Patent Publication Number: US-6669053-B1

Title: Beverage dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     NONE 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser for blending a plurality of beverage concentrates and a mix to form and dispense a blended fluid formed from mixing predetermined amounts of the concentrate and mix. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Dispenser assemblies are known for mixing predetermined amounts of different types of fluids to form a blended beverage to be dispensed. In particular, it is known to mix a beverage concentrate such as a concentrated beverage syrup, with a mix, such as water or carbonated water, to form a blended beverage, such as soda, to be dispensed. Known beverage dispensers utilize a pump to supply the concentrate to a mixing chamber where the concentrate can be blended with a mix to form a blended beverage to be dispensed. When a plurality of beverage concentrates are available, a separate pumping apparatus is generally associated with each concentrate to enable selected concentrates to be individually pumped and dispensed and to prevent mixing of the concentrates. 
     When a beverage for human consumption is being blended, it is desirable to seal the beverage dispensing system to prevent foreign material and bacteria from entering the system. It is well known to utilize peristaltic pumps in beverage dispensing and blending systems due to the sealed configuration of the peristaltic pumps. In known beverage dispensers, a peristaltic pump is provided for each individual supply of concentrate so that various concentrates can be independently blended with a mix on demand. In typical beverage dispensing machines one to five individual supplies of a concentrated beverage are each provided with a peristaltic metering pump to pump, on demand, a predetermined amount of a preselected supply of beverage concentrate. Thus, if five supplies of beverage concentrate are provided to make five flavors of beverage, for example, grape, cherry, lemon, orange, and lime, five individual peristaltic metering pumps are required. The use of a plurality of pumps substantially increases the cost of the beverage dispensing mechanism. 
     From a commercial standpoint, it is desirable to minimize the cost of any beverage dispensing mechanism. It is also desirable to utilize a single pump to pump a selected beverage concentrate from multiple supplies of beverage concentrate while at the same time preventing unwanted mixing of the multiple supplies of beverage concentrate. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and improved fluid dispenser assembly in which a beverage concentrate is blended with a mix such as water to make a mixed beverage wherein a vacuum is utilized to draw the beverage concentrate from a supply of beverage concentrate to mix the beverage concentrate with a mix such as water to form a mixed beverage to be dispensed. 
     The present invention relates to a new and improved beverage dispenser for mixing water and a beverage concentrate to dispense a mixed beverage formed from mixing a predetermined amount of beverage concentrate with a predetermined amount of water including a water supply, a supply of at least a single type of beverage concentrate, a manifold, a first conduit connecting the supply of beverage concentrate to the manifold, a first valve located in the first conduit having an open position in which the manifold is in fluid communication with the supply of beverage concentrate and a closed position in which the supply of beverage concentrate is isolated from the manifold, a pump having an inlet at which a negative pressure is established with the inlet of the pump being operatively connected to the manifold to establish a negative pressure in the manifold to draw the beverage concentrate from the supply of beverage concentrate into the manifold when the first valve is in its open position to provide a predetermined amount of beverage concentrate in the manifold, a second conduit for directing the water supply to the manifold to mix the beverage concentrate in the manifold with a predetermined amount of water to make a mixed beverage and a dispensing station at which the mixed beverage is dispensed. 
     The present invention further relates to a new and improved beverage dispenser for blending a mix and a concentrate to dispense a blended beverage formed from mixing a predetermined amount of concentrate with a predetermined amount of mix including a mix supply, a supply of at least a single type of concentrate, a manifold, a first conduit connecting said supply of concentrate to said manifold, a first valve for controlling fluid flow through said first conduit, a vacuum source operatively connected to the manifold to establish a negative pressure in the manifold to draw the concentrate from the supply of concentrate through the first conduit into the manifold, a second conduit for directing the mix to the manifold to blend the concentrate in the manifold with a predetermined amount of mix to make a blended beverage from a predetermined amount of mix and a predetermined amount of concentrate and a dispensing station for dispensing the blended beverage. 
