NO803603L - DEVICE FOR AA MANUFACTURING COMBINED CARBONIC ACID DRINKS - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for producing and dispensing pre-mixed carbonated beverages, which is suitable for use in a normal refrigerator in the home.

Attempts have also previously been made to produce devices for producing pre-mixed carbonated beverages and designed for installation in ordinary refrigerators. Such devices should be compact and easy to install in existing refrigerators, as well as being designed to dispense ready-mixed beverages of suitable quality. Due to different construction features of these earlier devices, however, the above-mentioned purposes have never been satisfactorily achieved. Examples of such devices can be found in US patent documents no. 2,785,546, 2,894,377, 2,823,833, 3,292,822, 3,756. 473 as well as 3,942,685.

Of the above-mentioned patents, US patent documents no. 2,785,546, 2,823,833, 3,756,473 and 3,942,685 apply to units of the above-mentioned type and designed for use in home refrigerators. These devices are designed to dispense either ice water or a mixture of syrup concentrate and water, depending on your choice. However, the two first-mentioned patents do not indicate any possibilities for producing carbonated water or other carbonated beverages. In addition, the water in these devices is supplied through a pipe which must pass through the wall of the refrigerator, which makes retrofitting such a system somewhat complicated. A clear disadvantage of these devices is that the syrup concentrate is contained in a refillable container instead of in a disposable package, which entails cleaning problems and unsanitary conditions.

The bottling device described in US patent no. 2,894,377 has operating characteristics with greater variation than the systems just described, as this device can dispense carbonated water and carbonated pre-mixed beverages in addition to tap water and pre-mixed combinations of tap water and soft drink syrup. However, this bottling device still suffers from certain disadvantages. The device thus requires an external water supply which must be piped through the refrigerator wall, which makes retrofitting the system more complicated than desirable. Although the packages of soft drink syrup according to this arrangement are movable, they cannot be inserted into the system as easily as desired, as several connecting connections are necessary between the syrup packages and other components of the system. Furthermore, these packages of soft drink syrup will not at all provide the necessary regulated:-.;^1 quantity flow that is needed to obtain high-quality beverages with the same proportion of carbonated water and syrup in each dispensed portion of the beverage in question. US patent document no. 3,292,822 shows in figures 18 and 19 a bottling system for ready-mixed carbonated drinks which can be arranged in the door of a refrigerator for home use and includes a manually refillable water reservoir for the carbonation device as well as removable packets of soft drink syrup. The method used to introduce the syrup packages into the system is, however, somewhat cumbersome, at the same time that the valve equipment has limited properties and the syrup is not delivered in a satisfactorily adjustable quantity flow.

Prior to the present invention, it was generally known

to use a pipe for quantity flow regulation in the syrup container in an apparatus for the production and bottling of ready-mixed beverages, thereby achieving a uniform quantity flow of syrup from the container into a reservoir. An example of a system of this kind is described in US Patent No. 2,708,533. In this patent, the general use of a flow control tube 76 in the syrup tank in a system for pre-mixed beverages is specified, the open and lower end of the tube being precisely placed at a predetermined level above the outlet opening of the tank in order to achieve an essentially constant quantity flow of syrup out of the tank. In this patent, 1 fig. is also shown. 2 that the syrup tank can be a single-use tin can which is filled in a central distribution facility and delivered in a completely closed state to the place where the respective bottling system is located. As also shown in the above-mentioned fig.

2 in the present patent document can the bottom of the canned food box

is pierced by means of a puncture element which stands.

in connection with the draining valve, while the upper side of the box is equipped with an ejector 118 in which a stopper 74 and the flow regulation pipe 76 are introduced just before the draining process. The flow control tube 76 is placed inside the container in a predetermined position determined by graduations •124 on the flow control tube, which gives an operator instructions on correct placement of the tube for preselected different flow rates of syrup species with different Brix values.

Although the system described above works very satisfactorily with regard to regulated quantity flow once it has been fully assembled, it nevertheless suffers from certain disadvantages.

According to the patent document just mentioned, e.g. str■• the flow regulation pipe a component that is completely separated from the syrup package that is transferred from the distribution plant to the user site. The flow regulation pipe 76 thus requires special assembly at the user site as well as specialist setting of the pipe's position inside the syrup container. Although it may be possible for a professional operator in a commercial organization to learn the correct insertion of the flow control pipe, a casual user of the system, such as with a home drainage system, will have considerable difficulty in fitting the flow control. s ing tube in the correct position for the different Brix values of different types of syrup to be dispensed. In addition, according to the present patent, the syrup container can be refilled through the ejector part 118, which can lead to problems with regard to incorrect or insufficient cleaning. vFurthermore, syrup liquid will rise up in the pipe 76 and spill over the upper end of the pipe if the temperature of the syrup container increases significantly.

Other examples of the use of flow regulation tubes or ventilation tubes in syrup packages can be found in US patent documents No. 3,258,166 and 3,991,219. Each of these patents shows inverted containers with internal flow-controlling vent pipes. The ventilation pipes in each of these patents are, however, completely open to the atmosphere, which means that there are no means to prevent the flow of liquid upwards in the ventilation pipes.

With elevated temperatures, the gas space above the liquid in the container will thus produce a back pressure which forces the liquid up into the ventilation pipes and causes liquid leakage.

