US2548597A - Sirup agitator for liquid dispensing devices - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. LLISON' oIRUP AGITATOR FOR LIQUID DVISPENSNG DEVICES Filed April 25, 1945 prrl 10, 1951 Patented Apr. 10, 1951 SIRUP AGITATOR FOR LIQUID DISPEN SING DEVICES Samuel H. Ellison, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Tru- Ade, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of California Application April 23, 1945, Serial No. 589,883'

The present invention relates to liquid dispensing devices and especially to a novel cup vending machine for dispensing liquid refreshments in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to be .readily removable for replacement or assembly. In addition, all parts in contact or associated With the dispensing of the syrup are preferably of polished stainless steel or the like and refrigerated `at all times Athe machine is operating. Furthermore, there are no springs, gaskets or packing employed in any parts associated with the measuring or dispensing of the syrup, so that these parts may be readily sterilized to assure maximum sanitation.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a mechanism comprising simplified construction and requiring a minimum number of operating parts to thereby greatly reduce the cost and necessity for subsequent servicing. All mechanical movements employed are simple in construction and design and positive in operation.

The invention further comprehends a novel means and mechanism for periodically agitating the syrup to prevent the settling of any contained pulp or solids. Although the present invention is preferably concerned with the dispensing of natural fruit drinks containing natural fruit pulp, it is to be understood that it is not limited thereto, especially as such agitation carries the cooled syrup from the syrup Well which is refrigerated upwardly through the contents of the bottle Where it mixes With the Warmer syrup and thus facilitates cooling of the entire contents of the bottle.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and While there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions Without departing fromV the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the novel dispensing device and showing in dotted outline the relationship of the parts.

Figure 2 is a View in end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view part in vertical cross section and part in elevation 7 claims. (C1. 25o- 95) 2 taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and showing.' the syrup bottle and associated parts.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in; vertical cross section showing the manner of. agitating the contents of the syrup bottle.

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal cross sectionV taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the dravvingsl and to the novel embodiment therein selected to illustrate the invention, the dispensing device:

; comprises a cabinet l having a dispensing open-y ing 2 which is preferably closed by a sliding. transparent panel 3 adapted to be lifted by thev purchaser when the cup 4 is properly filled Withv the dispensed beverage from the dispensing? spout 5.

In the base of the cabinet is a refrigerating: unit 5 and a Water lter 1 shown in dotted outline in Figures 1 and 2 but which form no part of the@ present invention and are therefore not shown in. detail. The cabinet is suitably insulated about. the syrup bottle 8, syrup Well 9 and the Water tankV Iii from which Water or other suitable diluent is1 pumped to a delivery pipe Il having a gooseneck; i2 adapted to discharge a measured quantity ofi Water into the dispensing spout 5. A suitable: solenoid water valve ll (Fig. 4) controls the flow' whereby a measured quantity of water is delivered. to the tank l0 and in turn to the dispensing; spout 5. A measured quantity of syrup is alsol discharged into this dispensing or delivery spout. from a measuring cup I3, it being understood that in the passage of the Water and syrup through the; dispensing spout 5 and the curved portion i4' thereof and the manner in Which the discharged. liquid is ejected into the cup 4, causes an intimate: mixing of the syrup and water when discharged into the cup 4.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4 a relatively heavy Wall of insulation encompasses the syrup bottle 8, syrup well 9 and the water tank It, the syrup Well and Water tank being provided With a series of cooling coils l5 carrying the refrigerating fluid to maintain the Water and syrup at the desired low temperature. As the mechanism is especially adapted for dispensing a fruit drink containing pulp residue or suspended solids, the invention comprehends agitating this syrup at least intermittently or at suitable intervals. This is preferably accomplished by means of a nozzle I6 which is telescoped and freely slidable in a sleeve Il formed or provided on the upper surface of a housing I8, the sleeve having a reduced neck i9 and the nozzle having a flange 20 limiting its upward movement. This telescoping of the 3 nozzle I6 within the sleeve l1 when not in operation, permits quick and easy removal of an empty bottle and replacement by a full bottle of syrup.

The nozzle and its encompassing sleeve or collar are preferably disposed at a slight angle with the vertical so that syrup from the Well 9 is drawn through the opening 2i in the base of the housing i8 by the vaned agitator or impeller 22 and is propelled through the tangential passageway 2'3 in the housing and then forced upwardly through the opening 24 in this nozzle to be 4ejected under pressure adjacent the interior surface of the neck 25 of the syrup bottle. By 'thus locating the nozzle and disposing it at an angle, considerable agitation is given to the contents of the syrup bottle. This not only prevents the pulp vfrom settling but also uniformly cools the contents of the bottle.

