Abstract:
A dispenser system includes a product source, a cooling unit, an agitator, a dispensing station coupled with the product source, a sensor, and a controller. The cooling unit cools product delivered to the dispensing station from the product source. The agitator is disposed in the cooling unit and circulates cooling fluid contained in the cooling unit. The sensor measures an operating parameter of the dispenser system and outputs a signal representative thereof. The controller, responsive to the signal output by the sensor, operates the agitator at a lower speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates the dispenser system is operating in a desired stable state. Alternatively, the controller, responsive to the signal output by the sensor, operates the agitator at a higher speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates the dispenser system is not operating in the desired stable state.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing one or more chilled products, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an apparatus for dispensing one or more chilled products under a desired pressure and temperature.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Certain dispenser units employ a python connecting a dispensing tower some distance from a cooling unit to dispense products. These dispenser units are valuable to businesses with limited counter space because only the dispensing tower must be placed on the counter top, as opposed to other dispenser units where the cooling unit, including pumps and a carbonator, are placed on the counter top along with the dispensing tower. A disadvantage of remote dispensing towers however is poor still water dispense rates at a dispensing valve caused through insufficient flow pressure from still water sources, and solution of this problem through the use of a dedicated pump is not practical due to prohibitive cost factors.  
           [0005]    Regardless of whether a remote dispensing tower is utilized, consistently delivering a product at a desired temperature is an important concern. In the case of a carbonated product, if the temperature of the delivered product rises above 40° F., excessive foaming can occur, leading to an overflow of the receiving container and often a spill that must be cleaned by either the recipient or a paid employee. Both options are undesirable, since the employee must forego other tasks, or worse, an unexpected stain makes a customer upset. Worst of all however is a customer slipping and falling on the overflowed carbonated product leading to injury and possible legal action. Therefore, it is important to dispense products at a desired temperature.  
           [0006]    Consistently delivering a product at a desired temperature involves achieving optimal heat transfer from the product to a cooling unit, which typically is a refrigeration unit and associated cooling chamber having a cooling fluid and a frozen cooling fluid bank therein. Optimal heat transfer is enhanced through vigorous circulation of cooling fluid about the frozen cooling fluid bank. Unfortunately, vigorous circulation suffers several disadvantages. Running an agitator continually at a high speed is not cost effective, and vigorous agitation detrimentally affects both the weight and the shape of the cooling fluid bank, which in fact decreases heat transfer.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, there has been a long felt need for a dispenser system providing agitation that enhances heat transfer from a product as well as a cost-effective still water boost.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, a dispenser system includes a beverage syrup source, a pump connected with a plain water source, a carbonator, a cooling unit, an agitator, a dispensing station, a sensor, and a controller. The carbonator connects with a source of carbon dioxide gas and with the pump to produce carbonated water. The cooling unit cools the beverage syrup delivered from the beverage syrup source and the plain water delivered from the pump. The agitator is disposed in the cooling unit to circulate cooling fluid contained within the cooling unit. The dispensing station connects with the beverage syrup source, the pump, and the carbonator, whereby the dispensing station combines either beverage syrup and plain water to produce a non-carbonated dispensed product or beverage syrup and carbonated water to produce a carbonated dispensed product. The sensor measures an operating parameter of the dispenser system and outputs a signal representative thereof. The controller, responsive to the signal output by the sensor, operates the agitator at a lower speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates the dispenser system is operating in a desired stable state. Alternatively, the controller, responsive to the signal output by the sensor, operates the agitator at a higher speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates the dispenser system is not operating in the desired stable state.  
           [0009]    An operating parameter measured by the sensor includes the temperature of the cooling fluid within the cooling unit. Consequently, the controller operates the agitator at a lower speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates the temperature of the cooling fluid within the cooling unit is below a desired low temperature. Further, the controller operates the agitator at a higher speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates the temperature of the cooling fluid within the cooling unit is above a desired low temperature.  
           [0010]    An operating parameter measured by the sensor includes whether a valve on the dispensing station has been activated. Consequently, the controller operates the agitator at a lower speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates no valve on the dispensing station has been activated. Further, the controller operates the agitator at a higher speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates a valve on the dispensing station has been activated.  
           [0011]    An operating parameter measured by the sensor includes the level of carbonated water in the carbonator. Consequently, the controller normally operates the agitator at a lower speed. However, the controller operates the agitator at a higher speed for a preset time period when the signal output by the sensor indicates the carbonator is not full.  
           [0012]    The cooling unit includes a refrigeration unit, a cooling chamber having therein a cooling fluid and a frozen cooling fluid bank formed by the refrigeration unit, and a cooling coil disposed in the cooling chamber and coupled at an inlet with the beverage syrup source and at an outlet with the dispensing station. The cooling unit further includes a cooling coil disposed in the cooling chamber and coupled at an inlet with the water source and at an outlet with the carbonator. The cooling unit still further includes a cooling coil disposed in the cooling chamber and coupled at an inlet with the carbonator and at an outlet with the dispensing station.  
