Patent Application
20080277420
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid dispensing equipment and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to methods and an apparatus for providing modular components in a beverage dispensing tower.
2. Description of the Related Art
Product dispensers in the beverage dispensing industry typically are hard plumbed, and have a life expectancy of approximately seven years. However, the product side of the product dispensing market changes rapidly, as food product manufacturers continuously create products aimed to capture a particular group of customers. Illustratively, beverage dispensing trends have moved from predominantly carbonated beverages to non-carbonated beverages, including waters, flavored waters, teas, juices, and the like. As such, retail account owners often find themselves with a product dispenser that is incapable of delivering newly popular products.
Problems arise when retail account owners desire to change their product availability. If the product dispenser is minimally upgradeable, it may not accommodate the newly desired product list. Some products may require particular hardware on the tower, but a single tower dispenser does not provide the flexibility to remove and replace a portion of the tower. The problems are compounded when the beverage dispenser must be removed from a dispensing location to be retrofit, thereby forcing the establishment to lose sales and customers while the product dispenser is being retrofit.
Accordingly, a product dispenser that is reconfigurable in the field would be beneficial to product dispenser owners, product consumers, as well as product dispenser manufacturers.
In accordance with the present invention, a dispenser includes a plurality of towers (the term “tower” means a modular component that can take the shape of a tower or any other shape). Each of the towers may be connected to one or more dispense points and deliver fluids to these dispense points.
In a first embodiment, a first tower is coupled to a first array, thereby extending a first fluid circuit to the dispense points disposed on the first tower, and a second tower is coupled to a second array, thereby extending a second fluid circuit to any dispense points disposed on the second tower. It should be understood that the fluid circuits may be above, behind, to the side, or in any other physical relationship to the towers. A third tower may also be coupled to a third array, thereby extending a third fluid circuit to any dispense points disposed on the third tower. The towers may be secured to a dispenser housing (or may be molded as one unit with the dispenser and its housing), and may further be secured to each other to provide restraint and to ensure that the dispense points of the varying towers are aligned.
In a second embodiment, the third tower is replaced with a mounting member disposed between the first and second towers. The mounting member includes dispense points attached thereto. The second embodiment further includes flexible tubing disposed between a third array of the product dispenser and the dispense points, thereby providing the ability to reconfigure product delivered to the dispense points disposed in the mounting member.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser having a plurality of towers, wherein a fluid is dispensed from dispense points disposed on the towers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide removable towers on the dispenser, wherein the towers are removable and replaceable in the field.
It is still further an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser with a plurality of arrays disposed on a top plate.
Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the following. Also, it should be understood that the scope of this invention is intended to be broad, and any combination of any subset of the features, elements, or steps described herein is part of the intended scope of the invention.
a provides an exploded view of a dispenser including multiple tower sections according to the first embodiment.
b provides a detail view of the towers according to the first embodiment.
a provides a perspective view illustrating a housing product circuit according to the first embodiment.
b provides a detail view of the interfacing product lines according to the first embodiment.
a provides a flowchart illustrating the method steps for installing multiple towers according to the first embodiment.
b provides a flowchart illustrating the method steps for replacing at least one tower on a product dispenser according to the first embodiment.
a provides a perspective view of tower sections according to a second embodiment.
b provides a perspective view of tower sections according to an extension of the second embodiment.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is further to be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components or steps.
As shown in
The tower section 131 is fitted with three dispense points 102, wherein the dispense points 102 are product valves 114. While the tower section is disclosed with three valves 114, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that only one is required and that any number of product valves may be utilized. The tower section 131 includes a first tower casing 135, a first tower cap 147, a first mounting member 144, and a first tower product circuit 170. In this first embodiment, the first tower casing 135 is of a hollow rectangular construction, and includes a first end 153 and a second end 154. The first tower product circuit 170 passes through the first tower casing 135 from the first end 153 to the second end 154 en route to the first mounting member 144, which may be a faucet plate. The first tower casing 135 may be constructed from any material suitable to provide structural support to components disposed directly, or indirectly, on the first tower 131, including multiple product valves 114, the first mounting member 144, and the like. Illustratively, in this example, the first tower casing 135 includes a body 138 having a hollow rectangular cross section, a first inter-tower face 160, and a working face 161. The first tower cap 147 is a rectangular shaped box that is of a size complementary to at least one dimension of the cross section of the first tower casing 135, such that the first tower cap 147 fits onto the first tower casing 135 and closes out the second end 154 of the first tower casing 135. The first tower cap 147 further includes an aperture 158 that provides passage of the product lines from the first tower product circuit 170 from the interior of the body 138 to the first mounting member 144.
The first end 153 of the first tower casing 135 includes a mounting flange 155 extending from the working face 161, and a mounting flange 156 extending from the side of the body 138 opposite the first inter-tower face 160. The mounting flange 155 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first tower casing 135, and includes at least one mounting aperture 151. The mounting flange 156 is similarly disposed substantially perpendicular to the first tower casing 135, and includes at least one mounting aperture 157. The working face 161 includes apertures 163 that are disposed in proximity to the first inter-tower face 160.
The first mounting member 144 is planar in shape and extends from the first inter-tower face 160 and along the working face 161 of the first tower casing 135. The first mounting member 144 may be shortened or lengthened to accommodate a desired number of dispense points 102. The first mounting member 144 further includes tubing apertures 166 that allow the product lines of the first tower product circuit 170 disposed within the first tower 131 to be aligned at a spacing consistent with a spacing of product valves 114, such that product valves 114 may be successfully attached and removed from the first mounting member 144. The first mounting member 144 further includes an attachment point 167 disposed substantially perpendicular to the face housing the dispense points 102.
The first tower product circuit 170 includes product lines disposed within the tower section 131, and further includes a first end 175 and a second end 176. In this specific example, the first tower product circuit 170 includes tower product lines 300-306 in order to support the dispense points 102. The first ends 175 are disposed in an arrangement complementary to a mating array of the housing 110. In this example, the first ends 175 are disposed in a first tower array 220 that is complementary to a first array 210 of the housing 110, and the second ends 176 extend through the tubing apertures 166 of the first mounting member 144 for connection to the dispense points 102. While the invention has been disclosed with multiple product lines disposed within the tower section 131, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a single product line may be utilized to support a single dispense points 102 in delivering a single product, or two product lines may be utilized to support a dispense points 102 in delivering a reconstituted product. The first tower product circuit 170 may be constructed from virtually any lines suitable for use with product dispensing systems. Illustratively, in this first embodiment, the first tower product circuit 170 are constructed from stainless steel, and include suitable connections for adapting to the product lines of the housing 110, such as the example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,348. Suitable connections are also provided for adapting to the product valves 114 disposed on the first tower 131. In this example, the connections to the product valve 114 are dole fittings. The first tower 131 still further includes an insulation disposed within the first tower 131, such that the product lines of the first tower product circuit 170 are fixed at a proper spacing. In this first embodiment, the insulation 172 is a foam-in-place insulation that must be blown and cured.
On assembly, the tower cap 147 is attached to the second end 154 of the tower casing 135. The mounting member 144 is then attached to the tower cap 147 utilizing any suitable means, including mechanical fasteners, welding, or the like. Next, the second ends 176 of the product lines of the first tower product circuit 170 are placed into the tower casing 135, such that the second ends 176 protrude from the apertures 158 of the mounting member 144. The first ends 175 are then fixtured in the first tower array 220, such that they are in proper alignment with the first array 210 of the housing 110. Once the first and second ends 175 and 176 are properly aligned, the tower may be filled with insulation, thereby permanently disposing the product lines in correct alignment. Further assembly entails the product valves 114 being attached to the first mounting member 144.
The tower section 132 is substantially symmetrical to the tower section 131, and includes a tower casing 136, a tower cap 179, a mounting member 145, and a second tower product circuit 180. The tower casing 136 is similar in construction and form to the tower casing 135, and includes a body 184 having a rectangular cross section. The body 184 includes a second working face 187, and a second inter-tower face 186. The tower cap 179 is symmetrical to the tower cap 147 and is complementary to at least one dimension of the cross section of the tower casing 136, such that the tower cap 179 fits onto the tower casing 136 and closes out the second end 192 of the tower casing 136. The tower cap 179 further includes an aperture 189 that provides passage of the product lines of the second tower product circuit 180 from the interior of the body 184 to the mounting member 145, which may be a faucet plate.
The first end 191 includes a mounting flange 148 extending from the second working face 187, and a mounting flange 149 extending from the side of the body 184 opposite the second inter-tower face 186. The mounting flange 148 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the tower casing 136, and includes at least one mounting aperture 151. The mounting flange 149 is similarly disposed substantially perpendicular to the tower casing 136, and includes at least one mounting aperture 157. The second working face 187 includes apertures 188 that are disposed in proximity to the second inter-tower face 186.
The mounting member 144 is planar in shape and extends from the second inter-tower face 186 and along the working face 187 of the tower casing 136. The mounting member 145 may be shortened or lengthened to accommodate a certain number of dispense points 102. The mounting member 145 further includes tubing apertures 194 that allow the product lines of the second tower product circuit 180 disposed within the tower section 132 to be aligned at a spacing consistent with a spacing of product valves 114, such that product valves 114 may be successfully attached and removed from the mounting member 145. The mounting member 145 further includes a second attachment point 168 disposed substantially perpendicular to the face housing the product valves 114.
The second tower product circuit 180 includes product lines disposed within the tower section 132, and further includes a first end 181 and a second end 182. In this example, the second tower product circuit 180 includes tower product lines 307-313. The first ends 181 are disposed in a second tower array 221 that is complementary to a second array 211 of the housing 110, and the second ends 182 extend through the apertures 194 of the mounting member 144 for connection to the dispense points 102. The product lines of the second tower product circuit 180 may be constructed from virtually any line suitable for use with product dispensing systems. Illustratively, in this first embodiment, the product lines of the second tower product circuit 180 are constructed from stainless steel, and include suitable connections for adapting to the product lines of the housing 110, as well as the dispense points 102 disposed on the tower section 132. The tower section 132 still further includes an insulation 172 disposed within the tower casing 136, such that the product lines of the second tower product circuit 180 are secured in a proper location. In this first embodiment, the insulation 172 is a foam-in-place insulation that must be blown in place and cured.
Assembly of the tower section 132 is substantially identical to that of the tower section 131, and, therefore, will not be described.
The tower section 133 is fitted with two dispense points 102. In this example, the two dispense points 102 are product valves 114. While this tower section 133 has been disclosed with two product valves 114, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any number of product valves 114 may be utilized. The tower section 133 includes a tower casing 137, a tower cap 147, a mounting member 146, and a third tower product circuit 190. The tower casing 137 is constructed similarly to the tower casings 135 and 136, and includes a first end 207 and a second end 208. The tower casing 137 further includes a body 185 having a hollow rectangular cross-section. The tower casing 137 includes a third inter-tower face 196, a fourth inter-tower face 197, and securing flanges 199 extending from the third and fourth inter-tower faces 196 and 197. The securing flanges 199 are disposed in an arrangement complementary to the apertures 163 and 188 of the tower sections 131 and 132, and include apertures 209 for accepting fasteners.
In similar fashion to the tower sections 131 and 132, the second end 208 of the tower casing 137 is closed out with a tower cap 198 having an tubing aperture 215, such that the product lines of the third tower product circuit 190 may extend through the tubing aperture 215 to access the mounting member 146, which may be a faucet plate. The mounting member 146 is of a similar construction to the mounting members 144 and 145, however, the mounting member 146 is shorter, and includes clearance apertures 217 disposed in a top face. Upon installation, the clearance apertures 217 are located complementary to the apertures 167 and 168 of the mounting members 144 and 145. The mounting member 145 further includes tubing apertures 219 for accepting the product lines of the third tower product circuit 190.
The third tower product circuit 190 includes the product lines disposed within the tower section 133, and further includes first ends 213 and second ends 214. In this example, the third tower product circuit 190 includes a tower product lines 314-319. The first ends 213 of the product lines of the third tower product circuit 190 are disposed in a third tower array 222 that is complementary to a third array 212. The product lines of the third tower product circuit 190 pass through the tower section 133 such that the second ends 214 pass through the tubing apertures 219 of the mounting member 146, and are restrained in position, thereby providing connection points for the dispense points 102. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the use of mounting members is commonplace in the beverage dispensing industry, however, the use of a multiple segment mounting member in not commonplace.
Assembly of the tower section 133 is substantially identical to the tower sections 131 and 132, and therefore, will not further be described.
As shown in
The cold plate 122 is of the type commonly utilized in the beverage dispensing industry, and includes product lines that enter a front area of the cold plate 122, make multiple passes through the cold plate 122, and then exit the cold plate 122 through a rear face. The product lines then extend upward to reach the tower unit 111 of the product dispenser 100. The product lines further include quick-disconnect fittings, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,348, thereby providing an easily removable connection point between the housing 110 and the tower sections 131-133. An upper surface of the cold plate 122 is disposed within the bin 106, such that ice is stored on top of the cold plate 122, thereby removing heat from the cold plate 122 and the product lines passing through the cold plate 122.
The top plate 107 further includes a bin aperture 127 disposed above the bin 106 and a tubing aperture 125 that allows the passage of the product and diluent lines from the housing 110 to the tower unit 111. The bin aperture 127 provides access to the bin 106, and includes a raised edge 128 to aid in locating a lid 117 and a drip tray 119. The tubing aperture 125 is disposed behind the bin aperture 127, such that product and diluent lines exiting the cold plate 122 bend upward to the tubing aperture 125, and terminate slightly beyond an upper surface of the top plate 107. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the product and diluent lines and connectors may be of any form of construction suitable for use in the beverage dispensing industry. In this example, the product and diluent lines are disposed within the cold plate 122, and are formed from stainless steel, and include connections suitable for mating to remote concentrate or diluent sources.
As shown in
As shown in
The product dispenser 100 further includes a shell 116, a cap 120, and a splash plate 118 for protecting and supporting the tower sections 131, 132, and 133. The shell 116 covers a back and the sides of the towers 131, 132, and 133 in an installed position, and the cap 120 is disposed at an upper end of the shell 116. The splash plate 118 closes out an area between the product valves 114 and a drip tray 119. The shell 116, the cap 120, and the splash plate 118 may be constructed from virtually any material that meets structural and cleanability standards. Illustratively, in this example, the shell 116, the cap 120, and the splash plate 118 are constructed from stainless steel.
On assembly, the cold plate 122 is disposed within the housing 105, and the bin walls are secured to the cold plate 122, thereby forming the chamber 112. The top plate 107 and the wrapper 109 are then placed over the cold plate 122 and the bin walls. The product lines extending from the cold plate 122 now extend through the tubing aperture 125 of the top plate 107, and are positioned in correct placement to form at least two arrays. In this specific example, the first array 210, the second array 211, and the third array 212 are formed. The void between the wrapper 109 and the bin walls is then filled with insulation, thereby insulating the chamber 112, and securing the product tubes that extend from the cold plate 122 in place.
The buildup continues with the application of the tower section 131 to the product dispenser 100. The product tubes of first tower product circuit 170 are disposed in the first tower array 220 that is complementary to the first array 210, and the first ends 175 of the product tubes are likewise compatible to the outlets of the first array 210, and therefore, may be coupled to the product lines of the first housing product circuit 201. Upon the installation of the tower section 131, the housing product line 280-286 are coupled to the tower product lines 300-306, respectively, thereby extending the flow circuits to the mounting member 144 and any product valve 114 mounted thereon. The tower section 131 is placed over a portion of the first array 210, and the first ends of the first tower product circuit 170 are placed over the connection points of the first array 210. In this specific example, the first array 210 includes male fittings having o-rings, and a female fitting for each connecting tube disposed on the tower section 131. Upon full insertion, fasteners are placed through the apertures 151 and 157, thereby securing the tower section 131 to the top plate 107. Accordingly, the first tower 131 will not move upwards due to line pressures. While this invention has been shown with mechanical fasteners for securing the tower sections 131, 132, and 133 to the top plate 107, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that alternative methods may be utilized.
Next, the tower section 132 is placed onto the second array 211 of the product dispenser 100. As previously disclosed, the product tubes of the second tower product circuit 180 are arranged within the tower section 132, in a second tower array 221 that is complementary to the second array 211, and are connected in similar fashion to the tower section 131. Specifically, housing product lines 293-299 are coupled to tower product lines 307-313. Accordingly, the tower section 232 may deliver plain diluent, carbonated diluent, or concentrate mixed with either one of the diluents, dependent upon the order of the product lines within the tower. In this specific example, the tower section 132 supports three dispense points 102. The tower section 132 is placed over the tubing aperture 125 of the top plate 107, and fasteners are placed through the apertures 151 and 157, thereby securing the tower section 132 to the top plate 107.
The tower section 133 is then installed between the tower sections 131 and 132, such that the third inter-tower face 196 is disposed adjacent to the first inter-tower face 160, and the fourth inter-tower face 197 is disposed adjacent to the second inter-tower face 186. Upon alignment, the third tower array 222 of the third tower product circuit 190 is aligned with the third array 212. Upon full engagement, the outlets of the third array 212 are coupled to the product tubes of the third tower product circuit 190 in the tower section 133 in similar fashion to the tower sections 131 and 132, thereby extending the flow circuits of the third housing product circuit 203 to the mounting member 146 and the product valves 114 disposed thereon. Specifically, housing product lines 287-292 are coupled to tower product lines 314-319. The apertures 209 of the securing flanges 199 are then aligned with the apertures 163 and 188 of the tower sections 131 and 132, and fasteners are then inserted into the apertures 163 and 188, thereby securing the tower section 133 to the tower sections 131 and 132. Additionally, the clearance apertures 217 in the mounting member 146 are aligned with the apertures 167 and 168 in the mounting members 144 and 145, and fasteners are inserted into the apertures 217, 167, and 168, thereby securing the mounting member 146 to the mounting members 144 and 145. At this point, the tower sections 131, 132 and 133 are interconnected, and the product valves 114 are disposed in alignment, thereby providing a clean, streamlined appearance.
The build up continues with the installation of the shell 116 around the back and sides of the tower sections 131, 132, and 133. The shell 116 is formed to encapsulate the tower sections 131, 132, and 133, and may be secured to the top plate 107. The cap 120 is then installed onto an upper end of the shell 116, thereby closing out the upper portion of the shell 116. The drip tray 119 may then be installed onto the top plate 107, and the splash plate 118 is then installed between the product valves 114 and the drip tray 119.
As shown in the method flowchart of
The operator further has the ability to reconfigure the product dispenser 100 by replacing or removing any number of tower sections 131, 132, or 133.
It should be clear to one ordinary skill in the art that tower sections may be replaced with tower sections having a different number of dispense points 102. Illustratively, product lines disposed within a tower section may be diverted to more than one dispense point 102. Alternatively, tower sections having fewer product lines may be placed onto the arrays, thereby reducing the number of dispense points 102. Accordingly, a tower section including three dispense points may be substituted with a tower section having more or fewer dispense points, provided the complementary product supply changes have been accomplished. Further, the types of dispense points 102 utilized in this invention may also be substituted. Illustratively, a tower section having a product valve 114 may be replaced with a fluid tap, if desired, as long as the fluid is compatible with the newly installed dispense point 102.
While this invention has been shown with three tower sections 131, 132, and 133, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that only two tower sections are required, and that four or more is possible. The invention provides the flexibility to remove any number of tower sections, or to substitute any or all of the tower sections. One of ordinary skill in the art will further recognize that the tower sections may be placed adjacent to each other, or apart from each other, dependent upon operator preferences and configuration limitations. Adjacent tower sections may be secured to each other to provide increased support.
As shown in
In an extension of the second embodiment of this invention, the product dispenser 100 utilizes a tower section 331 and a tower section 332 identical to the second embodiment, thereby providing the ability to insert a tower section, or portions thereof, later. In this extension of the second embodiment, a support frame 360 including a mounting member 346 is disposed and secured in similar fashion to the second between the towers 331 and 332, such that the product lines 380 may be coupled to dispense points 102 and extend downward to the third array 212 of the housing 111. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the product lines 380 may include hardware suitable for adapting to the outlets of the third array 212, as well as the dispense points 102 disposed on the mounting member 346. The product lines 380 may be constructed from flexible materials or may be rigid. One of ordinary skill in the art will further recognize that product lines not being utilized must be capped with a suitable pressure cap to prevent the spraying of product and fluids in the event the unused line is inadvertently pressurized.
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that use of all product circuits is not required, and therefore, tower sections that do not utilize all outlets disposed in a mating array are possible. In such cases, the unused outlets of the housing product lines must be capped to prevent undesired spraying in the event the lines are inadvertently pressurized. Illustratively, the tower section would include a capped line. As shown in
While the arrays 210-212 have been shown with similar shapes, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the arrays 210-212 may be different from each other to prevent inadvertent swapping of the tower sections. One of ordinary skill in the art will further recognize that it is possible to deliver at least one concentrate line, at least one carbonated diluent line, and at least one plain diluent line to a particular array, thereby providing the ability to deliver any combination of product to a tower for delivery through the product valves 114.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoing preferred embodiment, such description has been for exemplary purposes only and, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degrees will fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoing detailed description; rather, it is defined only by the claims that follow.
