Dispensing nozzle assembly

DESCRIPTION

Dispensing nozzle assembly

The present application generally refers to nozzles for beverage dispensers.

Current post-mix beverage dispensing nozzles generally mix syrup streams, concentrate, sweetener, extra flavor, other types of flavorings and other ingredients with water or other types of diluent making the syrup stream circulate down to the center of the nozzle with the water flow circulating around the outside. The syrup stream is directed downward with the water stream, so that the streams mix when they fall into a glass.

A beverage dispensing system as a whole is desirable to provide as many different types and flavors of beverages as possible in a space that is as small as possible. Preferably, such a beverage dispensing system can provide as many beverages as may be commercially available in prepackaged bottles or cans.

To adapt to this variety, the same dispensing nozzles need to adapt to fluids with different viscosities, flow rates, mixing ratios, temperatures and other variables. It may be that the current nozzles do not fit multiple beverages with a single nozzle design and / or the nozzle may be designed for specific types of fluid stream. A known means for adapting to different flow characteristics is shown in the patent application in the name of several holders US 10 / 233,867 (publication number US 2004 / 0040983A1) which shows the use of replaceable fluid modules sized and shaped for characteristics of specific flow Even more variety and fluid streams can be used in the patent application in the name of several US 20070205219 titles showing the use of a series of tertiary flow assemblies.

It is desirable, however, a dispensing nozzle that suits even more and different types of fluids that may pass through it. The dispensing nozzle should preferably be able to adapt to this variety and at the same time provide a good mix and easy cleaning.

EP 0672616 discloses a post-mix and multi-drink beverage dispenser for mixing one of several liquid beverage concentrates of different flavors with a diluent and for pouring the mixture into a jet. The dispenser is arranged so that a first selected concentrate does not mix with a second selected concentrate.

The present invention provides a dispensing nozzle assembly for mixing a sweetener stream and a diluent stream. The dispensing nozzle assembly includes a sweetener path, a diluent path and a deflection path between the sweetener path and the diluent path so that a partial volume of the diluent stream is mixed with the sweetener stream in order to form a dilute sweetener stream so that the diluent stream and the diluted sweetener stream leave the assembly.

The dispensing nozzle assembly may also include a main body. The main body may include the sweetener path and the diluent path through it. The diluent path may include an annular chamber. The dispensing nozzle assembly may further include a flow router. The flow router may include a series of diluent stream openings and a series of dilute sweetener stream openings such that the diluent stream and the diluted sweetener stream exit the assembly therethrough. The flow router may include a target to mix.

The present invention further provides a method for mixing a sweetener stream and a diluent stream. The method includes circulating the sweetener stream, circulating the diluent stream, diverting a partial volume of the diluent stream to the sweetener stream to form a diluted sweetener stream and mixing the diluent stream and the diluted sweetener stream .

The sweetener stream may include a stream of high fructose corn syrup. The high fructose corn syrup stream may include a concentration above about sixty-five percent (about 65%). The partial volume of the diluent stream dilutes the sweetener stream from about five percent (about 5%) to about twenty percent (20%) or more. The diluted sweetener stream may include a stream of corn syrup with high dilute fructose content. The stream of corn syrup with a high content of diluted fructose may include a concentration of less than about sixty-five percent (about 65%).

Figure 1 is a side plan view of a dispensing nozzle assembly as described herein.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the dispensing nozzle assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispensing nozzle assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the nozzle tip assembly as used with the dispensing nozzle assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the nozzle tip assembly of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the tip tip assembly of Figure 4.

Figure 7A is a side cross-sectional view of nozzle tip assembly of Figure 4.

Figure 7B is another side cross-sectional view of the tip tip assembly of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the tip tip assembly of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the upper chamber and the objective of the nozzle tip assembly of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is an exploded view of the injector plate assembly.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the injector top plate of the injector ring assembly of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a bottom perspective view of the top injector plate of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a top perspective view of the lower injector plate of the injector ring assembly of Figure 10.

Figure 14 is a bottom perspective view of the lower injector plate of Figure 13.

Figure 15 shows a side cross-sectional view of the lower injector plate of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the injector ring seal of the injector ring assembly of Figure 10.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the lower injector ring collar of the injector ring assembly of Figure 10.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the quadruple set of tubes.

Figure 19 is a bottom perspective view of the quadruple tube assembly of Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the quadruple tube adapter elastomer of the quadruple tube assembly of Figure 17.