           [0013]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to control agitation of a cooling fluid contained within a cooling unit of a dispenser system responsive to operating parameters of the dispenser system.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispenser system with a pump that supplies plain water to both a carbonator of the dispenser system and a dispensing station of the dispenser system.  
           [0015]    Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the following. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram of the preferred embodiment of a dispenser system;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram of an alternative embodiment of the dispenser system;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is an illustrative flow chart of the operation of a controller; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is an illustrative flow chart of the operation of a controller. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    Although those of the ordinary skill in the art will recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is only limited by the claims appended hereto.  
         [0022]    Referring now to the FIG. 1, a dispenser system  10  includes a controller  11 , a cooling unit  12 , a pump  13 , an agitator  14 , a carbonator  15 , a solenoid valve  16 , a dispensing station  17 , and a backflow preventor  18 . The cooling unit  12  is a well-known type and includes cooling coils  19  and  20 , a refrigeration unit, and a cooling chamber  21  having therein a cooling fluid and a frozen cooling fluid bank formed by the refrigeration unit.  
         [0023]    The controller  11  operatively links with a level sensor  22  of the carbonator  15 , a cooling fluid temperature sensor  23 , the dispensing station  17 , the pump  13 , the solenoid valve  16 , and the agitator  14 . In this preferred embodiment the controller  11  is preferably any suitable microprocessor and associated circuitry, although those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many other suitable types of controllers.  
         [0024]    The dispenser system  10  includes the carbonator  15  to produce carbonated water, which is combined with a flavored syrup at the dispensing station  17  to form a dispensed product. Accordingly, the carbonator  15  connects to a source of carbon dioxide gas and to a source of water.  
         [0025]    The dispenser system  10  includes the pump  13  to deliver the required water to the carbonator  15 . In this preferred embodiment the pump  13  is preferably a carbon dioxide gas powered pump and more preferably a FLOJET™ 5800 carbon dioxide gas powered pump. The pump  13  connects to the same source of carbon dioxide gas as the carbonator  15 , which then provides the force for driving the pump  13 . Employing the same source to supply the carbon dioxide gas to the carbonator  15  as well as drive the pump  13  provides cost savings in both manufacturing and operating the dispenser system  10 . Nevertheless, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other gases could be employed or other comparable pumps.  
         [0026]    Responsive to a signal from the level sensor  22  indicating the carbonator  15  requires replenishment of water, the controller  11  opens the solenoid valve  16  to permit the pump  13  to deliver water into the carbonator  15 . The pump  13  draws water from a water source through a source line  24  and the backflow preventor  18 . A line  25  delivers the water through the open solenoid valve  16 , whereupon a line  26  delivers the water to the cooling coil  19 . The position of the cooling coil  19  within the cooling chamber  21  facilitates the transfer of heat from the water to the frozen cooling fluid bank via the cooling fluid. A line  27  then delivers the cooled water into the carbonator  15 .  
         [0027]    Responsive to a signal from the level sensor  22  indicating the carbonator  15  is full, the controller  11  closes the solenoid valve  16  to prevent the pump  13  from delivering water into the carbonator  15 . A safety feature of the dispenser system  20  includes the use of a carbon dioxide gas powered pump. In the event the solenoid valve does not close, the pump  13  eventually stalls without damage when the driving force of the carbon dioxide gas equals the pressure within the carbonator  15 .  
         [0028]    Carbon dioxide gas introduced into the carbonator  15  mixes with the cooled water therein to form carbonated water ready for mixture with any number of flavored syrups independently delivered to the dispensing station  17 . The dispensing station  17  in this preferred embodiment is a remote dispensing tower including a plurality of dispensing valves thereon. Upon the activation of a dispensing valve configured for the dispensing of a carbonated product, the carbonator  15  releases carbonated water into a line  28  connected to the dispensing station  17 . The carbonated water flows from the line  28  into the activated dispensing valve of the dispensing station  17 . Likewise, a flavored syrup source delivers a flavored syrup to the same activated dispensing valve, which mixes the flavored syrup with the carbonated water to form a dispensed carbonated product.  
         [0029]    Based upon customer preferences, the dispensing station  17  will include any number of dispensing valves configured for the dispensing of non-carbonated product. Accordingly, the dispenser system  10  further includes the pump  13  to provide a still water pressure boost because many standard water supplies operate at pressures insufficient for a properly dispensed non-carbonated product.  
