IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0072572
(2002-02-08)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
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An automated apparatus for dispensing a liquid whitener and a liquid additive in a cup or the like. The apparatus comprises a source of liquid whitener and a whitener tube having a whitener outlet and a source of liquid additive and an additive line having an additive outlet. The apparatus also comp
An automated apparatus for dispensing a liquid whitener and a liquid additive in a cup or the like. The apparatus comprises a source of liquid whitener and a whitener tube having a whitener outlet and a source of liquid additive and an additive line having an additive outlet. The apparatus also comprises a whitener control connected to the whitener tube, an additive control connected to the additive line and a control board having at least one switch actuatable by a user for allowing the user to select a liquid whitener and a liquid additive. In operation, the whitener control allows dispersion of a predetermined amount of the selected liquid whitener through the whitener outlet, the additive control allows dispersion of a predetermined amount of the selected liquid additive through the additive outlet.
대표청구항
▼
1. An automated apparatus for dispensing a liquid whitener and a liquid additive in a cup, said apparatus comprising:(a) a source of liquid whitener and a whitener tube, said source of liquid whitener being in fluid communication with said whitener tube, said whitener tube comprising a whitener outl
1. An automated apparatus for dispensing a liquid whitener and a liquid additive in a cup, said apparatus comprising:(a) a source of liquid whitener and a whitener tube, said source of liquid whitener being in fluid communication with said whitener tube, said whitener tube comprising a whitener outlet open to the atmosphere;(b) a source of liquid additive and an additive line, said source of liquid additive being in fluid communication with said additive line, said additive line comprising an additive outlet open to the atmosphere;(c) a whitener control connected to said whitener tube; said whitener control comprising a solenoid having an actuator capable of engaging said whitener tube, said actuator being moveable from an open position wherein said whitener outlet is open, to a close position wherein said actuator engages said whitener tube for sealing, said whitener control further comprising a biasing means urging said actuator against said whitener tube for sealing said whitener outlet when said solenoid is not activated;(d) an additive control connected to said additive line, said additive control comprising a pump in fluid communication with said source of liquid additive and with said additive outlet;(e) a control board having at least one switch actuatable by a user for allowing the user to select a liquid whitener and a liquid additive, said control board being connected to said whitener and additive controls, wherein, in operation, said whitener control allows dispersion of a predetermined amount of the selected liquid whitener through said whitener outlet and said additive control allows dispersion of a predetermined amount of the selected liquid additive through said additive outlet; and(f) wherein said additive line comprises (i) a first tube connecting said source of liquid additive to said pump, said first tube having a vacuum switch mounted thereon; and (ii) a second tube connecting said pump to said additive outlet, said second tube having an adjustable valve and a check valve mounted thereon. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a fan for maintaining the liquid whitener at a temperature between 30 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control board comprises a plurality of actuatable switches that are selectively actuated by the user and that represent one of the following liquid whiteners: cream, half cream and half milk, whole milk, skim milk, 2% milk and creamer. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control board comprises a plurality of actuatable switches that are selectively actuated by the user and that represent one of the following liquid additives: sugar, French vanilla, Irish cream, cinnamon and Hazelnut. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:(a) said source of liquid additive is a first source of liquid additive, said apparatus further comprising a second source of liquid additive;(b) said additive line is a first additive line, said apparatus further comprising a second additive line, said first and second sources of liquid additive being in fluid communication with said first and second additive lines respectively, said first and second additive lines comprising respective first and second additive outlets being located around said whitener outlet; and(C) said additive control is a first additive control, said apparatus further comprising a second additive control, said first and second additive controls being connected to said first and second additive lines respectively, and, in operation, one of said first and second additive controls allows dispersion of a predetermined amount of the selected liquid additive through one of said first and second additive outlets. 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:(a) said source of liquid whitener is a first source of liquid whitener, said apparatus further comprising a second source of liquid whitener;(b) said whitener tube is a first white ner tube, said apparatus further comprising a second whitener tube, said first and second sources of liquid whitener being in fluid communication with said first and second whitener tubes, said first and second whitener tubes comprising respective first and second outlets;(c) said source of liquid additive is a first source of liquid additive, said apparatus further comprising a second source of liquid additive;(d) said additive line is a first additive line, said apparatus further comprising a second additive line, said first and second sources of liquid additive being in fluid communication with said first and second additive lines respectively, said first and second additive lines comprising respective first and second additive outlets being located around one of said first and second whitener outlets;(e) said whitener control is a first whitener control, said apparatus further comprising a second whitener control, said first and second whitener controls being connected to said first and second whitener tubes respectively;(f) said additive control is a first additive control, said apparatus further comprising a second additive control, said first and second additive controls being connected to said first and second additive lines respectively, and, in operation, one of said first and second whitener controls allows dispersion of a predetermined amount of the selected liquid whitener through one of said first and second whitener outlets, and one of said first and second additive controls allows dispersion of a predetermined amount of the selected liquid additive through one of said first and second additive outlets.
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