US 6,293,430 B1Granted

Apparatus and method for recovering beverage syrup

OwnerOdell Kent Haselden, Jr.inventor

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for automatically gauging container and syrup requirements for beverage production includes: (a) an enclosed syrup recovery tank, (b) an inlet port leading into the syrup recovery tank; (c) an outlet port, syrup being transportable into and out of the syrup recovery tank through inlet and outlet distribution lines; (d) a pump connected to the outlet distribution lines for pumping syrup from the syrup recovery tank; (e) a microprocessor; (f) a level transmitter for measuring syrup levels within the syrup recovery tank and transmitting information concerning syrup levels to the microprocessor; (g) a level control valve on the inlet distribution line for controlling the flow of syrup to the syrup recovery tank; and (h) a control mechanism connected to the microprocessor for a user to input to, and receive information from, the microprocessor. This apparatus and method allow conservation of syrup and containers at the end of a production run.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An apparatus for automatically gauging container and syrup requirements for beverage production, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an enclosed syrup recovery tank connected by at least one inlet distribution line to at least one syrup supply tank, and connected to at least one outlet distribution line leading out of the syrup recovery tank;
(b) an inlet port leading into the syrup recovery tank, the inlet port being located on a lower portion of the syrup recovery tank and being connected to the syrup supply tank by the inlet distribution line, syrup being transportable through the inlet distribution line into the syrup recovery tank from at least one syrup supply tank;
(c) an outlet port on a lower portion of the syrup recovery tank, the syrup being transportable from the syrup recovery tank through the outlet port and through the outlet distribution line;
(d) a centrifugal pump connected to the outlet distribution line adjacent to the syrup recovery tank, the pump being adapted for pumping syrup from the syrup recovery tank through the outlet distribution line;
(e) a microprocessor in communication with the syrup recovery tank;
(f) a level transmitter within the syrup recovery tank adapted for measuring syrup levels within the syrup recovery tank and transmitting information concerning syrup levels to the microprocessor;
(g) a level control valve on the inlet distribution line for controlling the flow of syrup to the syrup recovery tank, the level control valve being adapted to receive input from the microprocessor;
(h) a control mechanism connected to the microprocessor adapted to enable a user to input to the microprocessor, and to receive information from the microprocessor, and
(i) a source of electrical power, the electrical power source being within, on, or connected to the control mechanism;
wherein the apparatus allows conservation of syrup and containers.

7 more elements

An apparatus for automatically gauging container and syrup requirements for beverage production, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an enclosed syrup recovery tank connected by at least one inlet distribution line to at least one syrup supply tank, and connected to at least one outlet distribution line leading out of the syrup recovery tank;
(b) an inlet port leading into the syrup recovery tank, the inlet port being located on a lower portion of the syrup recovery tank and being connected to the syrup supply tank by the inlet distribution line, syrup being transportable through the inlet distribution line into the syrup recovery tank from at least one syrup supply tank;
(c) an outlet port on a lower portion of the syrup recovery tank, the syrup being transportable from the syrup recovery tank through the outlet port and through the outlet distribution line;
(d) a pump connected to the outlet distribution line adjacent to the syrup recovery tank, the pump being adapted for pumping syrup from the syrup recovery tank through the outlet distribution line;
(e) a microprocessor in communication with the syrup recovery tank;
(f) a level transmitter within the syrup recovery tank adapted for measuring syrup levels within the syrup recovery tank and transmitting information concerning syrup levels to the microprocessor;
(g) a level control valve on the inlet distribution line for controlling the flow of syrup to the syrup recovery tank, the level control valve being adapted to receive input from the microprocessor;
(h) a control mechanism connected to the microprocessor adapted to enable a user to input to the microprocessor, and to receive information from the microprocessor, the control mechanism comprising a screen for visually displaying information received from the microprocessor;
and
(i) a source of electrical power in communication with the control mechanism;
wherein an inlet distribution line includes a divert valve adapted for diverting syrup to a line for cleaning the syrup recovery tank;
and
wherein the apparatus allows conservation of syrup and beverage containers.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.