초록 ▼

A noncarbonated beverage dispensing machine in combination with pressurized water and syrup supplies; the machine includes a beverage tank from which beverage is dispensed, a mixing head including normally closed electrically operated water and syrup valves connected with the water and syrup supplie

A noncarbonated beverage dispensing machine in combination with pressurized water and syrup supplies; the machine includes a beverage tank from which beverage is dispensed, a mixing head including normally closed electrically operated water and syrup valves connected with the water and syrup supplies and operable to conduct metered volumes of water and syrup into the beverage tank and a liquid level switching device in the beverage tank operating to simultaneously cause the valves to open when the liquid in the tank is at a predetermined low level and to cause the valves to close when the liquid level in the tank is at a predetermined high level. The water supply delivers a constant supply of water at a desired pressure to the water valve. The syrup supply includes a replaceable syrup tank holding a discrete volume of syrup, an elongate syrup line extends from the syrup tank to the mixing head and a gas supply delivers pressurized gas into the syrup tank at predetermined pressure to move syrup therein through the syrup line to the head. The head includes a normally open syrup actuated switching device between and connected with the syrup valve and syrup line and that operates to close when syrup at desired pressure is delivered to the syrup valve and to disable and prevent opening of the water valve when syrup is not supplied to the syrup valve at desired pressure and to thereby prevent a flow of water into the supply tank in the absence of a corresponding flow of syrup into that tank.

대표청구항 ▼

A beverage dispensing machine including a beverage tank with a beverage dispensing valve, a mixing head including electrically operated normally closed water and syrup valves and operating to receive metered volumes of water and beverage concentrate syrup and to deliver them into the beverage tank;

A beverage dispensing machine including a beverage tank with a beverage dispensing valve, a mixing head including electrically operated normally closed water and syrup valves and operating to receive metered volumes of water and beverage concentrate syrup and to deliver them into the beverage tank; a fluid level actuated switch unit in the beverage tank and operating to cause the water and syrup valves to open simultaneously when the liquid level in the beverage tank reaches a predetermined low level and to close when the liquid level in the beverage tank reaches a predetermined high level, a water supply including an elongate water line extending between a pressurized water service system and an upstream side of the water valve; a syrup supply including a replaceable syrup tank holding a discrete volume of syrup, and elongate syrup line extending between and connected with the syrup tank and an upstream side of the syrup valve, and a high-pressure gas supply connected with the syrup tank and delivering gas at a predetermined pressure into the syrup tank to move syrup therefrom to the syrup valve; the machine includes a normally open syrup actuating switching device between and connected with the syrup line and the syrup valve and electrically connected between the liquid level switch unit and the water valve, said syrup actuated switching device normally disables and prevents opening of the water valve and closes and enables opening of the water valve when syrup in the syrup tank is delivered to the syrup valve; the syrup actuated switching device includes a substantially horizontal case with upstream and downstream ends and defines an accumulator chamber that extends longitudinally and vertically between said ends, a syrup inlet fitting communicates with the lower portion of the chamber at the upstream end thereof, a syrup outlet fitting communicates with the lower portion of the chamber at the downstream end thereof, a normally open fluid level actuated switch is in the chamber above the inlet and outlet fittings and is connected to normally disable and prevent opening of the water valve, said fluid actuated switch is operated to close and to enable operation and opening of the water valve when the syrup valve is opened and the liquid level of syrup in the chamber rises to a level where pressures on the gas and syrup in the chamber are in substantial equilibrium.