GB2188907A - Improved ice-cooled drink dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A cold drink dispenser in which drink components pass through conduits in a cold plate 20 which forms the base of an ice bin 18 and in which an icemaker 76 is mounted in the cold plate generally centrally of the area of the cold plate to be served by the ice maker which discharges pieces of ice over substantially 360 DEG laterally of the plate surface. Still or carbonated water and syrup pass through serpentine channels in cold plate 20 to post-mix nozzles 36. Ice made in icemaker 76 is expelled by auger 92 and broken and distributed at outlets 114. Plate 130 senses the upper ice level to control the icemaker, and paddles 146, 148 driven by motor 140 agitate the ice. Lever 162 and switch 160 control door 152 which opens to allow ice to fall into a vessel under nozzle 36. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved ice-cooled drink dispensing system The invention is in the field of cold drink dispensers and, more particularly, in the field of cold drink dispensers incorporating cold platesforcoolingthe drink constituents.

Various types of cold drink dispensers are known in the priorart. Oneform ofcolddrinkdispenser includes a bin for storing pieces of ice. At leastthe base ofthe bin comprises a thick piece ofthermally conductive material such, for example, as a cast aluminum plate which may be from five to eight inchesthick. It is known as a cold plate. Thiscold plate is cooled by ice stored in the bin. The various drinkcomponents, such forexample as syrup, carbonated water, and still water, are cooled by passing them from respective supplies through tubes or conduits of serpentine configuration embedded in the cold plate.

While arrangements ofthe type described above provide an effective means of dispensing cold drinks, they sufferfrom a number of disadvantages.

First, care must be taken to see that the supply of ice within the bin is replenished regularly in orderto ensurethatthecold plateremainscold.Owingtothe fact that the bins of these systems are filled from the top, new ice is always at the top ofthe bin and old ice is adjacentto the cold plate, with the resultthatthe cooling ofthe cold plate is not as efficient as is desirable.

Some systems ofthe prior art are provided with meansforwithdrawing ice from the supply in the bin in the event that the customer desires ice in his drink.

Arrangements of this type are not ableto accommodate relatively heavy runs in a short period of time without depleting the supply of ice to a point atwhichthe drinks are notas cold as is desired.

One object of my invention is to provide a cold drink dispensing system which is an improvement over cold drink dispensing systems of the prior art.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved cold drink dispensing system in which cooling ofthe cold plate is accomplished in a more efficient mannerthan in the prior art.

Afurtherobject of my invention is to provide an improved cold drink dispenser of the cold platetype in which the supply of ice on the cold plate is automatically replenished.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an improved cold drink dispenser which can handle a relatively heavy demand for drinks and ice.

Other and further objects of my invention will appearfrom the following description.

In the accompanying drawings to which reference is made in the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views: Figure lisa side elevation of my improved cold drink dispenser with parts broken away and with other parts shown in section.

Figure2 is a front elevation of the form of my improved cold drink dispenser shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of my improved cold drink dispenser.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of my improved cold drink dispenser illustrating the beverage component paths through the cold plate of the ice maker.

Referring nowto Figure 1, my improved cold drink dispenser indicated generally by the reference character 10 includes a bin having a front wall 12, a back wall 14, and side walls 16 and 18. Acold plate 20 which may be formed of cast aluminum having a thickness of from about five to eight inches forms the base ofthe bin which is located on a supporting structure 21 at a level above the bottom ofthe dispenser 10.

My cold drink dispenser includes six drink dispensers 22,24,26,28,30 and 32, of any suitable type known to the art which are adapted to receive beverage components such, for example, as syrup and carbonated or still waterandto mix the two components. Each of the drink dispensers is provided with an actuator 34 for initiating operation of the dispenser and with a delivery spout 36 through which the drink may be dispensed to a cup orthe like (notshown) supported underthe spout 36 on atray 38 orthe like provided with a drain 40.

