EP0080253A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Post-mix beverage dispenser
Assignee: Coca-Cola Co
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Filing: 1982-07-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A lightweight, portable post-mix carbonated beverage dispenser unit for use in small offices or small-volume locations is described. Flavoured syrup is supplied to the unit from disposable sealed syrup packages SP which are plugged into a dispenser valving system. CO 2 is supplied to the unit carbonator system CT in returnable containers 42 which also may be quickly plugged into a C0 2 valving system 44. A thermoelectric refrigeration system 72 may be provided to decrease noise and the number of moving parts or a mechanical freon system may be used. The unit construction may be modular for ease of repair. The cabinet is injection-molded from plastic. Water is supplied to the unit for mixing with the CO 2 and syrup from a water reservoir WR which may be manually filled. The refrigeration system cools the water in the reservoir, as well as the syrup packages and carbonator tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Jason K. Sedam
- 👤 Richard J. Mueller
- 👤 Andrew J. Holoubek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:46
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/0015; B67D1/0021; B67D1/0042; B67D1/0057; B67D1/0069; B67D1/0074; F; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B21/02; B67D1/08; B67D1/0801; B67D2001/0812; B67D2210/00; B67D2210/00028; B67D2210/00031; B67D2210/00034; B67D2210/00099; B67D2210/00104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A cabinet for a post-mix beverage dispenser unit, comprising: a main cabinet portion having front, back, side and top walls with open compartments formed therein for housing various components of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: a water reservoir compartment for housing a water supply, and an entrance chute therefor adjacent said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing at least one replaceable syrup container adjacent said front wall, and a CO 2 supply compartment for housing a C0 2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main cabinet having openings therein providing access to said water reservoir compartment, said entrance chute, said carbonator compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; said front wall also having openings therein providing access to said syrup supply compartment and said CO 2 supply compartment; first access panel means normally covering at least the openings in said front and top walls providing access to said syrup supply compartment; second access panel means normally covering said openings in said top wall providing access to said water reservoir compartment and said carbonator compartment; and third access panel means normally covering at least the opening in said front wall providing access to said C0 2 supply compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A cabinet for a post-mix beverage dispenser unit, comprising: a main cabinet portion having front, back, side and top walls with open compartments formed therein for housing various components of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: a water reservoir compartment for housing a water supply, and an entrance chute therefor adjacent said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing at least one replaceable syrup container adjacent said front wall, and a CO 2 supply compartment for housing a C0 2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main cabinet having openings therein providing access to said water reservoir compartment, said entrance chute, said carbonator compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; said front wall also having openings therein providing access to said syrup supply compartment and said CO 2 supply compartment; first access panel means normally covering at least the openings in said front and top walls providing access to said syrup supply compartment; second access panel means normally covering said openings in said top wall providing access to said water reservoir compartment and said carbonator compartment; and third access panel means normally covering at least the opening in said front wall providing access to said C0 2 supply compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first access panel means also normally covers said entrance chute and is slidably mounted on said main cabinet portion, and when slid from said normal covering position first uncovers said entrance chute and then said syrup compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first access panel means has a wrap-around portion with surfaces parallel to the corner defined by said top and front walls and is slidable in tracks provided in said top and front walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cabinet as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first access panel means has an extension from said wrap-around portion in the plane of said top wall which covers said entrance chute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cabinet as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said second access panel means is flat, with major surfaces thereof parallel to said top wall, and including latch means for securing the same to said top wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A cabinet as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said C0 2 supply compartment is a cut-out of a vertical corner of said main cabinet portion between said front wall and one of said side walls and said third access panel means comprises a hinged door having major planar surfaces at right angles to each other, filling the cut-out of said vertical corner in a closed position. =
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cabinet as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a fourth removable access panel normally covering the entire back wall of said main cabinet portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
