GB2135898A

GB2135898A - Apparatus for dispensing and mixing carbonated beverages

Info

Publication number: GB2135898A
Application number: GB08401317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mogens Petersen
Original assignee: Wittenborg ApS
Current assignee: Wittenborg ApS
Priority date: 1983-02-01
Filing date: 1984-01-18
Publication date: 1984-09-12
Also published as: DK155254B; DK155254C; DK39583D0; FR2540264A1; FR2540264B1; DE3402134A1; DK39583A; GB8401317D0; GB2135898B; JPS59146393A; IT8419364A0; IT1173168B; IT8419364A1

Abstract

A dispensing unit for dispensing carbonated beverages in cups (33) in a vending machine comprises a conduit (2) for delivery of carbonated water and at least one conduit (3) for delivery of syrup. The water conduit (2) and the syrup conduit (3) are enclosed in a cooling device (1) and the delivery opening (21) of the syrup conduit is of such a shape that the syrup is sprayed 22 into the water jet (23) during the dispensing action and is mixed as the constituents enter the cup 33. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A dispensing unit for dispensing portions of carbonated beverages The invention relates to a dispensing unit for dispensing portions of carbonated beverages in cups in a vending machine, said unit comprising a conduit for dispensing water and at least one conduit for dispensing syrup.

The known vending machines delivering carbonated beverages are encumbered with problems in ensuring a satisfactory mixture of the syrup in question and the carbonated water. Apparatuses are known which initially deliver the syrup in portions into the bottom of a cup and subsequently fill said cup with water. Such a mixture is, however, only satisfactorily mixed when the delivered syrup is relatively hot and slightly liquid. However, the relatively hot syrup involves a quick release of the carbon dioxide and consequently an undesired strong formation of froth which has a tendency to overflow the rim of the cup and smudge the surroundings, whereby a growth of yeast cells and bacteria inside the machine may be involved.Other machins exist where the mixture of the syrup and the water is started prior to the flowing out through the supply line,which, however, implies that already insise the delivery opening of the supply line the content of sugar in the mixture falls to a level which is dangerous since various nutrient cultures and balstomycetes may arise. This risk does not apply when the syrup has not yet been mixed with water at this step.

The dispensing unit according to the invention is characterised in that both the water conduit and the syrup conduit are associated with a cooling device, and that the delivery opening of the syrup conduit is shaped in such a manner that the syrup is sprayed into the water jet during the dispensing.

As a result a unit is provided which ensures that both the syrup and the carbonated water are kept at a suitably low temperature permitting a mixing of the syrup and the carbonated water without involving a quick release of the carbon dioxide. At the same time it is ensured that the mixture of syrup and water is carried out outside the supply conduit, i.e.

during the movement from the dispensing unit to the cup. In this manner a good and efficient mixing is ensured. The presence of the cooling device ensures that the temperature of the syrup and the water is always the best temperature independent of the time passed since the last delivery of a beverage portion.

According to the inventionthe water conduit and each syrup conduit may be surrounded by a common cooling jacket for a predetermined length, the cooling jacket extending in close vicinity to the front ends of said conduits, a refrigerant flowing in said cooling jacket. As a result, a particularly simple dispensing unit is obtained.

Furthermore according to the invention, the delivery opening of each syrup conduit may be shaped in such a manner that the angle between the syrup jet and the water jet is from about 60 to 90 , seen from the side, whereby a particularly advantageous embodiment of the dispensing unit is obtained.

The delivery opening of each syrup conduit may according to the invention be shaped in such a manner that the syrup is dispensed in a thin film substantially perpendicular to the water jet, whereby a particularly good mixture is obtained.

In addition the front part of both the water conduit and each syrup conduit projecting from the common cooling jacket may be shaped as a common unit, i.e.

a dispensing head detachably connected to the cooling jacket and the remaining parts of the respective corresponding conduits. in this manner it is possible to replace the common unit in an easy manner, said unit thus forming a replaceable dispensing unit. Such a replacement is of particular importance for cleaning purposes.

According to the invention the dispensing unit may be associated with a plate with an opening permitting passage of the water and syrup dispensed, said plate being situated in such a manner that its opening is centrally situated aboe the cup during the dispensing, and outside the opening the plate may extend in a covering manner at least to the area adjacent the rim of the cup. As a result, the surroundings are well protected against possible splashes from the cup.

