Fluid dispenser for reconstituting beverages and the like
First Claim
1. Apparatus for dispensing fluid into a material in a container for mixing with the contents thereof, comprising:
- a valve having input means for pressurized fluid and having output means,means comprising a punch and a nozzle, said nozzle having input means and having output means for projecting a stream of fluid in a predetermined path,flexible tubular means for coupling the output means of said valve with the input means of said nozzle,first means for advancing and retracting said punch and nozzle relative to a container,holder means for holding a container in a position for being entered by said punch and nozzle output means when said nozzle is advanced, said holder means comprising elements disposed on opposite sides of the line of travel of said punch and nozzle for receiving and engaging a part of said container between them and for holding said container at an angle relative to said predetermined path of said fluid for projected fluid to deflect from an inner surface of said container in the direction of another inner surface thereof to thereby produce a turbulent circulating motion in said fluid for enhancing mixing with the contents of the container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for reconstituting beverages by injecting fluid such as hot or cold water into a container having a granulated, powder or liquid food or beverage concentrate material therein comprises an electroresponsive valve coupled to a fluid supply, a combination nozzle and punch coupled to the valve outlet with a flexible tube, electroresponsive means for advancing the punch to penetrate the container and means for supporting the container so there will be an angle between the flow path of the fluid discharged from the nozzle and the axis or walls of the container during filling. Electric control circuitry is provided for timing the valve, punch and nozzle operations and for issuing a measured quantity of fluid to the container. Containers adapted for being easily penetrated by the punch, for sanitary sealing and for being engaged in a self-supporting state during filling are also provided.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. Apparatus for dispensing fluid into a material in a container for mixing with the contents thereof, comprising:
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a valve having input means for pressurized fluid and having output means, means comprising a punch and a nozzle, said nozzle having input means and having output means for projecting a stream of fluid in a predetermined path, flexible tubular means for coupling the output means of said valve with the input means of said nozzle, first means for advancing and retracting said punch and nozzle relative to a container, holder means for holding a container in a position for being entered by said punch and nozzle output means when said nozzle is advanced, said holder means comprising elements disposed on opposite sides of the line of travel of said punch and nozzle for receiving and engaging a part of said container between them and for holding said container at an angle relative to said predetermined path of said fluid for projected fluid to deflect from an inner surface of said container in the direction of another inner surface thereof to thereby produce a turbulent circulating motion in said fluid for enhancing mixing with the contents of the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for dispensing fluid into a container for mixing with the contents thereof where the container has generally longitudinally extending side wall means and a bottom generally transverse to said wall means, comprising:
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valve means having input means for pressurized fluid and having output means, an electroresponsive valve operator means operatively coupled with said valve means for opening and closing said valve means in response to energization and deenergization, respectively, combination punch and nozzle means having fluid input means coupled with the output means of said valve means, electroresponsive operator means operatively coupled with said combination means for advancing and retracting the same along a substantially vertical line in response to energization and deenergization, respectively, said nozzle being constructed and arranged for projecting fluid in a substantially vertical path when said valve is open, holder means for supporting a fillable container in a position for being intersected by said vertical path, said holder means including means for engaging and holding said container so its said side wall is at an angle with respect to said vertical line such that fluid projected by said nozzle when it is advanced will deflect from said wall and have circulatory motion imparted to it for enhancing mixing with the contents of said container. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for dispensing fluid into a container having a cover which has a deformable upstanding element that has a predetermined width, said apparatus comprising:
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a nozzle for delivery said fluid to a container, means for reciprocating said nozzle axially in a path between a retracted inactive position and an advanced fluid delivery position, first and second runners disposed, respectively, on opposite sides of said path and generally transverse to said path, said runners each having an edge that is presented toward the other and is separated from the other by a distance which is slightly less than the width of said deformable element so said runner edges will deform said element and thereby grip said container when said element is inserted between said runners. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. For use with apparatus for dispensing fluid into a cup, said apparatus comprising nozzle and punch means and means for reciprocating said nozzle and punch means in a predetermined path between a retracted inactive position and an advanced position for said nozzle to admit fluid into said cup, valve means operable to supply fluid to said nozzle, and spaced apart runners disposed generally transversely to the path of said nozzle and punch means on respectively opposed sides thereof:
cover means for said cup, said cover means having a top surface and protuberance extending from said surface, said protuberance being compressible and sufficiently wide for being engaged compressively by said opposed runners when said protuberance is inserted between said runners to thereby secure said cup in a position for said cover to be perforated by and for said fluid to be admitted to said cup by said nozzle and punch means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. For use with apparatus for dispensing fluid into a cup, said apparatus comprising nozzle and punch means and means for reciprocating said nozzle and punch means in a predetermined path between a retracted inactive position and an advanced position for said nozzle to admit fluid into said cup, valve means operable to supply fluid to said nozzle, and spaced apart runners disposed generally transversely to the path of said nozzle and punch means on respectively opposed sides thereof:
cover means for said cup comprising a thin first sheet of plastic material for extending over the top opening of said cup and having a margin for engaging at the rim of said cup, a hollow protuberance formed integrally from said sheet material cover for protruding away from the interior of said cup, said sheet material being thin enough for said protuberance to be yieldable and wide enough to be subject to compressive engagement by said runners when inserted between said runners for positioning said cup to be penetrated by said nozzle and punch means. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. For use with apparatus for dispensing fluid into a cup, said apparatus comprising nozzle and punch means and means for reciprocating said nozzle and punch means in a predetermined path between a retracted inactive position and an advanced position for said nozzle to admit fluid into said cup, valve means operable to supply fluid to said nozzle and spaced apart runners disposed generally transversely to the path of said nozzle and punch means on respectively opposed sides thereof:
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cover means for said cup comprising a first sheet material overlaying a second sheet material, said second sheet material having a margin which is sealingly engageable with the rim of said cup and said first sheet material having a margin which is engageable with the margin of said first sheet material, said second sheet material having a resilient upstanding ridge means protruding from it on a side opposite of said first sheet material, said ridge means being sized for being received between said runners to be compressively engaged thereby for securing said cup in a position to be filled. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification