LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 3,695,314 A
• Filed: 07/22/1970
• Issued: 10/03/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George A. Bartlett, Woodrow H. Watts
• Original Assignee: George A. Bartlett, Woodrow H. Watts
• Inventors: Watts, Woodrow H., Bartlett, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coleman, Samuel F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bartuska, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/057,228
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 222/2,129.1,129.2,129.3,129.4,1,144.5,166 141/59,361
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0051 for mixing outside the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0081 Dispensing valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds

Abstract

A new and improved liquid dispensing apparatus and method wherein a plurality of various liquids, such as for example, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, each stored in separate containing means, are selectively chosen and permitted to flow or be drawn from the containing means into a glass or other receptacle in response to predetermined flow regulation imposed by a dispensing control apparatus to form desired combinations and mixes of the liquids.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus for forming pre-selected mixes and combinations of beverages or liquids by permitting selected ingredients to pass into a suitable receptacle, comprising:

a. conduit means for separately conveying each of the ingredients for selection and mixing;

b. beverage or liquid dispensing control means having dispensing apertures one of each of which communicate with one of each of said conduit means for selectively permitting the pre-selected ingredients to pass from said respective dispensing apertures into the receptacle, and for blocking passage of undesired ingredients at said respective dispensing apertures, comprising a beverage dispensing control member including pre-selected indicia for enabling preselected ingredients to pass into the receptacle;

c. movable holding means for receiving said dispensing control member wherein said member selectively blocks pre-selected apertures and permits flow of ingredients through pre-selected apertures into the receptacle; and

d. means for initiating relative movement of the ingredients from said conduit means into the receptacle said dispensing control means enabling the selected ingredients to pass through pre-selected apertures into the receptacle.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said means for initiating relative movement comprises:

means for forming a pressure differential between said containers and said dispensing apertures through said conduits and for moving the preselected ingredients into the receptacle.

3. means permitting movement of said containing means between said first position and said second position.

4. The structure of claim 2, further including:

containing means integrally mounted with said conduit means and said dispensing control means, said containing means including individual segregated compartments for each of the ingredients.

5. The structure of claim 4, further including:

a. inlet means integrally formed with said containing means for the ingredients; and

b. pressurization inlet means integrally formed with said containing means.

6. The structure of claim 1, further including:

a. means for electrically sensing the indicia on the dispensing control member; and

b. means responsive to said electrical sensing means for opening selected dispensing apertures in accordance with said indicia.

7. The structure of claim 1, further including hydraulically actuated means for sensing the indicia on the dispensing control member and for opening selected dispensing apertures in accordance with said indicia.

8. The structure of claim 1, further including pneumatically actuated means for sensing the indicia on the dispensing control member and for opening selected dispensing apertures in accordance with said indicia.

9. The structure of claim 1, further including:

mechanically actuated means for sensing the indicia on the dispensing control member and for opening selected dispensing apertures in accordance with said indicia.

10. The structure of claim 1, further including:

a plurality of beverage dispensing control members, each member bearing distinguishing indicia corresponding to the particular ingredients of the desired mixtures such member represents.

11. The structure of claim 1, further including:

a. means responsive to positioning of the receptacle adjacent said apertures for actuating said movement initiating means;

b. said movement initiating means comprising means for forming a pressure differential in the receptacle relative to the container; and

c. movable holding means responsive to the pressure differential for positioning said dispensing control member adjacent said dispensing apertures wherein the difference in pressure draws the preselected ingredients from said conduit means through said apertures into the receptacle.

12. A dispensing control means for controlling a beverage dispensing apparatus wherein pre-selected alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or other liquids are moved through individual dispensing apertures into a receptacle to form desired mixes and combinations, comprising:

a. control indicator means corresponding to a predetermined desired combination of ingredients to be mixed by the apparatus for controlling the dispensing control means comprising a plurality of indicator means located on said mounting means in alignment with selected dispensing apertures of the apparatus when said mounting means is adjacent thereto, said plurality of indicator means comprising openings through said mounting means to permit passage of the pre-selected ingredient through the dispensing apertures into the receptacle; and

b. mounting means for said control indicator means.

