초록 ▼

A dispenser for soft-drinks and ice has an integral ice maker. The compressor and condenser for the ice making refrigeration system are located remotely from the ice making apparatus. Thus, the dispenser with an integral ice maker does not emit noise and heat from the compressor and condenser in the

A dispenser for soft-drinks and ice has an integral ice maker. The compressor and condenser for the ice making refrigeration system are located remotely from the ice making apparatus. Thus, the dispenser with an integral ice maker does not emit noise and heat from the compressor and condenser in the customer service areas where ice and soft drinks are dispensed. Refrigerant vapor is drawn from a receiver and is used for defrosting in the harvest portion of the ice making cycle. The dispenser also has an internal heat exchanger for cooling carbonated water and syrup prior to dispensing a soft drink. There is also an ice maker and dispenser, having a refrigeration system in which ice-making components and an ice dispenser are located near a customer-service area, while the hot and noisy refrigeration components are located remotely.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A beverage dispenser with an integral ice maker comprising:a) a water system including at least one pump, an ice-forming surface, and interconnecting lines therefor;b) a refrigeration system with a compressor, a condenser, at least one evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the ice forming

1. A beverage dispenser with an integral ice maker comprising:a) a water system including at least one pump, an ice-forming surface, and interconnecting lines therefor;b) a refrigeration system with a compressor, a condenser, at least one evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the ice forming surface, and at least one receiver having an inlet connected to the condenser, a liquid outlet connected to an expansion device, and a vapor outlet connected by a valved passageway to the evaporator, wherein the compressor and the condenser are remote from the evaporator;c) an ice bin for receiving ice made by the water system and the refrigeration system; andd) at least one mixing valve for mixing and dispensing syrup and carbonated water chilled by ice made by the refrigeration system; ande) a housing, wherein the water system, at least a portion of the refrigeration system, and the ice bin are located within the housing. 2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 further comprising at least one heat exchanger in thermal contact with the ice bin. 3. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a carbonator and a carbonator pump for making carbonated water. 4. The beverage dispenser of claim 3 further comprising a prechiller within the housing, the prechiller located between the carbonator pump and a location selected from the group consisting of a source of incoming water and the carbonator. 5. The beverage dispenser of claim 4 wherein the prechiller comprises a coil of circulating water in heat exchange relationship with ice from the ice bin, and a container for holding the ice. 6. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 wherein an ice making portion of the beverage dispenser is located behind a portion for dispensing a soft drink. 7. The beverage dispenser of claim 2 wherein the heat exchanger comprises an aluminum casting with separate flow passages for at least one of water, syrup, and carbonated water. 8. The beverage dispenser of claim 7 wherein the flow passages are coils of stainless steel tubing. 9. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an ice dispenser receiving and dispensing ice from the ice bin. 10. The beverage dispenser of claim 9 further comprising an agitator within the ice bin, a motor for rotating the agitator, and an elevator for lifting ice from the ice bin to the ice dispenser. 11. The beverage dispenser of claim 10 wherein the elevator includes an auger in a tube and a motor for rotating the auger. 12. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 wherein the at least one mixing valve comprises a ratio control valve, which draws syrup from a source of the syrup to the mixing valve. 13. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 further comprising at least one mixing and dispensing valve connected to a source of non-carbonated water for dispensing a non-carbonated beverage. 14. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 wherein the beverage dispenser and ice maker constitute a built-in model and are contained within a housing configured with an under counter ice bin and an above counter beverage dispensing portion. 15. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 wherein the refrigeration system comprises at least two receivers and further comprising a receiver equalizer line connecting the at least two receivers. 16. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 wherein the at least one receiver is generally cylindrical in shape with a wall and two ends, and with lines for an inlet, a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet all passing through one end of the cylinder. 17. The beverage dispenser of claim 16 wherein the receiver liquid outlet is a tube extending to near the bottom of the at least one receiver, and the vapor outlet is a tube extending to near the top of the at least one receiver. 18. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a head pressure control valve located between the condenser and the at least one receiver to allow gas from the compressor to bypass the condenser and enter the at least one receiver. 19. The beverage dispens er of claim 3 further comprising a pump for recycling carbonated water to the carbonator. 20. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 wherein the valved passageway comprises a solenoid valve. 21. A method of producing and dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:a) producing ice with a refrigeration system having an evaporator remote from a compressor and a condenser, the evaporator being housed inside a housing that also houses a beverage dispenser;b) harvesting and storing said ice adjacent to a heat exchanger;c) cooling water and syrup in said heat exchanger by exchanging heat with said ice;d) mixing cooled water and syrup to form a beverage; ande) dispensing said beverage. 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising carbonating the water used to mix the beverage. 23. The method of claim 21 wherein a casual drink is dispensed at a temperature as low as 38° F. 24. The method of claim 21 further comprising releasing ice from an ice making mold by heating the evaporator with vaporous refrigerant from a receiver. 