Exchangeable concentrate container for beverage dispensing machines

• US 4,334,640 A
• Filed: 10/14/1980
• Issued: 06/15/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douwe Egberts Koninklijke Tabaksfabriek-Koffiebranderijen-Theehandel BV
• Original Assignee: Douwe Egberts Koninklijke Tabaksfabriek-Koffiebranderijen-Theehandel BV
• Inventors: Thijssen, Henricus A. C., van Beaumont, Richard A., van Overbruggen, Garardus J. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weidenfeld, Gil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverberg, Fred A.
• Application Number:
  US06/196,564
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 222/105, 222/107, 222/207, 222/209, 222/213, 222/214, 222/215, 222/354, 222/355, 222/373, 222/380, 222/494, 417/477, 417/394, 128/214 D, 128/214 F, 128/DIG. 12, 251/5, 251/6
• US Class Current: 222/207
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0079 having their own dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/086 using an auxiliary pressure to cooperate with the diaphragm or bellows
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/088 using a deformable conduit-like element
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/125 of the peristaltic pump type peristaltic pumps per se F04B43/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

Apparatus for dispensing a liquid beverage concentrate comprises a concente reservoir, a resilient dispensing tube having one end in communication with the reservoir via a non-return valve opening into the tube and having an opposite dispensing end provided with a non-return valve opening outwardly, and a pressure fluid device for squeezing a portion of the dispensing tube so as to force a quantity of concentrate through the dispensing end of the tube, the pressure fluid device including a deformable sleeve loosely fitting over the tube and separating the tube from the pressure fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and transporting coffee concentrate and dispensing increments of the concentrate comprising:

an exchangeable disposable dispensing unit including a reservoir containing coffee concentrate and having a rigid neck with an open end defining an outlet, means on the open end forming a first non-return valve, an inner collapsible tube disposed about said neck and forming with said reservoir an integral unit for receiving concentrate from said reservoir via said first non-return valve, said tube extending longitudinally and being of resiliency so as to be collapsible, and a one-way outwardly opening valve on the free end of said inner tube,

means for dispensing a metered amount of concentrate including an outer collapsible tube disposed about said inner tube, a housing mounted about said tubes and spaced from said outer tube to form an annular space, and a pipe for supplying fluid to said space at a pressure in the range of 1-6 atomospheres to collapse said tube and dispense an increment of concentrate wherein said increment does not vary in volume with further increases in pressure.