Patent Application
20240108195
Due in part to the environmental concerns associated with disposable or single use beverage containers, many consumers are increasingly opting to use reusable cups, reusable bottles and other types of reusable beverage containers. In addition, some retail establishments, such as coffee shops, donut shops, and restaurants, have been willing to fill customer-provided cups and other beverage containers, and some have even introduced reusable cup programs where customers are able to purchase a reusable cup at a low initial cost when purchasing a beverage and then present that same cup at a later date for a refill.
While such programs have proven to be beneficial for both consumers and retail establishments, ensuring that the reusable cups are clean and sanitary prior to filling can be a challenge. Some municipalities, for example, have instituted ordinances that require a retail establishment to clean a work space after handling a customer-supplied reusable cup. Furthermore, pandemic-related concerns have led many retail establishments to discontinue the use of reusable cups due to the potential for a transmission of germs or contamination.
Retail establishments that serve beverages often use commercial-style dishwashers to wash cups and other utensils. Such dishwashers, however, are often configured to handle a large number of utensils in each load, and even the fastest dishwashers can still have runtimes of several minutes or more. Such dishwashers are also relatively large and noisy, and as a result are often placed in a kitchen or other area that is outside of the range of customers. As a result, traditional commercial-style dishwashers have a number of characteristics that make them generally unsuitable for use in connection with cleaning customer-provided reusable beverage containers.
Therefore, a significant need exists in the art for a system capable of washing reusable cups and other beverage containers in a fast and sanitary manner, and in particular, a system capable of being utilized in a retail establishment to clean customer-provided reusable beverage containers prior to filling, and to do so in a manner that is both fast and compatible with a fast-paced retail environment.
The herein-described embodiments address these and other problems associated with the art by incorporating an auto-opening holder in a beverage container washing system that may be used for rapid washing and/or sanitizing of beverage containers, e.g., for use in a retail environment to wash and/or sanitize customer-provided beverage containers prior to filling the beverage containers with purchased beverages, among other applications. The auto-opening holder, in particular, may be used to laterally separate opposing grippers from one another when a housing is configured in a loading or unloading configuration to facilitate insertion and/or removal of a beverage container into or from the holder.
Therefore, consistent with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for washing a beverage container may include a housing defining a wash chamber, the housing including at least one opening to provide external access to the wash chamber for manual insertion or removal of a beverage container into or from the wash chamber when the housing is in a loading or unloading configuration, and the housing further being movable to a washing configuration to restrict external access to the wash chamber through the opening, a holder disposed within the wash chamber and configured to hold the beverage container in an inverted orientation during a washing operation, the holder including a base configured to support the beverage container when the beverage container is held by the holder in the inverted orientation, and opposing first and second grippers, each including a container engaging portion configured to engage the sidewall of the beverage container, and the first gripper being movable between a first position and a second position, where movement of the first gripper from the first position to the second position increases a lateral separation between the respective container engaging portions of the first and second grippers, and a holder separation mechanism operably coupled to the holder and configured to move the first gripper towards the second position to facilitate insertion or removal of the beverage container into or from the holder when the housing is in the loading or unloading configuration, the holder separation mechanism further configured to allow for movement of the first gripper towards the first position to hold the beverage container when the housing is in the washing configuration.
In some embodiments, the housing includes first and second concentric housing members, each of the first and second concentric housing members including an opening, and one of the first and second concentric housing members being disposed inwardly from the other of the first and second concentric housing members and defining at least a portion of the wash chamber, where the first concentric housing member is rotatable about an axis of rotation between a first position corresponding to the loading or unloading configuration of the housing and a second position corresponding to the washing configuration of the housing, where when in the first position, the opening of the first concentric housing member is aligned with the opening of the second concentric housing member to provide external access to the wash chamber, and when in the second position, the opening of the first concentric housing member is unaligned with the opening of the second concentric housing member to restrict external access to the wash chamber.
Also, in some embodiments, the holder separation mechanism is configured to automatically move the first gripper towards the second position in response to rotation of the first concentric housing member from the second position to the first position. Further, in some embodiments, the holder separation assembly includes a cam surface operably coupled to the first concentric housing member, and a follower operably coupled to the first gripper and configured to engage the cam surface. In some embodiments, the cam surface is upwardly or downwardly facing. In addition, in some embodiments, the cam surface is inwardly facing.
In some embodiments, the follower includes a lever arm extending from the first gripper. In addition, in some embodiments, the follower includes a rolling element configured to roll along the cam surface. Moreover, in some embodiments, the cam surface is integrally molded on the first concentric housing member.
In some embodiments, the holder separation mechanism includes an electro-mechanical actuator configured to automatically move the first gripper towards the second position when the housing is in the loading or unloading configuration. Moreover, in some embodiments, the electro-mechanical actuator includes a solenoid or electric motor.
In some embodiments, the first gripper is biased to the first position. In addition, in some embodiments, the second gripper is movable between a first position and a second position, and the holder further includes first and second hinges coupled to the base and respectively supporting the first and second grippers, the first and second hinges having respective pivot axes such that each of the first and second grippers moves between the respective first and second positions at least partially through rotation about the respective pivot axis.
In some embodiments, the respective pivot axes of the first and second hinges are substantially horizontally oriented and substantially parallel to one another, and each of the first and second hinges is spring-loaded to respectively bias the first and second grippers to the respective first positions. Moreover, in some embodiments, the container engaging portion of each of the first and second grippers includes a wire frame including four contact points arranged in a substantially rectangular arrangement, the wire frame of the container engaging portion of each of the first and second grippers includes first and second generally vertical members, first and second contact points among the four contact points for the wire frame of the container engaging portion of each of the first and second grippers are defined on the first generally vertical member, and third and fourth contact points among the four contact points are defined on the second generally vertical member. Also, in some embodiments, each of the first and second grippers further includes a wing portion adjacent the lateral opening, the respective wing portions of the first and second grippers configured to urge the first and second grippers toward the respective second positions when the beverage container is pushed into the lateral opening and against the respective wing portions. In some embodiments, the wing portion of each of the first and second grippers is a first wing portion and is oriented on a first side of the lateral opening, and each of the first and second grippers further includes a second wing portion disposed on a second, opposite side of the lateral opening from the respective first wing portion such that the beverage container may be passed through either of the first and second sides of the lateral opening during insertion into and/or removal from the holder.
In addition, in some embodiments, the base includes a substantially vertical portion that projects upwardly towards the beverage container when the beverage container is held by the holder in the inverted orientation and a substantially horizontal portion, the substantially vertical portion defines a first annular support configured to support a shoulder of the beverage container when the beverage container is a narrow mouth beverage container and the substantially horizontal portion defines a second annular support configured to support a lip of the beverage container when the beverage container is a wide mouth beverage container, and the substantially vertical portion extends externally to the beverage container when the beverage container is the narrow mouth beverage container and extends internally to the beverage container when the beverage container is the wide mouth beverage container.
