Apparatus for dispensing sparkling beverages by single doses

Claim 2

Apparatus for dispensing sparkling beverages comprising a carbonator having an enclosure capable of being placed in communication with a source of water and a source of pressurized carbon dioxide, means in said carbonator for causing the carbon dioxide to dissolve in the water by intimate mixing of the two component elements, at least one normally empty dosage size chamber means communicating by first conduit means with the liquid phase of said carbonator, second conduit means connecting the top of said chamber means with the gaseous phase of said carbonator, said first and second conduit means having programmed valves, calibrated gas flow restricting means communicating with both the chamber means and the atmosphere, said restricting means being adapted to maintain in the gaseous phase of said chamber means a slight depression with respect to the pressure prevailing in the gaseous phase of the carbonator so that this difference in pressure enables pressurized water from the carbonator to be rapidly introduced whatever the position of the chamber means with respect to the carbonator.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chamber means has means for receiving the final sparkling beverage, a first ejection nozzle means for delivering the carbonated water into said receiving means, a second ejection nozzle communicating with a source of an aromatic liquid extract, and at least one movable wall whereby retraction of said wall provides access for the positioning and withdrawal of said receiving means, said wall having sealing means so as to enable the pressure within said container means to be maintained after closure.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure cmprises movable distributor means having inlet and outlet means on its base and wherein said chamber means comprise a plurality of intermediate chambers, said chambers being of substantially similar dimensions, said distributor means cooperating with a fixed base comprising a presurized gas inlet means, a carbonated liquid inlet means, an exhaust means connected to the atmosphere, means for receiving the final sparkling beverage, a third conduit means for the flow of liquid by gravity towards said receiving means, said chambers on said distributor means being adapted to come during the movement of said distributor means successively in engagement with each of said inlet means or outlet means on said base.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said chambers of said distributor means is obturated by the base inside of which said movable distributor moves, the edges of said chambers being flush with the level of said base.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said chambers communicates by its upper part with the atmosphere by a capillary channel in the body of said distributor means so as to permit a limited exhaust of the pressurized gas to the atmosphere.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said base is traversed by second conduit means connected upstream to said first conduit means and connected to said carbonator, said second conduit means opening out inside said distributor means and being spaced out so that the internal chambers of said distributor means are brought during the displacement of the distributor successively in communication with the opening of gas and liquid inlet conduits coming from the carbonator, said base further having in its lower position suitably disposed evacuation conduit means whereby the distributor means durng its movement successively brings each of the chambers having been placed previously in communication with the inlet conduits, in communication with the lower evacuation conduits.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said distributor means comprises a prismatic unit of circular section perforated with longitudinal chambers and forming a barrel, said longitudinal chambers being distributed over one half of said prismatic unit along a diametral plane, the opposite half being solid, said barrel being mounted to rotate between an upper cover and a lower base hermetically covering the terminal sections of the barrel, said cover being transversed by a pressurized gas inlet conduit, a pressurized liquid inlet conduit, a conduit for exhaust by communication with open air, said base being traversed by a liquid evacuation conduit, all of said conduits opening to the inside at the level of the interface between said cover and said upper section of the bArrel on the one hand and the base and the lower section of the barrel on the other hand, and said conduits being spaced so as not to communicate with a common enclosure or recess and their opening at the level of the recesses being distributed over a diametral half of said cylinder.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said distributor means comprises a cylindrical means having perforations with recesses opening on to the outside wall of said cylindrical means by an upper mouth and a lower mouth, said cylindrical means being inserted into a stator having a sleeve concentric to said cylindrical means, said stator having inlet and evacuation conduits for the pressurized gas and for the carbonated water, said conduits opening into the inner wall of said stator at the level of the mouth of the lower chambers of a rotor and being adapted to be placed in communication according to the rotation of the rotor, with said mouths of said chambers.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pressurized gas outlet conduit, said pressurized liquid inlet conduit and said conduit for evacuation of the liquid disposed on said stator and opening out at the interface between the stator and the rotor communicate with an arcuate groove disposed on the stator and enable the conduits to serve several chambers at the same time.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for ensuring the automatic dispensing of carbonated liquids, a carbonator of the type in which liquid is delivered from said carbonator under pressure to individual receiving means subjected to atmospheric pressure by passage in at least one intermediate enclosure in which the liquid is brought under pressure, subjected to decompression, then evacuated towards said receiving means, said carbonator having a plurality of chambers, said chambers being of substantially similar dimensions, each of said chambers being associated with a pressurized gas inlet conduit, a carbonated liquid inlet conduit, a conduit means for exhaust to the atmosphere and conduit means for the flow of liquid by gravity towards said receiving means, a movable obturation member associated with said chambers and adapted to place each of said chambers successively in engagement with each of the inlets and outlets during the cycle of introduction of pressurized gas, introduction of pressurized liquid, decompression and evacuation, each of said chambers having at its top a capillary channel of calibrated dimensions so as to ensure a slow and constant evacuation of compressed gas to the atmosphere.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for ensuring the automatic dispensing of carbonated liquids, a carbonator of the type in which liquid is delivered from said carbonator under pressure to individual receiving means subjected to atmospheric pressure by passage in at least one intermediate enclosure in which the liquid is brought under pressure, subjected to decompression, then evacuated towards said receiving means, said carbonator having a plurality of chambers, said chambers being of substantially similar dimensions, each of said chambers being associated with a pressurized gas inlet conduit, a carbonated liquid inlet conduit, a conduit means for exhaust to the atmosphere and conduit means for the flow of liquid by gravity towards said receiving means, a movable obturation member associated with said chambers and adapted to place each of said chambers successively in engagement with each of the inlets and outlets during the cycle of introduction of pressurized gas, introduction of pressurized liquid, decompression and evacuation, each of said chambers having at its top a capillary channel of calibrated dimensions so as to ensure a slow and constant evacuation of compressed gas to the atmosphere.