초록 ▼

A drink dispensing cart includes a drink dispensing machine that is normally plumbed directly into a municipal water pipe at a fixed location. The cart includes a container of water, preferably a disposable container of water such as a bag-in-box container of water, and a pump to pump water from the

A drink dispensing cart includes a drink dispensing machine that is normally plumbed directly into a municipal water pipe at a fixed location. The cart includes a container of water, preferably a disposable container of water such as a bag-in-box container of water, and a pump to pump water from the container of water to the drink dispensing machine. A controller controls operation of the pump to operate the pump only when water is needed by the drink dispensing machine and to provide an indication when the container of water is empty and needs changing. A pressure sensor in an outlet line extending between the pump and drink dispensing machine senses when water is needed by the dispenser and a pressure sensor in an inlet line extending between the pump and the container of water senses when the container of water is empty and needs replacing. A time delay circuit delays start of operation of the pump when water is needed by the drink dispenser to avoid pulsing of the pump. The bag-in-box container of water is sized for efficient packing and shipping.

대표청구항 ▼

1. drink dispensing cart, comprising:a cart that can be moved to desired locations; a water based drink dispenser which requires a source of water connected thereto, said dispenser being mounted on the cart to move with the cart; a space on the cart adapted to receive and removably hold a disposable

1. drink dispensing cart, comprising:a cart that can be moved to desired locations; a water based drink dispenser which requires a source of water connected thereto, said dispenser being mounted on the cart to move with the cart; a space on the cart adapted to receive and removably hold a disposable bag-in-box container of water; a pump having an inlet adapted to communicate with the bag-in-box container of water when the bag-in-box container of water is received in the space and an outlet communicating with the drink dispenser to pump water from the bag-in-box container to the drink dispenser; an inlet fluid conduit to connect the inlet of the pump to the bag-in-box container of water when the bag-in-box container of water is received in the space; a controller to control operation of the pump to cause the pump to supply water to the drink dispenser upon demand when the drink dispenser requires water; wherein the controller includes a vacuum sensor in communication with the inlet conduit to sense vacuum in the inlet conduit; and wherein the controller stops operation of the pump when a vacuum is sensed. 2. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 1, wherein an outlet fluid conduit connects the outlet of the pump with a water inlet of the drink dispenser, and wherein the controller includes an outlet pressure sensor in communication with the outlet conduit to measure pressure in the outlet conduit, the controller stopping operation of the pump when the pressure sensed in the outlet conduit is above a preset value.3. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 1, wherein the controller stops operation of the pump when the vacuum sensed is above a preset vacuum value.4. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 1, wherein the cart additionally includes a cool water reservoir, a cooling system cooperable with the cool water reservoir to cool water in the cool water reservoir, and an outlet for dispensing cool water.5. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 4, wherein the cart additionally includes a hot water reservoir, a heating system cooperable with the hot water reservoir to heat water in the hot water reservoir, and an outlet for dispensing hot water.6. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 1, wherein the cart has a top surface and the water based drink dispenser is mounted on the top surface.7. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 1, wherein the cart has a lower shelf and the space to receive the bag-in-box container of water is on the lower shelf.8. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 1, additionally including the disposable bag-in-box container of water.9. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 8, wherein the disposable bag-in-box container of water comprises:a flexible bag made from a material that can hold water and does not impart a flavor to the water; a closure; and a cardboard box sized to hold the bag when full of water enclosing the bag. 10. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 9, wherein the size of the cardboard box is nine and five eights by nine and three eights by fourteen and seven eights inches.11. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a reset switch that is manually reset to begin operation of the pump after operation of the pump has been stopped in response to vacuum sensed by the vacuum sensor.12. A drink dispensing cart, comprising:a cart that can be moved to desired locations; a water based drink dispenser which requires a source of water connected thereto, said dispenser being mounted on the cart to move with the cart; a space on the cart adapted to receive and removably hold a container of water; a pump having an inlet adapted to communicate with the container of water when the container of water is received in the space and an outlet communicating with the drink dispenser to pump water from the container to the drink dispenser; a controller to control operation of the pump to cause the pump to supply water to the drink dispenser upon demand when the drink dispenser requires water; an inlet fluid conduit to connect the inlet of the pump to the container of water when the container of water is received in the space; an outlet fluid conduit to connect the outlet of the pump with the drink dispenser, and wherein the controller includes an outlet pressure sensor in communication with the outlet conduit to measure pressure in the outlet conduit, the controller stopping operation of the pump when the pressure sensed in the outlet conduit is above a preset value, said controller including a time delay circuit to prevent start up of the pump for a preset delay period once the pressure sensed in the outlet conduit drops below the preset value. 13. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 12, wherein the controller includes an inlet pressure sensor in communication with the inlet conduit to measure pressure in the inlet conduit, the controller stopping operation of the pump when the pressure sensed in the inlet conduit is below a preset value and providing an indication that the water container is empty.14. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 13, wherein the inlet pressure sensor is a vacuum sensor and the controller stops operation of the pump when the vacuum sensed is above a preset vacuum value.15. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 13, wherein the controller stops operation of the pump when the pressure sensed is substantially zero.16. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 13, wherein the controller includes a reset switch that is manually reset to begin operation of the pump after operation of the pump has been stopped in response to pressure sensed by the inlet pressure sensor.17. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 12, additionally including the container of water wherein the container of water is a disposable bag-in-box container.18. A drink dispensing cart, comprising:a cart that can be moved to desired locations; a water based drink dispenser which requires a source of water connected thereto, said dispenser being mounted on the cart to move with the cart; a space on the cart adapted to receive and removably hold a container of water; a pump having an inlet adapted to communicate with the container of water when the container of water is received in the space and an outlet communicating with the drink dispenser to pump water from the container to the drink dispenser; a controller to control operation of the pump to cause the pump to supply water to the drink dispenser upon demand when the drink dispenser requires water; a cool water reservoir; a cooling system cooperable with the cool water reservoir to cool water in the cool water reservoir; an outlet for dispensing cool water; a hot water reservoir; a heating system cooperable with the hot water reservoir to heat water in the hot water reservoir; an outlet for dispensing hot water; wherein the cart has a height and a top surface; wherein the water based drink dispenser is mounted on the top surface of the cart; and wherein the outlets for cool and hot water are positioned intermediate the height of the cart. 19. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 18, wherein the cart has a lower shelf and the space to receive the container of water is on the lower shelf.20. A drink dispensing cart according to claim 18, additionally including the container of water wherein the container of water is a disposable bag-in-box container.