Consistent with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for washing a beverage container may include first and second concentric housing members, each of the first and second concentric housing members including an opening, and one of the first and second concentric housing members being disposed inwardly from the other of the first and second concentric housing members and defining at least a portion of a wash chamber, where the first concentric housing member is rotatable about an axis of rotation between first and second positions, and where when in the first position, the opening of the first concentric housing member is aligned with the opening of the second concentric housing member to provide external access to the wash chamber, and when in the second position, the opening of the first concentric housing member is unaligned with the opening of the second concentric housing member to restrict external access to the wash chamber, a holder disposed within the wash chamber and configured to hold the beverage container in an inverted orientation during a washing operation, the holder including a base configured to support the beverage container when the beverage container is held by the holder in the inverted orientation, and opposing first and second grippers, each including a container engaging portion configured to engage the sidewall of the beverage container, and each being movable between respective first and second positions, where movement of each gripper from the respective first position to the respective second position increases a lateral separation between the respective container engaging portions of the first and second grippers, and each gripper is biased to the respective first position, first and second cam surfaces operably coupled to the first concentric housing member for movement therewith, a first follower operably coupled to the first gripper and configured to engage the first cam surface, and a second follower operably coupled to the second gripper and configured to engage the second cam surface, where the first cam surface is configured to displace the first follower to move the first gripper towards the respective second position when the first concentric housing member is rotated to the first position and the second cam surface is configured to displace the second follower to move the second gripper towards the respective second position when the first concentric housing member is rotated to the first position.
Consistent with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for washing a beverage container may include a housing defining a wash chamber, the housing including at least one opening to provide external access to the wash chamber for manual insertion or removal of a beverage container into or from the wash chamber when the housing is in a loading and/or unloading configuration, and the housing further being movable from the loading and/or unloading configuration to a washing configuration to restrict external access to the wash chamber through the opening during a wash cycle, and an auto-opening holder disposed within the wash chamber and configured to hold the beverage container in an inverted orientation during a washing operation, the auto-opening holder including opposing first and second grippers, each including a container engaging portion configured to engage the sidewall of the beverage container, and the first gripper being movable between a first position and a second position, where movement of the first gripper from the first position to the second position increases a lateral separation between the respective container engaging portions of the first and second grippers, and the auto-opening holder is configured to automatically move the first gripper towards the second position in response to movement of the housing from the loading and/or unloading configuration to the washing configuration.
Other embodiments may include various methods for making and/or using any of the aforementioned constructions.
These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments of the invention. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In some embodiments consistent with the invention, a beverage container washing system may be used to rapidly wash beverage containers, including, for example, reusable beverage containers such as may be provided by customers of a retail establishment.
A beverage container, in this regard, may be considered to be any type of container that is capable of holding a beverage for consumption, including, for example, a cup, a bottle, a bowl, etc. A beverage container may generally include a mouth or opening defined by a lip, and may or may not include a cap, a lid or other form of closure. A beverage container may be reusable to the extent that the beverage container may be reused multiple times, in contrast with a disposable or single use beverage container that is generally thrown away after use.
A beverage container washing system consistent with some embodiments of the invention may be used to wash or clean a beverage container. In some embodiments, a beverage container washing system may also be considered to be a sanitizing system that is also capable of sanitizing a beverage container to inactivate, reduce or destroy microorganisms on the surface of the beverage container, e.g., bacteria and other pathogenic organisms. Sanitization may be achieved through the use of high temperatures, ultraviolet irradiation, disinfecting agents, or some combination of the same, such that a sanitizing operation may be considered to be a particular type of washing operation where some degree of sanitization occurs in addition to washing or cleaning. It will be appreciated, however, that some of the concepts disclosed herein may be utilized in connection with washing systems that, while capable of washing or cleaning a beverage container, are not considered to sanitize the beverage container to the extent required to consider the beverage container as being sanitized at the completion of a washing operation.
It will also be appreciated that a beverage container washing system consistent with the invention may be, but is not necessarily, used in a retail environment (e.g., a bar, a coffee shop, a restaurant, etc.) to rapidly wash the beverage container of a customer prior to filling the beverage container with a beverage that has been purchased by a customer, e.g., in some instances, less than one minute, and in some instances, about 30 seconds or less. Further, a beverage container washing system consistent with the invention may be, but is not necessarily, used to rapidly wash a single, individual beverage container in a washing operation. In other embodiments, for example, some of the concepts disclosed herein may be utilized in non-retail environments, including within a consumer's home, an office environment, or any other environment for which it may be desired to wash beverage containers. Further, even within a retail environment, a washing system consistent with the invention may be used in non-customer facing applications, e.g., behind the counter, in the kitchen, etc. Further, some of the concepts disclosed herein may be adapted for use in connection with washing multiple beverage containers in a single washing operation, as well as washing operations that take one or more minutes to complete.
In the example embodiment discussed hereinafter, hot water (e.g., about 150 degrees/65 degrees Celsius or higher in some embodiments, or about 165 degrees Fahrenheit/74 degrees Celsius or higher in some embodiments), high pressure (e.g., about 100 psi or greater), high speed air for drying, and ultraviolet irradiation are used to rapidly wash and sanitize an individual beverage container, e.g., in about 30 seconds, and do so in a manner that has a minimal countertop space presence. Furthermore, in order to minimize interaction between a customer and retail establishment employee, separate entrance and exit openings are used, such that the opening in which a customer inserts an unwashed beverage container into the system prior to performing a washing operation is different from the opening in which a retail establishment employee removes the washed beverage container at the completion of the washing operation. A washing system consistent with the invention may, in some instances, move the beverage container between multiple stations to perform different actions, and in some instances, operate on different beverage containers concurrently in different stations. In other instances, a washing system consistent with the invention may perform all of the actions associated with a washing operation while the beverage container is maintained in the same location. It will be appreciated, however, that in other embodiments, a washing system consistent with the invention may use the same opening for insertion and removal of a beverage container, and may operate on multiple beverage containers at the same time. Further, in some embodiments, lower temperatures and/or pressures may be used, and ultraviolet irradiation and/or drying may be omitted, or additional actions, such as the introduction of detergents, disinfecting agents, etc. may be used. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein.
Further details regarding various components and features that may be implemented in a beverage container washing system consistent with the invention are also described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/490,879, which was filed on Sep. 30, 2021 by Digman et al. and is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and which is incorporated by reference herein.
Now turning to the drawings, wherein like parts are denoted by like numbers throughout the several views,
Counter 14 includes a countertop 16, and washing system 10 includes a countertop portion 18 that projects above countertop 16 and an undercounter portion 20 that is predominantly mounted within cabinet 12 to minimize the amount of countertop space occupied by countertop portion 18. In other embodiments, washing system 10 may be fully implemented in a countertop, standalone or undercounter configuration, so the invention is not limited to the particular combination of countertop and undercounter portions as illustrated herein. In some embodiments, the countertop portion may be fixed to a countertop, but he undercounter portion may be separated, or may be mounted on a cart to simplify installation and service.
With additional reference to
Countertop portion 18 also includes a holder 28 that is disposed within housing 22 and is configured to hold a beverage container during a washing or sanitizing operation. In addition, and with additional reference to
First, a spray assembly 30, including one or more sprayers (e.g., sprayer 38 as shown in
Now turning specifically to
As shown in
In some embodiments, controller 36 may also be coupled to one or more network interfaces 52, e.g., for interfacing with external devices via wired and/or wireless networks 54 such as Ethernet, Bluetooth, NFC, cellular and other suitable networks. It may be desirable, for example, to interface with one or more user devices 56, e.g., a customer's mobile phone, to enable a customer to start a washing operation, in some instances in connection with ordering and/or paying for a beverage. It may also be desirable to interface with various backend devices such as a point of sale (POS) system and/or a remote service 58. Moreover, in some embodiments, at least a portion of controller 36 may be implemented externally, e.g., within a mobile device, a cloud computing environment, etc., such that at least a portion of the functionality described herein is implemented within the portion of the controller that is externally implemented.
In some embodiments, controller 36 may operate under the control of an operating system and may execute or otherwise rely upon various computer software applications, components, programs, objects, modules, data structures, etc. In addition, controller 36 may also incorporate hardware logic to implement some or all of the functionality disclosed herein. Further, in some embodiments, the sequences of operations performed by controller 36 to implement the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented using program code including one or more instructions that are resident at various times in various memory and storage devices, and that, when read and executed by one or more hardware-based processors, perform the operations embodying desired functionality. Moreover, in some embodiments, such program code may be distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of computer readable media used to actually carry out the distribution, including, for example, non-transitory computer readable storage media. In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations described herein may be combined, split, reordered, reversed, varied, omitted, parallelized and/or supplemented with other techniques known in the art, and therefore, the invention is not limited to the particular sequences of operations described herein.
As noted above, controller 36 may be interfaced in some embodiments with one or both of housing 22 and holder 28. In the embodiment illustrated in
In other embodiments, however, no mechanical manipulation of a housing may be used, whereby controller 36 may not be electronically coupled to housing 22. For example, it may be desirable in some embodiments to keep an entrance opening and an exit opening open at all times, or to use a door or other manually or mechanically actuated closure.
In the illustrated embodiment of
For example, as illustrated by washing system 80 of
Now turning to
In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, it is desirable to recirculate wash fluid for use in multiple washing operations to reduce overall water and energy consumption. Rather than utilizing fresh water for each washing operation, the wash fluid may be reused for multiple washing operations, and in some instances, one or more fluid property sensors (e.g., a turbidity sensor and/or a conductivity sensor) may be used to monitor the state of the wash fluid and periodically perform a wash fluid refresh operation to drain at least a portion of the wash fluid to a drain and replace the removed portion with fresh water (referred to herein as make up water).
Wash fluid recirculation assembly 100, in particular, includes a tank 102 including first and second chambers 104, 106 with a cross-over 108 that fluidly couples first and second chambers 104, 106 to one another. First chamber 104 is generally used to house black water, while second chamber 106 is used to generally house gray water. Cross-over 108 may be implemented as an inverted conduit that is disposed below the fluid level of the wash fluid 110 disposed in tank 102, which generally reduces the amount of solid particles 112 (which generally fall to the bottom of first chamber 104 and thus below the inlet of the inverted conduit) and floating particles 114 (which generally float in first chamber 104 and thus above the inlet of the inverted conduit) that are drawn into second chamber 106. A collector 116 in base 66 of housing 22 collects wash fluid sprayed by sprayer 38, and the collected wash fluid is conveyed by a collector line 118 to first chamber 104 of tank 102.
Each chamber 104, 106 has an associated drain or outlet 120, 122, and tank 102 further includes a heater 124, e.g., a reheating element, that maintains the temperature of wash fluid 110 above the desired sanitizing temperature. Respective drain devices such as dump valves 126, 128 (also referred to as valves V1 and V2) are coupled to outlets 120, 122 and feed to a drain 130, e.g., in the building plumbing system. Dump valve 126 in some embodiments may also include an overflow line 132 to collect wash fluid when the fluid level rises above a predetermined level. In some embodiments, drain devices other than valves may be used in other embodiments, e.g., drain pumps, and in some embodiments, overflow may be controlled by a separate float that activates a drain pump.
A check valve 134 (also denoted as C1) is coupled between outlet 122 and dump valve 128 to route wash fluid to a filter 136 and then onward to a pump 138 through a recirculation line 140, and pump 138 pressurizes the wash fluid (e.g., to a pressure about 100 psi or above in some embodiments, and in some embodiments about 150 psi or above) and outputs the pressurized wash fluid to sprayer 38 through a sprayer supply line 142. In some embodiments, pump 138 may be a multi-stage pump, e.g., 1 hp, 17-stage pump. During a washing operation, wash fluid in the second chamber 106 of tank 102 is thus drawn out of outlet 122 and through filter 136 by pump 138, and then pressurized and supplied to sprayer 38 by pump 138. The wash fluid emitted by sprayer 38 is then collected in collector 116 of base 66 and returned to first chamber 104 of tank 102.
Fresh or make up water is supplied to tank 102 by a make up water line 144. In order to supply the fresh or make up water at a suitable temperature for washing or sanitizing operations, fresh water from a hot water supply 146 (e.g., output by a building water heater) may first be passed through a water heater booster 148, which maintains a quantity of water at an elevated temperature (e.g., about 150 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in some embodiments, and about 165 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in some embodiments). In other embodiments, however, fresh water may be supplied from a cold water supply and heated by water heater booster, and in some embodiments, water heater booster 148 may be omitted, with the temperature of the wash fluid in tank 102 predominantly controlled by reheating element 124.
Four additional valves, e.g., solenoid valves 150, 152, 154 and 156 (also denoted respectively as valves S1-S4), may also be incorporated into assembly 100. Valve 150 is a make up water valve, and is provided in make up water line 144 to control the supply of make up water to first chamber 104 of tank 102. Valve 156 is disposed in sprayer supply line 142, and is actuated when pump 138 is actuated to supply wash fluid to sprayer 38.