Referring now to the drawings, in which similar reference numbers refer to similar elements along the different views, Figures 1-3 show an example of a dispensing nozzle assembly 100 as described herein. . The dispensing nozzle assembly 100 can be used as part of a beverage dispenser to dispense many different types of beverages or other types of fluids. Specifically, the dispensing nozzle assembly 100 can be used with diluents, macro ingredients, micro ingredients and other types of fluids. Diluents generally include tap water (non-carbonated water or non-carbonated water), carbonated water and other liquids.

In general, macro ingredients may have reconstitution ratios in the entire concentration range (without dilution) to approximately six (6) to one (1) (although generally less than approximately ten (10) to one (1). include sugar syrup, HFCS ("high fructose corn syrup"), concentrated extracts, purees and similar types of ingredients.Other ingredients may include dairy products, soy and rice concentrates. Similarly, a macro-ingredient base product may include the sweetener, as well as flavorings, acids and other common components. Sugar, HFCS or other macro-ingredient base product can generally be stored in a conventional bag-in-box container, away from the dispenser. The viscosity of the macro ingredients may be in the range of about 1 to about 10,000 centipoise and generally more than 100 centipoise. The micro-ingredients can have reconstitution ratios in the range of about ten (10) to one (1) and higher. In particular, many micro-ingredients can have reconstitution ratios in the range of about 20: 1 to 300: 1 or higher. The viscosities of the micro-ingredients are usually in the range of about one (1) to about six (6) centipoise or similar, although they may be in another range. Examples of micro-ingredients include natural or artificial flavors; extra flavor; natural or artificial colors; artificial sweeteners (high potency or different); antifoam agents, non-nutritive ingredients, additives for controlling acidity, for example, citric acid or potassium citrate; functional additives such as vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, nutritional; and non-prescription (or different) medications such as pseudoephedrine, acetaminophen; and similar types of ingredients. Several types can be used of alcohols either as macro or micro ingredients. The micro-ingredients can be in liquid, gaseous or powdered form (and / or combinations thereof which include soluble ingredients and suspended in a variety of media, including water, organic solvents and oils).

The dispensing nozzle assembly 100 may include a nozzle tip assembly 110. An example of the nozzle tip assembly 110 is shown in Figures 4-9. The nozzle tip assembly 110 may include a main body 120. The main body 120 may have a largely circular shape and may have a series of conduits extending therethrough, in this case a first conduit 130 and a second duct 140. The main body 120 may also have a lower central opening 150. The central opening 150 may have a largely circular shape.

The main body 120 may include a first port 160 in communication with the first conduit 130 and the central opening 150. The first conduit 130 and the first port 160 can be used with a macro-ingredient pipe 165 for use with the HFCS. Similarly, the main body 120 may include an annular water chamber 170 that surrounds the bottom of the main body 120 and is in communication with the second conduit 140 through a water channel 175. The annular chamber 170 may also include one or more deflection channels 180 extending in the central opening 150. The deflection channels 180 may allow a small volume of fluid to be diverted from the annular chamber 170 to the central opening 150 and the HFCS current. The second conduit 140 may be in communication with the annular chamber 170 through a second port 190 placed in the upper part of the main body 120. The second conduit 140 and the second port 190 can be used with a diluent pipe 195 for use with water or other diluents.

As shown in Figures 7A and 7B, a first stage mixing housing 200 and a check valve 210 may be disposed within the central opening 150 of the main body 120. The check valve 210 prevents the HFCS from leaking to prevent the drag of one drink to the next, particularly in the context of a drink with HFCS to a dietary drink. In addition, the check valve 210 provides easy cleaning to the dispensing nozzle 100 as a whole since the elements downstream of the check valve 210 can be removed for cleaning. The deflection channel 180 can also be extended through the first stage mixing housing 200. A pair of nozzle accessories 220 may be disposed within the first port 160 and the second port 190.

The nozzle tip assembly 110 may also include a flow router 230. An example of the flow router 230 is shown in Figure 9. The flow router 230 may include an upper chamber 240. The upper chamber 240 may include a shelf raised 250 enclosing an inner wall 255 of chamber 240. The upper shelf 250 extends from a lower wall 270 of chamber 240. A series of shelf openings 280 can be extended through the shelf 280 and out through the bottom of the chamber 240. Also, a series of floor openings 290 can be extended along the bottom wall 270 and connected with the shelf openings 280. In this embodiment, there may be only about half of floor openings 290 than of shelf openings 280. However, any number of openings 280, 290 can be used.

The flow router 230 may further include a lens 300. The lens 300 may be placed under the upper chamber 240. The lens 300 may include a series of vertically extending fins 310, acquiring a largely star-shaped appearance. , as seen from the bottom. The fins 310 can form a series of "U" or "V" 320 shaped channels. The channels 320 can be aligned with the shelf openings 280 and the floor openings 290 so that fluid flows through it.

