Beverage Dispenser

A beverage dispensing system wherein respective containers for storing carbonated beverages are provided at a storage location, respective supply ducts are provided to lead the carbonated beverages from the storage location to a flow control location, respective delivery tubes are provided to lead the carbonated beverages from the flow control location to a dispenser head, and respective valves are provided at the flow control location to control the delivery of the carbonated beverages to the respective delivery tubes.

A beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing system includes means to purge liquid remaining in a delivery tube after each delivery operation.

A beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing system includes means to inject a carbonating gas into the delivery tube during delivery of a carbonated beverage or beverage component through the delivery tube.

A beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim, wherein a flexible hose houses a plurality of delivery tubes each leading from a respective valve at the flow control location to a respective delivery spigot at the distal end of the flexible hose.

A beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the supply ducts are in an insulated sheath, and a beverage or beverage component is cooled and recirculated through the insulated sheath to cool the liquids in the supply ducts.

A method of dispensing a beverage, in which a carbonated beverage is selectively admitted to a delivery tube by opening and closing a delivery valve, and wherein a carbonating gas is introduced into the delivery tube while the delivery valve is open.

A method of dispensing a beverage, in which a beverage component is selectively admitted to a delivery line by opening and closing a delivery valve, and wherein a purging gas is introduced into the delivery line after closure of the delivery valve to expel liquid from the delivery line.

A dispensing control arrangement for a beverage dispenser in which a beverage or beverage component is supplied from a reservoir via a supply duct to a delivery valve, and wherein the beverage or beverage component is conducted via a delivery line from the delivery valve to a delivery spigot in a delivery head,

• the beverage dispenser further comprising a reservoir for a purging gas, a gas supply line for supplying gas from the reservoir to a gas control valve, and a gas injection line for supplying gas from the gas control valve to a gas injection port provided in the delivery line downstream of the delivery valve;
• and wherein the dispensing control arrangement comprises input means;
• control means for selectively opening and closing the delivery valve and the gas control valve, the control means being adapted to open and close the delivery valve in response to signals from the input means, and to open the gas control valve after the delivery valve is closed, for purging liquid from the delivery line.

A purging gas injection arrangement for a beverage dispenser in which a dispensing valve is operable to admit a beverage component to a delivery tube, wherein a purging gas injection line extends through the wall of the delivery tube at a point immediately downstream of the dispensing valve, and extends in the downstream direction along the lumen of the beverage delivery tube, the gas injection line having gas injection openings spaced along that part of its length which is within the beverage delivery tube.

A beverage dispensing system wherein a carbonator for producing carbonated water from a mains water supply and respective containers for storing one or more flavouring syrups are provided at a storage location, respective supply ducts are provided to lead the carbonated water and flavouring syrup from the storage location to a flow control location, and at least one delivery tube is provided to lead the carbonated water and the flavouring syrup from the flow control location to a dispenser head, respective delivery valves being provided at the flow control location to control the delivery of carbonated water and flavouring syrup to the or a delivery tube, and wherein still water from the mains water supply is cooled and recirculated through an insulated sheath containing the supply ducts to cool the liquids in the supply ducts.