In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, filter 136 is a flushable filter and includes a second, cleanout outlet 158, and valve 152 is configured as a cleanout valve that couples cleanout outlet 158 to drain 130. Valve 154 in turn is configured as a filter clean valve that is coupled to make up water line 144 to supply fresh water to recirculation line 140 upstream of a filter element 160 of filter 136 through a fresh water supply line 162. It will be appreciated that when valves 152, 154 are closed and pump 138 is running wash fluid from tank 102 flows through an upstream portion of recirculation line 140, through filter element 160, and through the first outlet of the filter and a downstream portion of the recirculation line 140 to pump 138. However, whenever it is desirable to perform a filter cleaning operation (generally while pump 138 is shut off), valves 152 and 154 may be opened to supply fresh water to an outside or upstream side of the filter element 160 and then out cleanout outlet 158 to run fresh water over the outside of the filter element and flush any debris on the filter element into drain 130. In addition, in some embodiments, a check valve 164 (also denoted as C2) and a vacuum breaker 165 may also be provided in fresh water supply line 162 to inhibit reverse fluid flow to the make up water line 144. In other embodiments, gray water may be used to clean the filter, e.g., by coupling line 162 to an outlet of pump 138 instead of to a fresh water source, e.g., between pump 138 and valve 156, and with an additional valve controlling fluid flow through line 162.
Assembly 100 may also include a number of sensors to monitor the operation of the assembly and initiate various actions in response thereto. A fluid level sensor 166 may be disposed in tank 102 to sense a fluid level therein, and the controller may utilize the output of this sensor to control make up water valve 150 to maintain a desired fluid level in the tank. A temperature sensor 168 may be disposed in tank 102 to sense the wash fluid temperature, and the controller may utilize the output of this sensor to control reheating element 124 to regulate the wash fluid temperature in the tank. One or more fluid property sensors, e.g., a turbidity sensor 170, a conductivity sensor, and/or another sensor suitable for measuring various fluid properties, may also be disposed in tank 102, e.g., in second chamber 106, or otherwise disposed elsewhere in assembly 100, to sense the water quality and/or cleanliness of the wash fluid, and the controller may utilize the output of this sensor to trigger a wash fluid refresh operation that drains at least a portion of the wash fluid to drain 130 and adds fresh water to tank 102.
A pair of pressure sensors 172, 174 (also denoted as P1 and P2) may also be disposed upstream and downstream of filter element 160 (e.g., within upstream and downstream portions of recirculation line 140), and the controller may utilize the outputs of these sensors to sense a pressure differential indicative of a dirty or clogged filter element, and thereby trigger a filter cleaning operation. An additional pressure sensor 176 (also denoted as P3) and a flowmeter 178 may also be disposed downstream of pump 138, e.g., in sprayer supply line 142, and the controller may use the outputs of these sensors to monitor the supply of wash fluid to sprayer 38. As will also be discussed in greater detail below, a dryer assembly may also include one or more blowers, e.g., a blower 180, that supply air to one or more air knives.
Sequence 200 may be initiated, for example, in response to selection of a “start” control by a customer or employee, e.g., on a physical user interface provided on the washing system, via a foot pedal or switch, via a gesture or audible command, on a display of a POS system, on an app running on a mobile device, or another suitable manner for starting a washing operation. In block 202, activation of the control is detected, and in block 204, the washing system is moved from the loading position to the washing position (e.g., by rotating inner concentric housing member 64 with drive motor 72).
Next, in block 206, the pump of the spray assembly and the UV lights of the ultraviolet sanitizing assembly are activated to initiate spraying of the beverage container by sprayer 38 and irradiation of the beverage container with ultraviolet light (in another embodiment, the spray assembly and UV lights may be activated sequentially rather than concurrently). In addition, during this time pressure sensors 172-176 and flowmeter 178 are monitored to track the output flow of pump 138, as well as to monitor the pressure differential on the upstream and downstream sides of filter 136.
After some period of time, the pump is shut off and blower 180 of the dryer assembly is activated in block 208 to transition between washing the beverage container and drying the beverage container. Then, in block 210, the turbidity (or another property of the wash fluid) is sensed using sensor 170, and thereafter, the blower and UV lights are shut off in block 212, whereby the washing or sanitizing operation is complete.
Next, in block 214, the washing system is moved from the washing position to the unloading position (e.g., by rotating inner concentric housing member 64 with drive motor 72) to enable the beverage container to be removed from the holder in the wash chamber. Confirmation of removal of the beverage container is obtained in block 216 by detecting activation of an appropriate control (e.g., the same control used to start the washing operation in block 202 or a different control). Blocks 218 and 220 then determine whether conditions were detected indicating the need for either or both of a wash fluid refresh operation and a filter clean operation, and if neither operation is needed, control passes to block 222 to move the washing system from the unloading position to the loading position (e.g., by rotating inner concentric housing member 64 with drive motor 72) to prepare the washing system for a next washing operation. It will be appreciated that in embodiments where the loading and unloading positions are the same, block 222 may be omitted. Block 224 then determines, e.g., using fluid level sensor 166, whether the wash fluid level in the tank is below a threshold (e.g., where the wash fluid level has dropped below a minimum level), and assuming not, performance of sequence 200 is complete.
Returning to block 218, this block determines whether a need exists for a wash fluid refresh operation by determining if the turbidity sensed in block 210 (or another sensed fluid property) meets a threshold, e.g., where the turbidity of the wash fluid exceeds a level for which it is desired to flush at least a portion of the wash fluid from the tank and replace it with fresh water. If so, block 218 passes control to block 226 to perform a wash fluid refresh operation. In such an operation, one or both of dump valves 126 and 128 (or drain pumps, if used) may be actuated to drain at least a portion of the wash fluid in tank 102, and make up water valve 150 may be actuated to add make up water to the tank. In addition, during such an operation the filter may be cleaned concurrently with the flushing and refilling of wash fluid in some embodiments.
In one example embodiment, a wash fluid refresh operation may incorporate the following sequence of actions:
It will be appreciated that other sequences may be used in other embodiments. Moreover, while in some embodiments a wash fluid refresh operation may replace all wash fluid with fresh water, in other embodiments only a portion of the wash fluid may be flushed and replaced with fresh water.
Returning to block 220, the block determines whether a need exists for a filter cleaning operation by determining if the pressure differential between pressure sensors 172, 174 meets a threshold, e.g., a pressure differential greater than some threshold that indicates that fluid flow through the filter has been impeded to an extent that cleaning of the filter is desirable. If so, block 220 passes control to block 228 to clean the filter, e.g., by actuating cleanout valve 152 and filter clean valve 154 to run fresh water over the outer surface of the filter element.
