Beverage dispenser

• US 6,708,741 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries Incorporated
• Inventors: Westphalen, Detlef, Bressner, Gorm, Robbins, Zebulon S. III, Berry, Martin F., Beittel, David, Wright, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/645,266
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 141/351, 141/360, 141/362, 222/129.1, 222/146.6, 222/185.1, 222/325, 222/506, 222/509, 222/518, 222/545, 222/559, 623/89, 623/91
• US Class Current: 141/362
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0009 provided with cooling arrangements cooling perse F25
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0019 using ingredient cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0025 provided with dispensing valves actuated by the receptacle to be filled B67D3/02 takes precedence

Abstract

In embodiments a beverage dispenser includes a beverage cabinet, a mechanically operable, gravity-fed piston valve that can be controllably opened and closed to dispense beverage in a generally downward direction, a valve actuator supported on the cabinet below the valve and coupled to the valve and a beverage flow path to direct beverage from the valve to a receptacle.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser comprising

a beverage cabinet including a shelf assembly adapted to support a bulk beverage container having a bottom and a first side,

a mechanically operable, gravity-fed piston valve adapted to engage with the first side of the container, wherein the valve can be controllably opened and closed to dispense beverage from the container in a generally downward direction,

a valve actuator supported on the shelf assembly below the valve and coupled to the valve, and

a beverage pathway lumen extending from the valve below the shelf assembly to direct beverage from the valve to a receptacle during dispensing,

wherein the actuator has a pivoting element extending below the valve, the pivoting element including an upper member engaging the valve and a lower member which can be moved to actuate the valve, and

the actuator includes a body attached to the shelf assembly and to which the pivoting element is articulated, the beverage pathway extending through said body.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the beverage pathway lumen is defined by a tube.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the tube is remove ably attachable to the valve.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the lower member is adapted to receive the beverage receptacle.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the pivoting element is a lever-form.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the actuating member includes a linearly translated push element which is translated upwardly to open the valve and is coupled to a pivoting member.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the tube extends through an opening in the body and the tube includes a retaining region having a cross-section larger than the opening.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein the tube includes vent openings.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein the vent openings are in the retaining region.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein the vent openings are upwardly oriented.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the tube is about 4 to about 6 inches long.

12. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the body includes two pieces about the beverage pathway lumen.

13. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the shelf assembly is adapted to receive a bag-in-box container.

14. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the shelf assembly includes a cabinet with a door disposed opposite the valve.

15. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the shelf assembly includes a support stand, outside a refrigerated space.

16. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a cabinet adapted to receive a bag-in-box container and a shelf assembly at a bottom of the container for supporting the container, the container having a bottom and a first side,

the container including a gravity fed piston valve extending from the first side of the container, wherein the valve can be controllably opened and closed to dispense beverage from the container in a generally downward direction,

a valve actuator coupled to the valve including a valve body attached to the cabinet below the valve, and

a beverage pathway lumen extending through the valve body to direct beverage from the valve to a receptacle during dispensing,

wherein the beverage pathway is defined by a tube removably attached to the valve, and

the tube extends through an opening in the valve body and the tube includes a retaining region having a cross-section larger than the opening.

17. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the tube includes vent openings.

18. The dispenser of claim 17 wherein the vent openings are in the retaining region.

19. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the vent openings are upwardly oriented.

20. The dispenser of claim 19 wherein the tube is about 4 to about 6 inches long.

21. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein the body includes two pieces about the beverage pathway lumen.

22. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the actuator has a pivoting element extending below the valve, the pivoting member including an upper member engaging the valve and a lower member which can be moved to actuate the valve.

23. The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the lower member is adapted to receive the beverage receptacle.

24. The dispenser of claim 21 wherein the pivoting element is a lever-form.

25. The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the actuating member includes a linearly translated push member which is translated upwardly to open the valve and is coupled to the pivoting member.

26. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the shelf assembly includes a cabinet with a door.

27. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the shelf assembly includes a support stand housing a refrigeration unit.

28. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a beverage cabinet including a shelf assembly for support of a bulk beverage container, the container having a bottom and a first side, the container including a mechanically operable, gravity-fed piston valve extending from the first side of the container, wherein the valve can be controllably opened and closed to dispense beverage in a generally downward direction, and

a valve actuator supported on the shelf assembly and coupled to the valve,

wherein the actuator includes a body attached to the shelf and to which the pivoting element is articulated, a beverage pathway tube extending through said body.

29. The dispenser of claim 28 comprising an access door defining a cabinet wall opposite the valve.

30. The dispenser of claims 29 wherein the actuator has a pivoting element extending below the valve, the pivoting including an upper member engaging the valve and a lower member which can be moved to actuate the valve.

31. The dispenser of claim 30 wherein the lower member is adapted to receive the beverage receptacle.

32. The dispenser of claim 31 wherein the pivoting element is a lever-form.

33. The dispenser of claim 31 wherein the actuating member includes a linearly translated push element which is translated upwardly to open the valve and is coupled to the pivoting member.