25. The method of claim 21 further comprising drawing syrup and carbonated water for said mixing and dispensing steps by using a ratio control valve. 26. The method of claim 21 further comprising cooling and dispensing a second beverage wherein the second beverage is a single-component beverage by exchanging heat in the second beverage with the ice, and dispensing the cooled single-component beverage. 27. The method of claim 21 further comprising dispensing ice into a container upon command from a user. 28. The method of claim 22 further comprising chilling water selected from the group consisting of incoming water or only water to be carbonated. 29. A beverage dispenser with an integral ice maker comprising:a) a housing;b) a carbonation system comprising a carbonator within the housing and connections to sources of carbon dioxide and water, and a carbonator pump within the housing for pumping carbonated water;c) a water system within the housing comprising a water pump and ice-forming equipment;d) a refrigeration system having an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, an expansion device, and at least one receiver, the evaporator being located within the housing and the condenser and compressor being located outside the housing, and the at least one receiver having an inlet connected to the condenser, a vapor outlet connected to the evaporator by a valved passageway, and a liquid outlet connected to the expansion device which is connected in turn to the evaporator;e) an ice bin within the housing for receiving ice made by the refrigeration system; andf) a beverage dispensing system within the housing, the dispensing system comprising at least two mixing valves and interconnecting lines between said valves and a source of syrup and a water source, at least one of said mixing valves receiving syrup and carbonated water, wherein the interconnecting lines between the mixing valves and the syrup source and the water source are in heat exchange relationship with the ice bin. 30. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 further comprising a block valve for mounting each of the at least two mixing valves. 31. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 further comprising a water selection manifold between piping for water and carbonated water and the mixing and dispensing valves. 32. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein the heat exchange relationship between the interconnecting syrup and water lines and the ice bin comprises an aluminum casting with separate flow passages for water and syrup. 33. The beverage dispenser or claim 32 wherein the passages comprise tubing around which aluminum is cast. 34. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein the ice is released into the ice bin by heating the evaporator with vaporous refrigerant from the refrigeration system. 35. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 further comprising a high/low sensor for the carbonator connected to a controller for the carbonator. 36. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein at least one of said valves is connected to a source of non-carbonated water and dispenses a non-carbonated beverage. 37. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein each of the at least two mixing valves comprises a ratio control valve that draws syrup to the mixing valve. 38. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein the source of carbon dioxide comprises a carbon dioxide tank connected to the carbonator. 39. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein the at least one receiver comprises a plurality of receivers and piping connecting each of the receivers. 40. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein the at least one receiver is generally cylindrical in shape with a wall and two ends, and with lines for an inlet, a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet all passing through one end of the cylinder. 41. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein the liquid outlet is a tube extending to near the bottom of the at least one receiver and the vapor outlet is a tube extending to near the top of the at least one receiver. 42. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 further comprising a head pressure control valve located between the condenser and the at least one receiver to allow gas from the compressor to bypass the condenser and enter the receiver. 43. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein the valved passageway comprises a solenoid valve. 44. The beverage dispenser of claim 29, wherein the at least one receiver is located within the housing. 45. The dispensing system of claim 29 further comprising a prechiller within the housing, the prechiller located between the carbonator pump and a location selected from the group consisting of a source of incoming water and the carbonator. 46. The dispensing system of claim 45 wherein the prechiller comprises a coil of circulating water in heat exchange relationship with ice from the ice bin, and a container for holding the ice. 47. A method of producing and dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:a) producing ice with a refrigeration system having an evaporator remote from a compressor and a condenser, wherein the evaporator is housed inside a beverage dispenser housing;b) harvesting the ice into an ice bin;c) cooling water and syrup by exchanging heat with said ice and carbonating said water;d) conveying said carbonated water and syrup to a mixing and dispensing valve;e) mixing cooled carbonated water and syrup to form a beverage; andf) dispensing said beverage. 48. The method of claim 47 further comprising dispensing the beverage at a temperature as low as 38° F. 49. The method of claim 47 further comprising dispensing ice from the ice bin into a container upon command from a user. 50. The method of claim 47 wherein the dispensing is accomplished by a ratio control valve. 51. The method of claim 47 further comprising ceasing to make ice upon a signal selected from the group consisting of an ice bin full signal and an alarm from the refrigeration system. 52. The method of claim 47 wherein the ice is harvested by supplying vaporous refrigerant to the evaporator. 53. The method of claim 52 wherein the vaporous refrigerant is routed to the evaporator from a receiver in the refrigeration system, said refrigerant routed to the receiver from a source selected from the group consisting of a condenser and a head pressure control valve. 54. The method of claim 47 further comprising prechilling water selected from the group consisting of incoming water and water to be carbonated. 