Dispensing – Plural sources – compartment – containers and/or spaced jacket – Cabinet-type dispenser for single mixed drinks
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-07-31
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Plural sources, compartment, containers and/or spaced jacket
Cabinet-type dispenser for single mixed drinks
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267268
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The following patent applications for related subject matter,
“Modular Beverage Dispenser Components” (Attorney Docket 03629-0420);
“Improved Cold Plate” (Attorney Docket 03628-0530); and
“Water Tank And Pump System” (Attorney Docket 03628-0540);
all of which are incorporated herein by reference, have been filed concurrently with the present application by the assignee of the present application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to beverage dispenser systems and more particularly relates to a mounting block with a manifold for use with a syrup pump and a number of syrup pump accessories.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Beverage dispensers, such as those used for carbonated soft drinks and the like, are well known in the art. A beverage dispenser generally includes a series of syrup circuits and water circuits. The syrup circuits generally include a syrup source, an incoming syrup line, a syrup pump, a means of cooling the syrup, and a dispensing valve. 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 syrup pump pumps the syrup from the syrup source on to the cooling means and the dispensing nozzle. The cooling means may be a series of conventional syrup cooling coils located in an ice water bath or the cooling means may include a cold plate located under an ice chest. The syrup of the syrup circuits and the soda water from the water circuits are joined in the dispensing valve so as to produce the beverage. The beverage is then dispensed through a nozzle to the consumer.
The combination of these various beverage dispenser components, however, makes the construction or the repair of a beverage dispenser somewhat of a time consuming task. A typical beverage dispenser may have several of these syrup and water circuit components therein. The repair of a single component within the beverage dispenser generally requires the entire beverage dispenser to be taken out of service. Further, repair or replacement of any one of the components within a beverage dispenser may require the removal of several other components so as to gain access to the desired component.
For example, the removal of a single syrup pump from the beverage dispenser generally requires the entire beverage dispenser generally to be taken out of service. Replacement requires the removal of the various fittings connecting the pump to the syrup source and the cooling means and the removal of several screws, bolts, or other conventional types of fastening means. Removal of the syrup pump also inevitably leads to some spillage of the syrup within the pump or the lines. Further, each syrup pump generally has a number of accessories connected thereto. These accessories may include an air vent and an automatic selector valve. The air vent may be used to bleed the syrup line. The automatic selector valve is generally connected to two or more syrup sources. As one syrup source is extinguished, the automatic selector valve switches to the next source such that the syrup pump always has a continuous source of syrup. These accessories likewise must be removed whenever the syrup pump needs to be repaired or replaced.
What is needed, therefore, is a simplified means for the installation of and access to beverage dispenser components. These means should permit the quick installation and replacement of beverage dispenser components, such as a syrup pump or syrup pump accessories, without requiring the entire beverage dispenser to be shut down. Further, these goals must be accomplished in a cost efficient and safe manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention thus provides a mounting block for use with a beverage dispenser system having a pump and a pump accessory. The mounting block includes a frame and a manifold. The manifold includes a number of ports and a line connecting the ports, such that the pump and the pump accessory can plug into the ports for fluid flow between that pump and the pump accessory via the line.
Specific embodiments of the present invention include the manifold having a number of lines, such that at least each pair of the ports is connected by one of the lines. The manifold may include a first pump accessory line and a second pump accessory line. The first pump accessory line includes a first pump accessory port and a first pump port. The pump accessory plugs into the first pump accessory port and the pump plugs into the first pump port. If the beverage dispenser system includes a second pump accessory, the second pump accessory line includes a second pump accessory port and a second pump port. The second pump accessory plugs into the second pump accessory port and the pump plugs into the second pump port. If the beverage dispenser system also includes one or more fluid lines, the manifold also may include an internal fluid line with a fluid line port and pump accessory port. The fluid line plugs into the fluid line port and the pump accessory plugs into the pump accessory port. The manifold also may include a gas line having a first gas port and a second gas port.
The manifold may be made out of thermoplastics, ceramics, or stainless steel. The ports may each include a cut-off valve positioned thereon. The frame may be a substantially rigid thermoplastic. The frame includes a number of recesses positioned therein. The recesses align with the ports of the manifold. The recesses also include a pump recess for mounting the pump therein. The frame may include a plurality of connection fittings such that a number of the mounting blocks may be interconnected.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a beverage dispenser system. The beverage dispenser system includes a mounting block, a pump mounted on the mounting block, and a pump accessory mounted on the mounting block. The mounting block includes a number of ports connected by connection lines. The pump and the pump accessory are in fluid communication with each other through the mounting block.
The pump accessory may be an automatic selection valve. The automatic selection valve may have a number of syrup source lines connected thereto. The syrup may flow through one of the syrup source lines, through the automatic selection valve, through the mounting block, and into the pump. The pump accessory also may be an air valve. The air valve may have a dispenser line, such that syrup flows from the pump, through the mounting block, through the air valve, and into the dispenser line. The beverage dispenser system also may have a number of pump accessories mounted on the mounting block such that the pump and the pump accessories are in fluid communication with each other through the mounting block.
The pump may be an air-driven pump. The pump may include an air fitting. The connection lines may include an air line such that the air line is in communication with the air fitting of the air-driven pump.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a mounting block for use with a beverage dispenser system. The beverage dispenser system includes a number of syrup sources, a number of syrup source lines, a number of pump accessories, a pump, and an outgoing line. The mounting block includes a frame and a manifold positioned within the frame. The manifold may have a number of passageways therein such that the syrup source lines, the pump accessories, the pump, and the outgoing line can plug into the passageways for fluid flow therethrough. Specifically, fluid may flow from the plurality of syrup sources, through the syrup source lines, through the pump accessories, through the pump, and through the outgoing line. The beverage dispenser system may further include a gas source, a gas source line, and a pump-gas line. The passageways may then include a gas passageway, such that the gas source line and the pump-gas line can plug into the gas passageway for gas flow from the gas source, through the gas source line, through the pump-gas line, and into the pump.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will
Babson Brian
Goulet Douglas P.
Jaleel Ehab
Jersey Steven T.
Petrie Greg A.
Derakshani Philippe
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
The Coca-Cola Company
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