United type-beverage dispenser

• US 5,875,930 A
• Filed: 03/28/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Hiromichi, Maeda, Kazuya, Yamamoto, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US08/827,587
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129, 222/129.1-129.4, 222/94, 222/105, 222/132, 222/146.6, 222/214, 222/145.5, 222/145.6
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0039 the controls involving at least two different metering technics
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0046 Mixing chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0052 by means for directing respective streams together
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/108 of the peristaltic type
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1231 Metering pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1279 regulating the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/129 Means for changing the ratio by acting on structural parts
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00123 Preparing a mix of concentrates

Abstract

A tank unit having a flow rate adjusting mechanism, an electromagnetic valve, a mixer, etc. is disposed in the center of the body of the united type-beverage dispenser, and BIB units having BIBs, peristaltic pumps, nozzles, etc. are disposed on both sides of the tank unit. When the BIBs are removed out of the BIB units, the space for adjusting the flow rate adjusting mechanism and the electromagnetic valve are provided on both side of them, so that the adjustment work for them can be conducted without removing the side plate or top plate of the body.

Claims

1. An united type-beverage dispenser, comprising;

a tank unit which provides a first beverage by diluting a raw material supplied through a flow rate adjusting mechanism and a valve mechanism from a tank with drinking water; and

at least two BIBs (Bag in Box) units which provides second beverages by diluting respective raw materials supplied by respective pumps from at least two BIBs accommodated within a refrigerator with drinking water;

wherein said flow rate adjusting mechanism and said valve mechanism of said tank unit are centered within said refrigerator;

said at least two BIBs of said at least two BIB units are accommodated within and on both sides of said refrigerator; and

when said at least two BIBs are taken out of said refrigerator, said flow rate adjusting mechanism and said valve mechanism can be adjusted from the space in which said at least two BIBs have been accommodated.

2. An united type-beverage dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein;

said tank unit has the first delivery means disposed in the center of the dispenser to deliver said first beverage; and

said at least two BIB units have at least two second delivery means disposed on both sides of said first delivery means to deliver said second beverages.

3. An united type-beverage dispenser, according to claim 2, wherein;

said first and second delivery means are centralized to be disposed in the center of the dispenser.

4. An united type-beverage dispenser, according to claim 2, wherein;

said first delivery means has a mixer to mix said raw material supplied from said tank and said drinking water to produce said first beverage upstream; and

each of said second delivery means has the third delivery means in combination therewith to deliver said drinking water used for diluting said raw materials supplied from said at least two BIBs disposed.

5. An united type-beverage dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein;

said tank accommodates a strong or weak carbonic acid as said raw material at a given pressure.

6. An united type-beverage dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein;

each of said at least two BIBs accommodates a raw material of neutral beverage as said raw material.

7. An united type-beverage dispenser, according to claim 2, wherein;

each of said at least two BIBs is connected to a corresponding one of said second delivery means by a tube to supply said raw material to said second delivery means by pressurizing said raw material with a peristaltic pump.