US 6,547,100 B2 · Soft drink dispensing machine with modular customer interface unit

Abstract

A machine for dispensing beverages may include a support structure and a plurality of valve trays mounted on the support structure in side-by-side relation. The machine may also include a connection block disposed on each of the plurality of valve trays, where each connection block may be configured to receive a first supply of a diluent and a second supply of a diluent. A valve may be disposed on each connection block, and each valve may be configured to be selectively movable between the first supply, the second supply, and a closed position. A nozzle may be mounted to each of the valve trays at a predefined dispensing location, and each nozzle may be configured to selectively receive diluent from the first supply and the second supply.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A machine for dispensing beverages including a mixture of diluent and flavored concentrate, the machine comprising:

a support structure;
a plurality of valve trays mounted on the support structure in side-by-side relation;
a connection block disposed on each of the plurality of valve trays, each said connection block being configured to receive a first supply of diluent and a second supply of diluent;
a valve disposed on each said connection block, each said valve being configured to be selectively movable between a closed position and an open position in fluid communication with one of the first supply and the second supply;
and
a nozzle mounted to each of said plurality of valve trays at a predefined dispensing location, each said nozzle being configured to selectively receive diluent from the first supply and the second supply.

3 more elements

A machine for dispensing beverages which comprise a mixture of water and flavored syrup, said machine comprising:

a support structure;
a plurality of valve trays mounted on said support structure in side-by-side relation, each of said valve trays having a plurality of predefined dispensing locations formed on a lower surface thereof;
a nozzle mounted to said valve tray at one of said predefined dispensing locations;
a manifold assembly disposed at the support structure, the manifold assembly including a plurality of diluent conduits and a plurality of concentrate conduits;
a supply assembly including a plurality of diluent inlets and a plurality of concentrate inlets;
and
a riser including a plurality of diluent lines and a plurality of concentrate lines, the riser being configured to interface the supply assembly and the manifold assembly.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/860,475Filed 21 May 2001 · continuation in part

Priority

1 May 2000

Published

US 2002/0056721 A116 May 2002

Granted

15 Apr 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B67D 1/0051
Mixing devices for liquids: for mixing outside the nozzle
B67D 1/0021
The beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components: the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
B67D 1/06
Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught: mountings or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in or on shop or bar counters
B67D 1/0877
Aesthetics, advertising: advertising means

Soft drink dispensing machine with modular customer interface unit

Life of this patent

Soft drink dispensing machine with modular customer interface unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19