A further US patent document no. 3,807,607 describes a syrup container 1 with an internal ventilation pipe 11 and a gas-sensitive control valve 12 at the upper end of the ventilation pipe 11. This control valve 12 is arranged to prevent the flow of syrup liquid upwards in the pipe 11 when container 1 is refilled. This stand?) as opposed to preventing flow upwards in the pipe as a reaction to the container 11 being heated to an elevated temperature. During the development of the present invention, it has been found that placing the valve 12 at the upper end of the pipe 11 is unsatisfactory if a liquid flow upwards in the pipe 11 takes place due to elevated container temperature. In this case, liquid will flow mainly all the way up to the valve 12 at the top of the ventilation pipe 11 before this valve 12 is closed. This will lead to a collection of syrup on the inner wall of the tube 11, which can lead to clogging and/or contamination. As mentioned above, the valve 12 is also not indicated to be arranged to prevent liquid flow upwards in the pipe 11 as a result of elevated container temperature. In short, the syrup dispensing apparatus according to the latter patent is not designed for use in a refrigerator for home use, where opening and closing the refrigerator door can easily lead to an elevated temperature of the syrup packages, which means that syrup will tend to rise in the ventilation pipe as a result of such elevated temperatures.

Control valves have also previously been used in ventilation pipes for containers designed for bottling products other than syrup. However, these control valves were used to prevent liquid leakage when the container was turned into an upright position where liquid draining is not possible. The constructors of these earlier devices were not concerned with or aware of the problem of liquid spillage due to elevated container temperature and the corresponding flow of liquid upwards in the ventilation pipe. Examples of such previously made containers can be found in US Patent Nos. 600,327, 2,283,652, 2,336,313 and 2,822,962.

It is consequently a main purpose of the present invention

to provide a device for preparing and dispensing pre-mixed carbonated beverages and which is capable of operating satisfactorily even when placed in a refrigerator for home use. It is a further object of the present invention to produce such a device which can easily be fitted into an existing refrigerator by an ordinary private person.

It is a further object of the present invention

to produce such a device for use in a refrigerator for home use without the need for water lines through the refrigerator wall.

It is yet another purpose of the present invention to produce a compact valve system with numerous setting options for bottling different beverages.

It is another object of the invention to provide a

single-use package for bottling ready-mixed soft drink syrup with a regulated quantity flow, and which is completely assembled at the time of delivery and does not require any further adaptation by the user at the point of use.

It is still an object of the present invention to produce a package of disposable type for bottling liquids and with a regulated quantity flow, without the immediate possibility of refilling and repeated use.

It is still a further object of the present invention to produce a syrup package which includes equipment to prevent overflow or spillage of liquid as a result of increased package temperature above predetermined temperature levels, due to opening and closing the door of the refrigerator containing the package.

It is another object of the present invention to produce a single-use package with a small weight for waste disposal liquids and equipped with means to prevent damage to the package during transport.

There is yet another object of the present invention

to produce a disposable package for dispensing liquids with a regulated flow rate as well as low weight and low manufacturing costs.

The above-mentioned purposes have been achieved according to the present invention by means of a device for the production and bottling of pre-mixed carbonated beverages and which comprises a carbonation device with a refillable water reservoir, a CC^ cooler connected to the carbonation device, a valve system that facilitates selection from among several types of beverages or a combination of these, as well as a single-use package for storing and bottling syrup for ready-mixing the beverage in question with a regulated quantity flow. This device is designed so that each of the components that together make up the complete system can be contained in their entirety in an ordinary refrigerator for home use.

The carbonation system comprises a stainless steel carbonation tank and a reservoir tank for storing a supply of water to be carbonated. Water from the reservoir tank is driven by a small motor and pump through a pipe or line from the reservoir tank to the carbonation tank. In a preferred embodiment, the carbonation tank has sufficient size to store enough carbonated water for two 1.7 deciliter drinks ready for bottling when needed. Replenishment of the supply of carbonated water in the carbonation tank takes place as soon as a drink is dispensed, namely from the withdrawal valves through the pump and the water line connecting the reservoir tank to the carbonation tank. As filling of carbonated • ..r water begins immediately, approx. 5 deciliters of beverage is drawn out continuously from a draw-off valve before the carbonated water supply is exhausted. A similar amount can again be drained from the drain valve after a one-minute waiting time for refilling the carbonated tea: water supply... The carbonation system further comprises regulators for regulating the water level in the carbonation tank, and which turn the motor and pump on and off as water is drained from the drain valves. A further safety feature of the carbonation system is that the pump is deactivated in the event that the water level in the reservoir is too low. This is done because the pump does not start itself when there is pressure in the tank. After starting up, the carbonation device must ensure that water is pumped into the tank before C02 is introduced, which is desirable to drive air out of the carbonation tank.

Another distinctive feature of the carbonation system according to the present invention is that the carbonation tank is mounted so that it is submerged in the water in the reservoir tank. The carbonation tank and its contents are therefore cooled so that it can deliver the coldest possible beverage. Water filling in the reservoir tank is carried out manually by filling a water beaker from the kitchen tap, removing a lid from the top of the reservoir tank and then manually pouring water into this tank. This is an important distinctive feature of the present invention, as no water pipes that must be passed through the wall of the refrigerator are required, so that the assembly of the draining system according to the present invention will be quite simple. If it is desired, however, a water supply to the reservoir tank can still be piped through the refrigerator's wall and a suitable control valve.

Carbon dioxide is delivered to the carbonation tank according to the present invention from a conventional CC>2 cylinder through a pressure regulator and a control valve to a connecting connection in the top cover of the carbonation tank. The gas is led through a pipe to the bottom of the tank from where it is distributed into the water by means of a diffusion device of a type that is well known in this field.

The valve system according to the present invention comprises in a preferred embodiment at least three dispensing nozzles and three associated connecting sockets on the upper side of the valve system with a membrane penetrating member in each socket, which will receive the neck of the disposable type syrup container by a simple push-in process in just one steps. The valve system comprises for each syrup container a pair of valves consisting of sealing pieces of elastomeric material in fluid connection with the respective single-use syrup packs and the carbonated water supplies, as well as a mixing chamber with a diffusion surface for spreading carbonated water over the interior of a removable dispensing nozzle. Syrup liquid from the single-use type packages is fed through a tube that projects through a hole in the diffusion plate into the area below said plate inside the nozzle. The syrup tube in the valve system has a displaceable stop button at its lower end, which, together with the regulated hydraulic drive head formed by the flow regulation tube in the above-mentioned syrup package, controls the flow amount of syrup. The displaceable locking button is dimensioned to provide a constant syrup flow. One of the three buttons, each with its own specified opening, can e.g. be arranged to control syrup flows with respectively high Brix value, low Brix value or dietary syrups. The valve system can be influenced to provide carbonated water alone or a selected variant of pre-mixed carbonated soft drinks. A further draining valve can be arranged for draining non-carbonated ice water.

The single-use syrup package comprises a single-use bottle of plastic material with relatively thin sidewalls, and which comprises, as a principally integrated component, a tube through one end of the container and precisely positioned within it to maintain a regulated amount of flow of syrup when tapping. The tube originally has one end protruding through the bottom or the closed end of the plastic bottle and an opposite end which is open and placed at a predetermined distance from the outlet end of the bottle, with the aim of creating an effective hydrostatic pressure head over this predetermined distance. The closed end of the tube is recessed in the end of the bottle through which the tube protrudes, to achieve protection against impact during transport.

In operation together with an ordinary decanter for ready-mixed syrup, the plastic bottle or syrup package according to the present invention is brought into an inverted position and introduced into the sockets for the valve system in the direction of a sharp piercing device. The piercing device breaks through a membrane extending across the open end of the bottle to produce a dispensing opening. The closed end of the flow control tube is then pierced or opened to allow the flow of air into the tube. A pressure balance is then established inside the bottle as liquid is withdrawn and replaced with air, and from this point the tube in the bottle functions as that the quantity flow of syrup is maintained at a substantially constant value during the bottling of the contents of the bottle,

In a preferred embodiment, the flow control tube is equipped with a control valve near its open end to prevent syrup liquid from rising in the tube when a predetermined temperature level for the syrup package is exceeded due to opening and closing of the k. refrigerator door. For temperatures below this level, the control valve will not prevent the flow of air

down the pipe.

>

The purposes of the present invention and the advantages achieved thereby will appear more clearly from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, on which: Fig. 1 is a perspective sketch which is partially shown in section to visualize the syrup package of the disposable type according to the present invention immediately before the introduction into the valve seat in a bottling system for beverages, fig. 2 is an enlarged sketch showing, in section, details of the cover piece for the open end of the disposable packaging according to the present invention,

fig. 3 shows a section through the disposable package according to the invention and indicates a first embodiment of means for preventing damage to the outer end of the flow control tube according to the present invention during transport of the package,

fig. 4 is a partial section through the disposable package according to the present invention to show an alternative end design of the package to prevent damage to the outer end of the flow regulation tube,

fig. 5 shows a partial section through the flow regulation pipe according to the present invention for a further preferred embodiment of the pipe,

fig. 6 is a partial section through yet another embodiment of the flow regulation pipe according to the present invention,

fig. 7 shows the bottom end of the flow control tube in fig. 6,

fig. 8 is a perspective sketch of the carbonation system according to the present invention seen from the outside,

fig. 9 is a schematic perspective sketch of the carbonation device's water supply and reservoir system according to the present invention,

fig. 10 is a perspective sketch of the carbonation pump and power shift according to the present invention,

fig. 11 is a perspective sketch of the C02 cylinder and regulator which according to the invention is used together with

the carbonation system in fig. 8 -10,

fig. 12 is a perspective view of one unit of the valve system according to the present invention,

fig.13a is an extended sketch of the dispensing valve's mixing nozzle in the unit shown in fig. 12,

fig. 13b is a front view of the valve unit in fig. 12,

fig. 13c shows a section along the line c - c in fig. 13b,

fig. 14 is a perspective sketch of the bottling system for finished beverages according to the present invention and mounted inside a refrigerator for normal home use, and

fig. 15 shows a side view of a flow limiting button for use in the valve unit fig. 12.