13. The structure of claim 12, further including identification means mounted with and designating the predetermined combination of ingredients corresponding to the indicator means, said identification means designating the proper position of said mounting means relative to the dispensing apparatus.

14. The structure of claim 12, wherein said control indicator means comprises:

a plurality of indicator means located on said mounting means in alignment with selected dispensing apertures of the apparatus when said mounting means is adjacent thereto, said plurality of indicator means comprising openings of preselected dimensions and taper through said mounting means to permit passage through the dispensing apertures of desired proportions of the preselected ingredients into the receptacle.

15. A method of forming pre-selected mixes and combinations of liquids or beverages by selectively passing selected ingredients of beverages or liquids through dispensing apertures into a suitable receptacle, comprising the steps of:

a. initiating relative movement, in response to positioning the receptacle adjacent the dispensing apertures, of the ingredients from their respective containers by forming a pressure differential in the receptacle relative to the containers;

b. separately conveying each of the ingredients from their respective containers to individual dispensing apertures for selection and mixing;

c. selectively permitting pre-selected ingredients to pass from the respective dispensing apertures, in response to control from a dispensing control member, into the receptacle to form the pre-selected mix;

d. holding the dispensing control member adjacent the dispensing apertures responsive to the pressure differential; and

e. simultaneously blocking passage of the undesired ingredients at their respective dispensing apertures to prevent undesired ingredients from passing into the pre-selected mix.

16. The method of claim 15, including the step of positioning the dispensing control member, containing preselected indicia corresponding to preselected ingredients of the desired mixture, adjacent the dispensing apertures, to selectively permit passage of the desired ingredients into the receptacle and block simultaneously the passage of undesired ingredients.

17. The method of claim 16, including the steps of:

a. electrically sensing the preselected indicia on the dispensing control means; and

b. opening selected dispensing apertures in acoordance with the results of said electrical sensing step, to permit passage Of the preselected ingredients into the receptacle.

18. The method of claim 16, including the steps of:

a. hydraulically actuating a sensor of the preselected indicia on the dispensing control means;

b. sensing the preselected indicia; and

c. opening selected dispensing apertures in accordance with the results of said sensing step to permit passage of the preselected ingredients into the receptacle.

19. The method of claim 16, including the steps of:

a. pneumatically actuating a sensor of the preselected indicia on the dispensing control means;

b. sensing the preselected indicia; and

c. opening selected dispensing apertures in accordance with the results of said sensing step to permit passage of the preselected ingredients into the receptacle.

20. The method of claim 16, including the steps of:

a. mechanically actuating a sensor of the preselected indicia on the dispensing control means;

b. sensing the preselected indicia; and

c. opening selected dispensing apertures in accordance with the results of said sensing step to permit passage of the preselected ingredients into the receptacle.

21. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said step of positioning a dispensing control means having preselected indicia includes the step of:

a. choosing a member having selected dispensing openings therein; and

b. matching the selected dispensing openings with the selected dispensing apertures to permit passage of the preselected ingredients into the receptacle.

22. A dispensing apparatus for forming pre-selected mixes and combinations of beverages or liquids by permitting selected ingredients to pass into a suitable receptacle, comprising:

a. conduit means for separately conveying each of the ingredients for selection and mixing;

b. beverage or liquid dispensing control means having dispensing apertures one of each of which communicates with one of each of said conduit means for selectively permitting the pre-selected ingredients to pass from said respective dispensing apertures into the receptacle, and for blocking passage of undesired ingredients at said respective dispensing apertures;

c. containing means integrally mounted with said conduit means and said dispensing control means, and maintaining each of the ingredients in individual segregated compartments; and

d. means for initiating relative movement of the ingredients from said conduit means into the receptacle said dispensing control means enabling the selected ingredients to pass through pre-selected apertures into the receptacle, comprising;