Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF ~HE INVENTION
Field of tfie Invention
The present invention relates to a system for stock
rotation of liquids, such as soft drink syrups, contained in
collapsible bag-type reservoirs or replaceable packages. More
specifically, t~e present invention relates to an improved auto-
matic change-over valve for automatically switching between a
primary supply reservoir and a secondary supply reservoir in
response to an empty condition of the primary reservoir.
Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore the stock rotation or changing of liquid bag
packages such as milk, soft drink syrups or chemicals, has been
accompl;~shed by manual methods. When the contents of a package
are exhausted, the pump system was not supplied with liquid
until the packages could be manually changed. This caused un-
avoidable, unexpected and inconvenient delays in the dispensing
operation. To provide for larger reserves many prior art
systems connected packages in a parallel arrangement. However,
this parallel arrangement does not provide for the necessary
stock rotation required by many perishable food items such as
milk and soft drink syrups. By contrast, conventional rigid
type sealed packages have inlet and outlet openings and are
often connected in series. However, this system also does not
provide for a complete rotation of the liquid products since
mixing occurs. Furthermore, if bag packages according to the
present invention were connected in series, they would not pro-
vide for reserve capacity but only a large initial capacity,
since the bag packages would collapse equally unless assisted
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by gravity~or otfier external means.
Automatic change~over devices for non-viscous liquids
disposed in open or vented rigid containers are known in the
prior art. However, tfiese devices are not satisfactory for
automat~c stock
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rotation of viscous liquids contained in flexible bag packages.
Furthermore, many liquids tend to crystalize when exposed to air
in open systems, this further complicates container rotation. Bag
packages, according to the present invention, overcome the defi-
ciencies of the prior art containers by providing a sealed and
closed system to air and other outside contaminates.
For example, an automatic change-over system for gas con^
tained in a primary and secondary bank of storage tanks is dis-
clo.sed in U.S. Patent No. 2,968,162 to Acomb issued January 17,
1961. The Acomb system effects a change-over from one ~roup of
supply tanks to another in response to pressure changes caused by
an empty condition of the tanks being dispensed. However, the
Acomb system does not possess the necessary sensitivity to auto-
matically dispense more viscous liquids, such as syrups, in a fast
and reliable manner.
Another similar type of automatic change-over system is
disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,825,027 to Henderson. In the
Henderson system, the change-over sensitivity is enhanced by the
provision of ball float valves 34, 36 in the respective primary
and secondary supply circuits. The Henderson system works very
well for dispensing liquid fuels of low viscosity, this being the
purpose for which it was designed. However, the float valves tend
to stick due to sugar build-up when the liquid being dispensed is
s a viscous liquid such as soft drink syrups.
Another automatic change-over device for a liquid dispensin
system is disclosed by Harvill, U.S. Patent No. 4,014,461 and
assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Harvill
discloses an automatic change-over system for stock rotation of a
liquid product packaged in collapsible bag-type reservoirs. Ilow-
ever, the automatic change-over valve employed in the system dis-
closed by ~larvill is rather complicated and extremely bulky.
113Z880
SUM;~I~RY OF Tl-l~ IVE.rJTIO~J
~ ccordinqly, i.t is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a device whereby two separate systems of single or
multiple packages may be rotated automatically as the product con-
tained therein is dispensed, allowing for package changes to be
made when time is availahle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
automatie change-over deviee having the nece9sary sensitivity for,
dispensing viscous liquids such as syrup.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an automa-ic change-over device suitable for dispensing liquic~s
disposed in rlexible bag reservoirs.
A still '~rther object of the present invention is to pro-
vide a.relat~vely simple, uncorplicated automatic change-over
valve for sel~ctively switching between primary and secondary
~roups of ~ y~e reservoirs in response to a vacuum created by
he em~t.- cor.~ition in the bags of the primary group.
