Improvements relating to beverage dispensers

Claim 2

1 . A beverage dispensing system comprising a machine with an operating device adapted to be operated for the dispensing of a beverage package, wherein the machine comprises means for receiving the package containing syrup, said package having an outlet which can be opened and closed selectively, the machine furthermore comprising means permitting the supply of diluent from a diluent outlet of the machine when the said operating means are operated, and so that the syrup, when the package is in the machine, will issue directly from said outlet without contact with the machine and can be caught along with the diluent in the same drinking cup, and wherein said package has a collapsible body which collapses as the syrup flows therefrom.

Claim 3

A beverage dispensing system comprising:- a) a machine comprising i) a dispensing head for receiving a package containing syrup; ii) a supply of dil'uent; iii) means connecting the supply of diluent to the dispensing head; iv) a diluent supply valve in said head controlling flow of diluent; v) a diluent outlet in said head vi) an operating device for controlling the diluent supply valve; vii) first and second package receiving means in said head for receiving the syrup package, said first and second means relatively movable; viii) means coupling the operating device to said first and second package receiving means for the relative movement of said first and second means; and b) a syrup package comprising i) a body; and ii) a flexible outlet tube from which syrup can drain; said package being received in the first and second package receiving means with the outlet tube hanging downwards so that the syrup can flow therefrom when the dispensing machine is dispensing, directly from the outlet through free space into a drinking vessel, the first and second package receiving means when operated moving the tube between a closed position and an open position and the tube undergoes flexible distortion in moving between said positions; and wherein the diluent outlet is located spaced from but sufficiently close to the syrup outlet that both flows can be caught in the same drinking vessel to form a beverage.

Claim 4

A beverage dispensing system comprising:- a) a machine comprising i) a dispensing head for receiving a package containing syrup; ii) a supply of dil'uent; iii) means connecting the supply of diluent to the dispensing head; iv) a diluent supply valve in said head controlling flow of diluent; v) a diluent outlet in said head vi) an operating device for controlling the diluent supply valve; vii) first and second package receiving means in said head for receiving the syrup package, said first and second means relatively movable; viii) means coupling the operating device to said first and second package receiving means for the relative movement of said first and second means; and b) a syrup package comprising i) a body; and ii) a flexible outlet tube from which syrup can drain; said package being received in the first and second package receiving means with the outlet tube hanging downwards so that the syrup can flow therefrom when the dispensing machine is dispensing, directly from the outlet through free space into a drinking vessel, the first and second package receiving means when operated moving the tube between a closed position and an open position and the tube undergoes flexible distortion in moving between said positions; and wherein the diluent outlet is located spaced from but sufficiently close to the syrup outlet that both flows can be caught in the same drinking vessel to form a beverage.

Claim 5

A dispensing system according to Claim 2, wherein said first and second package receiving means comprises first and second relatively slidable members providing a means for pinching the syrup outlet tube, a diluent passage in one of said members of which one end of the passage forms the diluent outlet and the other end is connectible with the means ccnnecting the diluent supply.

Claim 6

A dispensing system according to Claim 2, wherein said first and second receiving means comprises: a) a stop plate; b) a pinching lever movable towards and away from the stop plate to pinch and unpinch the outlet tube of the package; and wherein the operating device comprises i) an operating lever pivotally ccnnected to the pinching lever and pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot of the macine; ii) a further lever arm on said operating lever; iii) a slide block having a diluent passage therein of which one end forms the diluent outlet; iv) a pin on said further lever arm; v) a slot in the slide block engaged by said pin; whereby moving of the operating lever moves the slide block between positions allowing and preventing flow of diluent from the diluent outlet as well as pinching and unpinching the package outlet tube.

Claim 7

A dispensing system according to Claim 2, wherein said first and second receiving means comprises:-

Claim 8

a) a rotary member; b) a support member supporting the rotary member for rotation thereon; c) a bore in said rotary member through which the package outlet tube extends so that syrup issuing therefrom issues into free space and can be caught in a drinking vessel; d) a second bore in the rotary member of which one end forms the diluent outlet; e) means drivingly connecting the first bore with the package outlet tube whereby turning of the rotary member twists and untwists the outlet tube ccntrolling flow therefrom and selectively positions the second bore in registry and out of registry with the means connecting the supply of diluent to the dispensing head.

Claim 9

a) a rotary member; b) a support member supporting the rotary member for rotation thereon; c) a bore in said rotary member through which the package outlet tube extends so that syrup issuing therefrom issues into free space and can be caught in a drinking vessel; d) a second bore in the rotary member of which one end forms the diluent outlet; e) means drivingly connecting the first bore with the package outlet tube whereby turning of the rotary member twists and untwists the outlet tube ccntrolling flow therefrom and selectively positions the second bore in registry and out of registry with the means connecting the supply of diluent to the dispensing head.

