Beverage Dispenser

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to beverage dispensing and beverage dispensers and is particularly concerned with a method of and apparatus for dispensing multiple beverages from a single unit, into a container.

2. Prior Art

Beverage dispensers, and even multiple head beverage dispensers, are well known. The multiple heads allow simultaneous filling of more than one container and may provide for the dispensing of more than one type of beverage from the dispenser unit. Dispensing units, adapted to dispense carbonated beverages and the like, are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,643,866 3,011,681, and 3,058,620. The beverage dispensers shown in these patents may all be entirely satisfactory for their intended purposes of dispensing pressurized beverages into containers. However, it has recently been found desirable to use dispensing units in retail stores to dispense beverages directly into containers provided by customers and to permit the customers to fill the containers themselves. This has allowed the retailer to market the beverages at reduced rates since there is no costly packaging involved and since the customer provides the labor necessary to fill the container.

In dispensing beverages directly into customers' containers, it is necessary that the containers be filled quickly so that delays are not encountered by customers trying to fill their containers. Also, since the containers being filled are cared for and cleaned by the customer, the retailer has no control over the degree of cleanliness of the container. It is necessary, for sanitation purposes, that the container not be allowed to come in contact with dispensing nozzle of the dispensing unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 67,869, discloses the use of a funnel suspended from a dispensing nozzle to direct flow of a beverage into a container. The funnel shown in the patent is intended to be filled with ice, and the beverage, after passing through the ice, is dispensed from the bottom of the funnel into a container. U.S. Pat. No. 2,623,523, discloses an anti-infection spreading shield in the form of a disposable funnel that is positioned between the dispensing body and a persons nostrils so that the dispensing body will not be contaminated and can be safely used to dispense medication to more than one individual.

To the best of my knowledge, there has not heretofore been developed a beverage dispensing system that uses a disposable funnel to interconnect a dispensing nozzle of a unit and a container so that contamination of a nozzle does not occur during the filling of the container.

Also, to the best of my knowledge there has not heretofore been a dispensing unit for beverages and the like, that will insure rapid filling of a container positioned to receive the beverage while insuring that sanitary conditions are maintained.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide a beverage dispenser for carbonated beverages, and the like, that will conveniently allow consumers to rapidly fill their own containers and to do so in a sanitary manner.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a beverage dispenser that uses a disposable, economical sanitation shield, as a barrier, between the dispensing head of the beverage dispensing unit and a container positioned beneath the dispensing head.

Still other objects are to provide a carbonated beverage dispenser having means for tilting a receiving container to provide optium speed of filling consistent with minimizing foaming in the container, and means to prevent inadvertent contact of the container with the dispenser nozzle of dispensing unit.

Principal features of the apparatus aspect of the invention include a beverage dispenser having at least one, and preferably a series of dispensing heads, mounted on the cabinet of a beverage dispensing unit. The dispensing heads are positioned above a spill trough, and the spill trough is equipped with a perforated positioning platform that serves as a screen cover for the trough while at the same time providing a support platform for a container positioned to receive beverage from each nozzle.

A positioning bracket is fixed to the cabinet of the dispensing unit and cooperates with the positioning platform to hold the container at a proper angle for receiving dispensed beverages from the nozzle at a highest possible rate of flow without excessive foam generation. The positioning bracket also prevents direct alignment of the container with the nozzle so that contamination of the nozzle will not occur as a result of contact of the nozzle with the container.

Principal features of the method of the invention include the dispensing of the beverage from a dispensing nozzle through a disposable, sanitary funnel into a customer's container, which may not be sanitary, preventing contact of the container with the dispensing nozzle to avoid contaminating it, and placing the container in filling position on a support with its axis at an angle for optimum speed of filling consistent with minimum foaming of a foamable beverage.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings disclose what are presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a beverage dispensing unit of the invention;

FIG. 2, a top plan view;

FIG. 3, a side elevation view; and

FIG. 4, a greatly enlarged vertical section view, taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings:

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the dispensing unit of the invention, shown generally at 10, includes a cabinet 11 having spaced dispensing heads 12 extending along the length thereof. As shown, twenty dispensing heads are provided, but it is to be understood that more or fewer heads can be used, that more than one dispensing nozzle can be provided for each head and that more than one beverage can be dispensed through a single nozzle. The use of multiple nozzles for a single dispensing head and apparatus for dispensing plural fluids from a single nozzle are well known, and will not be further described.

The dispenser unit 10 further includes a spill trough 13, formed from sheet metal, plastic, or the like, and extending the length of the dispenser unit, beneath the dispenser heads 12.

The spill trough receives spilled beverages and carries them to a central or end collection point in the trough, from which the spilled beverage is discharged to a collection vessel, not shown.

A positioning platform 14 having perforations 15 therein forms a screen cover for the trough 13 and properly positions a container to be filled from the dispensing head 12, as will be further described. As shown best in FIG. 4, the positioning platform is of generally V-shaped cross sectioned configuration. Again, as seen in FIG. 4, a container 16 will rest on the positioning platform 14 so that its top 17 is inclined toward the dispensing nozzle 12.

A positioning bracket 18 is affixed to the cabinet 11 beneath each dispensing nozzle 12. The bracket extends from the cabinets sufficiently far to engage the container 16 and to hold the container such that the top thereof is inclined toward the dispensing nozzle 12, but is not directly beneath the dispensing nozzle and is not in the discharge path the liquid discharged from the dispensing nozzle would normally take under the influence of gravity if no means were used to divert the beverage into the filling opening of the container. The bracket 18 includes a base 19 that is affixed to the cabinet 11 in a generally U-shaped collar 20 that is adapted to receive and to extend partially around the container 16. As shown, the container 16 is preferably a conventional two-liter bottle of the type commercially used for the sale and distribution of carbonated beverages.

A sanitary, disposable means, e.g., a funnel 21, made of paper or the like, is used as the sanitation shield to direct liquid from the downward discharging nozzle 12 into the open upper end 17 of the container 16.

In carrying out the method of the invention, a customer places a container 16 on the positioning platform 14 so that the axis of a bottle on the platform is at the optimum amgle with respect to the direction of flow of the beverage from the nozzle 12 for adequate rate of filling consistent with minimum foaming of a foamable beverage and with the open or filling end 17 pointed toward but out of the direct path of flow of beverage from the dispensing nozzle which is far enough above it that contact of the container with the nozzle during its placement on and removal from the platform is highhly improbable. The container is rested within the collar 20 of bracket 18 to stabilize it. The user takes a sanitary funnel from a conveniently located supply of them, and slips the large end of the funnel 21 up over the dispensing nozzle 12 and then lowers the funnel until the small end of the funnel extends into the open end 17 of container 16. When the funnel is released, the large end will then rest against dispensing nozzle 12. However, it has been found advisable for the customer to tilt the funnel slightly forward so as to direct the beverage against the lower sloping wall of the container 16. The funnel is discarded after use.

The bracket 18 entends beyond the discharge path of liquid discharged from nozzle 12 and prevents vertical positioning of container beneath the nozzle. Thus, the bracket serves as a means to insure proper positioning of the container for rapid filling while also helping to prevent contact of the container inlet with the nozzle.

Although a preferred form of my invention has been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter I regard as my invention.