Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
t
SPECIFICATION
3~S
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to post-mix beverage
dispensers which are compact, portable and suitable for use
in small offices or small volume locations. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a compact
post-mix beverage dispenser unit which may be dlsposed on a
counter top in the above-mentioned environments and
supplied with water rom a pitcher, syrup from disposable
sealed packages and C02 for carbonation from refillable
containers in a rapid and efficient manner. An accessory
attachment may allo~ connection to a building water supply
for automatic refi~ of the reservoir.
Heretofore, the majority of comrnercially-available
post-mix beverage dispenser units have been designed Eor
large volume commercial uses such as in fast food
restaurants. Because of these large volume uses, design
criteria have emphasized optimum cooling and dispenser
speed rather than low unit cost, size and portability.
Although some consideration has been given to cost, size
~0 and portability even in these large volume commercial
units, the resulting unit designs are generally far too
expellsive, bulky and heavy for small volume use.
Some attempts have been made in the beverage~dispenser
industry to reduce the cost, size and weigllt o these units
to make them available for use by the general public.
I~owever, the units designed heretofore llave lacked
suEficient cooling capacity, dispensing efficiency~
beverage quality and reliability as a trade oEf to
achieving the aforementioned low cost, size and portability
~0 needed ~or consumer acceptance.
In order to be accepted by the small volurne consumer,
post-mix dispenser units must be easy to se-t up for use,
cornpac-t, lightweight, easily repaired, reliable and, most
importantly, lnexpensive. In addition, the syrup, water
and CO2 supplles must be quickly and easily replenished
during use by an unskilled consumer. Although a-ttempts
have been made to design post-mix beverage dispenser
units possessing the foregoing criteria, the design of
such a unit has not been totally achieved prior to the
invention described hereinafter.
Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, it is an object of an aspect of the
present invention to provide a portable, low cost,
miniature post-mix beverage dispenser unit suitable for
use in small offices or low volume locations.
It is an object of an aspect of the present
invention to provide a post-mix beverage dispenser unit
with cabinetry features which facilitate rapid set-up,
loading and replenishing of the syrup, water and CO2 to
be used in making the beverages.
It is an objec-t of an aspec-t of the present inven-
tion to provide a heat transfer circuit in a post-mix
beverage unit opera-tively associated with a mechanical
refrigeration system which directly contacts and cools
the water, carbonator tank and syrup packages contained
in the unit.
It is an object of an aspect of the presen-t
invention to provide an alternative thermoelectrlc
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cooling sys-tem which is reliable, compact, adap-t-
able to world electrical requirements, quiet and light-
weight, consistent wi-th -the objec-tives of an improved
por-table post-mlx beverage dispenser unlt.
In accordance with one aspect of the presen-t
invention -there is provided a post-mix beverage dispen-
ser uni-t comprising: a
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post-mix beverage dispenser system having a water supE~ly, a
carbonator tank, at least one syrup container, a CO2
pressure regulator valve assembly and a beverage dispenser
valve assembly, the improvement comprising first socket
means in said CO2 pressure regulator valve assembly for
receiving and supporting the discharge end of said CO2
cylinder, said discharge end being at the bottom of said
container when said container is disposed in said first
socket means; and second socket means in said beverage
d;spenser valve assembly for receiving and supporting a
discharge end of said syrup container, said discharge end
of said syrup container being at the bottom of said
container when said container is disposed in said second
socket means, whereby said at least one syrup container and
said.at least one CO2 cylinder can be rapidly plugged
into said first and second socket means.
The dispenser unit in a prefe.rred embodiment is
adapted for rapid set-up by providing a unique cabinet
constructio~ comprising a main cabinet portion having
front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments
formed ~herein for housing various components of the
post-mix beverage dispenser, said cornpartments including a
wat.er supply compartment for housing a water reservoir
adjacent said back wall and an entrance chute thereor
2.5 ~dj~cent said front wall, a carbonator compartment for
housillg a carbonator tank adjacent said back wall, a syrup
supply compartment for for h~using replaceable syrup
containers adjacent said front wall, and a CO2 cylinder
adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main
cabinet having openings therein providing access to said
water reservoir/ entrance chute, carbonator compartment/
and said syrup supply compartment; said front wall having
open.ings therein providillg access to said syrup supply
compartrnent and said CO2 supply compartment; ~irst access
panel means normally covering the openings in said top wall
~9~3g~;
providing access -to bo-th said entrance chu-te of said water
compar-tment and said syrup compartment, and the opening in
said front wall providing access to said syrup supply
compartment, said first access panel means being movable
S to selectively uncover said entrance chute and said syrup
supply compartment; a second removable access panel normal-
ly covering said openings in said top wall providing access
to said water compartment and said carbonator compartment;
and a third access panel means normally covering the
opening in said fron-t wall providing access to said CO2
supply compartment, said third access panel means being
movable to uncover said opening in said front wall to
provide access to said CO2 supply compartment.