In one example embodiment, a filter cleaning operation may incorporate the following sequence of actions:
Returning to block 224, the block determines whether a need exists to add make up water to the tank by determining if the wash fluid level sensed by fluid level sensor 166 meets a threshold, e.g., is below a minimum fluid level. If so, block 224 passes control to block 230 to actuate make up water valve 150 to add makeup water, until the fluid level sensor indicates that the tank is full, whereby valve 150 may be shut off. In some embodiments, block 224 may be performed at the same time as blocks 218 and 220; however, it may be desirable to defer block 224 to allow for wash fluid in the wash chamber to have time to fully drain into the tank before checking the fluid level in the tank.
It will be appreciated that, assuming none of the supplemental operations of blocks 226, 228 and 230 are required, the bulk of the runtime of a washing operation is occupied by the washing, UV sanitizing and drying actions performed in blocks 206-212, and it will also be appreciated that the UV sanitizing action overlaps in time with each of the washing and drying actions, such that, for example, if the washing action takes X seconds and the drying action takes Y seconds, the UV sanitizing action takes Z=X+Y seconds. In other embodiments, particularly where a holder is moved between multiple stations, however, the UV sanitizing action may overlap only a portion of one or both of the washing and drying actions, or may not overlap with either of the washing and drying actions at all. In addition, it will be appreciated that moving between the loading, washing, and unloading positions may also occupy some time within a washing operation in some embodiments. It may be desirable in some embodiments, for example, to provide a washing operation having a duration of about 45 seconds or less, with, for example, about 5 seconds used to move from the loading position to the washing position, about 30 seconds for the washing action, about 5 seconds for the drying action, about 30 seconds for the UV sanitizing action (concurrent with the washing action, or alternatively in another embodiment about 35 seconds concurrently with both the washing and drying actions), and about 5 seconds to move from the washing position to the unloading position.
It will be appreciated that washing system 10 may vary in other embodiments in a number of manners. For example, an additional filter may be used in first chamber 104 of tank 102 in some embodiments to filter wash fluid before it is transferred to second chamber 106. Further, in some embodiments, a separate rinse action may be performed using a source of fresh water after the washing action. Further, in some embodiments, one or more disinfecting agents, e.g., various hypochlorite sanitizing compositions, may be introduced into tank 102 and maintained at a minimum level based upon sensing by a suitable sensor. In addition, further operations, such as startup operations that initialize the washing system, and shutdown operations that flush the washing system and shut down all components, may also be supported.
It may also be desirable in some embodiments to incorporate a heated wash fluid circulation system into a beverage container washing system in order to maintain a desired temperature of wash fluid at the ready for a next wash cycle. In particular, it has been found that significant temperature discrepancies may exist in various locations in a washing system, particularly when the washing system has not been used for some period of time. Given the desirability of performing a washing action in 30 seconds or less in some embodiments, as well as the desirability of relying on the heat of the wash fluid to sanitize a utensil (e.g., using a wash fluid at a sanitizing temperature of about 150 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in some embodiments, and about 165 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in some embodiments), it is generally desirable for the wash fluid emitted by the sprayer 38 to be at the desired sanitizing temperature as soon as possible after the washing action has been initiated. However, even as the wash fluid in tank 100 is maintained at the desired sanitizing temperature by heater 124, a not-insignificant quantity of wash fluid may nonetheless be retained in the components that are intermediate tank 100 and sprayer 38, including, but not limited to filter 136, main pump 138, recirculation line 140, and sprayer supply line 142, such that at the initiation of a washing action through activation of main pump 138, the wash fluid retained in those components will flow through the components and be emitted by the sprayer prior to the wash fluid maintained at the desired temperature in tank 100 ever reaches the sprayer. Thus, if the wash fluid retained in the intermediate components is allowed to cool, e.g., as a result of non-use of the washing system for some period of time, it may take several seconds for the fluid maintained at the desired temperature in the tank to reach the sprayer so that the utensil being washed is being sprayed with wash fluid at the desired temperature.
Furthermore, non-use of a washing system for some period of time may also, in some instances, allow for temperature discrepancies to develop in different levels of tank 100, such that even some of the wash fluid that is retained in the tank may not be at the desired temperature when a washing action is initiated.
As a result of these discrepancies, the duration of a washing action may need to be extended to ensure that a sufficient duration of spraying at the desired sanitizing temperature is achieved, otherwise washing performance may be inconsistent depending upon how long the washing system has remained in an idle state.
In order to address these issues, in some embodiments of the invention it may be desirable to incorporate a heated wash fluid circulation system into a beverage container washing system in order to circulate heated wash fluid in one or more lines intermediate the tank and the sprayer of the washing system in order to maintain a desired wash fluid temperature within the one or more lines.
Returning to
It will be appreciated that various factors such as the flow rate or pressure of the circulation pump and/or the amount of insulation (if any) used on the recirculation line may affect the degree of heat loss that occurs during circulation, and that, for example, the temperature setpoint for tank 102 may be controlled in some embodiments to account for the expected heat loss, such that a temperature in the recirculation line is maintained at a suitable sanitizing temperature if desired. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor 192 may be coupled to return line 184, or alternatively to recirculation line 140 and/or sprayer supply line 142, to enable the wash fluid temperature to be monitored, and in some instances, controlled to a predetermined setpoint.
It may also be desirable in some embodiments to also include a mixer 194 in tank 102 (e.g., in chamber 106) to stir wash fluid in the tank and thereby reduce temperature variations within the tank. In some embodiments, mixer 194 may be a magnetic mixer, although in other embodiments, a mechanical mixer or other suitable mechanism for stirring or agitating the wash fluid in tank 102 may be used.
In the embodiment of
As one specific example,
In addition, a solenoid valve 196 (also designated as S5) is coupled between sprayer supply line 142 and return line 184′. In operation, when main pump 138 is active during a washing action, solenoid valve 196 is closed while solenoid valve 156 is open such that pressurized wash fluid is directed from main pump 138 and through spray supply line 142 to sprayer 38. Conversely, when main pump 138 is idle and circulation pump 190 is activated, solenoid valve 196 is open while solenoid valve 156 is closed to circulate heated wash fluid through recirculation line 140, return line 184′ and tank 102. By coupling return line 184′ to the high pressure side of main pump 138, the thermal mass of main pump 138 (which can be considerable) is incorporated into the circulation path of the heated wash fluid, thereby promoting greater temperature stability throughout the recirculation system.
Now turning to
In some embodiments, for example, the activation and deactivation criteria may be based upon whether the main pump is active. By doing so, the circulation pump may be active any time the main pump is idle. In some embodiments, the determination may be based specifically upon whether the main pump is currently active, while in other embodiments, the activation state of the main pump may be inferred from the state of the washing system, e.g., such that the circulation pump is shut off whenever a washing cycle is being performed, or whenever a washing cycle is determined to be in a phase during which the main pump is not active.
