GB2128892A - Soft drink dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus dilutes any of a range of flavour concentrates or syrups and dispenses the diluted drink from a single nozzle in a dispensing head 6. For each flavour to be dispensed, a water conduit 15 from a common source leads sequentially through an on/off valve and a pressure regulator to a venturi passage in the head. Into the low pressure suction zone 17 downstream of each venturi throat there opens a side passage 19 delivering flavour concentrate from a respective reservoir via a flavour conduit. The head may have one nozzle outlet passage or respective passages 16 in the outlet nozzle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Soft drink dispensing apparatus The invention relates to soft drink dispensing apparatus for dispensing differentflavoured soft drinks each ofwhich has been made by diluting a flavour concentrate. The flavour concentrates, known in the trade as syrups include fruit flavours such as orange, lemon, blackcurrant and apple but could in addition be any natural or artificial flavour which on dilution makes an acceptable soft drink. The dilution may be with uncarbonated watertoform a still drink, orwith carbonated water to form an effervescent drink, and unqualified references in the remainder of this specification to water, water dilution and water sources areto be understood as including both carbonated and uncarbonated water.

Conventional dispensing apparatus for dispensing still drinks, the flavour concentrate is diluted manually and stored in a cooled container, generally a transparent-walled container, on a bar or counter top, to be delivered by pump or by gravity from a tap or spout as required. However bar-top and counter-top space is generally at a premium, and it is rarely feasible to provide a choice of more than one ortwo flavours of drink because each flavour requires its own countertop reservoir. Attempts to reduce the size ofthe reservoirs have had the disadvantage that frequent refilling is necessary, often at an inconvenient time during the service of a customer.Another drawback in the use of such equipment isthatthe degree of dilution of the concentrate is at the discretion of the person filling the reservoir, so that the concentrates are not always diluted in the proportions recommended by the manufacturer.

The invention provides a soft drink dispensing apparatus for dispensing different flavoured soft drinks from the same delivery nozzle on a dispensing head, comprising a water source and, for each flavour to be dispensed, a water conduit leading from the water source sequentially through an on/off valve and a pressure regulatorto a venturi passage in the dispensing head leading to the delivery nozzle, and a flavourconduitleading from a reservoirforthe respective flavour concentrate to a side passage in the dispensing head communicating with the venturi passage immediately downstream of its venturi throat, so that the passage ofwaterfrom the water sourcethrough any one ofthe flow valves and its respectivepressureregulatorandthencethroughthe connected venturi passage causes the appropriate flavour concentrate to be sucked through the associ ated side passage and mixed with the water in the dispensing head to dilute the concentrate and dispensethe appropriatelyflavoured drink from the nozzle. Because the dispensing head is linked to the water source and to the concentrate reservoirs by the water conduits and the flavour conduits respectively, the apparatus may be arranged so that only the dispensing head isabove bar-top height,with the reservoirs being housed lower, for example atfloor level.Furthermore the flavour concentrates occupy less space than do the diluted drinks, so that a number of concentrate reservoirs can occupythesame space as ora smaller space than the prior art table-top reservoirs for diluted drink. It is also found that the concentrates have a longer shelf life than the diluted drinks, so that dilution only atthe point of sale makes it easierto keep the drinkfresh-tasting.

The water source may be, in the case of uncarbonated water, a mains water supply, a water reservoir and pump ore headertank; or it may a pressurized vessel containing carbonated water. The sequence of the on/offvalve and the pressure regulator in the water conduit is important, with the pressure regulator being between the on/offvalve and the venturi passage. This enables a uniform pressure drop to be maintained across the venturi throat, so that a uniform and consistent degree of dilution of the concentrate is achieved downstream of the venturi throat.

The on/offvalve is preferably a solenoid-operated valve, with actuation of that valve simultaneously actuating a pump if the water supply is a supply of pumped water.

The water is preferably chilled, to produce a cool drink. The cooling may be by means of a flash cooler which cools the water as it flows to the nozzle, or by means of a cooled tank, reservoir or pressure vessel for the water downstream of the on/off valve. Preferably the flavour concentrate is also cooled, for example by being immediately adjacent to or in heat exchange relationship with the cooled water reservior.