The tip tip assembly 110 may further include a lower ring 330. The lower ring 330 may surround the bottom of the upper chamber 240 and may be partially placed under the shelf openings 280 to divert the currents from the inside towards the target. 300

The dispensing nozzle assembly 100 may also include an injector ring assembly 400. The injector ring assembly 400 can be placed around the nozzle tip assembly 110. The injector ring assembly 400 can dispense a large number of fluids different. The tip tip assembly 110 can be extended through a central opening 410 of the injector ring 400. Other positions may be used.

Figures 10-17 show an example of the injector ring assembly 400. Figures 11 and 12 show an injector upper plate 420. The injector upper plate 420 may have a large circular shape. The injector upper plate 420 may include a series of injector ports 430 placed on the upper side 440 thereof. In this example, forty-four (44) injector ports 430 are shown although any number of injector ports 430 can be used. Injector ports 430 can be used with a series of different micro-ingredients as will be described in more detail below. The upper side 440 also includes a series of projections 450 placed thereon as will also be described in more detail below. Eleven (11) 450 protrusions are shown although any number can be used. In this example, one projection can be provided for every four (4) injector ports 430, although other configurations can be used.

The injector ports 430 extend through the upper injector plate 420 to a lower side 460 thereof. The lower side 460 may also be largely circular in shape and may include a series of outer threads 470 for use as will be described in more detail below.

As shown in Figs. 13-14, a lower injector plate 480 may match the upper injector plate 420. The lower injector plate 480 may also have a large circular shape. The lower injector plate 480 may have a series of dispensing cavities 490 on an upper side 500 thereof. Each or more of the dispensing cavities 490 can be lengthened so that each cavity 490 can match two or more of the injector ports 430 of the upper injector plate 420. The cavities 490 can be configured to ensure that the fluid from the desired group of injector ports 430. Several of the cavities 490 can also be used with a single fluid and injector port 490. Similarly, a single type of fluid can use multiple ports 490. As described in more detail below, larger cavities 490 can be used with beverage brands while smaller cavities 490 can be used with additives or Other types of fluids. The configuration of the lower injection plate 420 can be changed depending on the desired drinks. A replacement injector bottom plate 420 can be easily inserted.

Figure 14 also shows the lower injector plate 480 which may include a guide 485. The guide 485 may coincide with a similar structure that may be part of the upper or different injector plate. The use of the guide 485 ensures that the respective plate 420, 480 is properly aligned when mounted.

As shown in Figure 15, each or more of the dispensing cavities 490 may include an upper channel 510, a lower mixing area 520 and an outlet port 530. The fluid from the injector ports 490 enters the cavity 490 through the upper channel 510 and then mixed in the lower mixing area 520. The mixed fluids leave after cavity 490 through the outlet port 530. Thirty (30) 530 output ports are shown, although any number can be used. The output ports 530 can be placed on a lower side 540 of the lower injection plate 480.

As shown in Figure 16, a gasket 550 can be placed between the upper injector plate 320 and the lower injector plate 480. The gasket 550 can be made of an elastomeric material. The seal 550 may be a different element or may be molded in combination with the upper injector plate 320 or the lower injector plate 480. The seal 550 may include a series of dispensing cavity openings 560. The shape of the dispensing cavity openings 560 can be substantially similar to the shape of the dispensing cavities 490 of the lower injector plate 480 and can be aligned with them.

The injector ring assembly 400 may also include a lower injector ring collar 580, as shown in Figure 17. The lower injector collar 580 includes a series of lower injector ring collar threads 590 thereon. Injector ring lower collar threads 590 coincide with injector upper plate threads 470 and injector lower plate threads 550 to form the finished injector ring assembly 500. Similarly, the injector ring assembly 500 can be unscrewed and separated for cleaning, replacement and the like.