In other embodiments, the activation and/or deactivation criteria may be based upon whether the main pump has not been active for a predetermined time period. Thus, for example, if the washing system is being used on a regular basis, with relatively short durations between each washing cycle, the mixer and/or circulation pump may remain deactivated, while if the washing system has not been used for a sufficient period of time that allows the wash fluid temperature in the recirculation line to drop below a desirable level, the heated wash fluid circulation system may be activated.
In other embodiments, the activation and/or deactivation criteria may be based upon a sensed temperature, e.g., by temperature sensor 192, such that the heated wash fluid circulation system may be activated when the temperature has dropped below a predetermined setpoint and deactivated once the temperature returns to a suitable level.
In still other embodiments, the activation and/or deactivation criteria may be based upon a periodic activation cycle for the heated wash fluid circulation system, e.g., such that the circulation pump and/or mixer run at predetermined intervals and/or for predetermined durations.
Further, in some embodiments, multiple criteria may be used together, e.g., so that the heated wash fluid circulation system is run at periodic intervals, but only when the main pump is idle. Other variations will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill having the benefit of the instant disclosure, and therefore the invention is not limited to the specific criteria discussed herein.
As noted above, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to utilize a washing system design that incorporates a pair of concentric housing members that are supported on a base, with an inner one of the concentric housing members being disposed inwardly from the outer one of the concentric housing members and forming at least a portion of a wash chamber, and with each of the concentric housing members including an opening. Beverage container washing system 10 of
With further reference to
It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the mere alignment or misalignment of opening 70 and entrance and exit openings 24, 26 may be sufficient to inhibit the escape of wash fluid from wash chamber 68. It should also be noted that opening 70 as illustrated in the figures does project radially from the inner cylindrical wall defining the wash chamber such that an edge of opening 70 may touch or at least define a reduced gap between opening 70 and the inner cylindrical wall of outer concentric housing member 64. In other embodiments, however, it may be desirable to also include a sealing arrangement on one or both of concentric housing members 62, 64 (e.g., around one or more of openings 24, 26 and 70) to further inhibit the escape of wash fluid from wash chamber 68.
With additional reference to
Furthermore, in order to controllably rotate inner concentric housing member 62 between the different relative positions, a position detector, e.g., an encoder or other suitable position sensor, may be used. In one embodiment, for example, a position detector may be implemented by a set of stationary three reed switches 262, 264, 266 configured to sense a magnet 268 coupled to inner concentric housing member 62 when the opening 70 is in each of the loading, washing and unloading positions. Other position detector configurations may be used in other embodiments, however, so it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the particular configuration illustrated in
As noted above in connection with
In the specific case of beverage container washing system 10, which incorporates a rotatable inner concentric housing member 62, for example, it is generally desirable to provide a flow of air to wash chamber 68, but do so in a manner that accommodates the rotatable nature of inner concentric housing member 62.
In the illustrated embodiment, and with further reference to
One or more air knife openings 304 are defined in inner concentric housing member and are in fluid communication with air knife chamber 300 to direct a flow of air toward a beverage container 280 while the beverage container is held by holder 28 in wash chamber 68. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, an annular arrangement of four radially-offset and arcuate air knife openings 304 (which at least partially circumscribe the axis of rotation A) are used, which are separated from one another by four tabs 306 that support a central hub 308 having a central nipple 310. As seen in
Air is suppled to air knife chamber 300 from a stationary air supply conduit 312 that is in fluid communication with blower 180 to receive a supply of pressurized air. In the illustrated embodiment, at least a portion of conduit 312 extends substantially vertically along a side of outer concentric housing member 64, around a top side of outer concentric housing member 64, and then through an opening 314 formed in the top side of outer concentric housing member 64.
Air knife chamber 300 is in fluid communication with stationary air supply conduit 312 through a rotary seal 316, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by a three concentric tubes 318, 320, 322 that are all axially aligned with the axis of rotation A. Concentric tube 318 is an upwardly-facing tube that defines an air inlet for air knife chamber 300, while concentric tube 320 is a downwardly-facing tube that extends downwardly from stationary air supply conduit 312 and forms an air outlet therefor. Concentric tube 322 is also downwardly-facing, but extends downwardly from outer concentric housing member 64 and defines opening 314. In the illustrated embodiment, concentric tube 322 is inward of concentric tube 318, and concentric tube 320 is inward of concentric tube 322, with at least portions of all three concentric tubes overlapping with one another to form the rotary seal. Moreover, in some embodiments, rotary seal 316 also functions as an axle for rotation of inner concentric housing member 62 to rotate about axis of rotation A. As such, air from stationary air supply conduit 312 may be provided to wash chamber 68 through rotating concentric housing member 62.
It will be appreciated that other rotary seals may be used in other embodiments, so the invention is not limited to the concentric tube arrangement illustrated in
As also noted above in connection with
Ultraviolet sanitizing lights, which are generally formed by arrays of ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LEDs), or alternatively by other devices capable of emitting ultraviolet light (e.g., incandescent or halogen lights), are susceptible to being attenuated by materials lacking sufficient transmissivity to ultraviolet wavelengths, and in some instances, UV LEDs may require special materials that offer a unique transmissivity, as the UV light may be attenuated even by some visually translucent materials. As such, it may be desirable in some embodiments to avoid the high cost of creating large parts that are UV light transmissive by restricting the amount of material between the UV LEDs and the beverage container to be sanitized. In the illustrated embodiment, therefore, incorporating UV LEDs into the inner concentric housing member 62 may reduce potential transmissivity issues, and may even allow for the inner concentric housing member 62 to be formed from a material that is translucent or transparent to visible light but that is more opaque to ultraviolet light. Various materials that may be used in some embodiments are polycarbonate, acrylic, standard Glass, etc., although other materials may be used. In some instances, this may even provide a pleasing visual effect for users, as the visual light emitted by the UV LEDs may be visible through the inner (and outer, if formed of a similar material) concentric housing member 62, while still blocking user exposure to ultraviolet wavelengths.
In the illustrated embodiment, and with continuing reference to
It should be noted that in some embodiments ultraviolet light 330 may be positioned on outer concentric housing member 64 such that opening 70 of inner concentric housing member 62 faces ultraviolet light 330 when in the washing position, such that three ultraviolet lights 40 may be disposed on inner concentric housing member 62, and with all four ultraviolet lights 40, 330 evenly spaced in 90 degree increments about the axis of rotation to provide relatively full coverage of the outer surface of beverage container 280. It should also be noted that some ultraviolet lights, e.g., ultraviolet light 332, may be positioned to irradiate an inner surface of beverage container 280.