55. A beverage dispenser with an integral ice maker comprising:a) a housing;b) a carbonator within the housing connected to a source of carbon dioxide and a source of water.c) a water system inside the housing, the water system comprising a water pump and an ice-form lug mold;d) a refrigeration system having an evaporator inside the housing, a condenser and a compressor both located remotely from the evaporator, and a receiver with a vapor outlet connected to the evaporator by a valved passageway and a liquid outlet connected to an expansion device near the evaporator;e) an ice bin within the housing for receiving ice made by the refrigeration system; andf) a dispensing system within the housing comprising at least two mixing valves and interconnecting lines between said valves and the sources of syrup and water, at least one mixing valve receiving syrup and carbonated water, wherein the interconnecting lines between the mixing valves and the syrup and carbonated water are in heat exchange relationship with the ice bin. 56. The beverage dispenser of claim 55 wherein the condenser and compressor are located together in a single cabinet. 57. The beverage dispenser of claim 55 wherein the receiver is located in the housing with the evaporator. 58. The beverage dispenser of claim 55 wherein the heat exchange relationship is provided by a cold plate heat exchanger located under the ice in the ice bin, the cold plate having embedded interconnecting lines for the syrup and carbonated water. 59. The beverage dispenser of claim 55 further comprising a water selection manifold between the at least one mixing valve and interconnecting lines for carbonated and non-carbonated water. 60. An ice making aid dispensing machine, comprising:a) a water system including at least one pump, at least one ice-forming mold, and interconnecting lines therefor,b) a refrigeration system for making ice with water from the water system, the refrigeration system comprising a compressor, a condenser, at least one evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the at least one ice forming mold, and at least one receiver having an inlet connected to the condenser, a liquid outlet connected to an expansion device, and a vapor outlet connected by a valved passageway to the evaporator, wherein the compressor and the condenser are located remotely from the evaporator;c) an ice bin for receiving ice made by the water system and the refrigeration system;d) an ice dispensing system for dispensing ice from the ice bin; ande) a housing, wherein the water system, at least a portion of the refrigeration system the ice bin, and the ice dispensing system are located within the housing. 61. The ice making and dispensing machine of claim 60 further comprising al agitator and motor for the ice bin and wherein the ice dispenser includes an elevator for lifting ice from the ice bin to the ice dispensing system. 62. The ice making and dispensing machine of claim 60 wherein the elevator includes an auger in a tube and a motor for rotating the auger. 63. A beverage dispenser with an integral ice maker comprising:a) a water system including at least one pump, at least one ice-forming mold, and interconnecting lines therefor;b) a refrigeration system having at least one evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the ice forming mold, at least one receiver having an inlet connected lo a condenser, a liquid outlet connected to an expansion device, and a vapor outlet connected to the at least one evaporator by a valved passageway, and wherein a compressor draws refrigerant from the at least one evaporator and supplies compressed refrigerant to the condenser, the compressor and condenser both being located remotely from the evaporator;c) an ice bin for receiving ice made by the water system and the refrigeration system;d) at least one mixing valve for mixing and dispensing carbonated water and syrup, said carbonated water and syrup being chilled by ice from the ice bin, ande) a housing containing the water system, the at least one evaporator, the ice bin, and the at least one mixing valve. 64. A beverage dispenser with an integral ice maker comprising:a) a housing;b) a carbonator within the housing connected to sources of carbon dioxide and water, and at least one pump within the housing for pumping water;c) a water system within the housing comprising a water pump and an ice-forming mold;d) a refrigeration system having at least one evaporator within the housing and at least one rec eiver, a condenser and a compressor, the evaporator being located within the housing and the compressor and condenser being located remotely from the evaporator, wherein the receiver has an inlet connected to the condenser, a liquid outlet connected to an expansion device, and a vapor outlet connected by a valved passageway to the evaporator;e) an ice bin within the housing for receiving ice made by the refrigeration system; andf) a dispensing system within the housing, the dispensing system comprising at least two mixing valves and interconnecting lines between said valves and a source of syrup and a water source, at least one mixing valve receiving syrup and carbonated water, wherein the interconnecting lines between the mixing valves and the syrup source and water source are in heat exchange relationship with the ice bin. 65. The beverage dispenser of claim 64 further comprising a prechiller within the housing, the prechiller comprising a coil of circulating water in heat exchange relationship with ice from the ice bin. 66. The beverage dispenser of claim 64 wherein the at least one pump is selected from the group consisting of a pump for pumping incoming water to the carbonator and a pump for pumping carbonated water. 67. The beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the ice-forming surface comprises an ice-forming mold. 68. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 wherein the at least one mixing valve is located at about the same height as the refrigeration system. 69. The method of claim 21 wherein the beverage is formed and dispensed at about the same height as the evaporator. 70. The beverage dispenser of claim 29 wherein the at least two mixing valves arc located at about the same height as the refrigeration system. 71. The method of claim 47 wherein the beverage is formed and dispensed at about the same height as the evaporator. 72. The beverage dispenser of claim 55 wherein the at least two mixing valves are located at about the same height as the refrigeration system. 73. The beverage dispenser of claim 64 wherein the dispensing system is at about the same height as the refrigeration system.