My drink dispenser may be arranged, for example, to dispense three still drinks of different flavors through the dispensers 22,24 and 26, and to dispense three carbonated drinks of the same flavors through the dispensers 28,30 and 32.

Referring nowto Figure 4, a supply line42 carrying still water is connected to a manifold 44 embedded in the plate 20. Manifold 44suppliesfourserpentine conduits 46a to 46d extending from the manifold 44 to an outlet manifold 48 embedded in the cold plate 20 adjacent to the front of the drink dispenser. A line 50 carries chilled still waterto one inlet of each ofthe respective dispensers 22,24 and 26. 1 connect respective syrup inlets 52,54,56, leading from suitable syrup supplies (not shown) to serpentine conduits 58 embedded in the cold plate. These conduits 58 lead to respective chilled syrup outlet lines 60,62 and 64, each of which is connected to a respective second inlet ofthe dispensers 22,24 and 26.An inlet line 66 leading from a suitable supply of carbonated water feeds a manifold 68 embedded in the cold plate 20 adjacent to the rear of the dispenser.

Serpentine conduits 70a through 70d embedded in the cold plate connect the manifold 68to an outlet manifold 72 in the cold plate adjacent to the front of the dispenser. An outlet line 74 carries the chilled carbonated water to respective first in lets ofthe dispenser units 28,30 and 32.1 connect the respective lines 60,62 and 64to respective second inlet lines to the dispensers 28,30 and 32.

In practice, the aggregate length ofthe lines 46a to 46d is approximately four times the length of any syrup line 58. Similarly, the aggregate length ofthe conduit 78 to 70d is approximatelyfourtimes the length ofanysyrup conduit 58. It will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art that the relative lengths are dictated by the proportion of major component to minor component in the drink being dispensed.

Referring again to Figure 1, my improved drink dispenser includes an ice maker indicated generally bythe reference character 76, supported on a bracket 78 in the base of the structure 21. The ice maker 76 extends upwardly from the bracket 78 through a bore 80 in the cold plate 20. Conveniently, the cold plate 20 may be formed with a boss 82 to which a retaining ring 84 may be secured by any suitable means, such as bolts orthe like, to hold the ice maker in position.

The ice maker 76 includes a jacket 86 surrounding an evaporator coil 88 which chills a freezing surface 90. The evaporator coil 88 may be connected to a remote compressor in any suitable manner known to the art. The ice maker auger 92 is driven by a motor 94to scrape ice offthe surface 90 and to advance it upwardly toward an extruding head 96. The auger shaft 98 extends upwardly th rough the extruding head 96 and through a thrust bearing 100 to receive an end cap 102 which is secured to the shaft by any suitable means such as a bolt or the like which also secures an ice agitating arm 104to the shaftfor rotation therewith.

Afloat valve 106 of a suitable type known to the art, connects the water inlet line 108 to the ice maker76 through a line 110 sothatthe ice maker is filled with waterto the degree required forefficient production of ice.

Referring nowto Figures 1 and 3, the extruding head 96 comprises a plurality of passages 11 2a through 1 12i, in each of which there is formed a rod of ice in response to the ice fed to the extruding head by the auger 92. If form the upper end of each of the extruding passages 112 with an outwardly directed surface 1 rods of As th 1 upwardlythey encounterthe surfaces 112 which breakthe rod into pieces and discharge them laterally of the upper surface ofthe cold plate 20. By way of example, I have illustrated by the arrows in Figures 3 and 4the direction of movement outwardly ofthe pieces of ice from the ice maker 76.It will readily be appreciated that the ice maker is located generally centrally ofthe plate 20 to be served thereby so that the ice is automatically distributed over the entire surface of the plate. Moreover, since the pieces of ice are delivered directly to the upper surface of the cold plate 20, fresh ice is always adjacent to the cold plate affording a more efficient cooling of the plate than is afforded by arrangements in which the bin is loaded from the top. It is to be noted furtherthatwhile, in the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings, I have shown a single ice maker 76 located generally centrally of the cold piate 20. 1 could aswell supply a largercold plate with a plurality of ice makers, each of which was located gen eral iy centrally of the cold plate area to be served thereby.

