Soft drink dispenser

• US 5,000,357 A
• Filed: 09/11/1989
• Issued: 03/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abc/Sebrn Tech Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abc/Sebrn Tech Corporation Incorporated
• Inventors: Rice, Jeffery C., Green, Thomas S., Shannon, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US07/405,448
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1-129.4, 222/54, 222/65, 222/641, 222/640, 222/330, 222/571, 239/406, 239/400, 239/405, 239/403, 239/446, 239/448, 239/449, 239/600, 239/589
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0009 the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0036 based on the timed opening of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0051 for mixing outside the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1252 Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation for beer engines B67D1/025
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00099 Temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00104 Cooling only
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0012 related to concentrate handling
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00157 Level detected electrically by contact with sensors

Abstract

A soft drink dispenser capable of rapidly dispensing carbonated beverages with minimized foaming action. The syrup and soda are dispensed separate from each other and allowed to mix upon the ice in a cup placed beneath the dispensing head. The dispensing of the syrup and soda is staged to minimize foaming while achieving optimum beverage taste. Syrup is dispensed from individual pumps which communicate with a bulk supply. The syrup is consolidated in the pumps, preventing waste or the introduction of "slugs" into the dispensing line. The temperature of the syrup is monitored and compensation is made during the dispensing cycle to accommodate changes in viscosity. In generating soda, water is precooled and then introduced into an insulated tank where it is subjected to pressurized carbon dioxide. In the pour head, a cluster of soda orifices are peripherally encompassed by syrup orifices, certain of which are angled to cause the syrup to convolute the stream of soda. The syrup is spaced from the soda and maintains a spaced relationship until entry into the cup or glass.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a pour head;

first means for dispensing a soda through said pour head;

second means for dispensing a flavoring syrup through said pour head;

control means interconnected between said first and second means for regulating timed periods of dispensing said soda and flavoring syrup through said pour head during a dispensing cycle to obtain a desired drink; and

wherein said pour head comprises a plurality of soda-dispensing passages arranged in a geometric pattern encompassed by a plurality of syrup-dispensing passages, at least certain of said syrup-dispensing passages extending at an angle through said pour head with respect to said soda-dispensing passages, such that projected extensions of said certain syrup-dispensing passages do not intersect with a center of said geometric pattern and syrup from said certain syrup-dispensing passages tracks along side of a flow of soda from said soda-dispensing passages in spaced relationship therefrom, said flow of syrup convoluting said flow of soda.

2. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said soda-dispensing passages are substantially tangential to each other at a surface of said pour head where said soda-dispensing passages exit.

3. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said soda-dispensing passages are conical as they pass through said pour head and are of increasing diameter in a direction of soda flow therethrough.

4. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a source of soda;

a source of syrup;

a pour head in communication with said sources of syrup and soda;

first means for dispensing soda from said sources of soda and through said pour head;

second means for dispensing flavoring syrup from said source of syrup and through said pour head;

control means interconnected between said first and second means for regulating timed periods of dispensing said soda and flavoring syrup through said pour head during a dispensing cycle to obtain a desired drink; and

wherein said pour head comprises a block having a plurality of soda-dispensing passages encompassed by a plurality of syrup-dispensing passages passing therethrough, a cover plate having passages therethrough, the passages through said block and cover plate being in corresponding spaced relationship to each other, said cover plate being attached to said block with the passages of the cover plate and block being in misalignment with each other.

5. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said soda-dispensing passages are substantially tangential to each other at a surface of said pour head where said soda-dispensing passages exit.

6. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4 wherein flexible tubes pass through said passages in said cover plate and ends of said tubes are received within said passages within said block, said tubes being crimped and held by said misalignment.

7. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4 wherein said pour head further includes a water dispensing passage in communication with said control means for dispensing water with said soda to reduce the carbonation level of the desired drink.

8. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4 wherein said soda-dispensing passages are conical as they pass through said pour head and are of increasing diameter in a direction of soda flow therethrough.

9. The beverage dispenser according to claim 8 wherein at least certain of said syrup-dispensing passages extend at an angle through said pour head with respect to said soda-dispensing passages.

10. A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverage into a receiving container, comprising:

a source of syrup;

a source of soda; and

a pour head in communication with said syrup and soda sources for dispensing syrup and soda in spaced-apart streams, precluding appreciable mixing of said syrup and soda until received by said container, said pour head comprising a cluster of orifices connected to said source of soda, and orifices peripheral to said cluster connected to said source of syrup.

11. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10 wherein said orifices within said cluster are in close tangential relationship to each other.

12. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10 wherein said orifices within said cluster are of a conical shape, being of increasing diameter in the direction of soda flow.

13. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10 wherein said pour head defines said stream of soda as a truncated cone, which is convoluted by said stream of syrup.

14. The beverage dispenser according to claim 13 wherein certain of said peripheral orifices angle inwardly toward said cluster, but offcenter from said cluster.

15. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10 wherein said orifices communicate with said sources of syrup and soda through flexible tubes crimped at said pour head and thereby held in fixed communication with said orifices.

16. The beverage dispenser according to claim 15 wherein said tubes communicating with said source of syrup are elastic, contracting upon termination of syrup dispensing to withdraw syrup from an end of said orifice.

17. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10 wherein said orifices communicate with said source of soda through tubes which bend at said pour head in proximity to said orifices.

18. The beverage dispenser according to claim 17 wherein each said tube increases in diameter in proximity to said bend.

19. The beverage dispenser according to claim 18 wherein said tube is defined by a first tubular member receiving a second tubular member where said tube increases in diameter, said second tubular member having an end thereof cut on a bias, said end being received within said first tubular member.