Furthermore according to the invention the plate is advantageously shaped as a circular plate with a centrally located circular opening, and it may comprise securing means detachably securing said plate on the remaining part of the dispensing unit, whereby an easy replacement and a cleaning of the plate are permitted.

The securing means is preferably shaped as a conduit completely surrounding the delivery ends of the water conduit and the syrup conduits.

Finally according to the invention the dispensing unit may be pivotably mounted and connected to activating means in such a manner that its respective delivery openings are automatically turned into close vicinity of the rim of a cup when a beverage portions is to be delivered. In this manner the delivery openings of the dispensing unit can be situated particularly close to the rim of the cup during the dispensing of beverages, whereby the risk of splashes is minimized. The unit can be situated so close to the rim that the plate closes the opening of the cup around the water and syrup jet completely.

The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the head of the dispensing unit according to the invention, illustrated in the dispensing position immediately above a cup, Figure 2 is on a larger scale a sectional view of the head of the dispensing unit with a plate and in connection with a cup, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic, sectional view perpendicularto the water jet of a syrup conduit and a water jet substantially taken along the line I-I of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is on a larger scale an exploded view of the front part of the dispensing unit of Figure 1 in connection with another embodiment of a protecting plate.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-4 of a dispensing unit is particularly suited for a vending machine of the type described in U.K. Patent Application No. 82 27610, whereby the cups are filled with a chosen drink inside the machine. This embodiment comprises a tubular cooling jacket 1 surrounding a conduit 2 for carbonated water and four conduits 3, 4, 5, and 6 for various kinds of syrup. The cooling jacket surrounds the conduits completely. At the rear end, seen in the flowing direction of the water and the syrup, the cooling jacket is connected with an inlet conduit 7 and an outlet conduit 8 for circulating refrigerant of a suitable type such as water. At this end the cooling jacket 1, the conduits for carbonated water and syrup are connected with corresponding flexible conduits, of which only a few appear from Figure 1.Figure 1 thus illustrates one conduit 9 for the carbonated water and two conduits 10 and 11 for syrup.

The jacket 1 of the dispensing unit, which contains the conduits 2-6, is U-shaped and at the rear end seen in the flowing direction of the carbonated water, provided with means 12, 13 for a pivotable mounting of the dispensing unit in connection with actuating means not shown. These mounting means 12, may, of course, be of many different shapes or be of many different types.

The pivotable suspension ensures a possibility of turning the dispensing unit about an axis 14. At the front end of the cooling jacket 1, the water conduits and the syrup conduits extend outwards through an end piece 15. As particularly illustrated in Figure 4, the syrup conduits are situated along a circle around the water conduit 2. At the end each syrup conduit is provided with a syrup delivery nozzle 16, 17, 18, and 19, cf. Figure 4. These nozzles are shaped as a plug, cf. Figure 2 only illustrating a single syrup conduit 3 with a delivery nozzle 17, said plug being retained through friction at the end of the syrup conduit. Each syrup delivery nozzle comprises an axially extending channel 20, cf.Figures 2 and 3, which at the back communicates with the interior of the syrup conduit in question, e.g. 3, and in front communicates with a radially extending opening 21. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, this opening 21 is defined by two parallel surfaces having a mutual distance of preferably 0.5 mm, seen in the axial direction of the nozzle, as well as two radially extending surfaces extending substantially perpendicular to the two parallel surfaces and forming a mutual angle of preferably 90 .

This particular shape of the opening ensures that the syrup flowing out is spread in a thin sheet or film.

The openings of each syrup delivery nozzle are furthermore situated in such a manner that the syrup film 22 delivered from the syrup delivery nozzle in question, cf. Figures 2 and 3, is centrally directed into the middle of the water jet 23 flowing out of the water conduit 2 during the dispensing.

The parts of the water conduit and the syrup conduits 2, 3, 4, and 5 situated outside the cooling jacket 1 may be shaped as a separate unit together with the end piece 15 mentioned above, cf. Figure 4, said end piece in addition carrying a tubular part 25.