Brief reference must first be made to fig. 14 where it is shown

a bottling system for pre-mixed beverages according to the present invention and mounted in a normal refrigerator R for home use. A carbonation system CS and a CO,, tank are placed on any of the refrigerator shelves. The valve system VS, the syrup packs SP and the drip tray DP are mounted on the inside of the door RD. If desired, the venting system can be accessible from the outside of the door RD, if it is built into the refrigerator at the manufacturing site.

The valve system VS is equipped with several nozzles Ni.,. N2, N3 which ensure the dispensing of selected soft drinks in response to pressing the buttons B1, B2 and B3 respectively. A button BC is also provided, and when this is actuated, carbonated water alone will be emitted through the nozzle N2. A separate nozzle N4 and button BW are provided for dispensing uncarbonated ice water. The syrup pack SP shown in fig. 14, comprises three disposable units of the type shown in figures 1-7. In fig. 1 shows a single-use package according to the present invention, which is indicated in its entirety at 10 and shown in a position immediately before its connection with a draining device which is designated in its entirety by D, such as e.g. . a common device for dispensing pre-mixed beverages. Disposable package 10 according to the present invention comprises a plastic bottle or container 12 with thin side walls, a closed end 14 and an open end 16 which forms the outlet opening for the disposable package. The open end 16 is equipped with a closing cover 20, which is shown in more detail in fig. 2 and comprises an outer cover piece 20a arranged to be snapped over the end 16 of the container 12 as well as a breakable membrane, such as a metal foil, which is brought across and inside the outlet opening formed by the container end 16. A flow regulation tube 18 is permanent arranged in a predetermined position in the container 12 and has an open end 16a located at a predetermined distance above the outlet opening formed by the open end 16 of the container, as well as a closed, but sealed or breakable end 18b which protrudes through the end section 14 of the container 12. The closed end region 18b of the tube 18 is located inside the compartment or outlet 22a which is formed by an annular skirt piece 22 of plastic material or other suitable material and is attached to the end of the container 12. The outlet can also be made up of a part of the container 12. The syrup package in its entirety, which is indicated at 10 in fig. 1 is produced as an essentially integral unit and is transported as such to a place of use, as will be described in more detail in the following.:- The pipe 18 is permanently arranged in a fixed position in the end wall 14 by means of a suitable adhesive, sealant or other binder. Alternatively, the tube 18 could be integrally molded with or formed with the end wall 14. A further alternative is to make the container 12 in a material that shrinks after molding, form a hole in the bottom, introduce the tube 18 to a desired position to allow the container 12 to shrink around the pipe 18 for and hold this in place. A tapping mechanism which is suitable for use in connection with the present invention is indicated in its entirety by the reference D in fig. 1 and is of the type that is in common use for bottling pre-mixed soft drinks. Such a draining device can, for example, comprise a plinth on the upper side and consisting of a projecting ring-shaped side wall D1 and an 0-ring seal D2. Projecting upwards inside the plinth and located mainly in the middle of this, a puncturing device D3 is arranged. This puncturing device D3 is made to penetrate through the breakable membrane 20b which is sealingly arranged across the open end of the container 12, when this is lowered onto or introduced into the base of the tapping device D. A tapping arm D3 or other valve-acting member is arranged on well-known way of cooperating with a glass into which the pre-mixed drink is to be dispensed. ;A mixing nozzle C is arranged in the event that the liquid in the package is to be mixed with another liquid, such as carbonated water. ;A preferred embodiment of the dispensing and the valve system will be described in the following with reference to figures 12 and 13, what is shown in figure 1 being only given as an example. It shall now h refer more closely to fig. 3, where a section through the annular skirt 22 for the syrup package in fig. 1, this skirt being conveniently attached to the closed end 14 of the container 12 or is designed as part of this container. The annular skirt forms a recess 22a which encloses the closed end 18b of the tube 18. As the end 18b of the tube 18 is breakable or sealed, it will be necessary to provide a skirt 22 to prevent penetration or damage to the tube end 18b or other - sealing during transport and storage of the disposable package 10. The recess is also necessary to keep the container upright during transport, storage or display. An alternative embodiment of the pipe end protection according to fig. 3 is shown in fig. 4 and includes, in addition to the annular skirt 22, a retracted section 14a in the closed end 11.4" of the container 12, into which the pipe end 18b is inserted. It will be clear from both designs in Fig. 3 and 4, that if disposable -the packing 10 according to the present invention falls down during transport, it will most likely land on the annular skirt 20 and a breakthrough of the pipe end 18 will then be prevented. ;It has been found that the opened container 12, after stabilization at refrigerator temperature and then heated upon opening and closing the kij beer cabinet door develops increased pressure in the enclosed air space due to expansion of the air in this area. This increased pressure will drive syrup liquid back up into the tube 18 and lead to liquid leakage through the open end 18b at the upper end of the tube. In order to counteract this process, a suitable control valve is arranged inside the container, preferably at the end of or inside the flow regulation pipe 18, as will be seen from Fig. 5. Such a control valve can consist of a yielding seat RS which forms a stop for a ball FB, which in turn is appropriately held in place by a cage C to prevent too much movement of the ball, which floats in the syrup liquid inside the tube 18. The buoyancy of the ball provides contact pressure ' for initial placement of the ball FB against the yielding seat RS when syrup is driven up the tube by the increased air space pressure as a result of heating the container and its contents by opening and closing the refrigerator door. The system pressure increases so that a syrup-tight system against the seat R is achieved as the air space pressure becomes higher due to further heating, so that further rise of syrup up the pipe 18 is prevented and resulting spillage is avoided. If desired, the cage C and the valve seat RS can be designed in one piece with the pipe 18. The seat RS and the cage C can e.g. which is made up of convex bulging sections of the inner wall of the pipe 18, formed by depressed wall sections as shown in figures 6 and 7. Such an embodiment greatly simplifies the production of the control valve. However, the mentioned earlier systems of this kind are not equipped with any means to prevent liquid leakage due to expansion of the sealed air space. Although the described control valve is of a suitable type for the present purpose, other designs will also be obvious to professionals in the field, such as e.g. tongue-type or duckbill-type valves. The control valve should not in any case significantly prevent the downward flow of air through the pipe 18, which produces a balanced hydrostatic pressure at the desired location inside the container. Control valves of other designs that depend on mechanical means for biasing in the closing direction must therefore be designed in such a way that the biasing force is very low. As the control valve is only used during the lifetime of the disposable container and is thrown away with the container, there is no need to clean the control valve between periods of use or between container replacements. Careful choice of materials and dimensional ratio between the ball and the yielding seat ensure that the ball is covered by syrup when it is moved to the closed position driven by the syrup liquid, so that adhesion of the valve due to dried syrup is avoided in use. In operation, the disposable package 10 which is shown in fig. 1 up; down to the position shown, with the open end 16 pointing downwards, after which the package is fed into the base of the draining device D or the valve system VS in fig. 12 and 13 which will be described in more detail below. The membrane 20b is then penetrated by the puncture device D3. In this position, the sealed end section 18b of the tube 18 is broken and thereby allows the penetration of air into the container 12. As air flows through the tube 18 into the container 12 when liquid is drained from it, a pressure balance is created inside the container which works so that the quantity flow of syrup or other liquid is regulated to a constant flow value; out of the container through the dispensing mechanism D in fig. 1 or the valve system VS in Figures 12 and 13 down into the receiving vessel or glass C. A constant volume flow is achieved due to the fact that the pipe 18, which is filled with air, creates an effective hydrostatic pressure head at the mouth location 18a in the container 12, and the volume flow of syrup from the Container will then be essentially constant. The single-use syrup package according to the present invention can be produced with the tube 18 in different positions, depending on the Brix value of the syrup to be contained in the package. If a predetermined constant quantity flow is desired, in other words it is necessary to determine a correspondingly correct position of the open end 18a of the tube 18, taking into account the Brix value of the syrup to be drained. However, the present invention offers the advantage that the correct placement of the pipe 18 is only carried out by knowledgeable and trained professionals at the manufacturing site and not by an unskilled operator at the user site. The disposable package 10 can be made from any suitable material. The bottle 10 can e.g. made in thin plastic material or glass, although plastic material is preferable. The flow regulator tube 18 can also be made of plastic material or glass. The annular skirt part 22 can be made of strong, impact-resistant plastic material or rubber or designed as part of the container itself. The permeable membrane 20b arranged in the open end 16 of the container 12 may be of metal foil, plastic material or any other suitable material which can seal the container end without contaminating its contents. If the membrane is made of plastic material, it can be heat-sealed to the end of the container 12. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the closed end 14 of the container is made in one piece with the other parts, while the closed end of the tube 18b is breakable. . However, other design variants can be made within the scope of the invention. The entire end wall 14 can thus e.g. consists of a removable cap that can be removed from the container. ;The carbonation device used in the device for producing ready-mixed beverages according to the present invention is shown in more detail in figures 8 - 10 and is indicated as a component of the system as a whole in fig. 14. ;Fig. 8 is a perspective sketch of the exterior of the housing which contains the carbonation device and comprises a water reservoir WR and a carbonation tank CT. The water reservoir part is equipped with a removable lid RL, so that the water reservoir VR can be filled manually, e.g. from a jug filled with tap water, as ice cubes or crushed ice can also be placed in the reservoir. The part containing the carbonation tank comprises a removable cover CT which provides access to the carbonation tank CT and the carbonator's power displacement which is shown in fig. 10 and will be described in more detail later. Electrical power is supplied to the carbonator device through an electrical power line PC, and this is the only connection with equipment on the outside of the refrigerator required by the device according to the present invention. However, this electrical cable can be passed through a hole in a normal door seal for the refrigerator in question, which makes fitting the system into the refrigerator very easy. The pipes CW and G which are passed through the bottom of the housing for the carbonation device and are shown in ~fig. 8, constitute respectively the outlet for carbonated or carbonated water and the inlet for CC^ to the system. Reference should now be made to fig. 9, where a schematic sketch is shown of how the water reservoir WRoog carbonation tank CT is fitted into the housing for the carbonation device in fig. 8. As indicated in this figure, carbonation tankem.CT is immersed in the water located in the water reservoir WR. This contributes to the cooling of the carbonated water that is formed in the carbonation tank CT, as the water in the reservoir WR is cooled by the refrigerator. In addition, ice cubes or crushed ice can be placed in the reservoir WR. The carbonation system according to the present invention thus ensures the greatest possible cooling of the carbonated water which is delivered to the valve system VS in the door of the refrigerator. For the sake of clarity, many of the water lines and pipe connections for carbonated water are not shown in fig. 9. However, the sensor LLP for low water level in the reservoir tank WR as well as the liquid level sensor TP for the carbonation tank are indicated. A more detailed description of the operation of these sensors LLP and TP will be given later. ;As shown in fig. 9, however, the lower end of the sensor LLP is placed at a predetermined low water level above the bottom of the water reservoir WR. The sensor LLP comprises an electrically conductive electrode component which completes an electrical circuit through the water in the tank WR to ground through a wire connection connecting the walls of the tank CT to ground as long as the water in the tank WR is at least level with the lower end of the sensor LLP . If the water in the tank WR drops below the level of the lower end of the sensor LLP, an electrical signal will be produced indicating that the water in the reservoir WR has dropped below a satisfactory level. An indicator light can be provided to indicate that the water reservoir must be topped up when the water has reached this unsatisfactory level. When this occurs, power cannot be supplied to the motor and pump unit in figure 10, which will be described in more detail later, so that the carbonation device's operation is interrupted until the water supply in the reservoir WR is replenished. The sensor TP in the tank CT is also electrically conductive with its lower end positioned at a predetermined level above the bottom of the tank TP. As was the case with the sensor LLP, when the liquid level drops below the level of the lower end of the sensor. TP, an open circuit occurs between the sensor and an earth connection for the tank CP>^which will engage the pump as will be described later.. When the water level again reaches the lower end of the sensor TP, a signal will be produced that turns off the pump. Fig. 9 also shows other elements which will be described in connection with fig. 10, included arrangement of a power switch PS on the front of the housing for the carbonation device, so that the system can be switched off and on at will. Reference should now be made to fig. 10 where the carbonation end of the housing in fig. 10 is shown in more detail with the carburizing tank cover CTC removed. As indicated in this figure, the carbonation tank CT is equipped with a manifold head or plug CL, in which through the various connections for C02 gas, outlet for carbonated water and the water supply of the carbonation tank are led. See e.g. the pipes WC, G and WO for the transfer of carbonated water, CC^ gas and water respectively from the reservoir WR. A control valve DCV is arranged in pipe G for flow regulation of C02 gas to the carbonation tank CT. A flow control valve FCV is arranged in the outlet line WC for carbonated water at the connection between the line WC and the carbonation tank lid CL. The valve FCV can include flow-limiting buttons with bores of selected sizes for different flow rates. Another control valve WCV is arranged in the water line WO between a motor and the pump system M - P,: which will be described in more detail later. A relief valve RV is provided in the lid of the carbonation tank CL to limit the tank to a predetermined safe level. A low water sensor LLP is arranged in the water reservoir WR, as described earlier, the urn's one: water level sensor TP; is arranged in the carbonation tank CT. Both of these liquid level sensors are electrically connected by means of suitable cables to a solid-state level control module SLC. The motor and pump system M -P has a water line WI connected to the water reservoir WR to pump water out of the tank WR into the carbonation tank CT as needed and controlled by the water level sensors LLP and TP. The carbonation tank sensor TP is of the same type as the water level sensor LLP in the reservoir WR. The lower end of the sensor TP is brought to a predetermined level above the bottom of the carbonation tank CT (see fig. 9), and when the water in the tank CT sinks below this level, an electrical circuit is opened through the sensor TP, the water and an earthed wall of the tank CT . The aforementioned solid-state level control module SLC responds to this open circuit and generates a signal to the motor and pump unit M - P, which causes this unit to draw water out of the reservoir WR through the pipes WI, WO and the control valve WCV into in the carbonation tank CT above a hydraulic spreading nozzle HSN. Water is thus automatically refilled into the carbonation tank CT when the tank's water level falls below the lower end* of the sensor TP. When the water reaches the lower end of the sensor TP again, a signal is generated using the SLC module to turn on the pump M - P