Claim 10

A dispensing system according to Claim 5, including a diluent passage in the holder member coupling with said means connecting the supply of diluent, an 0-ring seal at an outlet of said passage sealing said outlet against the rotary member.

Claim 11

A dispensing system according to Claim 5, including serrations on the face of said first bore, and corresponding formation on the outer surface of said outlet tube stabilising a drive connection between the outlet tube and the rotary member.

Claim 12

A dispensing system according to Claim 2, wherein the package comprises a flexible bag and the outlet tube is integral with said bag.

Claim 13

A dispensing system according to Claim 3, wherein the package includes an outer casing containing the bag.

Claim 14

A dispensing system according to Claim 9, including a tear panel on the casing for giving access to the outlet tube.

Claim 15

A dispensing system according to Claim 9, wherein the casing includes a tear strip ccnnecting upper and lower casing portions and removal of the tear strip permits removal of at least the upper casing portion.

Claim 16

A dispensing system according to Claim 9, including a source of gas under pressure, a coupling for gas under pressure in said casing and means coupling the source of gas under pressure to said coupling to pressurise the interior of the casing and the exterior of the bag.

Claim 17

A dispensing system according to Claim 9, including a weight resting on the bag to pressurise same.

Claim 18

A dispensing system according to Claim 9, inclduing a spring means acting between the bag and the casing to pressurise the bag.

Claim 19

A dispensing system according to Claim 2, wherein the outlet tube includes an internal shoulder and a sealing ball which sits on the shoulder blocking flow of syrup therethrough until the tube is deformed by pinching.

Claim 20

A dispensing system according to Claim 2, wherein the outlet tube includes internal shoulders which abut and block flow of syrup through the tube until the tube is deformed by pinching to cause the contacting surfaces of the shoulders to move apart.

Claim 21

17 . A container for dispensing a concentrate through air to a receptacle comprising: (a) a flexible closed container bag for containing a volume of the concentrate; (b) a first valve part in communication with said volume; (c) a second container part having a second mating valve part therein and having means forming an outlet opening, said second container part movable to selectively move said first and second valve parts with respect to each other to allow, while said first and second valve parts are moved apart, a continuous flow of said concentrate from said first part, through said valve parts and out said outlet opening; (d) means establishing a constricted area through which concentrate must flow when being dispensed, the cross section of said constricted area being predetermined as a function of the viscosity of said concentrate; (e) means to maintain an essentially constant head pressure in the interior of said first container part over a range of concentrate levels in said first container part, whereby said means Establishing and said means to maintain, together will result in a controlled constant flow rate from said outlet opening.

Claim 22

17 . A container for dispensing a concentrate through air to a receptacle comprising: (a) a flexible closed container bag for containing a volume of the concentrate; (b) a first valve part in communication with said volume; (c) a second container part having a second mating valve part therein and having means forming an outlet opening, said second container part movable to selectively move said first and second valve parts with respect to each other to allow, while said first and second valve parts are moved apart, a continuous flow of said concentrate from said first part, through said valve parts and out said outlet opening; (d) means establishing a constricted area through which concentrate must flow when being dispensed, the cross section of said constricted area being predetermined as a function of the viscosity of said concentrate; (e) means to maintain an essentially constant head pressure in the interior of said first container part over a range of concentrate levels in said first container part, whereby said means Establishing and said means to maintain, together will result in a controlled constant flow rate from said outlet opening.

Claim 23

A container according to claim 17 and further including means for effecting movement of said first and second valve parts with respect to each other comprising (a) means on said bottle and cap respectively for engagement by first and second parts of a dispensing mechanism which are movable with respect to each other.

Claim 24

A container according to claim 17 wherein the size of said outlet is selected to establish a desired flow rate after rotation, based on the nature of the concentrate to be contained.

Claim 25

A container according to claim 17 wherein the size of said outlet opening is sized to establish a desired flow rate after movement of said valve parts apart, based on the nature of the concentrate to be contained.

Claim 26

A container according to claim 18 in combination with a dispensing mechanism having at least first and second parts movable with respect to each other and adaptable to engage said bottle and cap respectively.

Claim 27

The combination according to claim 21 wherein opposing surfaces of said dispensing mechanism parts and bottle and cap contain cooperating slots and tabs for engageent with each other.

Claim 28

The combination according to claim 21, including a weight member acting on the flexible container bag to force the concentrate therefrom when the valve is open.

Claim 29

The combination according to claim 21, including a spring acting on the flexible container bag to force the concentrate therefrom when the valve is open.