The dispensing nozzle assembly 100 may further include a series of quadruple tube assemblies 600. An example of the quadruple tube assembly 600 is shown in Figures 18-20. As the name implies, each quadruple set of tubes 600 can provide coupling means for four (4) ingredient tubes 610 to match four injector ports 430 of the injector ring assembly 400. Individual connections and / or other groupings of tubes 610 can also be used here (for example, one tube, three tubes, five tubes, etc.). Each quadruple tube assembly 610 may include a quadruple tube adapter body 620 with four (4) adapter body ports 630. The quadruple tube adapter 620 can be enclosed with a quadruple tube retainer 640. The connection means is it can provide by means of a quadruple tube adapter elastomer 650. The quadruple tube elastomer 650 can be molded as a single piece, as shown in Figure 19 and then cut in half. One half of quadruple tube elastomer 640 includes connectors 660 for injector ports 430 while the other half includes upper connectors 670 for ingredient tubes 610. Other materials may be used herein. As described above, the dispensing nozzle assembly 100 can be used with diluents, macro ingredients, micro ingredients and other materials. The first port 160 of the nozzle tip assembly 110 may be in communication with the HFCS 165 pipe. Alternatively, a sugar syrup or other type of macro ingredient can be used. Also, the second port 190 of the nozzle tip assembly 110 may be in communication with the diluent pipe 195. As before, the diluent can be tap water or carbonated water. A running water pipe and a carbonated water pipe can be fused upstream of the dispensing nozzle assembly 100. Each of the injector ports 430 can be in communication with one of the ingredient tubes 610 through the quad adapters of 620 tubes. As described above, each of the ingredient tubes 610 may be in communication with a source of micro-ingredients or another type of material source.

Micro-ingredients can include beverage concentrate, such as for teas, soda, sports drinks, fruit drinks and the like, as well as flavorings such as cherry, lemon, etc. and also other ingredients such as antifoam additives. The ingredient tubes 610 on the injector ring 400 may preferably be arranged so that the darker micro-ingredients are placed in front of the dispensing nozzle assembly 100, while the substantially transparent ingredients and additives may be arranged in the back and side of the dispensing nozzle assembly 100. By placing the lighter colored marks on the back, the consumer will generally not see any colorless fluid stream since the different fluid streams circulate through the dispensing nozzle assembly 100 and into the consumer's vessel. Many of the brands that circulate through the dispensing nozzle assembly 100 may be combinations of various components. For example, a soda can have a first component and a second component. These components can be, for example, acidic and non-acidic components. An example of this is shown in the patent application in the name of several holders US11 / 276,553 (Publication Number US2007 / 0212468) entitled "Methods and apparatus for making compositions comprising an acid and an acid degradable component and / or compositions that they comprise a plurality of selectable components. "

These acidic and non-acidic components should not generally be mixed upstream of the dispensing nozzle assembly 100 to delay degradation. Therefore, the acidic and non-acidic flavor components can be separated until they reach the injector ring assembly 400. The two components can circulate from the injector ports 430 and into the dispensing cavities 490 through the upper channel 510, mix in the mixing area 520 and exit through the outlet port 530. The mixed streams can then be mixed with water and the sweetener around target 300. The drag to the next drink is largely limited by the fact that the currents mix air to a large extent. The use of the two currents also limits the possibility that an output port 530 becomes clogged and there is again less opportunity for color or taste drag because only one output port 530 is used for each injector port 430.

In use, the components of the base beverage circulate through the injector ring assembly 400, as described above. Similarly, other injector ports 430 can be activated to add additives such as flavors, antifoam agents and other types of micro-ingredients. Although the micro-ingredients are circulating, the water or other diluent and the sweetener or other macro-ingredient can circulate through the tip tip assembly 110. For example, the HFCS circulates through the first port 160 and through the lower central opening 150 via the check valve 210, although water generally circulates through the second conduit 190 and into the annular chamber 170.

The HFCS current entering the first port 160 generally has a concentration above about sixty-five percent (65%). Such concentrations and higher generally ensure an uncontaminated supply. (The concentration may be lower, approximately fifty percent (50%), if preservatives or aseptic load are used). In order to provide a good mix, however, a small series of water stream is diverted from the annular chamber 170 through the deflection channel 180 to the lower center opening 150 and the HFCS stream. This deviation slightly dilutes the HFCS current approximately five percent (5%) or more, with approximately twenty percent (20%) more or less shown here, and brings the HFCS current to a concentration of less than approximately sixty and five percent (65%). The water stream exits after the nozzle tip assembly 110 through the shelf openings 280 while the diluted HFCS stream exits through the floor openings 290 and into the shelf openings 280. The flow stream water and the diluted HFCS stream are then mixed with the micro-ingredients when circulating through the target 300.

The use of the diluted HFCS stream simplifies hygiene since those areas that are exposed to HFCS can be sanitized below a concentration of sixty-five percent (65%). Pre-dilution also provides good mixing performance and good carbonation even when using a HFCS with high Brix grade. There is also a minimum carryover since the potential for the HFCS to wash inside the next beverage after a dispensing is minimal.

The dispensing nozzle assembly 100 can thus provide any number of different and varied beverages in a small space. The dispensing nozzle assembly 100 provides a good mix and at the same time has limited drag. The dispensing nozzle assembly 100 and the nozzle tip assembly 110 in particular are also easy to clean.