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A pinch bar for a pinch valve is comprised of a coil spring coupled to one end of an actuating rod. An opposite end of the rod is formed with, or is coupled to a device or surface, which applies a pinch force. The actuating rod slides through a fixed-in-place rod actuator. The rod actuator, spring a

A pinch bar for a pinch valve is comprised of a coil spring coupled to one end of an actuating rod. An opposite end of the rod is formed with, or is coupled to a device or surface, which applies a pinch force. The actuating rod slides through a fixed-in-place rod actuator. The rod actuator, spring and actuating rod thus provide a mechanism that applies a closing force inwardly, into or directed toward a cabinet attached to which is a valve body for the pinch bar and against which the pinch bar could exert a tube-closing force.

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1. A pinch bar for a pinch valve, which is used with a refrigerated cabinet of a liquid dispenser, the pinch bar comprising: a handle;a pinching surface, configured to apply a pinching force, the pinching force being applied through the pinching surface in a direction that is toward a front side of

1. A pinch bar for a pinch valve, which is used with a refrigerated cabinet of a liquid dispenser, the pinch bar comprising: a handle;a pinching surface, configured to apply a pinching force, the pinching force being applied through the pinching surface in a direction that is toward a front side of the refrigerated cabinet;a rod, which is coupled to the handle and coupled to the pinching surface, the rod having first and second opposing portions, the first portion being coupled to the handle and the pinching surface, the second portion being coupled to a spring; anda coil spring having first and second ends and extending around a portion of the rod located between the first and second opposing portions of said rod, the coil spring first end being coupled to the second portion of the rod;wherein the spring provides a pinching force to the rod, the handle and the pinching surface, the handle, rod, spring and pinching surface being configured to apply the pinching force toward the front side of the refrigerated cabinet. 2. The pinch bar of claim 1, wherein the rod has a portion located between the first and second ends and which has a circular cross section, wherein the rod additionally has first and second opposing ends, the first end of the rod having a flattened portion to which the handle is attached. 3. The pinch bar of claim 1, further comprising a rod actuator comprising a tube having first and second open ends and an interior, the interior being sized and shaped to receive the coil spring therein, the rod, rod actuator and spring being configured such that the rod passes through the rod actuator and passes through the center of the coil spring. 4. The pinch bar of claim 3, wherein the rod actuator comprises an L-shaped slot formed through the tube, the L-shaped slot having a first portion oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the rod, the first portion of the L-shaped slot having first and second ends, the L-shaped slot having a second portion oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first portion of the slot and extending away from the first end of the first portion of the L-shaped slot; wherein the rod of the pinch bar further comprises a retaining pin configured to slide back and forth in the first portion of the L-shaped slot responsive to translational movement of the bar and handle, the retaining pin configured to slide into the second portion responsive to the rotation of the bar when the retaining pin is at the first end of the first portion of the L-shaped slot. 5. A pinch bar for a pinch valve, the pinch valve being for a cabinet of a liquid dispenser, the pinch bar comprised of: a handle having a pinching surface;a coil spring having first and second ends; anda rod having first and second opposing ends, the rod extending through said coil spring and having its first end attached to said handle, the second end of the rod being coupled to said second end of the coil spring, the coil spring and rod configured to direct a pinching force through the pinching surface, into a front surface of the cabinet. 6. The pinch bar of claim 5, wherein the handle has a perimeter surface and wherein the pinching surface is formed on the perimeter surface of the handle. 7. The pinch bar of claim 5, wherein the pinch valve is configured to be operated both electrically and manually. 8. A pinch bar for a pinch valve, the pinch valve being with a cabinet of a liquid dispenser, the pinch bar comprised of: a coil spring having first and second ends;a rod having a length between first and second opposing ends, the first end of the spring being coupled to the first end of the rod;a handle having a perimeter, the handle perimeter having a pinch surface comprising a narrowed edge, the handle being coupled to the second end of the rod; anda rod actuator comprising a cylinder having first and second ends, the rod actuator being fixed in place relative to the rod and pinch surface and enclosing the coil spring;wherein the coil spring biases the pinch surface toward the rod actuator and into a front surface of the cabinet configured to hold the pinch valve. 9. The pinch bar of claim 8, wherein the rod has a portion between the first and second ends, which has a circular cross section and wherein the rod passes through the rod actuator. 10. The pinch bar of claim 9, wherein the rod passes through the spring. 11. The pinch bar of claim 8, further comprised of a pin through the rod and comprised of slots in the rod actuator, the pin and slots limiting the travel of the rod in the rod actuator and being configured to latch the rod in the rod actuator. 12. The pinch bar of claim 8, wherein the rod actuator is additionally comprised of an alignment key. 13. The pinch bar of claim 8, wherein the pinch bar is configured to exert pinching force in a direction that is toward a liquid dispenser. 14. The pinch bar of claim 8, wherein the rod is configured to be moved both electrically and manually. 15. A pinch bar for a pinch valve, the pinch valve being with a refrigerated cabinet of a liquid dispenser, the pinch bar comprising: a coil spring having first and second ends;a rod having a length and first and second ends, the first end of the rod being coupled to the first end of the spring;a spring stop fixed to the first end of the rod and abutting the first end of the coil spring;a substantially flat handle coupled to the second end of the rod, the handle having a central region, which comprises an opening that is sized, shaped and arranged to allow at least one finger to be inserted there through, the handle also having a pinch surface on an exterior edge of the handle facing a front side of the refrigerated cabinet;a rod actuator having a first end proximate the first end of the rod and having a second end abutting the second end of the coil spring;wherein tension in the coil spring biases the shaft actuator and the rod in opposite directions. 16. The pinch bar of claim 15, wherein the rod actuator is comprised of a cylinder having first and second ends and a wall, the first end of the cylinder being open, the second end of the cylinder being substantially closed to provide an abutment for the second end of the coil spring, the second end of the rod actuator having a hole sized, shaped and arrange to receive the rod therein. 17. The pinch bar of claim 15, wherein the second end of the rod actuator is provided with an annular shaft seal. 18. The pinch bar of claim 15, wherein the pinch valve is configured to be operated both electrically and manually.