In order to power ultraviolet lights 40, a slip ring 334 may be coupled between inner and outer concentric housing members 62, 64, with, for example, a rotatable portion 336 coupled to inner concentric housing member 62 and a stationary portion coupled to outer concentric housing member 64. Slip ring 334 may utilize various electromechanical constructions, including rotary electrical contacts, commutators, rotary transformers, rotary unions, pancake slip rings, wireless slip rings, etc., and wiring harnesses (not shown) both on the stationary and rotatable sides of the slip ring may be used to route the electrical power to each ultraviolet light 40. Further, slip ring 334 may be positioned elsewhere within housing 22, e.g., along the top or side wall of inner concentric housing member 62, at the base of inner concentric housing member 62, etc.
Various ultraviolet light constructions may be used for ultraviolet lights 40 in different embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, each ultraviolet light 40 may extend substantially vertically along a side wall of inner concentric housing member 62, and in some instances, and as best illustrated in
The mounting arrangement 340 in some embodiments may include an ultraviolet transmissive cover 342 that overlays ultraviolet light 40 to permit ultraviolet light transmission into wash chamber 68, and that further seals the ultraviolet light from the wash chamber. In some instances, the cover 342 may be mounted, welded or otherwise secured to inner concentric housing member 62, while in other instances, the cover may be integrally molded thereto. In either instance, it is generally desirable for the other walls of inner concentric housing member 62 to be formed of an ultraviolet blocking material that inhibits ultraviolet light transmission through the walls of inner concentric housing member 62.
The mounting arrangement may 340 may also include one or more openings 344 formed in a wall of inner concentric housing member 62 and aligned with a plurality of UV LEDs 346 disposed on a circuit board 348. By doing so, circuit board 348 may be positioned on an outer surface of inner concentric housing member 62, with the UV LEDs 346 positioned to emit ultraviolet light through openings 344. In addition, in some embodiments, it may also be desirable to incorporate a heat sink 350, which may run along a portion or the entire length of circuit board 348 and be thermally coupled thereto, and serve to further seal the circuit board from the surrounding environment.
It will be appreciated that different numbers and/or orientations of ultraviolet lights may be used in other embodiments, e.g., two ultraviolet lights having respective angular positions about the axis of rotation A spaced about 90 to about 180 degrees, or less, from one another, three ultraviolet lights having respective angular positions about the axis of rotation A spaced about 90 to about 120 degrees from one another, four ultraviolet lights having respective angular positions about the axis of rotation A spaced about 90 degrees or less from one another, etc. In one example embodiment, for example, two opposing ultraviolet lights may be supported on inner concentric housing member 62 and two opposing ultraviolet lights may be supported on outer concentric housing member 64 such that ultraviolet lights are oriented in 90 degree increments when the inner concentric housing member 62 is in the washing position.
Now turning to
Base 360 is desirably adapted to support beverage containers having various diameter mouths or openings.
In the illustrated embodiment, for example, base 360 includes a substantially vertical portion 370 that projects upwardly towards the beverage container when the beverage container is held by the holder in the inverted orientation, and that defines a first annular support that may be used to support beverage containers having mouths or openings that are smaller than a predetermined amount, such that a narrow mouth beverage container such as beverage container 366 of
Also, in the illustrated embodiment, retainer 362 includes a pair of opposing grippers 378, 380. Each gripper 378, 380 includes a container engaging portion 382, 384 that is configured to engage the sidewall of the beverage container (e.g., sidewalls 386, 388 of beverage containers 366, 368 of
Each gripper 378, 380 is supported on holder 28 through a hinge 390, 392, each of which pivots about a respective pivot axis B, C such that each of grippers 378, 380 moves between its respective first and second positions at least partially through rotation about the respective pivot axis B, C of hinge 390, 392. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, each hinge 390 is a spring-loaded hinge that biases each gripper 378, 380 to its first position as shown in
Each gripper 378, 380 also includes a pair of wing portions 394, 396, 398, 400 that are used to facilitate insertion of a beverage container into the holder. Wing portions 394, 398 are disposed on a first side of lateral opening 364 and wing portions 396, 400 are disposed on a second, opposite side of lateral opening 364, and each wing portion 394-400 is inclined relative to an insertion direction such that when the beverage container is pushed into the lateral opening and against the wing portions (wing portions 394, 398 on one side of lateral opening 364, and wing portions 396, 400 on the other side of lateral opening 364), grippers 378, 380 are urged toward their respective second positions.
Holder 360 may be formed using various materials, and is desirably formed of materials that are water and rust resistant. Further, holder 360 desirably has a construction that minimizes the amount of surface area of the beverage container that is blocked from ultraviolet radiation and/or spray of wash fluid while the beverage container is held by the holder. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, holder 360 is predominantly formed of a wire frame, e.g., a cast metal or welded stainless steel wire frame including a truss-like support structure.
Base 360, for example, may include a pair of rings 402, 404 defining a perimeter of the base and supporting a plurality of (e.g., four) wires 406, 408, 410, 412 that effectively define the substantially vertical portion 370 and substantially horizontal portion 372 of base 360 through corresponding horizontal and vertical portions of each wire, e.g., as shown in
Also, in the illustrated embodiment, each container engaging portion 382, 384 includes a set of four contact points 414A-D, 416A-D disposed in a substantially rectangular or diamond arrangement. Moreover, due to the pivoting nature of grippers 378, 380, depending upon the diameter of the beverage container held by the holder, all eight contact points 414A-D, 416A-D may contact the sidewall of the beverage container, or only a subset of four of contact points 414A-D, 416A-D may contact the sidewall of the beverage container. Beverage container 366 of
With additional reference to
Next, with reference to
When inner concentric housing member 502 is rotated to the orientation illustrated in
In this configuration, the orientation illustrated in
Beverage container washing system 500 also illustrates an alternative ultraviolet sanitizing assembly 528 and dryer assembly 530 that may be suitable for use in some embodiments. Ultraviolet sanitizing assembly 528 in this embodiment includes a first pair of ultraviolet lights 532, 534 that are mounted to inner concentric housing member 502 in a similar manner to ultraviolet lights 40 as described above, with each positioned on opposite sides intermediate openings 510, 512, as well as a second pair of ultraviolet lights 536, 538 that are mounted to outer concentric housing member 504 and positioned on opposite sides intermediate openings 514, 516. In this configuration, and as seen in
Dryer assembly 530 in this embodiment includes a pair of stationary through opening air knives 540, 542 that are supplied by a blower and, as illustrated in
Now turning to
In some embodiments, for example, an auto-opening holder may include a holder separation mechanism that is operably coupled to the holder and configured to move one or more grippers of the holder away from one another to increase the lateral separation between the portions of the grippers that engage a beverage container and thereby facilitate insertion or removal of the beverage container into or from the holder when the housing is in the loading or unloading configuration. In addition, the holder separation mechanism may also be configured to allow for movement of the grippers back towards one another to hold the beverage container when the housing is in the washing configuration. As will become more apparent below, in some embodiments the grippers may be spring-biased such that movement of the grippers back towards one another is driven by the springs that bias the grippers towards one another. In other embodiments, however, e.g., where one or more electromechanical actuators are used to manipulate the gripper(s), movement of the gripper(s) may be positively controlled by the holder separation mechanism.