Aframe 116 located generally at the top of the ice bin carries a bracket 118 which pivotally supports a switch 120 on a pin 122. A stop 124 on the bracket limits the pivotal movement of the switch on the pin.

A second pin 126 on the switch body pivotally receives a rod 128 which extends downwardly into the bin ata position adjacent to the upper end thereof. Rod 128 carries a plate 130. A weight 132 on the rod constrains the rod to extend generally vertically.

From the structure just described, itwill readily be apparent that when the ice within the bin reaches a predetermined level, it moves plate 130 upwardly to pivot switch 120 about the pin 122 until the switch arm 134 engages a lug 136 on the bracket to operate the switch to stop the ice maker.

Another bracket 138 carried by the frame 116 supportsa motor140which drives a gear box 142, the output shaft 144 of which carries a numberof agitator arms 146, as well as paddles 148.

Iformthefrontwall 12 with a delivery opening 150 through which ice is adapted to be dispensed into a drink in a mannerto be described. A door 152 normally closes the opening 150. An actuator 154 is adapted to be moved by a solenoid 156 to open the door 152 to permit ice to move outwardly through the opening 150 into an ice delivery chute 158.

The supporting structure 21 carries a switch 160 located approximately midway between the sides 16 and 18 below the outlet of chute 158. When a customer desires to add ice to his drink, he holds the cup under the outlet of chute 158 and presses against a pivoted plate 162 to actuate switch 160. When actuated, switch 160 energizes motor 140 and solenoid 156to open the door 152 and to causethe paddlesl48topushiceoutwardlythroughthe opening 150 into the chute 158.

Further details of the construction ofthe ice maker 76 are shown and described in my copending application Serial No.823,826 filed January 1986.

In operation of my improved cold drink dispenser, ice maker 76 operates so long as the supply of ice within the bin above the cold plate 20 is below the normal level of the plate 130. As soon as the ice reaches a level atwhich plate 130 has been moved to a position at which switch 120 is actuated, the ice maker shuts down. With ice in the bin, cold plate 20 is chilled and drinks may be dispensed in the manner outlined hereinabove by operating the actuating element34 associated with one of the dispensers. If ice is desired in the drink, plate 162 is actuated to close switch 160 to energize motor 140 and solenoid 156 to open the door 152 so that paddles 148 push ice through the opening 150 into the chute 158. If desired, some timer may be provided to energize motor 140 periodically to agitate the ice in the bin.

Whenever the supply of ice falls below the level determined by the plate 130, ice maker 76 again operates to replenish the supply of ice. In so doing, fresh ice is fed to the region adjacent to the top of the plate 20 and the ice is directed generally outwardly as indicated by the arrows in Figures 3 and 4.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a cold drink dispenser which embodies an improvement over cold drink dispensers ofthe prior art. My cold drink dispenser provides more efficient cooling ofthe dispenser cold plate than do systems of the prior art.

My improved cold drink dispenser is capable of handling a relatively heavy demand for drinks with or without ice.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utiiity and may be employed without reference to otherfeatures and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is furtherobvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Claims (16)

1. Apparatus for dispensing a cold drink including in combination, a cold plate formed bya mass oftheremally conductive material, a conduit extending through said cold plate in the direction of one of the greater dimensions thereof, a dispenser adaptedto deliversaid cold drink, means connecting said dispenserto one end of said conduit, a source of a liquid component of said cold drink, means connecting said source to the other end of said conduit, an ice maker adapted to form pieces of ice, said ice maker having means for discharging said pieces, and means mounting said ice maker in said cold plate with said discharge means above and adjacent to the surface of said cold plate and located generally centrally of the area of said cold plate to be served by said ice maker.