Claim 30

The combination according to claim 21, including a source of gas under pressure, means enclosing the flexible bag, means coupling the source of gas under pressure to apply same to the interior of the means enclosing but exterior to the flexible bag to act on the flexible bag to force concentrate therefrom when the valve is open.

Claim 31

Apparatus for dispensing a concentrate at a predetermined flow rate comprising: (a) a container including; (1) a closed flexible container bag with a neck for containing a volume of the concentrate; (2) a first valve part at said neck in communication with said volume; (3) a cap having a second mating valve part therein and having means forming an outlet opening, said cap movable with respect to said bottle to selectively move said first and second valve parts with respect to each other by a preselected amount to allow the flow of said concentrate from said first part, through said valve parts and out said outlet opening; (4) means on said bottle and cap, respectively, for engagement by first and second parts of a dispensing mechanism which are movable with respect to each other; (5) means loading the flexible bag to force concentrate therefrom when said valve is open; and (b) a dispensing mechanism comprising first and second parts movable with respect to each other engaging said means on said bottle and cap to move said first and second valve parts to permit concentrate flow.

Claim 32

Apparatus for dispensing a concentrate at a predetermined flow rate comprising: (a) a container including; (1) a closed flexible container bag with a neck for containing a volume of the concentrate; (2) a first valve part at said neck in communication with said volume; (3) a cap having a second mating valve part therein and having means forming an outlet opening, said cap movable with respect to said bottle to selectively move said first and second valve parts with respect to each other by a preselected amount to allow the flow of said concentrate from said first part, through said valve parts and out said outlet opening; (4) means on said bottle and cap, respectively, for engagement by first and second parts of a dispensing mechanism which are movable with respect to each other; (5) means loading the flexible bag to force concentrate therefrom when said valve is open; and (b) a dispensing mechanism comprising first and second parts movable with respect to each other engaging said means on said bottle and cap to move said first and second valve parts to permit concentrate flow.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said loading means comprise means to permit application of gas under pressure in a controlled manner which will maintain said essentially constant head pressure on said bag.

Claim 34

Apparatus according to claim 27, and further including a seal between said first and second valve parts to stop flow to the outlet opening in said cap when said valve is closed.

Claim 35

2 9. Apparatus according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the size of said outlet is selected to establish a desired flow rate after rotation, based on the nature of the concentrate to be contained.

Claim 36

30 . A container for dispensing a concentrate through air to a receptacle comprising: (a) a flexible, closed container bag for containing a volume of concentrate; (b) a flexible tube forming an outlet from said bag and through which concentrate can flow; (c) a first valve membe connected to said tube; (d) a second valve member connected to said tube and rotatable relative to said first valve member; whereby the tube may by rotation of said second valve member relative to said first valve member, twist and untwist the tube to control the flow of concentrate therethrough.

Claim 37

30 . A container for dispensing a concentrate through air to a receptacle comprising: (a) a flexible, closed container bag for containing a volume of concentrate; (b) a flexible tube forming an outlet from said bag and through which concentrate can flow; (c) a first valve membe connected to said tube; (d) a second valve member connected to said tube and rotatable relative to said first valve member; whereby the tube may by rotation of said second valve member relative to said first valve member, twist and untwist the tube to control the flow of concentrate therethrough.

Claim 38

A container according to claim 30, wherein said first valve member is connected to said flexible bag.

Claim 39

32, A container according to claim 31, wherein said first valve member comprises inner and outer cylindrical walls, said inner wall connected to said flexible tube and said outer wall connected to said bag.

Claim 40

A container according to claim 32, wherein said flexible tube comprises enlarged flanges at each end, the enlarged flange at one end connected to the bag and the enlarged flange at the other end connected to said second valve member.

Claim 41

A container according to claim 33, including first drive tab means on the first valve member and second drive tab means on the second valve member.

Claim 42

3 5. A container according to claim 30, in combination with a dispensing mechanism having at least first and second parts movable with respect to each other and adaptable to drivingly engage said valve members respectively.

Claim 43

36 . The combination according to claim 35, wherein opposing surfaces of said dispensing mechanism parts and first and second valve members contain cooperating slots and tabs for engagement with each other.

Claim 44

The combination according to claim 36, including a weight member acting on the flexible container bag to force the concentrate there from when the valve is open.

Claim 45

3 8. The combination according to claim 36, including a spring acting on the flexible container bag to force the concentrate therefrom when the valve is open. ,

Claim 46

The combination according to claim 36, including a source of gas under pressure, means enclosing the flexible bag, means enabling the source of gas under pressure to apply same to the interior of the means enclosing but exterior to the flexible bag to act on the flexible bag to force concentrate therefrom when the valve is open.