A post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising a cabinet as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, and further comprising: water supply conduit means for connecting said water supply to said carbonator tank; pump means for pumping water from said water supply to said carbonator tank; CO 2 supply conduit means for connecting said C0 2 cylinder to said carbonator tank; and a refrigeration system including heat extraction means having a main portion disposed in contact with said water reservoir compartment for cooling said water supply, a second portion arranged to be in heat transfer relationship with said carbonator tank, and a third portion arranged to be in heat transfer relationship with said at least one replaceable syrup container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condensor, and an evaporator constituting said heat extraction means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further including heat transfer bracket means in heat transfer relationship with said evaporator and arranged to be in heat transfer relationship with said at least one syrup container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, further including agitator means within said water reservoir for circulating water relative to said evaporator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising: a refillable water reservoir; a carbonator tank; a C0 2 supply tank; at least one syrup container; water supply conduit means connecting said water reservoir to said carbonator tank; pump means for pumping water from said water reservoir to said carbonator tank; C0 2 supply conduit means connecting said C0 2 supply tank to said carbonator tank; and a refrigeration system including heat extraction means having a main portion disposed in contact with said water reservoir for cooling the water therein, a second portion in heat transfer relationship with said carbonator tank, and a third portion in heat transfer relationship with said at least one syrup container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
A post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising: a refillable water reservoir; a carbonator tank; a C0 2 supply tank; at least one syrup container; water supply conduit means connecting said water reservoir to said carbonator tank; pump means for pumping water from said water reservoir to said carbonator tank; C0 2 supply conduit means connecting said C0 2 supply tank to said carbonator tank; and a refrigeration system including heat extraction means having a main portion disposed in contact with said water reservoir for cooling the water therein, a second portion in heat transfer relationship with said carbonator tank, and a third portion in heat transfer relationship with said at least one syrup container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condensor, and an evaporator constituting said heat extraction means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 12, wherein said refrigeration system comprises a thermoelectric element, and a cold plate therefor constituting said heat extraction means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a post-mix beverage dispenser unit having a water supply, a carbonator tank, at least one syrup container, a C0 2 cylinder, a C0 2 pressure regulator valve assembly and a beverage dispenser valve assembly, the improvement comprising: first socket means in said C0 2 pressure regulator valve assembly for receiving and supporting the discharge end of said C0 2 cylinder, said discharge end being at the bottom of said container when said container is disposed in said first socket means; and second socket means in said beverage dispenser valve assembly for receiving and supporting a discharge end of said syrup container, said discharge end of said syrup container being at the bottom of said container when said container is disposed in said second socket means, whereby said C0 2 cylinder and said syrup container can be rapidly plugged into said first and second socket means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a post-mix beverage dispenser unit having a water supply, a carbonator tank, at least one syrup container, a C0 2 cylinder, a C0 2 pressure regulator valve assembly and a beverage dispenser valve assembly, the improvement comprising: first socket means in said C0 2 pressure regulator valve assembly for receiving and supporting the discharge end of said C0 2 cylinder, said discharge end being at the bottom of said container when said container is disposed in said first socket means; and second socket means in said beverage dispenser valve assembly for receiving and supporting a discharge end of said syrup container, said discharge end of said syrup container being at the bottom of said container when said container is disposed in said second socket means, whereby said C0 2 cylinder and said syrup container can be rapidly plugged into said first and second socket means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of loading at least one syrup container and a C0 2 supply container into a post-mix beverage dispenser unit, comprising the steps of: providing said syrup container with a discharge opening therein which is normally at the top of the container during storage and transportation; providing said C0 2 container with a discharge opening that is normally at the top of the container during storage and transportation; inverting said syrup container and plugging the discharge opening into a socket provided on the top surface of a beverage dispenser valve assembly; and inverting said C0 2 container and plugging the discharge opening into a socket provided in the top surface of a C0 2 regulator valve assembly.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of loading at least one syrup container and a C0 2 supply container into a post-mix beverage dispenser unit, comprising the steps of: providing said syrup container with a discharge opening therein which is normally at the top of the container during storage and transportation; providing said C0 2 container with a discharge opening that is normally at the top of the container during storage and transportation; inverting said syrup container and plugging the discharge opening into a socket provided on the top surface of a beverage dispenser valve assembly; and inverting said C0 2 container and plugging the discharge opening into a socket provided in the top surface of a C0 2 regulator valve assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 16, further including the step of manually pouring water for the post-mix beverage into a water reservoir in said dispenser unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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