In addition, as will become more apparent below, in some embodiments an auto-opening holder may be configured to activate and deactivate automatically in response to movement of a housing between a washing configuration and a loading and/or unloading configuration, and in some embodiments, the actual movement of a portion of the housing may be used to drive such activation/deactivation. In other embodiments, however, opening of an auto-opening holder may be performed independently of movement of a housing, e.g., using one or more electromechanical actuators that are activated or deactivated based in part on the current configuration of the housing.
In one example embodiment, an auto-opening holder may be actuated using a cam and follower arrangement driven based upon movement of a portion of a housing. As illustrated in
Housing 602 includes an inner concentric housing member 606 and an outer concentric housing member 608 configured as concentric domes that are generally dome shaped and have generally cylindrical sidewalls, with inner concentric housing member 606 being rotatable and driven by a drive motor (not shown), similar, for example, to beverage container washing systems 10 and 500 discussed above. Outer concentric housing member 608 may be fixed or stationary. In this embodiment, inner concentric housing member 606 includes multiple openings, e.g., first and second openings 610, 612, while outer concentric housing member 608 includes first and second openings 614, 616 (e.g., entrance and exit openings, respectively), with each pair of openings disposed on substantially opposite sides from one another (e.g., about 180 degrees angularly offset from one another), similar to beverage container washing system 500 discussed above. When in a washing configuration (
Disposed within wash chamber 604 is a holder 618 including a base 620 and a pair of opposing grippers 622, 624, and similar in many respects to holder 28 discussed above in connection with
Each gripper 622, 624 includes a container engaging portion 630, 632 that is configured to engage the sidewall of beverage container 626, and each is movable between respective first and second positions, where in the first positions the container engaging portions 630, 632 are closer to one another than when in the second positions, and the lateral opening formed therebetween is thus narrower when the container engaging portions 630, 632 are in the first positions than when in the second positions. Each gripper 622, 624 is supported on holder 618 through a hinge 634, 636, each of which pivots about a respective pivot axis such that each of grippers 622, 624 moves between its respective first and second positions at least partially through rotation about the respective pivot axis of hinge 634, 636. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, each hinge 634, 636 is a spring-loaded hinge that biases each gripper 622, 624 to its first position. While the invention is not so limited, each hinge 634, 636 is supported by base 620 and the pivot axes are substantially horizontally oriented and substantially parallel to one another. It will be appreciated that other mechanisms for biasing each gripper may be used in other embodiments, and that other manners of supporting each gripper for movement between different positions (e.g., incorporating some degree of linear movement) may be used in other embodiments. Furthermore, more than two grippers may be used in some embodiments, and in some embodiments, only a subset of the grippers may be movable and/or only a subset of the grippers may be moved by a holder separation mechanism.
In the embodiment of
Followers 640, 642 in some embodiments may ride along cam surfaces 644, 646 through sliding engagement; however, in the illustrated embodiment, rolling elements, e.g., wheels, 648, 649 may be utilized on followers 640, 642 to roll along cam surfaces 644, 646 and thereby decrease frictional resistance.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the lateral separation provided between grippers 622, 624 may be sufficient for a beverage container to pass freely through the lateral separation without contacting either gripper. In other embodiments, however, a beverage container may still contact either gripper during insertion or removal, but with the additional lateral separation the amount of force required by a user when manually inserting or removing the beverage container to spread the grippers apart may be substantially reduced, and the risk of scratching the beverage container may also be reduced.
Other types and orientations of cam surfaces and followers may also be used in other embodiments.
Each gripper 672, 674 includes a container engaging portion 680, 682 that is configured to engage the sidewall of a beverage container, and each is movable between respective first and second positions, where in the first positions the container engaging portions 680, 682 are closer to one another than when in the second positions, and the lateral opening formed therebetween is thus narrower when the container engaging portions 680, 682 are in the first positions than when in the second positions. Each gripper 672, 674 is supported on holder 668 through a hinge 684, 686, each of which pivots about a respective pivot axis such that each of grippers 672, 674 moves between its respective first and second positions at least partially through rotation about the respective pivot axis of hinge 684, 686. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, each hinge 684, 686 is a spring-loaded hinge that biases each gripper 672, 674 to its first position. While the invention is not so limited, each hinge 634, 636 is supported by base 620 and the pivot axes are substantially horizontally oriented and substantially parallel to one another.
In the embodiment of
As illustrated in
Still other cam and follower arrangements may be used in other embodiments. For example, a cam surface may face upwardly, outwardly or in other directions. Moreover, as illustrated in
Now turning to
In this embodiment, a holder separation mechanism 734 includes a lever arm 736 operably coupled to gripper 728, as well as a control arm 738 that is pivotable about a pivot axis P and that is positioned adjacent to an electro-mechanical actuator 740, e.g., a solenoid or electric motor. As illustrated in
Various modifications may be made as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, many of the various holder designs described herein may be adapted for automatic opening as described herein. In addition, in some embodiments, multiple grippers of a holder may be mechanically linked together, rather than being independently movable. In still other embodiments, a holder separation mechanism may include a pin that extends above the pivot point of a gripper and that is selectively engaged by a rib or pin to pull the gripper away from a beverage container. In still other embodiments, grippers may not be spring loaded, and may be moved between multiple positions through electromechanical actuation, e.g., via motors or solenoids. Other modifications will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill having the benefit of the instant disclosure.
It will be appreciated that, while certain features may be discussed herein in connection with certain embodiments and/or in connection with certain figures, unless expressly stated to the contrary, such features generally may be incorporated into any of the embodiments discussed and illustrated herein. Moreover, features that are disclosed as being combined in some embodiments may generally be implemented separately in other embodiments, and features that are disclosed as being implemented separately in some embodiments may be combined in other embodiments, so the fact that a particular feature is discussed in the context of one embodiment but not another should not be construed as an admission that those two embodiments are mutually exclusive of one another. Various additional modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments consistent with the invention. Therefore, the invention lies in the claims hereinafter appended.