         [0030]    The pump  13  draws water from the water source through a source line  24  and the backflow preventor  18 , whereupon a line  29  delivers the water to the cooling coil  20 . The position of the cooling coil  20  within the cooling chamber  21  facilitates the transfer of heat from the water to the frozen cooling fluid bank via the cooling fluid. A line  30  then delivers the cooled water to the dispensing station  17 . Upon the activation of a dispensing valve configured for the dispensing of a non-carbonated product, water flows from the line  30  into the activated dispensing valve of the dispensing station  17 . Likewise, a flavored syrup source delivers a flavored syrup to the same activated dispensing valve, which mixes the flavored syrup with the water to form a dispensed non-carbonated product.  
         [0031]    As long as the pressure within the lines  29  and  30  and the cooling coil  20  remains below the driving force of the carbon dioxide gas, the pump  13  continues to deliver water to the dispensing station  17 . However, when the pressure within the lines  29  and  30  and the cooling coil  20  reaches the driving force of the carbon dioxide gas, the pump  13  stalls without damage. Consequently, the pump  13  provides a still water pressure boost without the added cost of a dedicated still water pressure boost pump.  
         [0032]    The dispenser system  10  further includes the controller  11  to regulate the agitator  14  so as to achieve optimal heat transfer to the cooling unit  12  from product, whether water, carbonated water, or flavored syrup. To achieve this optimal heat transfer, the controller  11  regulates the speed of the agitator in accordance with operating parameters of the dispenser system  10 , such as carbonator level, cooling fluid temperature, valve activation, and the like. It should be understood that the above are merely exemplary of the various operating parameters of the dispenser system  10  and are not to be considered limiting.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the controller  11  begins in step  200  by running the agitator at a low speed, which is cost-effective and produces a stabile weighted and shaped frozen cooling fluid bank. In step  201 , the controller reads a signal from a desired sensor, such as the cooling fluid temperature sensor  23  or a valve activation sensor of the dispensing station  17 . The controller  11  in step  201  then determines if the dispenser system  10  is functioning in a desired stable state. Illustratively, a desired stable state would include the condition where the cooling fluid resides at or below a desired optimal low temperature or no valves on the dispensing station  17  have been activated.  
         [0034]    If the controller  11  determines that a desired stable state does not exist (e.g., the cooling fluid resides above a desired optimal low temperature or a valve or valves on the dispensing station  17  have been activated), it proceeds to step  203  and runs the agitator at a high speed. By operating the agitator  14  at higher speeds under certain conditions, the dispenser system  10  provides a vigorous agitation of the cooling fluid that optimizes heat transfer from product without detrimentally affecting the weight and shape stability of the frozen cooling fluid bank.  
         [0035]    The controller  11  then returns to step  201  and reads a signal from the desired sensor before proceeding to step  202  to determine if the dispenser system  10  is functioning in a desired stable state. As long as the controller  11  determines the dispenser system  10  is not functioning in a desired stable state, it maintains the agitator  14  operating at a high speed. However, if in step  202  the controller  11  determines the dispenser system  10  is functioning in a desired stable state, it proceeds to step  204  and returns the agitator  14  to its low speed before executing step  201 .  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the controller  11  begins in step  205  by running the agitator at a low speed, which is cost-effective and produces a stabile weighted and shaped frozen cooling fluid bank. In step  206 , the controller reads a signal from the level sensor  22  of the carbonator  15 . The controller  11  in step  207  then determines if the carbonator  15  is full.  
         [0037]    If the controller  11  determines the carbonator  15  is not full, it proceeds to step  208  and runs the agitator at a high speed. The controller  11  also begins a high-speed timer that controls the length of time the agitator  14  operates at its high speed. By operating the agitator  14  at higher speeds under certain conditions, the dispenser system  10  provides a vigorous agitation of the cooling fluid that optimizes heat transfer from product without detrimentally affecting the weight and shape stability of the frozen cooling fluid bank.  
         [0038]    The controller  11  then returns to step  206  and reads a signal from the level sensor  22  of the carbonator  15 . As long as the controller  11  determines the carbonator  15  is not full, it maintains the agitator  14  operating at a high speed. However, if in step  207  the controller  11  determines the carbonator  15  is full, it proceeds to step  209  and determines if the high-speed timer has timed out.  
         [0039]    As long as the high-speed timer has not timed out, the controller  11  returns to step  206  and reads a signal from the level sensor  22  of the carbonator  15 . If the controller  11  in step  207  determines the carbonator  15  is still full, it again returns to step  209 . When the controller in step  209  determines the high-speed timer has timed out, it proceeds to step  210  and returns the agitator  14  to its low speed before executing step  206 .  
         [0040]    Referring now to the FIG. 2, a dispenser system  100  is identical to the dispenser system  10 , except the dispenser system  100  includes a carbonated water recirculation system  101 , which is well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0041]    While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and claims drawn thereto.