Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – With means to move supply means and/or receiver to – from or... – Relatively receding filling tube and receiver engaging means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-24
2001-05-22
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
With means to move supply means and/or receiver to, from or...
Relatively receding filling tube and receiver engaging means
C141S263000, C141S002000, C141S018000, C141S356000, C141S192000, C222S146600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234222
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the automated dispensing of a carbonated beverage into open containers.
The present invention arose during ongoing efforts by the inventor to improve carbonated beverage dispensing systems. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,363 entitled “Apparatus For Dispensing A Carbonated Beverage With Minimal Foaming”, issuing on Feb. 18, 1997, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,732 issuing on Oct. 22, 1996, both incorporated herein by reference, the inventor discloses systems for dispensing carbonated beverage, such as beer or soda, into an open container. The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,363 discloses the bottom filling of carbonated beverage into an open container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,732 discloses the use of a bar code reader to read indicia on the open container when placed beneath the nozzle that indicates the volume of the open container in order to automate the dispensing procedure, and preferably various aspects of on site accounting and inventory procedures. In these systems, the carbonated beverage is dispensed from a nozzle that has an outlet port placed near the bottom of the open container, i.e. the open container is bottom filled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is an automated carbonated beverage dispensing system that dispenses carbonated beverage automatically in a controlled manner into an open container. An automated container positioning apparatus is provided to raise and lower the open container relative to the nozzle outlet port.
As in the prior systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,603,363 and 5,566,732, it is desirable that the outlet port of the nozzle be located proximate to the bottom of the open container at least until the outlet port is submerged. Thereafter, in accordance with the invention, it may be desirable to selectively position the open container relative to the outlet port of the nozzle while the carbonated beverage fills the open container in order to achieve a desired presentation of the carbonated beverage in the open container. This is achieved automatically by placing the open container on or into a movable container holder (e.g., a cantilevered horizontal platform) prior to initiating the dispensing cycle. An electronically controlled actuator moves the container holder during the dispensing cycle vertically relative to the outlet port on the nozzle. In this manner, the container holder as well as the open container are selectively positioned in accordance with a pre-selected pouring profile such that for a given dispensing temperature, pressure, and flow profile, the container holder selectively positions the open container. This feature is especially desirable for malt beverages, such as beer, inasmuch as it allows the vendor or the supplier to program a preferred or several preferred presentations for the malt beverage.
The invention is also useful for soft drinks, not only because it provides preselected pouring profiles, but also because it provides a convenient mechanism to simplify the efficient addition of ice to the open container. Preferably, ice is added the open container after the open container is placed underneath the nozzle such that the outlet port of the nozzle is proximate the bottom of the open container when the ice is being added to the container. In any event, it is possible to automatically customize the position of the open container for the dispensing of ice independently and/or contemporaneously with the dispensing of the soft drink. Preferably, the ice is supplied to the open container through a funnel having a outlet through which the downwardly extending carbonated beverage nozzle extends. The ice is supplied circumferentially around the nozzle and into the open container. In order to reduce foaming, the carbonated beverage should be chilled prior to dispensing to a temperature that approximately matches the surface temperature of the ice. The carbonated soft drink should remain in a pressurized state until immediately prior to dispensing the carbonated beverage, in order to control the amount of carbonation within the beverage prior to dispensing the beverage.
Other features and advantages of the invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art upon inspecting the drawings and reviewing the following description thereof.
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Dispensing Systems, Inc.
Douglas Steven O.
Haas George E.
Quarles & Brady LLP
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