As an alternative, an accessory attachment may allow
connection to a building water supply for automatic refill
of the reservoir.
Other aspects of -this invention are as follows:
In a post-mix beverage dispenser system having a water
supply, a carbonator tank, a-t least one syrup container,
a CO2 cylinder, a CO2 pressure regulator valve assembly
and a beverage dispenser valve assembly, the improvemen-t
comprising: first socket means in said CO2 pressure
regula-tor valve assembly for receiving and supporting the
discharge end and the weight of said CO2 cylinder, said
discharge end being a-t the bottom of said cylinder when
said cylinder is disposed in said first socket means;
valve means operatively associated with the discharge
end of said cylinder for initiating the discharge of CO2
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from said cylinder to said regulator valve assembly when
open; valve ac~uator means in said first socke-t ~eans for
openiny said valve means ln response to plugging of said
discharge end of said CO2 cylinder into said first socket
means; and second socke-t means in said beverage dispenser
valve assembly :Eor receiving and supporting a discharge end
and the weight of said syrup container, said discharge end
of said syrup container being at the bottom of said con-
tainer when said container is disposed in said second
socket means, whereby said at least one syrup container
and said at least one CO2 cylinder can be rapidly plugged
into said first and second socket means.
A method for loading syrup supply con-tainers, and CO2
supply containers into a post-mix beverage dispenser unit,
said dispenser unit including first socket means in a CO2
pressure regulator valve assembly for receiving and support-
ing the discharge end and the weight of a CO2 cylinder
and second socket means in a beverage dispenser valve
assembly for receiving and supporting discharge ends
and the weight of syrup containers, comprising the steps
of: providing syrup containers with discharge openings
therein which are normally at the top of -the container
during s-torage and transportation; providing a CO2
container with an opening in a discharge end that is
normally at the top of -the container during storage and
transpor-tation; inverting said syrup containers and plug-
ging the discharge opening into said second socket means
provided in the beverage dispenser valve assembly;
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inver-ting said CO2 container and plugging the discharge
opening into said first socket means provided in the CO2
regulator valve assembly, and opening a valve between
the discharge opening of said CO2 container and said
regula-tor valve assembly to initiate the flow of CO2 from
said CO2 cylinder to said regulator valve assembly in
response to -the plugging of the discharge opening of said
C2 container into the firs-t socket in the regulator
valve assembly.
In a post-mix beverage dispenser system having a
water supply, a carbonator tank, at least one syrup con-
tainer, a CO2 cylinder, a CO2 pressure regulator val~e
assembly and a beverage dispenser valve assembly, the
improvement comprising: socket means in said CO2
pressure regulator valve assembly for receiving and
supporting the discharge end and the weight of said CO2
cylinder, said discharge end being at the bottom of said
container when said container is disposed in said socket
means; valve means operatively associated with the dis-
charge end of said cylinder for initiating the dischargef C2 from said cylinder to said regulator valve
assembly when open; and valve ac-tuator means in said
socket means for opening said valve means in response
to plugging of said discharge end of said CO2 cylinder
into said socket means.
A method for loading CO2 supply containers in-to a
post-mix beverage dispenser unit, said dispenser unit
including a socket in a CO2 pressure regulator valve
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3395
assembly for receiving and supporting the discharge end
and the weight of a CO2 cylinder, comprising the s-teps of:
providing a CO2 con'~ainer with a discharge opening in a
discharge end that is normally at the top of the container
c~uring s-torage and transportation; inverting said CO2
container and plugging the discharge opening into said
socke-t provided in -the CO2 regulator valve assembly; and
opening a valve between the discharge opening of said
C2 container and said regulator valve assembly to initiate
the flow of CO2 from said CO2 cylinder to said regulator
valve assembly in response to the plugging of the discharge
opening of said CO2 container into the socket in the regula-
tor valve assembly.
A post-mi~ beverage dispensing system comprising: a
main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and
bottom walls with open compartments formed therein housing
various compartments of the post-mix beverage system,
said compartments including: a water supply compartment
for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor
extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment
for housing a.carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartmen-t
for housing replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front
wall, and a CO2 supply compartment for housing a CO2
cylinder acdjacent said fron-t wall; said top wall of said
main cabine-t having openings therein providing access
to said water reservoir, entrance chute, carbonator
compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; said
front wall also having openings therein providing
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access to said syrup compartment and said CO2 suppiy
compartment; a first access panel normally covering the
openings in said front and top walls providing access to
said syrup supply compartmen-t; a second access panel
normally covering said openings in said top wall providing
access to said water compar-tment and said carbona-tor
compartment; a third access panel at least covering the
opening in said front wall providing access to said CO2
supply compartmen-t, said third access panel being movable
to uncover said opening in said front wall to provide
access to said CO2 supply compartment; water supply
conduit means connesting said water reservoir and said
carbonator tank; pumping means for pumping water from
said water reservoir to said car~onator tank; CO2 supply
conduit means connecting said CO2 cylinder to said
carbonator -tank; and a refrigeration system including,
a compressor, a condensor, and an evaporator coil, said
evaporator coil having a main portion disposed in
contact wi-th said water reservoir for cooling said water,
a second portion in heat transfer rela-tionship with said
carbonator tank, and a third portion in hea-t transfer
rela-tionship ~ith said replaceable syrup containers.
A cabinet cons-truction for a post-mix beverage
dispenser unit comprising: a main portion having top,
ront, back, side and bottom walls wi-th open compart-
ments formed therein for housing various compartments
of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments
including: a wa-ter supply compartment for housing a wa-ter
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reservoir and an en-trance chute therefor extending to
said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a
carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing
replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front wall, and
a CO2 supply compartmen-t for housing a CO2 cylinder
adjacent said front wall; said -top wall of said main
cabinet having openings therein providing access to said
water reservoir, entrance chute, carbonator compartmen-t,
and said syrup supply compartmen-t; said fron-t wall also
having openings -therein providing access to said syrup
supply compartment and said CO2 supply compartment; a
first access panel at least covering the opening in said
front wall providing access to said syrup supply compart-
ment; a second removable access panel normally covering
said openings in said top wall providing access ~o said
water compartment and said carburator compartment; and
a third access panel at least covering the opening in
said front wall providing access to said CO2 supply
compartment, said third access panel being movable -to
uncover said opening in said front wall to provide access
to said CO2 supply compar-tment.
A cabinet cons-truc-tion for a post-mix beverage dis-
penser unit comprising: a main cabinet portion having top,
~ront, back, side and bo-t-tom walls wi-th open compartments
formed therein for housing various componen-ts of -the post-
mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: a
water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir
and an entrance chute therefor extending to said fron-t wall,
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a carbona~or compar-tment for housing a carbona-tor tank,
a syrup supply compartment including upwardly facing
sockets for receiving the discharge end of replaceable
gravity-feed syrup con-tainers adjacent said front wall,
and a CO2 supply compartment including an upwardly
facing socke-t for receiving -the dlscharge end of a CO2
cylinder adjacent said front wall; said fron-t wall
having openings therein providing access to said syrup
supply compar-tment and said CO2 cylinder adjacen-t
said front wall; access panel means a-t least covering
the openings in said front wall, said access panel means
providing access to said syrup supply compartment, CO2
supply compartment and said entrance chute.
A cabinet construction for a post-mix beverage
dispenser unit comprising: a main cabinet portion having
top, front, back, side and bo-ttom walls with open
compartments formed therein for housing various components
of ~he post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments
including: a water supply compartmen-t for housing a water
reservoir and an entrance chu-te therefor ex-tending to said
front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbo-
nator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing
replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front wall,
and a CO2 supply compar-tment for housing a CO2 cylinder
adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main
cabinet having openings therein providing access to
said water reservoir, entrance chute, carbona-tor compart-
ment, and said syrup supply compartmen-t; said fron-t wall
also having openings therein providing access to said
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syrup supply compartment and said CO2 supply compart-
ment; and access panel means at least covering -the open-
ings in said front wall, said access panel means pro-
viding access to said syrup supply compar-tment, CO2
supply compartment and said entrance chute.