of.

The operation of the carbonation device according to the present invention will now be briefly described with further reference to figures 8, 9 and 10. The water reservoir WR is initially filled by removing the lid RL, after which a jug of water is poured into the reservoir. The circuit breaker PS on the front of the carburettor housing is then turned on, which initiates all electrical control circuits for water levels in the carburettor. When power is supplied and an appropriate water level is sensed by the sensor LLP in the reservoir WR, the motor and pump unit M - P is started to draw water out of the reservoir WR through the pipe WI, the pump unit M - P, the pipe WO, the control valve WCV for water and the HCN hydraulic spray nozzle to fill the carbonation tank. At the same time, C02_gas is supplied through the pipe G into the gas diffuser CD

at the bottom of the tank CT. When the valve system which will be described later is activated, as a result of the desired withdrawal of carbonated water, carbonated water flows upwards in the dip tube DT through the tube WC for carbonated water and out of the carbonation device to the valve system VS,

which is mounted in the refrigerator door.

Carbonated water sufficient for two 1.7 dl drinks is stored

in the carbonation system in a preferred embodiment of the present invention ready for withdrawal as needed. Refilling of this supply of carbonated water, however, begins immediately as a result of the water level regulators described above, as soon as a drinking portion has been drained from the withdrawal valve. About. 5 dl of beverage can thus conti-

is now drained from a drain valve before the supply of carbonated water is exhausted. An equal amount of carbonated water can be drained again after a waiting time of 1 minute.