2. Apparatus as in Claim 1 in which said discharge means discharges said pieces over substantially 3600 with relation to the center of said area.

3. Apparatus as in Claim 1 inwhichsaid discharge means discharges said pieces in a direction generally parallel to the surface of said cold plate.

4. Apparatus as in Claim 1 in which said discharge means discharges said pieces in directions generally parallel to the surface of said cold plate and over substantially 3600 with relation to the center of said area.

5. Apparatus as in Claim 1 in which said ice maker is adapted to form a rod of ice moving in a direction generally perpendicuiarto the surface of said cold plate, said ice maker comprising a breaker surface in the path of said rod for breaking said rod into pieces.

6. Apparatus as in Claim 1 in which said ice maker has a generally cylindrical freezing surface, an auger rotating around an axis for scraping ice particles off said freezing surface, and an extruding head having passages extending generally in the direction of the auger axis and adapted to form rods of ice from flake ice fed thereto by said auger, said head being formed with outwardly directed surfaces in the paths of movement of said rods for breaking said rods into pieces which are discharged outwardly of said axis in a direction generally parallel to said base.

7. Apparatus as in Claim 6 in which said plate is formed with an opening for receiving said ice maker and in which said mounting means postions said ice maker with a major portion ofthe auger below said surface of said plate and with said head extending above said surface.

8. Apparatus for storing ice and for dispensing a cold drink including in combination, an ice storage bin having a cold plate base formed of a mass of thermally conductive material, a liquid component conduit embedded in said cold plate and extending through said cold plate in the direction of one ofthe greaterdimensionsthereof, a dispenser adapted to be actuated to dispense said drink, means connecting said dispenser to one end of said conduit, a source of a liquid component of said cold drink, means connecting said source to the other end of said conduit, an ice maker adapted to form pieces of ice and having means for discharging said pieces, and means mounting said ice maker in said cold plate with said discharge means above and adjacent to said base and located generally centrally ofthe area of said cold plate to be served by said ice maker.

9. Apparatus as in Claim 8 including means responsive to the level of ice in said bin for controlling said ice maker.

10. Apparatus as in Claim 8 including meansfor dispensing ice from said bin.

11. Apparatus as in Claim 10 in which said ice dispensing means comprises an opening in the wall of said bin, a door normally closing said opening, first energizable means for opening said door, second energizable means for pushing ice through said opening and means for concomitantly energizing said first and second energizable means.

12. Apparatus as in Claim 8 in which said ice maker comprises first means for agitating ice in said bin, said apparatus including second meansfor agitating ice in said in independently of said first means.

13. Apparatus as in Claim 8 for dispensing a plurality of drinks, said apparatus comprising a plurality of said dispeners, means connecting said liquid component conduit to each of said dispensers, a plurality offlavoring conduits embedded in said cold plate, a plurality of sources of flavoring components, means connecting said flavoring component sources respectivelyto said flavoring conduits, and means connecting said flavoring conduits respectively to said dispenser.

14. Apparatusas in Claim 8 which said discharge means discharges said pieces in directions generally parallel to the surface of said cold plate and over substantially 360" with relation to the center of said area.

15. Apparatus as in Claim 8 in which said ice maker is adapted to form a rod of ice moving in a direction generally perpendicularto the surface of said cold plate, said ice maker comprising a breaker surface in the path of said rod for breaking said rod into pieces.

16. Apparatus as in Claim 8 in which said ice maker has a generally cylindrical freezing surface, an auger rotating around an axis for scraping ice particles off said freezing surface, and an extruding head having passages extending generally in the direction of the auger axis and adapted to form rods of ice from flake ice fed thereto by said auger, said head being formed with outwardly directed surfaces in the paths of movement of said rods for breaking said rods into pieces which are discharged outwardly of said axis in a direction generally parallel to said base.