The c~jee_s of the present invention are fulfilled in part
~y virtue o. the inventor's discovery that a relatively sir~ple,
uncomplieated automatie ehange-over valve may be employed together
with a plurality of eollapsible bag-type.paeka~es. The automatic;
ehange-over valve is eonneeted to a dispensin~ pump and to a
primary group of flexible bag paekages and a secondary c3roup of
flexible bag paclcages. The automatic eha~nge-over valve eonnects !
the dispensing pump initially to the primary group of flexible
bag packages to deflate the flexihle baas while dispensing the
product eontained therein. After t~ie product contained within
the primary group of flexible hac3s is dispensed, a sinc31e cllec~
valve which ineludes a sprinc3 biased member is opened in response
to a pressure differential on the opposite side thereof. There-
after, ].iquid prod.ucts positionecl ~/ithin the seeondary flexiblebag packac~es wi.ll be dispensed from the system tllrough the auto~
matie change-over vAlve. Subsequently, the automatic change-over
valve may he mAnually rotated so as to provicle a~ nob.structed
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flo~ path between the seco~dary group of flexible bag packages
,and the dispensing pump. In this position, the primary group
of flexible bag packages may be disconnected from the automatic
change-over valve and replaced with full, fresh, flexible bag
packages.
These and other objects will become apparent from the detailed
description given hereinbelow. However, it should be understood
jthat the detailed description and specific examples, while indica-
ting preferred embodiments of the inventior, are given by way of
illustration only, since various changes and modifications within
the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those
skille~ in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
The present invention will beco~e more fully understoo~ from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus
are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein;
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the dispensing
system of the present invention with both the primary and secon-
dary supply circuits in a full condition;
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the system of Figure 1
illustrating the primary supply circuit in an e~pty condition and
the secondary circuit in a full condition; and
Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the -
auto~atic change-over valve according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional top view of the automatic
change-over valve which shows that orientation of ports relative
~;to each other does not have to be 90.
DETAIL~D DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED E~I~ODIMENT~
Referring in detail to Figure 1, there is illustrated a pri-
mary supply reservoir of flexible bag packages generally designated
circuit A. A similar set of bag packages comprise a secondary
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supply reservoir and are generally designated circuit B. In the
condition shown, these packages are both full prior to the commence
ment of the dispensing operation.
Each of the bag packages include flexible bags 12 disposed
within outer rigid boxes 14 of types that are well known in the art
for containing milk, syrup or liquid chemicals of a similar nature.
The bag packages from primary circuit A or secondary circuit
B, during a dispensin~ cycle, are selectively connected to a pump
¦P at outlet 0 through an automatic change-over valve generally
indicated by character 10. The primary curcuit A is connected to
an inlet IA of the automatic change-over valve 10 and secondary
circuit B is connected to an inlet IB of the automatic change-over
valve 10.
Change-over valve 10 includes three ports 15, 16 and 17. Th~
ort 15 provides a connection opening for attaching the circuit A.
rhe port 17 provides a connection opening for attaching the circuit
B. The port 16 provides a connection opening to attach the pump P.
The change-over valve 10 includes three conduits 15A, 16A
and 17A which connect the ports, 15, 16 and 17, respectively, to
rotary spool SP. The rotary spool SP is centrally disposed in th~
hange-over valve 10 and is designed to permit an unobstructed path
etween two of the conduits. The rotary spool SP includes a spring
iased valve member CA which include a ball 20 and a spring 22. It
hould be noted, that an equivalent check valve, such as, an
mbrella check, a duckbill check, or numerous other types of check
alves could be employed in place of the check valve CA without
eparting from the spirit or intent of the present invention.
Referring in detail to Figure Z, there is illustrated the
dentical system to Figure 1, with the exception that the bags 12
n the primary circuit-A are in an empty state and are therefore
eflated. As further illustrated in Figure 2, the deflation of bags
2 in the primary circuit A causes a significant pressure drop or
acuum in the lateral conduit 15 and the condùit 16 w}lich causes the
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ball 2Q of tfie check valve CA to open. Upon opening of the
check valve CA a flow o~ l~quid product from the secondary
circuit B is ~nit;~ated via the inlet IB, the conduit 17A, the
conduit 16A to the pump P. In this manner, as will be further
described hereinafter, an automatic change-over from the primary
circuit A to the secondary circuit B is effected.
Upon automatically changing from the primary circuit _ to the secondary
circ~lit B, the secondary circuit B then ~ecomes the primary circuit and the
primary circuit A then b~x~e the secondary circuit. Once this automatic
change-over has stabilized, the rotary spool valve SP is rotated for con-
necting the lateral conduit 17A to the central conduit 16A. me rotation of
the rot~ry spool valve SP can be effected manually and is rotated through 180.
