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EP0053813A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Beverage dispensing system

Assignee: Mondelez UK Holdings and Services Ltd
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Filing: 1981-12-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-12-04
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a liquid (including pasty fluent material) dispensing system, especially for beverage dispensing systems in which the liquid to be dispensed (beverage concentrate) is contained in a disposable package. The package preferably comprises an inner flexible bag and an outer casing of cut and creased material such as cardboard. The casing is broken open so that a dispensing tube integral with the flexible bag can be pulled out and operatively positioned in the dispensing system. The said tube has shoulders adapting it for specific connection to a peristaltic pump in a simple and readily removable manner. The end of the dispensing tube is sealed, but is cut to enable the dispensing to take place. The tube is held closed at the point of contact with the peristaltic pump rollers and will only flow when the pump is actuated by a demand for the dispensing of the concentrate along with water to provide a beverage, which preferably is a carbonated beverage.

Inventors

  • 👤 George Brown

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 13:45
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/0042; B67D1/0057; B67D1/006; A; A23; A23G; A23G9/00; A23G9/04; A23G9/20; A23G9/22; A23G9/28; B67D1/0078; B67D1/0079; F; F04; F04B; F04B43/00; F04B43/12; F04B43/1253; F04B43/1261; B67D1/08; B67D1/0801; B67D2001/0827

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 99 words
A disposable package for use in a dispensing system, wherein the package contains a liquid which is dispensed through a dispensing tube of the package, said dispensing tube having at least a section of flexible material which is for engagement by the rotor of a peristaltic pump for the dispensing of the liquid, said dispensing tube having shoulder or flange means for location in relation to a mounting means associated with a peristaltic pump, so that the said section of the flexible tube will be mounted in predetermined location in relation to the peristaltic pump rotor, when in use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 99 words
A disposable package for use in a dispensing system, wherein the package contains a liquid which is dispensed through a dispensing tube of the package, said dispensing tube having at least a section of flexible material which is for engagement by the rotor of a peristaltic pump for the dispensing of the liquid, said dispensing tube having shoulder or flange means for location in relation to a mounting means associated with a peristaltic pump, so that the said section of the flexible tube will be mounted in predetermined location in relation to the peristaltic pump rotor, when in use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
A package according to claim 1, wherein the flexible bag containing the liquid contained in an outer casing is of cut and creased sheet material such as cardboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A package according to claim 2, wherein the bag is of synthetic plastics material, and is completely filled with the liquid so that there are no air pockets therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
A package according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the said outer casing is provided with lines of weakening defining a break open portion for the exposure of the dispensing tube which is contained within the casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 66 words
A package according to any preceding claim, wherein there are two shoulders or flanges on the said dispensing tube, spaced by a predetermined interval, so that the shoulders can locate on location mounting means of the dispensing system, causing the section of tube between the shoulders to be located round the peristaltic pump rotor with predetermined tension, for the pumping of the liquid from the bag.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 41 words
A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing tube is of flexible material, such as rubber and has a sealed end which must be cut to enable the package to be used in a dispensing machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing tube is of flexible material, and the said flange or shoulder means is integral therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
A package according to any preceding claim wherein the said liquid is beverage or beverage concentrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 128 words
A dispensing system comprising a disposable package containing a liquid to be dispensed, the package having a dispensing tube which extends from the package to a dispensing head, said dispensing head having a means pinching a flexible end of the said tube closed, means for forcing beverage or beverage concentrate from the package to the end of the dispensing tube at the dispensing head, and an actuator connecting the means pinching the end of the dispensing tube, which actuator, when actuated causes release of the pinching on the end of the dispensing tube and, if necessary, operation of the means delivering the liquid to the dispensing head, whereby the beverage or beverage concentrate will be dispensed from the end of the tube upon actuation of said actuation means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 128 words
A dispensing system comprising a disposable package containing a liquid to be dispensed, the package having a dispensing tube which extends from the package to a dispensing head, said dispensing head having a means pinching a flexible end of the said tube closed, means for forcing beverage or beverage concentrate from the package to the end of the dispensing tube at the dispensing head, and an actuator connecting the means pinching the end of the dispensing tube, which actuator, when actuated causes release of the pinching on the end of the dispensing tube and, if necessary, operation of the means delivering the liquid to the dispensing head, whereby the beverage or beverage concentrate will be dispensed from the end of the tube upon actuation of said actuation means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
A dispensing system according to claim 9, wherein the means pinching the end of the tube is a solenoid actuated member, and the actuating means comprises electrical actuation means for operating the solenoid to cause release of said pinching.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 43 words
A dispensing system according to claim 10, wherein an electrically driven peristaltic pump serves to pump the liquid through the dispensing tube, and the said pump being connected to the solenoid so that both will be actuated when the actuation means is operated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 50 words
A dispensing system according to any of claims 9 to 11 wherein the said dispensing tube is flexible, and is adapted to be positioned in the dispensing head and removed therefrom in a fashion to permit of replacement of the package and dispensing tube by another of the same type.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 100 words
A dispensing system comprising a disposable package having a dispensing tube, including at least a section of flexible material in relation to which the tube has flange or shoulder means, a peristaltic pump associated with mounting means for engagement of the said shoulder or flange means, so that the said section of material will extend round the peristaltic pump rotor with tension for pumping the liquid from the package, a dispensing head and means for operating the system so that upon operation of said means the peristaltic pump will rotate to deliver liquid from the package to the dispensing head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 100 words
A dispensing system comprising a disposable package having a dispensing tube, including at least a section of flexible material in relation to which the tube has flange or shoulder means, a peristaltic pump associated with mounting means for engagement of the said shoulder or flange means, so that the said section of material will extend round the peristaltic pump rotor with tension for pumping the liquid from the package, a dispensing head and means for operating the system so that upon operation of said means the peristaltic pump will rotate to deliver liquid from the package to the dispensing head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 63 words
A dispensing system according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the dispensing system is for dispensing a beverage, the disposable packaging containing a beverage concentrate and the system including supply of carbonated water coupled to the dispensing head, so that when the actuating means is actuated, the concentrate and water flow in a predetermined ratio in order to provide a beverage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
A dispensing system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the package is according to claim 1.

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