Product cooling system, method and apparatus to reduce heat transfer
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B67D-007/80
B67D-001/08
B67D-001/10
B67D-001/16
출원번호
US-0516293
(2010-12-16)
등록번호
US-9718663
(2017-08-01)
국제출원번호
PCT/US2010/060870
(2010-12-16)
§371/§102 date
20120615
(20120615)
국제공개번호
WO2011/075600
(2011-06-23)
발명자
/ 주소
Kadyk, Jeffery W.
Dyer, Sheryl L.
출원인 / 주소
Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
2
초록▼
A beverage dispensing apparatus including a cabinet for retaining a beverage product and from which the beverage product is controllably dispensed. The cabinet includes structures and systems to make cooling more efficient and maintain more constant product temperatures. The structures and systems f
A beverage dispensing apparatus including a cabinet for retaining a beverage product and from which the beverage product is controllably dispensed. The cabinet includes structures and systems to make cooling more efficient and maintain more constant product temperatures. The structures and systems function to reduce heat transfer between beverage product stored in containers in the cabinet and the ambient environment. The apparatus maintains a minimal equipment footprint, maintains ease of installing and removing the beverage containers, and accommodates a variety of types of products and types of product containers.
대표청구항▼
1. A countertop beverage dispensing apparatus including a beverage dispensing area comprising a beverage dispensing nozzle,a cabinet having generally vertical side walls defining a cavity sized for retaining at least one beverage product container,a cooling unit is associated with the cabinet for co
1. A countertop beverage dispensing apparatus including a beverage dispensing area comprising a beverage dispensing nozzle,a cabinet having generally vertical side walls defining a cavity sized for retaining at least one beverage product container,a cooling unit is associated with the cabinet for communication with the cavity to provide controllable cooling of the cavity and the at least one beverage product container retained therein,opposing inside surfaces of the cavity generally vertical side walls including at least one generally horizontally oriented protrusion on each of the opposing inside surfaces of the cavity generally vertical side walls for spacing the at least one beverage product container away from substantial direct contact with the inside surface of at least a corresponding one of the generally vertical side walls, the generally horizontally oriented protrusion on each of the opposing inside surfaces of the cavity generally vertical side walls forming a generally horizontal channel for conveying cooling air in a first generally horizontal direction,a directional channel for conveying cooling air exiting one end of the generally horizontal channel downward and in a direction opposite the first generally horizontal direction,the cooling unit circulating air through the cavity of the cabinet with the at least one generally horizontally oriented protrusion providing space between the at least one beverage product container placed in the cavity and the inside surface of a generally vertical side wall of the cabinet with the space being open at the top and the bottom to allow circulation of air completely around the side walls of the at least one beverage product container. 2. A method of maintaining at least a predetermined temperature range associated with a product stored in a beverage dispensing apparatus, the method including the steps of: providing a beverage dispensing apparatus including a cabinet having side walls extending vertically and defining a cavity therein;providing at least one protrusion elongated generally horizontally on an inside surface of opposed inside surfaces of the cavity sidewalls;providing a cooling unit associated with the cabinet;using the cooling unit to circulate air through the cavity of the cabinet;placing at least one product container in the cabinet with an outside of the at least one product container abutting the at least one protrusion to provide a space between the at least one product container and the cabinet to facilitate horizontal movement of air by the cooling unit and prevent heat transfer between the at least one product container and the cabinet with the space being open at the top and the bottom to allow circulation of air completely around the side walls of the product container,providing a beverage dispensing area for dispensing beverage from the at least one product container, andusing the cooling unit to circulate air through the beverage dispensing area. 3. A protrusion elongated generally horizontally for use in a beverage dispensing cabinet, the protrusion elongated generally horizontally including two protrusions forming a cooling channel elongated generally horizontally in a first horizontal direction, the protrusions being sized and dimensioned for attachment to an inside surface of generally vertical side walls of the beverage dispensing apparatus cabinet,the two protrusions elongated generally horizontally being sized and dimensioned to provide a gap between an outside surface of a product container placed in the cabinet and a corresponding inside surface of the cabinet side wall to which the generally horizontally oriented protrusions are attached with the gap being open at the top and the bottom to allow circulation of air completely around the side walls of the product container, anda directional channel exiting one end of the cooling channel, the directional channel extending downward and in a direction opposite the first horizontal direction. 4. The protrusion device as in claim 3 further comprising the at least one protrusion is provided as a linear rib which is attached to the inside surface of the cabinet side walls of the beverage apparatus. 5. The protrusion device of claim 3 further comprising a panel having at least the one protrusion extending from the panel, the panel being sized and dimensioned for attachment to the inside surface of the side walls of the cabinet of a beverage dispensing apparatus. 6. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the generally horizontally oriented protrusion in the form of at least one elongate rib on each of two opposed sidewalls to position the at least one product container positioned near a corresponding side wall away from the inside surface of the corresponding sidewall to provide a path for circulation of air between the outside of the at least one product container and the corresponding inside surface of the sidewall. 7. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the generally horizontally oriented protrusion in the form of at least a pair of elongate ribs on each of two opposed sidewalls, the pair of ribs on a corresponding side wall being spaced apart on the side wall, the ribs being oriented to position the at least one product container positioned near the corresponding side wall away from the inside surface of the corresponding sidewall to provide a path for circulation of air between the outside of the at least one product container and the corresponding inside surface of the side wall. 8. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the generally horizontally oriented protrusion in the form of at least one elongate rib on each of two opposed sidewalls to position the at least one product container positioned near a corresponding side wall away from the inside surface of the corresponding sidewall to provide a path for circulation of air between the outside of the at least one product container and the corresponding inside surface of the sidewall and including at least one rib along a bottom wall for spacing a bottom surface of the at least one product container from the corresponding inside surface of the bottom wall to provide a path for circulation of air between the outside of the at least one product container and the corresponding inside surface of the bottom wall. 9. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the generally horizontally oriented protrusion in the form of at least one elongate generally horizontally oriented rib on each of two opposed sidewalls to position the at least one product container positioned near a corresponding side wall away from the inside surface of the corresponding sidewall to provide a path for circulation of air between the outside of the at least one product container and the corresponding inside surface of the sidewall. 10. A method of maintaining at least a predetermined temperature range associated with a product stored in a countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 2, the method further including the steps of: providing the at least one protrusion elongated generally horizontally in the form of at least one elongate rib;positioning the at least one elongate ribs on each of two opposed sidewalls;using the at least one elongate rib to define a gap between an outside surface of the product container and a corresponding inside surface of the side wall with the space being open at the top and the bottom to allow circulation of air completely around the side walls of the container; andcirculating air through the gap between the outside of the at least one product container and the corresponding inside surface of the sidewall. 11. A method of maintaining at least a predetermined temperature range associated with a product stored in a countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 2, the method further including the steps of: providing the at least one protrusion elongated generally horizontally in the form of at least a pair of elongate ribs;orienting the at least pair of elongate ribs on each of two opposed sidewalls;using the at least pair of elongate ribs to define a gap between an outside surface of the product container and a corresponding inside surface of the side wall; andcirculating air through the gap between the outside of the at least one product container and the corresponding inside surface of the sidewall. 12. A method of maintaining at least a predetermined temperature range associated with a product stored in a countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 2, the method further including the steps of: providing the generally horizontally oriented protrusion in the form of at least one elongate rib;positioning the at least one elongate ribs on each of two opposed sidewalls;using the at least one elongate rib to define a gap between an outside surface of the product container and a corresponding inside surface of the side wall;using the at least one elongate rib to define a gap between an outside surface of the product container and a corresponding inside surface of the bottom side wall;circulating air through the gap between the outside of the at least one product container and the corresponding inside surface of the sidewall and the corresponding inside surface of the bottom side wall. 13. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity further comprises a front and a rear, and wherein the cooling unit comprises at least one fan that directs cooling air sequentially from the front through the generally horizontal channel toward the back, along the directional channel downward toward the front, into the beverage dispensing area and up around the beverage product container. 14. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directional channel for conveying cooling air conveys cooling air to the beverage dispensing area. 15. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit comprises at least one fan that directs cooling air sequentially through the generally horizontal channel, the directional channel and the beverage dispensing area. 16. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one fan effects continuous cooling air flow around the at least one beverage product container. 17. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cabinet comprises a plurality of beverage product containers and the at least one fan effects continuous cooling air flow around the beverage product containers so that the beverage product containers are maintained at approximately the same temperature. 18. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one horizontally oriented protrusion comprises a rib. 19. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beverage dispensing nozzle is coupled to the at least one beverage product container for providing beverage from the beverage product container to the beverage dispensing nozzle. 20. The countertop beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 19, wherein a tube in the circulation of air connects the beverage dispensing nozzle and the at least one beverage product container for providing beverage from the beverage product container to the beverage dispensing nozzle.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Cleland Robert K. (11051 Via El Mercado Los Alamitos CA 90720) Roberts Larry (10 Black Hawk Estates Old Monroe MO 93347) Boettcher William C. (P.O. Box 95 Foley MO 93347), Beverage dispensing machine with improved liquid chiller.
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