This separate assembly forms a dispensing head provided with the general reference numeral 26. By means of fixing screws 27, only one being illustrated, the dispensing head can be secured to a junction member 28 present inside the cooling jacket 1 in a generally known manner by means of an intermediate gasket 29. In this manner the desired connection between the interior parts of the conduits and the exterior parts of said conduits is provided in a sealing manner As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the dispensing head 26 is connected with a circular protecting plate 30 by means of a securing member 31 welded thereon. This circular plate 30 comprises a centrally located transverse opening 32 and is situated in such a manner that the water jet 23 passes freely through said opening during the dispensing procedure, cf.

particularly Figure 2. Furthermore, the protecting plate 30 is situated in such a position, said plate extends horizontally across the opening of the cup adjacent the rim 34 of said cup, cf. Figure 2 too. The securing means 31 of the protecting plate can be secured on the dispensing head in many various manners not shown in details, but it is preferably detachably secured in such a manner that it is easily detached for cleaning. the securing means may also be a tube 35, cf. Figure 4, and thereby surround the protruding conduits 2-5 of the dispensing head 26 completely. The tube 35 may be provided with projections 36,37, cf. Figure 4, for securing a suitable drip tray 38 with an outlet hose 39 secured thereon.

In use the dispensing unit is turned at a suitable signal over a cup 33 whereafter the dispensing of the beverage portion in question is started, the dispensing of the carbonated water and the desired syrup being started substantially simultaneously. During the procedure the syrup flows in a thin film 22 into the water jet 23 under an angle preferably in an interval from 60 to 90 , seen from the side.

The conduits present inside the cooling jacket are preferably made of stainless steel and ensure thereby the U-shape of the dispensing unit. The jacket 1 is preferably made of a resilient tube materiai of any suitable, known type ensuring a suitable insulation.

the preferred temperature maintained inside the cooling jacket is 0.SO.

The protecting plate is also preferably made of a 1 mm thick plate of stainless steel and shaped with a suitably rounded side and internal rim around the opening. The protecting plate is of an external diameter of 82 mm and an internal diameter of 32 mm.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Many modifications may be carried out without thereby deviating from the scope of the invention. The individual parts may for instance be made of many different materials such as plastic materials, and be of other shapes than those illustrated and described.

Claims

1. Adispensing unitfordispensing portions of carbonated beverages in cups in a vending machine, said unit comprising a conduit for dispensing water and at least one conduit for dispensing syrup, characterised in that both the water conduit and the syrup conduit are associated with a cooling device, and that the delivery opening of the syrup conduit is shaped in such a manner that the syrup is sprayed into the water jet during the dispensing.

2. A dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the water conduit and each syrup conduit are surrounded by a common cooling jacket for a predetermined length, the cooling jacket extending in close vicinity to the front ends of said conduits, a refrigerant flowing in said cooling jacket.

3. A dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the delivery opening of each syrup conduit is shaped in such a manner that the angle between the syrup jet and the water jet is from about 60 to 90 , seen from the side.

4. A dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, characterised in that the delivery opening of each syrup conduit is shaped in such a manner that the syrup is dispensed in a thin film substantially perpendiculartothe water jet.

5. A dispensing unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims 2-4, characterised in that the front part of both the water conduit and each syrup conduit projecting from the common cooling jacket is shaped as a common unit, i.e. a dispensing head, detachably connected to the cooling jacket and the remaining parts of the respective corresponding conduits.

6. A dispensing unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims 1-4, characterised in that it is associated with a plate with an opening permitting passage of the water and syrup dispensed, said plate being situated in such a manner that its opening is centrally situated above the cup during the dispensing, and that outside the opening the plate extends in a covering manner at least to the area adjacent the rim of the cup.

7. A dispensing unit as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the plate is shaped as a circular plate with a centrally located circular opening, and that it comprises securing means deteachably securing said plate on the remaining part of the dispensing unit.

8. A dispensing unit as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the securing means is shaped as a tube completely surrounding the delivery ends of the water conduit and the syrup conduits.

9. A dispensing unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims 1-8, characterised in that it is pivotably mounted and connected to activating means in such a manner that its respective delivery openings are automatically turned into close vicinity of the rim of a cup when a beverage portion is to be delivered.

10. A dispensing unit substantially as described above and with reference to the accompanying drawing.