Dispensing – Drip – leakage or waste catching or disposal
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2001-05-29
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Drip, leakage or waste catching or disposal
C222S129100, C222S146600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237810
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser, and more particularly relates to a beverage dispenser with modular components for simplified and efficient assembly, repair, and replacement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Beverage dispensers, such as those used for carbonated soft drinks and like, are well known in the art. Examples of known beverage dispensers include commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,310 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,048, both entitled “Beverage Dispenser”, and commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,188, entitled “Convertible Beverage Dispenser”. These patents are incorporated herein by reference.
As is shown in these references, most beverage dispensers include a water bath with a refrigeration deck positioned thereon. The refrigeration deck supports the refrigeration equipment, such as a compressor. The compressor generally is connected to a series of evaporation coils positioned within the water bath. The evaporation coils remove heat from the water of the water bath as is known to those skilled in the art so as to provide cooling.
A beverage dispenser also generally includes a series of syrup circuits and water circuits. The syrup circuits generally include an incoming syrup line, a syrup pump, and a series of syrup cooling coils positioned within the water bath. Alteratively, a cold plate system also could be used. The source of the syrup may be a bag-in-box, a figal, a syrup tank, or any other type of conventional syrup source. The water circuits generally include an incoming water line, a water pump, a carbonator, and a series of water cooling coils positioned within the water bath or the cold plate. The source of the water is generally tap water or any other type of conventional water source. The carbonator adds carbon dioxide bubbles to the incoming water stream so as to produce soda water. The syrup circuits and the water circuits are then joined at a dispensing valve for mixing. The syrup and the water are cooled in the respective cooling coils or the cold plate so as to provide the beverage at the appropriate temperature. The beverage is then dispensed through the dispensing valve nozzle.
To construct a beverage dispenser, one generally starts with the water bath. One or more plates are bolted onto the water bath. Mounting blocks for the dispensing valves are then bolted onto the plates. The dispensing valves themselves are then attached by bolts, screws, or other conventional types of fastening means. Several additional brackets are also attached. The water pump and the syrup pumps are then attached to these brackets by bolts, screws, or other conventional types of fastening means. Each of the dispensing valves and the pumps also has various fittings. The dispensing valves and the pumps are then connected by multiple fluid lines. Finally, the electronics and other controls may be installed.
In sum, the construction of a beverage dispenser is a time consuming process because it requires the coordination and cooperation of multiple elements. The installation of each element of the dispenser requires multiple screws, fittings, and fluid lines. Further, because of the large number of elements, repairing or replacing one component is often difficult. Repair or replacement of one component often requires the entire beverage dispenser to be taken out of service.
What is needed, therefore, is a simplified means for constructing a beverage dispenser. Such a beverage dispenser should have significantly fewer parts so as to provide for a simplified and efficient construction. Such a beverage dispenser also should permit simplified and efficient replacement of parts. Further, the beverage dispenser itself should be reasonably priced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a modular mounting block for a beverage dispenser. The modular mounting block includes a number of pump compartments and a number of dispensing valve compartments formed integrally within the mounting block.
Specific embodiments of the present invention may include the modular mounting block being made out of a thermoplastic material. The pump compartments may include a number of syrup pump compartments and at least one water pump compartment. The dispensing valve compartments each may include a recess positioned therein and supports for a syrup conduit and a water conduit. The modular mounting block also may include a number of footings and an overflow conduit.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a modular beverage dispenser. The modular beverage dispenser includes a water bath with a mounting block fixedly attached thereto. The mounting block includes a number of pump compartments and a number of dispensing valve compartments. A water pump is positioned within a first one of the pump compartments, a syrup pump is positioned within a second one of the pump compartments, and a dispensing valve is positioned within one of the dispensing valve compartments. The first pump compartment may be a water pump compartment and the second pump compartment may be a syrup pump compartment. Any number of water pump compartments and syrup pump compartments may be used. The mounting block and the water bath may be made from a thermoplastic material. The water bath may include a drip path molded therein while the mounting block may include an overflow conduit in alignment with the drip path of the water bath.
The water pump is placed into the first pump compartment and then retained by a snap fit, a screw, a bolt, or other conventional types of fastening means. The syrup pump is placed into the second pump compartment and then may be retained by a snap fit, a screw, a bolt, or other conventional types of fastening means. Further, the dispensing valve is placed into the one of the dispensing valve compartments and then may be retained by a snap fit, a screw, a bolt, or other conventional types of fastening means.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a number of fluid lines to be connected to the water pump, the syrup pump, and the dispensing valve. One or more of these fluid lines may include a quick disconnect fitting. The quick disconnect fitting includes a retractable plunger positioned within a housing. The retractable plunger also includes an arm so as to position the retractable plunger within the housing. In use, the dispensing valve snaps into one of the quick disconnect fittings for connection to one of the fluid lines.
The method of the present invention provides for the construction of a beverage dispenser. The method includes the steps of securing a mounting block onto a water bath, with the mounting block including a number of pump compartments and dispensing valve compartments. The method further includes the steps of placing a water pump within one of the pump compartments, placing a syrup pump within another one of the pump compartments, and placing a dispensing valve within one of the dispensing valve compartments. The method may further include the step of attaching the fluid lines to the water pump, the syrup pump, and the dispensing valve. The fluid lines may include a quick disconnect fitting such that the dispensing valve snaps into the quick disconnect fitting. The beverage dispenser may have a number of the dispensing valves operating therein. The method of the present invention also provides for the removal of one of the dispensing valve while continuing to operate the remaining valves of the beverage dispenser.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4272968 (1981-06-01), Harvill
patent: 4319441 (1982-03-01), Credle
patent: 4592490 (1986-06-01), McMichael
patent: 4615466 (1986-10-01), Credle, Jr.
patent: 4781310 (1988-11-01), Credle, Jr. et al.
patent: 4801048 (1989-01-01), Credle, Jr. et al.
patent: 4903862 (1990-02-01), Shannon et al.
patent: 4951719 (1990-08-01), Wiley et al.
p
Bomberg Kenneth
Sutherland & Asbill & Brennan LLP
The Coca-Cola Company
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