     Still another provision of the present invention is to provide a new and improved beverage dispenser for blending a mix and a concentrate to dispense a blended beverage formed from blending a predetermined amount of concentrate with a predetermined amount of mix including a supply of mix, a plurality of supplies of concentrate, a manifold, a plurality of conduits each of which connects one of plurality of supplies of concentrate to the manifold, a plurality of valves one of which is disposed in each of the plurality of conduits and each of which has an open and a closed position to control the flow of concentrate through the associated conduit from a supply of concentrate, a vacuum source operatively connected to the manifold to establish a negative pressure in the manifold to draw the concentrate from one of supplies of concentrate through one of the plurality of conduits and one of the plurality of valves and into the manifold to provide a predetermined amount of concentrate in the manifold, a second conduit for directing the mix to the manifold to blend the concentrate in the manifold with a predetermined amount of mix to make a blended beverage and a dispensing station for dispensing the blended beverage. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the invention will become more apparent in consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a beverage dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a beverage dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention illustrating a predetermined amount of beverage concentrate located in the manifold prior to being mixed in the manifold with a mix; and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view more fully illustrating the valves and manifold. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the figures, a beverage dispenser  10  is disclosed for blending a mix and a beverage concentrate to form a blended beverage. The beverage dispenser  10  includes supplies  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  of beverage concentrate. Each supply of concentrate  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  comprises a unique supply of beverage concentrate which can be blended with a mix to form a beverage. A mix supply  20  is provided to supply a mix such as water or carbonated water to be blended with at least one of the beverage concentrates to form a blended beverage to be dispensed. In the illustrated embodiment, each supply  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  of beverage concentrate is a separate unique supply. Examples of concentrates which can be utilized in the present apparatus  10  include fruit juice and drink concentrates, soda concentrate and/or beverage syrup. While examples of concentrates and mixes have been provided, it should be apparent to one of ordinary skill that other mixes and concentrates could easily be substituted for those listed and are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     A conduit connects each of the supplies  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  of beverage concentrate to a manifold  30 . Conduit  22  is connected to manifold  30  to supply beverage concentrate  12 , conduit  24  is connected to manifold  30  to supply beverage concentrate  14 , conduit  26  is connected to manifold  30  to supply beverage concentrate  16  and a conduit  28  is connected to the manifold  30  to supply beverage concentrate  18 . A valve is associated with each of the lines  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28  to control fluid flow through its associated conduit. Accordingly valve  32  controls fluid flow through conduit  22  to manifold  30 , valve  34  controls fluid flow through conduit  24  to manifold  30 , valve  36  controls fluid flow through conduit  26  to manifold  30  and valve  38  control fluid flow through conduit  28  to manifold  30 . Each of the valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  have an open position which allows for fluid communication from its associated supply of beverage concentrate to the manifold  30  and a closed position in which the supply of beverage concentrate is isolated and blocked from the manifold  30 . Each of the valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  can be controlled to provide for the flow of a predetermined amount of beverage concentrate to the manifold  30 . 
     FIG. 3 further illustrates the construction of the valves  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . Each of the valves is solenoid actuated and includes a coil  31 , an armature  33  and a valve member  35  which is movable with armature  33  to engage or disengage with a valve seat  37 . When the coil  31  is energized, armature  33  moves toward the left as is illustrated in FIG. 3 to move valve member  35  away from valve seat  37  to open the passageway associated therewith. When coil  31  is denergized the valve member  35  engages seat  37  to close the valve. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  in part from a portion of manifold  30 . 
     The mix supply  20  supplies a mix such as water to a water tank  40  which is connected to a cooler, such as a compressor/chiller schematically illustrated at  42 , to cool the water supply disposed in the tank  40 . A conduit  44  is disposed in the tank  40  and connected to a circulating pump  46  which pumps the water or other mix disposed in the tank  40  through a one way valve  45  through the conduit  44  and the cooler  42  which cools the mix and then returns the cooled water or mix through a conduit  46  and valve  47  to the interior of the mix storage tank  40 . A mix pump  52  is connected to the mix storage tank  40  via a conduit  50 . When the mix pump  52  is energized a supply of cooled mix is pumped from the tank  40  through conduit  50  and pump  52  to conduit  44  which is connected via a valve  47  to the conduit  54 . When mix pump is energized valve  47  connects conduits  46  and  54  to direct mix from tank  40  to the manifold  30  through valves  47  and  56 . Valve  56  has an open position in which conduit  54  is in fluid communication with the manifold  30  and a closed position in which conduit  54  is prevented from communicating with manifold  30 . In addition valve  56  includes a bleed passageway  58  which opens to atmosphere when valve  56  is in its open position to enable the flow of fluid from manifold  30 . Valve  56  is similar in construction to valves  32 . 
