmission shaft  3  includes an insertion section  31  into which the fixed axle  12  is inserted. The transmission shaft  3  is slidable in the upper shaft-mounting hole  11  in a longitudinal direction whereas the insertion section  31  slidably receives the fixed axle  12 , allowing the transmission shaft  3  to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction or rotate relative to the container  10 . 
         [0038]    Still referring to  FIG. 3 , in use, the beverage is filled via the inlet  13  into the container  1 , and the cooler unit  2  cools the beverage (or maintains the temperature of the beverage) through heat conduction. Due to provision of the partitioning plates  4 , the beverage in the container  4  must flow through the subcompartments before reaching the outlet  14 . Thus, the time of heat exchange for the beverage is prolonged and the heat exchange efficiency is enhanced. Further, the power unit  30  provides a longitudinal reciprocating force or a rotational force to drive the transmission shaft  3  to reciprocate or rotate, which causes reciprocating movement or rotational movement of the partitioning plates  4  in the container. Hence, the beverage is forced to flow in each subcompartment, preventing the beverage from freezing or becoming thick in local areas. The taste is better and the utility is improved. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention. Compared to the first embodiment, each partitioning plate  4  in the second embodiment includes a notch  41  in a portion of the outer circumference thereof to increase the area of the passageway  5  between a pair of subcompartments adjacent to each other. The notches  41  of the partitioning plate  4  also provide various paths for the beverage. Similar to the first embodiment, the area of each passageway  5  is preferably not larger than one third of the sectional area of the container  1 , and more preferably not larger than one fourth of the sectional area of the container  1 . Preferably, the notches  41  of a pair of partitioning plates  4  adjacent to each other are not aligned with each other. This creates a winding path for the beverage. Further, the edges of the notches  41  destroy the frozen particles in the beverage in each subcompartment when the partitioning plates  4  reciprocate or rotate in the container  1 , providing finer frozen particles in the beverage. The heat exchange efficiency and utility are enhanced. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates a third embodiment of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention. Compared to the first and second embodiments, each partitioning plate  4  in the third embodiment includes at least one guiding hole  42 ,  43  to allow communication between a pair of subcompartments adjacent to each other. The overall area of the guiding holes  42  and  43  and the passageway  5  of each partitioning plate  5  is preferably not larger than one third of the sectional area of the container  1 , and more preferably not larger than one fourth of the sectional area of the container  1 . Preferably, the guiding holes  42  and  43  of a pair of partitioning plates  4  adjacent to each other are not aligned with each other. This provides various paths for the beverage and thus prolongs the time of heat exchange for the beverage. Thus, the beverage may flow in various paths through and guided by the guiding holes  42  and  43  between a pair of subcompartments adjacent to each other. Preferably, each guiding hole  42 ,  43  has an opening extends in a longitudinal direction or in a direction at an angle with the longitudinal direction. Further, when the partitioning plates  4  is driven by the transmission shaft  3  to reciprocate or rotate in the container  1 , the beverage is forced to flow in the subcompartments through the passageways  5  and the guiding holes  42  and  43 , preventing the beverage from freezing or becoming thick in local areas while providing finer frozen particles in the beverage and better taste. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates a fourth embodiment of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention. Compared to the first and third embodiments, the passageways  5  for the beverage are defined between the cooler unit  2  and the outer circumferences of the partitioning plates  4 . More specifically, the cooler unit  2  is mounted to the inner circumference of the container  1  and located in the passageways  5  whereas a gap exists between each partitioning plate  4  and the cooler unit  2  to form a passageway for the beverage. The cooler unit  2  for cooling the beverage is not in contact with the environment and thus enhances the heat exchange efficiency. Still, the beverage is able to flow through the subcompartments via the passageways  5  between the cooler unit  2  and the partitioning plates  4  to prolong the time of heat exchange. 
         [0042]    While the principles of this invention have been disclosed in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the appended claims.