~ post-mix, carbonated beverage dispenser apparatus
comprising: a) a cabine-t having front, side, back, top
and bottom walls; b) a carbonator; c) a manually refill-
able water reservoir within the cabinet for supplying
water to said carbonator, said water reservoir having
entrance opening means contiguous to said front wall
for receiving a manually introduced water supply; d)
at least one replaceable flavor concentrate container
disposed contiguous to said front wall; e) at least
one replaceable CO2 cylinder disposed contiguous to
said front wall for supplying CO2 gas to said carbonator;
f) access means for the water entrance opening means,
flavor concentrate container, and CO2 cyiinder, permit-
ting water, flavor concen-trate containers and CO2
cylinders to be introduced into said cabinet at the
front wall thereof; and g) a dispensing station at sai.d
Eront wall for delivering a post-mix, carbonated beverage
Eormed from a mixture of flavor concen-trate and carbon-
ated water.
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Brief Description of -the Drawings
The objects of the present invention and the
attendant advan-tages thereof become more readlly apparent
by reference to -the accompanying drawings, wherein:
S Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the post-mix
beverage dispenser unit of -the present invention,
Figure 2 is a left-side elevational view of the post-
mix beverage dispenser unit of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a right-side elevational view of the pos-t-
mix beverage dispenser unit of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a back elevational view of the post-mix
beverage dispenser unit of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the post-mix beverage
dispenser unit of Figure 1 with the top access panels
removed to illustrate the compartments for housing -the
respective component parts of the post-mix beverage
dispenser system;
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Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of the dispensrr
unit of Figure l with the rear panel removed;
Figure 7 is a front perspectiYe view showing a front
access panel of the cabinet of the dispenser unit of
Figure l slid to an open position to expose the water
entrance chute of the present invention;
Figure ~ is a front perspective view with the front
access panel completely removed to uncover both the water
entrance chute and syrup supply compartment of the present
invention;
Figure 9 is a front perspective view illustrating the
C2 supply compartment of the dispenser cabinet of
Figure l in an open position;
Figure lO is a bottom perspective view of a top access
panel whicn covers the carbonator compartment and water
reservoir section of the dispenser unit of the present
invention;
Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the mechanical
refrigeration system of the present invention;
Figures 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views of a
portion of an alternate embodiment of tle refrigeration
system of the present invention wherein a thermoelectric
cooling element may be used~
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
~5 Cabinetry Construction and General Component ~rrangelnent
The cabinetry construction and the general arrangement
of the components of the post--mix beverage dispenser unit
of the presellt invent;on are illustrated in Figures 1 to
9. Re~errillg to rletail to these FicJures, there is
ill~lstrated the post-mix beverage unit of the present
;nvention generally rlesignated lO, including a rnain cabinet
portion 12 having front, back, side, top and bottom ~1alls
l:l9B3~5
disposed at rignt angles to each other to provide a
generally cubicle shape. A front access panel 14 is
slidably mounted on the main cabinet portion 12 in suitable
tracks to provide selective access to a water entrance
chute EC and a syrup supply compartment 34. The front
access panel 14 is so configured that it forms a flush
corner of the final cabinet design in its closed position.
That is, removable panel 14 has major surfaces parallel to
the top, front and left side of the main cabinet portion 12
~0 so that it wraps around and defines a corner oE the overall
cabinet surface of the unit in the closed position. As
best illustrated in Figure 7 and Figure 10 in perspective,
the front panel 14 is provided with an extension surface in
the plane of the top wall of the main cabinet 12 which
covers water entrance chute FC in the closed position and
may be selectively removed to uncover the entrance chute EC
in an open position. In this position illustrated in
Figure 7, the water reservoir WR illustrated in Figure S
can be manuaLly filled with water from a pitcher by pouring
water into entrance chute EC. ~owever, it is advantageous
to close off entrance chute EC from the atmosphere when
water is not being introduced into the unit for sanitary
reasons.