An integral and essential part of the dispensing apparatus of the invention is the dispensing head. This is preferably a single block of solid material, preferably brass, aluminium or a machinable plastics material, having a number ofventuri passages and associated side passages formed therein. The passages may be formed by boring, and each venturi passage comprises an inflow portion for connection to the water conduit, a venturi throat of smaller diameter, and an outflow of larger diameterthan the venturi throat. All the outflow passages in the dispensing head lead to the delivery nozzle, and each is fed with its particularflavourconcentrate through a side passage meeting the outflow passage in the suction zone immediately downstream ofthe venturi throat.

The venturi passages can conveniently by formed in the dispensing head by machining bores the size of the venturi throats through the complete block and then opening each bore to a suitable larger diameter by machining from opposite ends ofthe block, to define the inflow and outflow passages.

It is of particular advantage that the apparatus ofthe invention can be mounted with onlythe dispensing head above the level of a bar-top. Preferably the dispensing head, on/off valves and pressure regulators are mounted on a single mounting frame or housing, with the water and concentrate conduits reaching down to a remote water supply and concentrate reservoirs. Using the apparatus ofthe invention it is possible to draw the concentrate from a reservoir up to six feet (1 .83m) below the level ofthe delivery nozzle, so that the reservoirs can if necessary be housed in a cellar ratherthan in the bar.It is also an advantage that all the on/offvalves and pressure regulators can be mounted on a single sub-frame immediately beneath the bar-top, so that they can be removed as a single unit for maintenance.

When the water source comprises a watertank and pump, the pump is preferably linked to the on/off valves which are suitably solenoid-operated valves connected in circuitwith the electrical operating the pump, so thatthe pump operates whenever any of the on/offvalves is open. Preferably the pump is one that establishes an overpressure of at least 50 p.s.i.

(344.850Pa) in thewatertank.

Figure lisa flow diagram illustrating a dispensing apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of part ofthe dispensing apparatus of Figure 1 ,with part of a housing broken awayto showthe internal components; Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the same part of the dispensing apparatus as Figure 1, again with part of the housing broken away; Figure 4 is a central vertical section through the dispensing head ofthe apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section taken along the line V-V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a large-scale section taken through the non-return valve atthe base of the flavour conduit of the apparatus of the preceding drawings;; Figure 8 is a section similarto that of Figure 4 through an alternative dispensing head; and Figure 9 is a section similarto thatof Figure 6 through the dispensing head of Figure 8.

Referring first to Figure 1, the apparatus comprises a water reservoir 1 which is supplied with water via a filter F and an electric pump P. The reservoir 1 is provided with cooling means (not shown) and is thermally insulated to maintain the water at about 4"C.

The reservoir 1 is also in heat exchange relationship with containers 2 for flavour concentrates or syrups, so that all ofthe liquid to be mixed and dispensed as soft drinks is cooled.

From the reservoir 1 the water passes up a water conduit 3 to a solenoid-operated on/offvalve4, and thence through a pressure regu lator 5 to a dispensing head 6. As will later be described with reference to Figures4to6,aventuri passage in the dispensing head 6 draws flavour concentrate up through a flavour conduit 7 for dilution in the dispensing head 6 priorto delivery through a nozzle 8.

A push button 9 actuates simultaneously the pump P and the solenoid valve 4, so that the pump is not running continuously. It will be understood that a separate water conduit 3, on/offvalve 4, pressure regulator5,flavourconduit7 and push button 9wiil be provided for each flavour, although only one of each is illustrated in Figure 1. Each push button 9 has the dual funcition of energizing the pump 9 and energizing the associated valve 4, and circuitry is provided to ensure that only one push-button 9 can be effective at a given time.

Figures 2 and 3 use where appropriate the same reference numerals as Figure 1 except that in Figure 3 the three different sets of water conduit 3, on/off valves 4, pressure regulators 5, flavour conduits 7 and switches 9 are identified by affixing primes as appropriate to distinguish two ofthe sets.

In Figure 2the valves 4and pressure regulators 5 are shown as mounted onasub-framel0which can be removed as a sub-unitfrom the assemblyforservic ing. A bolt 11 clamps the entire assembly to a bar-top 12, so that a cover 13 a nd the dispensing head 6 are presented above bar level, with the sub-frame 10 below bar level. The switches 9 are mounted on the cover 13.

Figures4to 6showthe construction ofthe dispensing head 6. Three venturi passages 1414' and 14" converge from inlet ports 15, 15' and 1 5"to the nozzle 8, which has a single nozzle aperture 16 to guide the final outflow of liquid.

Each venturi passage comprises a venturi throat 17 (or 17' or 17") leading from the inlet port 15 and an outflow passage 18 of larger diameter than the throat leading to the nozzle 8. Asuction zone is created immediately downstream of each venturi throat, and intothis suction zonethere opens a side passage 19 (or 19' or 19") for connection to the appropriate flavour conduit 7.

Suitable diameters ofthe various bores in the dispensing head are: fortheventurithroat, one sixteenth of an inch (1.5875 mm); forthe outflow passage, seven sixty-fourths of an inch (2.7781 mm); and forthe side passage, one eighth of an inch (3.175 mm).

Figure 5 shows how an internal radial rib 20 is provided in the nozzle 8to encourage mixing ofthe flavour concentrate and the water asthe drink is dispensed.

Figure 7 illustrates the particularform of a non-returnvalve21 which is provided atthe bottom end of each flavour conduit7 in the syrup container 2.

A ball 22 normally seats on a valve seat 23 to prevent downward flow ofthe flavour concentrate. When the concentrate is drawn upwardly through the conduit7 the ball 22 is drawn upwardly bythe viscous concentrate until it is stopped by dimples 24. On termination of the waterflowthrough the associated venturi throat 17, the suction ceases and the ball 22 drops. When it enters a narrow clearance portion 25 ofthe non-return valve, its further downward travel causes the concen trate to flow down the conduit7 for a limited amount until the ball again seats on the seat 23. This draws a small quantity of water into the branch conduit 19 at the top end thereof, which avoidscross-contamina- tion oftheflavours if a differentflavour is chosen for the next delivery.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a preferred form of dispensing head 6, in which the nozzle 8 has separate nozzle apertures 16' for each of the three outflow passages 18. This aidstheflavourseparation of the different drinks being dispensed, and eliminates cross-flavouring. Also of importance in the design of the preferred dispensing head 6 is the surface 26 between each outflow passage 18 and its nozzle aperture 16'. The surfaces 26 are inclined at about 45" to axes of the respective outflow passages, and serve to deflect liquid from the outflow passages downwardly into the respective nozzle apertures 16' without creating a back-pressure that would interfere with the venturi effect.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A soft drink dispensing apparatus for dispens ing differentflavoured soft drinksfrom the same delivery nozzle on a dispensing head, comprising a water source and, for each flavour to be dispensed, a water conduit leading from the water source sequen tiallythrough an on/off valve and a pressure regulator to a venturi passage in the dispensing head leading to the delivery nozzle, and a flavour conduit leading from a reservoir for the respective flavour concentrate to a side passage in the dispensing head communicating with the venturi passage immediately downstream of its venturi throat, so that the passage of water from the watersourcethrough any one oftheflowvalves and its respective pressure regulator and thence through the connected venturi passage causes the appropriate flavour concentrate to besuckedthroughtheassoci- ated side passage and mixed with the water in the dispensing head to dilute the concentrate and dis pensetheappropriatelyflavoured drinkfromthe nozzle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1,whereinthe on/offvalves are solenoid-operated valves.

3. Appartus according to claim 2, wherein the water source is a tank having a pump for establishing an overpressure in the tank of at least 50 p.s.i. (344,850 Pa), and the pump is connected so as to operate only when one of the on/off valves is open.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the on/offvalves and each of the pressure regulators is mounted on a subframe removable as a single unitfrom the apparatus for maintenance purposes.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the nozzle is provided with a separate dispensing apertureforeach flavourto be dispensed.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each venturi passage delivers its liquid against an inclined surface at about 45" to the axis of the venturi passage, for deflecting the liquid downwardly into the respective dispensing aperture ofthe nozzle.

7. Asoftdrinkdispensing apparatus substantially as disclosed herein with referenceto Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings.

8. Asoft drink substantially as disclosed herein with reference to Figures 1 to 7 as modified by Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings.