Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 308081
ORANGE JUICE DISPENSING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND_OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for reconstituting and
dispensing juice, and in a preferred embodiment thereof to an
orange juice dispensing system that controls the mixture ratio
and flow rate.
Descr ption of the Prior Art
Postmix orange j~ice dispensing systems are known; however,
such known systems do not provide a satisfactorily controlled
mixture ratio. For example, it is known to use constant pressure
on a concentrate reservoir to provide a constant flow rate.
However, the desired result is not achieved because orange juice
concentrate viscosity changes with the season, and with the types
of oranges picked, and also because pressure regulators vary
slightly which also varies the flow rate. It is also known to
use a peristaltic pump for the concentrate, however, it has been
found that such pumps are limited in the distance that they will
pull concentrate because of the viscosity of the concentrate. It
is also known to use gravity feed of concentrate from a reservoir
located above the dispensing valve, and to use an automatic flow
control refill system for the reservsir. However, such systems
occupy a large area of counter space, which is often not
acceptable.
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It is an object of an aspect of the present
invention to provide a system for reconstituting and
dispensing juice that solves the problems in the prior
art mentioned above.
It is an object of an aspect of the present
invention to provide a juice dispensing system using a
peristaltic pump for the concentrate with sensors for
detecting flow rate therethrough, a flow meter in the
water line, and a microcontroller for controlling one of
the concentrate or water flow to maintain the desired
mixture ratio.
It is an object of an aspect of the present
invention to provide such a juice dispensing system
using a d.c. motor controlling the pump, a mctorized
control valve in the water line, and a microcontroller
to control mixture ratio and flow rate.
It is an object of an aspect of the present
invention to provide a juice dispensing system in which
the juice is contained in a rigid, non-returnable
plastic container that is connected to the pump to
provide a gravity head and that is vented to atmosphere.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A system for reconstituting and dispensing juice,
and in a preferred embodiment thereof orange juice,
including a container for the juice concentrate, a
peristaltic pump to which the juice container is
connected to provide a gravity head for the peristaltic
pump, a d.c. motor for driving the peristaltic pump,
means for sensing the flow rate through the pump, a flow
meter in the water line for measuring the water flow
rate, a motorized control valve in the water line and a
microcontroller receiving the signals from the pump's
sensors and the flow meter for controlling the mixture
ratio and the flow rate by controlling the speed of the
d.c. motor and the motorized control valve. The
container is preferably a plastic, semi-rigid,
non-returnable bottle such as the well known PET soft
drink bottles. However, a reusable container can also
be used.
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Another aspect of this invention is as follows:
Apparatus for reconstituting and dispen~ing juice
comprising:
~ a) a pump having a variable speed drive motor
connected thereto and having an inlet port for receiving
juice concentrate;
(b) a mixing chamber for mixing water and
concentrate and for dispensing the mixture therefrom as
a beverage;
(c) a concentrate conduit extending from said pump
directly to said mixing chamber with no control valve or
flow meter therein;
(d) a water line connected to said mixing chamber
and a motorized, variable flow, control valve in said
water line;
(e) f:irst means for sensing the water flow rate
and second means for sensing the speed of the pump and
thus the concentrate flow rate; and
(f) a microcontroller for controlling the mixture
ratio of the beverage dispensed from said mixing
chamber, said microcontroller being connected to said
first and second sensing means for receiving signals
therefrom, to said motor for controlling the speed
thereof and therefore the concentrate flow rate through
said pump, and to said motorized, variable flow control
valve in said water line for controlling the water flow
therethrough.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood
from the detailed description below when read in
connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
the Fig. is a partly diagrammatic, partly schematic
illustration of a system for reconstituting and
dispensing orange juice in accordance with the present
invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TE~E PREFERRED EMBODIMEN:TS
The present invention will now be described in d~tail with
reference to the attached drawing wherein the Fig. shows a
dispensing system 10 wherein juice concentrate and water are fed
through a concentrate conduit 12 and a water line 14,
respectively, to a mixing chamher 16 having a nozzle 18 for
dispensing the resulting beverage into a cup 20.
The juice concentrate is preferably delivered to a
restaurant in a semi-rigid, non-returnable, plastic container 22
having a spout, fitting, opening or neck 24. The neck 24
connects to an inlet port 25 of a peristaltic pump 26. The
container 22 is vented to atmosphere (such as by an opening 21 in
the neck 24 large enough to admit air but not large enough to
allow liquid to flow therethrough) and is oriented (inverted) to
provide a gravity head for the peristaltic pump 26. A motor 28,
preferably a d.c. motor, is connected to and drives the
peristaltic pump 26. One or more sensors 30 detect the movement
of the pump's rollers (not shown). The period between the
sensing of the rollers is proportional to the concentrate flow
rate. The sensors 30 are connected to a microcontroller 32 which
includPs control electronics for sensing the period of the
peristaltic pump 26 and the concentrate flow rate.
A flow meter 40 is connected in the water line 14 for
measuring the water flow rate. Pulses from the flow meter are
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proportional to the water flow rate. The flow meter is connected
to the microcontroller 32 w~ich contains control electronics for
sensing the flow meter pulses.
. The microcontroller 32 compares the water flow meter pulses
and the peristaltic pump pulses. The peristaltic pump 26 is
driven by a d.c. motor 28 and the microcontroller 32 can vary the
speed of the peristaltic pump's d.c. motor. The control of the
peristaltic pump can thus provide the desired volumetric flow
rate of concentrate to maintain the desired mixture ratio.
In a preferred embodiment, the water line 14 also contains a
motorized control valve 42, operated for example, by a d.c.
stepping motor 43. The microcontroller 32 can control the
mixture ratio and ~low rate by controlling both the d.c. motor 28
and the motorized control valve 42. In addition, the water line
14 includes a solenoid controlled on-off valve 45 controlled by
the microcontroller 32. The on-off valve 45 is opened when a
lever arm 17 is actuated and the valve 45 is closed when the
juice dispensing is completed.
The actual reconstituting of the metered water and
concentrate is done in the mixing chamber 16 therein. The
resulting beverage is then dispensed through the nozzle 18 into a
cup 20. The reconstituting can use either a static or a dynamic
mixer.
It is also preferred to provide a digital display 44
connected to the microcontroller 32 which continuously displays
the mixture ratio being controlled by the microcontroller 32 so
that an operator can tell at a glance if the dispensing system 10
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is operating properly. If the display changes from a desired
ratio to an unacceptable ratio (for example, when the container
22 becomes empty), the operator can manually turn off~the system
10, or alternatively the microcontroller can include means for
automatically terminating further flow of water and concentrate.
In an alternative embodiment, the system 10 can include the
motorized control valve 42, but no d.c. motor 28 (some other
motor means can be used to drive the pump 26). The mixture ratio
is then controlled by controlling just the motorized control
valve 42.
While the preferred embodiment of this invention has been
described in detail, it is to be understood that variations and
modifications can be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the
appended claims. For example, while a particular co~centrate
container is described, others can be used. For example, a rigid
bottle can be used or a flexible bag-in-box can be used with
suitable coupling means, and for a rigid bottle, with suitable
vent means. Other means can be used for the flow meter, control
valve, gravity head and pump port than the particular ones shown.