Power is supplied to the carbonation device in figures 8 b 10 through an ordinary three-wire electric cable PC which is designed to be fed into the double socket which can be found behind a refrigerator for home use. The electrical cord PC can be provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one of its flat sides, so that it can be attached or fixed to the outside and inside of the refrigerator. The electrical cable PC is very thin and introduction into the refrigerator can therefore take place through the gasket on the refrigerator door, which makes fitting the device according to the present invention very easy.

From fig. 11, it will appear that the CC^ container according to the present invention can in a preferred embodiment be made of a 0.9c'kg aluminum cylinder GT with a pre-set pressure regulator. The connection with the upper end of the cylinder GT as well as with the gas pipe connection G for the carbonation device can be formed by a pair of valves FN of the type called "football pin" to allow quick connection and disconnection when this is desired. In a preferred embodiment, the cylinder GT is mounted inside the refrigerator, but if desired, the cylinder can also be mounted on the outside of the refrigerator while the gas line is routed through the refrigerator's door seal, as is also the case for the electrical supply line. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of CC>2 contained in the cylinder GT is sufficient to carbonate 25 liters of beverage.

Figures 12 and 13 show one of the three units of the valve system tVS according to the invention and which was previously described with reference to fig. 14. The valve unit is equipped with a cylindrical base SK on the upper side to receive the neck portion 20 of the syrup package 10, as described above. A seal S is arranged around the upper circumference of the base SK to make it easier to achieve a tight connection with the neck 20 of the syrup pack. A mechanical puncturing device MPD is arranged at the bottom of the base, so that when a syrup package 20 is introduced into the base SK, the puncturing device MPD will pierce the membrane 20b, so that the syrup package is opened. The main body of the valve assembly in fig. 12 under the plinth SK comprises the syrup valve SV and a valve CV for carbonated water. Each of these "valves" comprises an elastomeric or flexible valve body, as described in US Patent No. 3.4.1'7,962 and with a centrally mounted piston pin SP and CP respectively. One end of the elastomeric body is normally in contact against the valve seat SVS or CVS preventing the flow of either syrup or carbonated water through the respective valves Each of these valves has a main valve body SVB for syrup and GVB

for carbonated water, which, over bores 100 and 102 respectively, is in connection with a tapping and mixing mouth piece which will be described in more detail below with reference to figures 13a - 13c. The mixing nozzles N1,

N2, N3 are mounted at the bottom of the valve unit as shown in fig. 12 in fluid connection with the valve housings SPB and CVB

over the bores 100 and 102, as can best be seen from figures 13b and 13c.

A device is arranged for influencing either both the syrup valve SV and the valve CV for carbonated water, or the valve for carbonated water alone. This influencing device comprises an influencing rod AB which is hinged at one end with a pin HP. At the opposite end of the influence rod, there is arranged a push button corresponding to one of the push buttons B^, B^ t B^ described o above with reference to fig. 14. If it is desired to dispense a carbonated drink, it will be sufficient to press in one of the push buttons B^, B^, B^/which will cause the influence rod AB to swing about the hinge pin HB and at the same time press against the valve piston pins SP and CP . This will bring the elastomeric bodies away from the valve seats SVS and CVS, which will allow simultaneous flow of carbon acid water<p>g syrup into the mixing nozzle through the bores 100 and 102, as will be further described later. A button BC is arranged through an opening in the actuating rod AB for engagement with the valve piston pin-CP for carbonated water:;. If one thus wishes to dispense only carbonated or carbonated water, the button BC can be pressed alone and thereby produce a flow of unmixed carbonated water out of the mixing nozzle in figures 13a and 13b.

Figures 13a - 13c show a mixing nozzle according to the present invention and with a main valve housing MVB mounted on the underside of the valve unit in fig. 12 in connection with the syrup valve SV and the valve CV for carbonated water. A syrup pipe ST is arranged through the main valve housing MBV and in connection with the syrup ventic leg SV through the bore 100.

Inside the syrup tube ST, there is arranged a replaceable narrowing button SRV with a bore 104 of a selected size. The size of the bore 104 is chosen in accordance with the different Brix values of the types of syrup to be tapped through the present bottling unit. Buttons SRV of the type shown in fig. 15 is the press fit at the outer end of the pipe ST. The protrusions 104 in the replaceable buttons SRB coordinated with the flow regulation tube 18 and the syrup packs 10 ensure an even, regulated flow of syrup out of the dispensing nozzle. A diffuser plate is arranged under the main valve housing in the nozzle N1, N2, N3 and is denoted in its entirety by DP. The diffuser plate is used in a well-known way for diffusion of the carbonated water that passes through the nozzle. An opening is shown at DPA in the plate DP for the passage of a syrup tube ST so that the syrup liquid does not pass through the diffuser plate. Dispensing nozzles N1, N2, N3 are arranged under the diffuser plate, in which syrup and carbonated water are mixed in desired proportions for dispensing into a glass or container held under the nozzle.