A top access panel 16 is provided to cover both the
water reservoir WR and carbonator compartment 38 juxtaposed
near the back wall of the main cabinet portion 12. This
access panel 16 is rectangular in shape and merely lifts
oEf from the top of the unit by releasing latch members 16A
~hen access to the ~ater reser~oir WR and carbonator
compartment 38 is desired. As ill~strated in Figure 10,
the top access panel 16 has an agitator blade AG depending
therefrom coupled to an agitator motor secured with access
panel 16 having a cornplirnentary shape to the carbonator
compartmellt 38 to thereby seal and insulate the carbonator
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compartment 38 when the rear access panel 16 is secured to
the top of the cabinet 12.
The back of the main cabinet 12 is provided with a
removable access panel 30 which substantially covers the
entire rear wall of the cabinet 12 and has attached thereto
a conventional refrigeration condenser 32 for the
mechanical refrigeration system of the present invention.
R~moval of this rear access panel 30 and condenser 3~
provides ready access to the water pump and refrigeration
components of the present invention which will be described
in more detail hereinafter with reference to Figure 6.
An additional access panel 46 is provided in the lower
right-hand corner of the dispenser unit of the present
invention, as viewed in Figures 1 and 9. In the closed
position, panel 46 comprises the lower right-hand corner of
the dispenser unit cabinet and is hinged at its back edge
to, in effect, form a door which provides access to a C02
COTnpartment 40 for containing a C02 cyllnder 42 and a
C2 regulator valve assembly 44. That is, access panel
46 has a right angle configuration whicll conforms to the
shape of the lower right-hand corner of the dispenser
cabinet to close the C02 supply compartment which is a
cut-out in one corner of cabinet 12.
The unique combination of the access panels 14~ 16 and
46 Eac~litates rapid set-up of the post-mi~ beverage system
of the present invention and easy access for repair~ With
respect to set-up of the system, this may be achieved in
the following manner. Front access panel l4 may be slid to
a fully opened position, as illustrated in Fiyure 8, and
suitable syrup containers SP may be inverted, directing
the;r discharge ends downwardly and plugged into sockets 36
(Figure 5). Water may then be manually poured from a
pitcher into ~ater entrance chute EC whereby it flows down
the chute into wate-r reservoir WR. Front access panel 14
rnay then be closed to the fully closed position illustrated
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in Figure 1. In the event that the dispenser unit had an
adequate supply of syrup and only water need be added, the
access panel 14 could be slid to the partially open
position of Figure 7, whereby only water entrance chute EC
were exposed and water added as described above. The CO2
cylinder 42 illustrated in Figure 9 may then be added by
inverting the CO2 cylinder to direct the discharge
opening downwardly and plugging the same in-to a socket
provided on the top surface of CO2 regulator valve
assembly 44. Thus, it can be seen that the necessary
~ngxedients to be supplied to the post-mix peverage
dispenser can be supplied in a rapid and efficient manner
without cumbersome connections by virtue of the unique
cabinetry design of the present invention and the plug-in
nature of both the syrup packages SP and CO2 cylinder 42
of the present invention.
In further reference to the plug-in nature of the
syrup packages SP and the CO2 supply cylinder 42, the
specific structure of the valve assemblies and associated
containers to be used with the dispenser unit of the
present invention are described in prior co-pending ~
applications assigned to the same assignee as the present
invention. For example, the specific dispensing valve
assembly 18 and mixing nozzles 20 contemplated for use with
the present invention is described in prior U.S. Patent
No. 4,306,667, issued 22 December, 1981 to Jason K. Sedam
and William R. Fuerst. The specific socket for use in
combination with the valve assembly 18 contemplated for
use with the present invention is described in U.S.
Patent No. 4,476,019, issued 17 January 1984, to Jason
K. Sedam. The specific CO2 cylinder construction to be
used for cylinder 42 and the associated CO2 regulator valve
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socket and assembly to be used with the dispenser unit of
the present invention is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,357,284
issued 2 November 1982 and naming JuK. Sedam.
The preferred embodiments of the syrup packages SP to
he utilized with the present invention are described in
U.S. Patent 4,216,885 to Jason K. Sedam, issued August 12,
1980, and the particular shape of the package is disclosed
in U.S. design patent D273768, issued 8 May 1984 to ~ason
K. Sedam and Simon J. Richter. ~s disclosed in the prior
Sedam Patent 4,216,885, the syrup package SP is provided
with a flow control tube therein which is vented to the
atmosphere through the bottom of the container after the
container is plugged into socket 36. Containers SP are
also provided with frangible seals or membranes over the
discharge openings thereof and are punctured by a knife
or cutting means of the type described in the U.S. Patent
4~426,019 mentioned above.
