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Apparatus for dispensing a sparkling or bubbling beverage

  • US 5,335,705 A
  • Filed: 06/30/1992
  • Issued: 08/09/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for dispensing a sparkling or bubbling beverage, comprising:

  • an apparatus body having a beverage dispensing section where a dispensing outlet is provided for dispensing the bubbling beverage;

    gas supplying means for supplying a CO2 gas into a beverage-containing tank;

    a beverage passage for drawing the beverage from the tank toward the dispensing outlet by a pressure of the CO2 gas which is supplied from the gas supply means;

    beverage cooling means for cooling the bubbling beverage which is drawn via the beverage passage toward the dispensing outlet;

    a dispensing valve for opening/closing the beverage passage leading to the dispensing outlet;

    a dispensing valve drive device for driving the dispensing valve to allow the dispensing valve to be opened or closed;

    a rotatably displaceable rest base mounted below the beverage dispensing section with a beverage container placeable on said rest base so that the beverage is dispensed into the beverage container;

    a base tilting drive device for tilting the rest base;

    dispensing start signal input means for inputting a signal for starting the dispensing of the beverage into the container on the rest base;

    a liquid level detector for detecting a bubble surface level or liquid level of the beverage dispensed into the container and for inputting level information to the controller; and

    a controller including a means for controlling the operation of the dispensing valve drive device and base tilting drive device in response to the signal input from the dispensing start signal input means and the level information from the liquid level detector to control the operation of both the base tilting drive device and the dispensing valve drive device in response to a bubble surface level or liquid level of the beverage so as to move the beverage container from a tilted position to an erect position dependent upon the liquid level or bubble surface within the container;

    wherein the controller operates the base tilting drive device, upon receiving the signal from the dispensing start signal input means, to allow the container on the rest base to be tilted, while opening the dispensing valve through the operation of the valve drive device to dispense the beverage into the beverage container, controls the base tilting drive device so that the beverage container is held erect after the bubble surface level or liquid level of the beverage has been brought to a predetermined level, and controls the dispensing valve to close the dispensing valve after the bubble or beverage again dispensed in the erect position of the container has been brought to a predetermined level.

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