After the rotary spool valve SP is rotated 180 so as
to provide an unobstructed path between the lateral conduit
17A and the central conduit 16A, the ball 20 is positioned ad-
jacent to the lateral conduit 15A to obstruct ~he path between
the lateral conduit 15A and the other two conduits 16A and 17A.
While in this condition, the bag packages of what was the pri-
mary circuit A can be refilled without having any detrimental
effects on the dispensing cycle in progress.
The details of the assembly of the mechanical com-
ponents of a preferred embodiment of the automatic change-over
valve 10 of Figures 1 and 2 is illustrated in detail in Figure
3. As illustrated, the valve includes a common block or housing
containing the necessary internal bores or conduits 15A, 16A
and 17A. The internal conduits provide a selective connection
to either the inlet IA from circuit A or the inlet IB from
c~rcuit B to the outlet O connected to a dispensing pump P.
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D~sposed w~thin a transverse passage or bore is a
rotar~ spool ~alve SP whtch may be rotated to selective dis-
pensing positions fiy the knob K. The rotary spool valve SP is
positioned within t~e transverse bore in a sealed condition by
means of O-rings 24, 26 disposed adjacent to the upper and lower
portions of the spool valve. In addition, a spring clip 28
retains the spool valve SP in the valve assembly so as to pro-
perly al~gn the conduits 15A, 16A and 17A with the openings in
the spool valve SP.
As illustrated in Figure 3, the check valve CA is dis-
posed in a horizontal bore or passage in substantial alignment
With the conduits 15A and 17A. In this position, liquid product
positioned within the circuit A may be pumped therefrom through
the spool valve SP and the outlet O to the pump P. As mentioned
hereinabove, after the liquid product positioned within the
circu~t A is exhausted, the pressure created within the system
will bias the ~all 20 to the right thereby opening the conduit
17A for communication with the conduit 16A. In this manner,
the liquid product positioned within the circuit B is in com-
munication to ~e dispensed through the outlet O to the pump P.
DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION
One can readily understand the operation of the auto-
matic change-over valve in the system of the present invention
with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1, both the pri-
mary circuit A and the secondary circuit B are full. In this
condition, the dispensing pump P easily removes liquid from the
primary circuit A through the rotary spool valve SP in the posi-
tion shown, since there is no major obstruction or pressure
working in opposition to the pump P. Also, in this position it
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can fie ~ead~ly observed that the secondar~ circuit B is ob~
structed fiy t~e closed check valve CA. The pump P will continue
to operate only from the pr~mary circuit A until all of the
liquid product is exhausted.
Referring to Figure 2, when the flexible bags 12 of the
primary circuit A are collapsed, the pump P in conjunction with
the collapsed state of bags 12 creates a substantial pressure
decrease or vacuum within the rotary spool valve SP so as to
bias the ball 20 against the spring 22 in the check valve CA
opens, liquid from the bag packages in circuit B, which was
initially the secondary circuit, can be pumped through the out-
let o via the inlet IB, the conduit 17A, the rotary spool valve
SP, the conduit 16A to the outlet O and the pump P.
During routine stock inventory or inspection of the
bag packages, an attendant would become aware of the collapsed
or empty state of the bags 12 in what was the primary circuit
A. The rotary spool valve SP would then be rotated to change
the primary designation and logic to circuit B. Circuit B now
become the primary circuit and the rotary spool valve SP is
rotated to a psoition wherein the ball 20 is engaged in the
conduit 15A. The attendant can then remove the empty bag pack-
ages from the circuit A without affecting the operation ~f the
dispensing system in any way. New packages may be connected in
circu~t A when convenient and when connected become the secondary
-
supply of liquid to be dispensed.
Thereafter, when the packages of the circuit B become
empty and collapse into a deflated state, the check valve CA
will open in response to the vacuum created in the lateral
passage 17A. Thereafter, liquid product within the circuit _
will flow through the conduit 15A, the open check valve CA and
the rotary spool valve SP and through the conduit 16A to the
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outlet ~ and tfie pump P. The process may be repeated over and
oYer aga~n by sw~tcfitng the primary side with the rotary spool
valve SP and changing the respective bag packages in circuits
e Or ~.
:
.. . . . . . . . . . .
-~ I ` ~13'~10
I
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It should be understood, that the system described herein
may be modified as would occur to one with ordinary skill in the
art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
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