The CO2 cylinder 42 to be used with the dispenser
unit of the present inv~ntion is of the type described in
the aforementioned Sedam U.S. Patent 4,357,284, which has
a dip tube therein to facilitate the dispensing of CO2 -.
gas from the container in an inverted position such as
that which occurs when ~he discharge end is plugged into
a socket in the top of C02 regulator valve assembly 44.
Referring in further detail to Figures 5 and 9, it can
be seen that the cabinetry construction of the present
invention includes three component compartments accessible
through the top wall of the cabinet, including the syrup
compartment, water compartment and carbonator compartment
and a CO2 supply compartment 40 (Figure 9) formed as a
cut-out in the lower right-hand front corner of the
dispenser cabinet. An additional compartment is prGvided
~:~.9~ S
in the bottom rear of the cabinet, as illustrated in
Figure 6, to house the components of the refrigeration
system to be described hereinaEter.
The main cabinet portion 12, as well as the various
access panels in a preferred emboAiment are made of
injection molded plastic. Insulation may be provided
within the llnit and the access panels to increase the
cooling efficiency. The injection molded plastic cabinet
rnay be hot-stamped or otherwise decorated with suitable
identifying logos, if desired.
The cabinet of the present invent;on is also provided
with a conventional form of drip tray 20 disposed in an
open recess below the syrup compartment and mixing nozzles
22. The cabinet also is provided with a single vertically
adjustable front foot 26 centrally disposed under the front
edge of the cabinet and a rear support bracket or leg 2fl
which extends along the entir2 back edge of the cabinet.
This support arrangement facilitates adjustability and
stability of the cabinet of the present invention.
As will be described in more detail hereinafter, a
V-shaped cooling bracket 48 may be provided in the syr~p
su~ply compartrnent 34 as illustrated in Figure 8. This
beacket rnay be formed of any good heat conductor, and it
wraps arollnd the three syrup packages SP. As will he
illustrated in more detail with reference to Figure 11, a
portion of the evaporator coil C disposed within the water
reservoir WR may pa~ss behind and in direct contact with
cooling bracket 4~ to assist in the cooling of the syrup
witllin syrup packages SP.
The arrangement of the components of the mechanical
refrigeration system of a preferred embodiment of the
present inventioll and other mechanical components not
dcscribed hereinabove is illustrated in Figure 6. The
compressor of the re~riyeration system is indicated as CP
and is d;sposed directly below the carbonator compartMerlt
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of the di.spenser unit of the present invention. A
circulating fan F is also provided and disposed directly
below the water reservoir WR for exhausting hot air from
the dispenser cabinet. The evaporator of the refrigeration
system is not illustrated in Figure 6, but can be viewed in
the top plan view of Figure 5 as being in the bottorn o~ the
~ater reservoir WR. A water pump WP is disposed in the
cabinet just below the fan F The water pumpl as will
become more fully apparent hereinafter with respect to
Figure 11, is provided to pump water from the water
reservoir WR into the carbonator tank CT on demand. The
electrical controls for operating the dispensing system of
the present invention are housed in a box CB just above the
fan F, as illustrated in Figure 6.
Water Supply, Carbonation and Refrigeration Systems
The water supply, carbonation and refrigeration
systems of the present invention are illustrated in the
schematic diagram of Figure 11. The water reservoir WR is
connected to the carbonator tank CT through the water pump
~P to pump water on demand from the reservoir to the
carbonator tank uncler the supervision of a plurality of
~robes IP, MP and CO and suitable electrical controls
witilin box CB. That is, when power is turned on~ pump WP
wil.l rlormally pump t~ater from reservoir WR into carbonator
~5 tank CT. Ilowever, if the water level falls below the
rninlmurn level of probe MP, the electrical circuitry
provided within control box CB will turn pump WP off and
inclicator light 58 on, which signals the need to refill the
water reservoir WR.
Probes IP in water reservoir tank WR and carbonator
tallk CT sense the build-up oE ice on the ~Jalls the~reof, and
when it exceeds a precletermined thickness whereby it covers
probes IP, compressor CP is turned off via control box CB
9~
and control Line 64. Probes CO in water reservoir tank WR
and carbonator tank CT are merely the common or yround
connections for the circuitry of both probes IP and MP.