     The manifold  30  interconnects valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  56  and includes a mixing chamber  60  located at one end thereof. As an example the valves may be those, manufactured by Componenti Vending S. R. L. of Milano, Italy as Valve 522A2024DRSNV. A source of vacuum which in the illustrated embodiment is a vacuum pump  62  is connected via conduit  64  to the manifold  30 . The drink or mix pump  62  may be a pump such as manufactured by KNF ITALIA S. R. L. of Milano, Italy having an inlet  66  and an outlet  70  with the inlet  66  being connected to conduit  64  to establish a vacuum in the manifold  30  when pump  62  is energized. As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conduit  64  is connected to the top portion of the mixing chamber  60  disposed in manifold  30  above any fluid disposed in mixing chamber  60  to ensure that conduit  64  and pump  62  do not draw any fluid in mixing chamber  60  into conduit  64 . 
     When it is desired to mix a predetermined amount of a selected beverage concentrate with the mix, the pump  62  is energized to establish a vacuum in manifold  30  and the valve  32 ,  34 ,  36 , or  38  associated with the selected beverage concentrate  12 ,  14 ,  16  or  18  is energized to open the valve connected to the selected beverage concentrate. Valve  56  is closed at this time to prevent mix from flowing into manifold  30  and to maintain a vacuum in manifold  30 . When pump  62  is energized and one of the valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 , or  38  is open beverage concentrate will be drawn by the vacuum created by pump  62  from the selected supply of beverage concentrate into the manifold  30 . When a predetermined amount of beverage concentrate is disposed in the manifold  30 , the valve associated with the beverage concentrate supply is closed and pump  62  is deenergized. The beverage concentrate in manifold  30  preferably flows under the influence of gravity into the mixing chamber  60  which is located at the bottom of manifold  30 . Controlling the amount of time that the valve  32 ,  34 ,  36 , or  38  is opens controls the amount of beverage concentrate that is drawn into the manifold  30  by the vacuum established by pump  62 . 
     After a predetermined amount of beverage concentrate is drawn into the manifold  30  as is illustrated in FIG. 2, pump  62  is deenergized and the valve associated with the supply of beverage concentrate is closed. Valve  56  is then opened and drink pump  52  energized to supply through valve  56  a supply of mix to manifold  30  at high pressure. The mix is directed through valve  56  and into the manifold  30  where it is blended with the beverage concentrate disposed in manifold  30  to form a blended beverage to be dispensed. The mix pump  52  typically supplies the mix at 2.13 psi to manifold  30  to cause through blending of the mix and beverage concentrate. Additionally, mixing chamber  60  can be conically shaped to further mix the beverage concentrate and mix. Opening valve  56  connects the upper portion of the manifold  30  to atmosphere via the passageway  58  to prevent fluid lock in the manifold  30  and to allow the beverage concentrate and mix to flow in a downwardly direction under the influence of gravity through manifold  30  and through the mixing chamber  60  disposed therein. The supply of high pressure mix at the top of manifold  30  washes any beverage concentrate in manifold  30  into mixing chamber  60  where it is blended and disposed. The supply of the mix after the supply of concentrate cleans the manifold  30  of the concentrate so that the next drink to be blended is not contaminated by the previous beverage concentrate. Thus, a single pump  62  is provided to draw a preselected beverage concentrate from a plurality of supplies of beverage concentrate  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  without mixing the beverage concentrate. 
     A conduit  70  is connected to the bottom of the mixing chamber  60  located in the manifold  30  and connects the bottom of the mixing chamber  60  to a dispensing station  74 . A valve  72  is located in conduit  70  to control the flow of fluid therethrough to the dispensing station  74 . The valve  72  has an open position in which fluid flow is permitted through conduit  70  to the dispensing station  74  and a closed position in which fluid flow is prevented. As is illustrated in FIG. 3, valve  72  may be similar to valve  32 . A cup  76  or other type of container can be located at the dispensing station  74  to receive the blended beverage from manifold  30 . 
     A hot water supply  80  may be connected via line  84  to the manifold  30 . A pump  82  is provided for pressurizing the hot water flowing from the hot water supply  80  through the conduit  84  to the manifold  30 . The hot water supply  80  can be periodically energized to clean valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  and to purge and clean manifold  30  and the dispensing valve,  72 . The purging function may be operated manually wherein a cup or two of hot water is run through the manifold  30  and valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  72  to cleanse same or can be done automatically after a predetermined number of blended beverages are dispensed. If an automatic mode is utilized, a drain may be required from the dispensing station to either a holding tank or drain lines to discharge the hot cleaning water. 
