Cup-type drink merchandiser with bag-in-box product supply system

Claim 1

A liquid dispensing machine for dispensing successively a plurality of liquids having a cup support for receiving and supporting successively liquid-receiving cups and having dispensing nozzles over the cup support for receiving the plurality of liquids, means for feeding cups successively onto said support, means for supplying a selected liquid to a selected nozzle, said supply means being in the form of a closed airtight supply system comprising first and second bag-in-box packages for each of said liquids connected to a service line of a supply pump, and a switch over cut-off valve in the service line between the bags of the first and second packages which will automatically switch when the one bag is emptied and said pump draws a vacuum of eighteen inches of mercury on the empty bag to thereby permit removal and replacement of that empty bag while the pump still draws liquid from the other bag, said box of each bag-in-box package including a generally flat lower surface, said flat surface being inclined downwardly toward said service line connection at an angle of about 8° to provide a gravity assist in emptying said package, said machine having one or more drainage tubes for draining waste liquid from the machine, and means for collecting that waste liquid, said collecting means comprising a disposable flexible bag connected by a coupling to said tubes, said bag being disposed in a relatively rigid container, and a switch for stopping the machine when the bag is full which is operated by contact with the bag, said bag being disconnectable from said tubes and removable from said container for disposal as a closed bag.