The impeller 22 is disposed at the lower end of a drive shaft 2S driven from a motor or other prime mover 21. Although I prefer the agitation to be intermittent and at stated intervals, it is to be understood that such agitation may `be continuous, if desired. As the nozzle Hi is loosely telescoped Within the sleeve l1 and forced upwardly by the pressure and circulation of the agitated syrup when the impeller is operating, to prevent it from seating upon the base 28 of the housing I8 when the impeller stops and the nozzle drops by gravity, an abutment 29 such as a screw or the like may be ,provided to intercept the drop of the nozzle. This spaces the lower end suiciently above the base to permit the liquid when impelled, to pass under the nozzle and raise it by the pressure of the liquid stream to the position shown in Figure 5.

Syrup from the bottle is fed by gravity into the Well 9 and the syrup from this Well flows into the measuring cup i3; This measuring cup is slidable upon the upper end of the dispensing spout 5. To assure complete flushing of the spout of the dispensed syrup and to facilitate mixing, the water discharged from the pipe or nozzle I2 is preferably given a swirling action. This may be accomplished by means of a spiral insert 9| disposed lin the endl of the nozzle.

From the above disclosure it will be apparent that the invention comprehends a novel and simpliiied agitating means whereby the syrup is so agitated as to prevent settling of any pulp or solid matter and to effect uniform cooling.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

l. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing drinks including syrup of natural fruit drinks containing pulp or solids, a container for the syrup disposed in inverted position and means for agitating the syrup in the container, said means including a nozzle disposed adjacent the open end of the container for projecting a stream` of the syrup into the contents of the container.

2. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing drinks containing natural fruit syrup having suspended solid matter, a container for the syrup disposed in inverted position and having a restricted outlet, and means for agitating the contents of the container to prevent settling of the contained solids and including a nozzle Vat the restricted outlet for projecting a stream oi the syrup into the container.

3. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing drinkscontaining suspended solid matter, a container for the syrup, a Well for receiving syrup from the container, and means in the Well for circulating the syrup including a nozzle discharging a stream of syrup from the Well into the container to maintain the solid matter therein in suspension.

4. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing drinks containing suspended solid matter, a container lfor the syrup, a Well into which the syrup flows from the container, means for cooling the syrup in the Well, and agitating means in the Well for circulating cooled syrup therein and projecting a' stream of syrup from the Well into 'the contents of the container to thereby agitate the syrup therein and maintain the solid matter in' suspension.l

5. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing a` drink comprising a syrup of natural fruit inciuding pulp or other solid matter and a diluent, a Acontainer for the syrup and a Well receiving a predetermined depth of syrup .from the container and vin which the syrup is cooled by refrigeration, means for crculatinr cooled syrup in the' well and means for projecting a stream of syrup from the well through the contents in the container for agitating the contents therein to thereby maintain the solid matter in suspension and simultaneously cooling the contents.

6. Circulating' mechanism for' liquid dispensing' devices in which syrup from a storage container feeds into a Well from which it is dispensed, 'coniprising agitating means Within the Well and means associated with the agitating means for projecting a stream `of syrup from the well into the storage container in such manner' as tov agitate the syrup in the container and maintain any solid particles therein in suspension.

7. Mechanism for agitating syrup contained within a bottle or other container supplied to a cup vending machine for dispensing liquid refreshments, comprising a receptacle into which the syrup flows from the container, a housing. inthe receptacle and provided with an yagitator adapted to circulate syrup under pressure from the receptacle to the container, and a telescoping nozzle in the housing for receiving the syrup under pressure and discharging it into theY con; tainer in such-.manner as to cause thorough agitation Voi the contents of the' container', said nozzle being telescopically mounted in the housing in such manner as to project into the neck or the container when the agitator is operating and drop therebelo-W when it is not operating to permit removal and replacement of the container.

vSANIUEL H. ELLISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Y 360,170 Van Riper et al. June 1'0, 1884 555,061 WheelWr-ight Feb. 18, 1896 990,454 Taylor Apr. 25, 1911 1,746,597 Lind Feb. 11, 1930 1,783,864 Vogt Dec. l2, 1930 1,789,064 Borislavsky et al. Jan. 13, 1931 1,882,812 Gunn Oct. 18, 19'32 1,900,989 riaisted et a1 Mar. 14, 193s- 2,055,214 Christianson Sept. 22, 1936 2,055,800 Mlln Oct. 8, 1936 2,352,188 Farrell .June 27, 'i944 2,403,470 T1111 July 9, 1946

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