It will be understood that many modifications can be made to the system just described without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. Device for producing and dispensing pre-mixed carbonated beverages and which is contained in a cooling cabinet with a closable access opening, character iis ert in that the device comprises a carbonation device, a source of carbon dioxide connected to the carbonation device, at least one syrup pack for dispensing syrup in a regulated quantity flow and which comprises a container with a closed end and an outlet end which forms an outlet opening through which syrup can be dispensed, a pipe for regulating the quantity flow and which comprises a first and a second end, in that: the regulating pipe runs mainly in the longitudinal direction of the container with the first end protruding through the closed end of the container and the other end arranged inside the container at a predetermined distance from the outlet opening to regulate the quantity flow of syrup through this opening, as well as a first valve device to prevent the flow of syrup up and out of the regulating tube in response to the temperature of the syrup pack rising above a predetermined level as a result of opening the closable access opening , as the first valve device is affected by direct contact with syrup as current further up in the regulating tube, as well as another valve device in connection with the carbonation device and the outlet opening for the syrup pack, to mix together carbonated water and syrup to form the desired carbonated beverage. 2..'r.vDevice as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the first valve device comprises a control valve arranged in said flow regulation pipe. 3. Device as stated in claim 2, k-a^r characterized in that the control valve comprises a movable valve body, a cage to hold the valve body in a first position corresponding to the open position of the control valve and a valve seat against which said valve body can rest in closed position of the control valve under the influence of the liquid flow upwards in the control tube. 4. Device as stated in claim 3, character., i:'.sce^rit..: in that the movable valve body is a ball. 5. Device as specified in claim 3, characterized in that said cage and valve seat are made up of integratedly designed bulges in the flow regulation pipe and walls. 6. Device as stated in claim 2, characterized in that the control valve is arranged at the other end of the flow regulation pipe. 7. Device as stated in claim 1, characterized in that the outlet opening for the container is covered by an impenetrable cover. 8., Device as stated in claim 7, characterized in that the second valve device comprises a base to receive the outlet opening of the container as well as a puncturing device in the base for puncturing the container's breakable cover. 9. Device as specified in claim 1, which includes at least two syrup packs, can be characterized by the fact that the second vehtil device includes means for selectively mixing syrup from one or the other syrup pack with carbonated water, as well as equipment for dispensing carbonated water alone. 10. Device as stated in claim 9, characterized in that the second valve device comprises a unit for use together with each syrup package and which comprises a mixing nozzle, a first valve between the outlet opening from the syrup container and the mixing nozzle, a second valve between the carbonation device and the mixing nozzle, an influence rod for simultaneous opening of the first and second valves, as well as an influence member which is passed through an opening in the influence rod for selectively influencing only the second valve to release carbonated water alone. 11. Device as stated in claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises adjustable flow control equipment inside the second valve device for regulating the quantity flow of syrup in connection with the flow control tube in the syrup package. 12. Device as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that the adjustable flow control device comprises a pipe of predetermined diameter extending from the first valve to the mixing nozzle, and a replaceable tbarc flow limiting button of varying size inside the pipe. 13. Device as stated in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises flow regulation equipment inside the second valve device for regulation of the quantity flow of syrup in connection with the flow regulation pipe in the syrup package. 14. Device as set forth in claim 13, characterized in that the adjustable flow control equipment comprises a pipe with a predetermined diameter that extends from the first valve to the mixing nozzle, and a replaceable flow control button of a selected size inside said pipe. 15. Device as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the carbonation device comprises a refillable water reservoir tank, a carbonation tank arranged inside the reservoir tank, equipment for pumping water from the reservoir into the carbonation tank, as well as equipment for introducing gas from the aforementioned source of carbon dioxide into the carbonation tank. 16. Device as stated in claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a first level detector arranged in the reservoir tank to detect when the water level in this drops below a predetermined minimum level, a second liquid level detector arranged in the carbonation tank to detect when the water level in this tank drops below a predetermined determined minimum level, control equipment which is affected by both liquid level detectors to start pumping equipment if the water level in the carbonation tank has fallen below said predetermined minimum level and to switch off the pumping equipment when the water level in the reservoir tank falls below the predetermined level. 17. Device as specified in claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a liquid level detector arranged in the reservoir tank to sense when the water level drops below a predetermined minimum level, as well as regu clay equipment that is influenced by the detector to switch off the pumping equipment when the water drops below the minimum level. 18. Device as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the carbonation device comprises a water reservoir tank with a removable lid to allow manual refilling of the reservoir tank, a carbonation tank in liquid connection with the reservoir tank, equipment for pumping water from the reservoir tank into the carbonation tank, as well as equipment for introducing carbon dioxide gas in the carbonation tank. 19. Device as stated in claim 18, characterized in that it comprises a first liquid level detector arranged in the reservoir tank to sense when the water level in the tank falls below a predetermined minimum level, a second liquid level detector arranged in the carbonation tank to sense when the water level in it falls below a predetermined determined minimum level, and reguiring equipment which is affected by both the first and second liquid level detector to start the pumping equipment when the water level in the carbonation tank falls below said predetermined level, as well as to switch off the pumping equipment when the water level in the reservoir tank falls below the predetermined level. 20. Device as stated in claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises a liquid level detector arranged in the reservoir tank to sense when the water level in this drops below a predetermined level, and regulation equipment which is influenced by said detector to switch off the pumping equipment when the water drops below the minimum level.