Carbonator tank CT also has an additional pair of
probes 66 and 68 to initiate or terminate the operation of
water pump WP, depending on the level oE water present in
carbonator tank CT. That is, when the water level drops
below probe 66, pump WP turns on to fill the carbonator
tank, and when it reaches a maximum level at the position
0 of probe 68, a signal ;s generated in the control circuitry
within box CB via line 50 to turn the water pump WP off.
Th~s, the respective probes in the water reservoir WR and
carbonator tank CT are all connected through the electrical
control circuitry in control box CB to either turn the
water pump WP on and off, or the refrigeration compressor
CP via llne 64~
With water present in carbonator tank CT, it operates
in a conventional manner by mixing water Erom line 52 and
C2 gas frc,m line 56 within the tank C~ and dispensinc3
carbonated water through outlet line 54 to the dispenser
valve assembly 18 ~Yherein it is mixed with syrup from the
syrup packages SP.
As further illustrated in Figure 11, the mechanical
refric]eration system includes a compressor CP, an
evaporatoc C, and a conc]enser 32 connected in a closed
refrigeration loop. The evaporator C is disposed in
contilct with the water reservoir WR to directly chill the
water to be pulnped to the carbonator. ~s ;llustrated, a
portion of the evaporator C, namely portion 60, wraps
aroulld the carbonator tank CT to cool the sarne~ In
addition, another portion 62 of evaporator C may pass
clirectly behind and in direct contact with cooling bracket
~l8 which surrounds sycup packages SP on three sides to cool
the contents of those packages. Thus, the mechan;cal
refrigeration systeln of the present invention may be in
heat transfer relationship with all of the essential
components of the post-mix beverage to be dispensed prioc
to the mixing of those cornponents within mixing nozzles
22. This assures that a post-mix beverage is dispensed at
a controllable and suitable temperature into cups or
containers resting on drip tray 20.
In an alternative ernbodiment, the heat transfer
relationship achieved by the refrigeration system of
Fiqure 11 and~ more specifically, the portions 60 and 62 of
L0 the evaporator coil C in conjunction with the heat transEer
bracket ~8, may be accomplished by use of a thermoelectr;c
cooling system in combination with a specially designed
cold plate therefor which makes a similar type of contact
with the carbonator tank and syrup packages. This
embodiment of a thermoelectric refrigeration system is
illustrated in Figures 12A and 12s.
Referring to Figure 12A, there is generally
illustra~ed a thermoelectric module 72, having associated
therewith a cold plate 76. Cold plate 76 is so configured
that it wraps around water reservoir WR and the syrup
supply compartment which houses syrup pack,ages SP. Thus,
both the water reservoir WR and the syrup packages SP are
c]irectly cooled by the cold plate 76. Also illustrated in
L'igure 12A i5 a heat sink 70 on the bottom of the
therlnoelectric moclule 72 and an associated fan 74 for
removir)g heat from a dispenser cablnet.
Rcferring to Figur~ 12~, there is illustrated a
carl)ollator tank c~r, which is also juxtaposed to water
reservoir WR and in direct contact with a portion of cold
plate 76. Thus, carbonator tank CI' is also in a heat
transEerring relationship with cold plate 76 and is
directly cooled thel-eby. Accordingly, the dispenser unit
has three juxtaposed compartlnerlts housing the water
reservoir, syrup packages and carbonator tank,
respectively, which are all in direct heat transfer
i ' ~IL 11 9~33~ `
relationship with cold plate 76. Thus, as in the
mechanical rerigeration system of the present invention,
the water reservoir, carbonator t~nk and syrup packages are
all directly cooled by the refrigeration system to provide
a suitably chilled post-mix beverage.
It should be understood that a preferred embodiment of
the dispenser cabinetry and system components of the
beverage dispenser of the present invention have been
de~scribed herein, but that modifications may be made as
would occur to one of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
For example, the arrangement of the respective
rompartments of the cabinetry may be modified within the
spirit and scope of the present invention. The terminology
of front, back, side and bottom walls is used for
descriptive purposes of the preferred embodiment only to
define the relative locations of the component parts as
illustrated ln the drawinqs, it being recognized that the
cabinet may be rotated making the cabinet front and back
the sides and vice versa. In addition, the cabinet access
panels may be modified slightly within the spirit of the
present invention. For example, common panesl could be
used to cover adjacent component compartments to reduce the
number of panels.
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