     A microprocessor control  90  is schematically illustrated to controlling operation of the beverage dispenser  10 . The microprocessor control  90  is connected to each of the valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  56 , and  72 , and to the pumps  46 ,  52 ,  62 , and  82  to control operation thereof. When it is desired to dispense a blended beverage, the microprocessor control  90  energizes pump  62  to establish a vacuum in manifold  30  and opens one of the valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 , or  38  to enable the vacuum in manifold  30  to draw a predetermined amount of a preselected beverage concentrate into the manifold  30 . The beverage concentrate flows through manifold  30  and into the mixing chamber  60  to locate a predetermined amount of beverage concentrate in mixing chamber  60  as is disclosed in FIG.  2 . After a predetermined amount of concentrate is located in the mixing chamber  60 , pump  62  is deenergized by the microprocessor control  90  and the valve  32 ,  34 ,  36 , or  38  associated with the selected supply of the beverage concentrate is closed. Mix pump  52  is subsequently energized by the microprocessor control  90  and valve  56  is opened to provide for the flow of a high pressure mix such as water into the manifold  30  where it is mixed in the mixing chamber  60  with the beverage concentrate located therein. Valve  72  is then opened by the microprocessor control  90  and the blended beverage flows from manifold  30  and mixing chamber  60  through conduit  70  and open valve  72  to a dispensing station  74  where it is dispensed to a container such as a cup  76 . 
     The beverage dispenser  10  may be manually actuated via a control panel (not illustrated) which is illustrated connected to microprocessor  90  or may be actuated via a coin or credit mechanism and control panel  92  which is connected to microprocessor control  90 . If a control panel is utilized without a coin or crediting mechanism, a user pushes a button or otherwise actuates a control in a well known manner to select a predetermined beverage to be blended. If a coin or credit mechanism  92  is utilized, the user is required to enter a predetermined amount of coins or credit into the coin or credit mechanism  92  prior to the mechanism providing for actuation of the microprocessor control  90  and selection of a predetermined beverage to be blended. 
     It should be appreciated while a single beverage concentrate has been disclosed as being blended with the mix to form a blended beverage, in some situations it may be desirable to blend more than one type of beverage concentrate. This can be accomplished by either sequentially opening and closing some of the valves  32 ,  34 ,  36 , or  38  or by simultaneously opening more than one valve. For example, if a lemon beverage concentrate is provided at one supply and a lime concentrate at another supply beverage dispenser  10  could blend a lemon beverage, a lime beverage or a lemon-lime beverage by drawing both lemon and lime beverage concentrate into mixing chamber  60 . 
     While a cooler  42  has been disclosed to provide a source of cooled mix such as chilled water, it is possible to supplement or replace the cooler  42  with a heater to provide a supply of hot mix via conduit  54 . Additionally, the water or mix supply  20  could be directly connected to conduit  50  without be cooled by cooler  42 . 
     From the foregoing, it should be apparent that a new and improved fluid dispenser  10  has been disclosed for blending a mix and a beverage concentrate to dispense a blended fluid at the dispensing station  74  formed from mixing a predetermined amount of a concentrate with a predetermined amount of a mix. The fluid dispenser  10  includes a mix supply which in the illustrated embodiment is a water supply  20 , a supply of at least a single type of concentrate  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18 , a manifold  30 , and a first conduit  22 ,  24 ,  26 , or  28  connecting the supply of an associated concentrate  12 ,  14 ,  16 , or  18  to the manifold  30 . A first valve  32 ,  34 ,  36 , or  38  is provided for controlling fluid flow through the first associated conduit  22 ,  24 ,  26 , or  28 , respectively, and has an open position in which the manifold  30  is in fluid communication with the associated supply of concentrate and a closed position in which the supply of concentrate is isolated from the manifold  30 . A vacuum source, in the form of a vacuum pump  62 , is operatively connected to the manifold  30  via the conduit  64  to establish a negative pressure or vacuum in the manifold  30  to draw the beverage concentrate from the supply of concentrate through one of the first conduits  22 ,  24 ,  26 , or  28  into the manifold  30  when one of the first valves  22 ,  24 ,  26 , or  28  is in its open position to provide a predetermined amount of concentrate in the manifold  30 . A second conduit  54  is provided for directing the mix to the manifold  30  to blend the beverage concentrate in the manifold  30  with a predetermined amount of mix to make a blended beverage formed from a predetermined amount of mix and a predetermined amount of concentrate. A dispensing station  74  is provided for dispensing the blended fluid into a container such as cup  76 .