Reservoir for a beverage machine and fluid reservoir

Abstract

This invention relates to a reservoir for a beverage machine and a fluid reservoir. A housing defines a volume for holding fluid. The housing defines an opening along its top to receive fluid. The housing also defines a separate fluid outlet. A cover is arranged to cover the opening. In some embodiments, the cover defines a hole through which it is located. A plunger with blades is located within the reservoir. The blades are arranged and configured to move toward the outlet and to retain cold materials, such as ice, within the reservoir. The plunger may include a shaft extending through the hole. The shaft may be attached to a handle at a first end. In some embodiments, the blades may be coupled to a second end of the shaft positioned within the volume of the housing. The plunger can be vertically slidably moved through the hole to vertically move the blades within the volume.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an ice plug for use in beverage containers. Background Technology

[0002] Conventional beverage dispensing devices are used to carbonate and / or flavor water. Some devices mix carbonated water and flavoring compounds together in the machine and then dispense the resulting mixture into a container. Other devices rely on carbonated water in a dedicated container, which is attached to the device and from which the resulting beverage is dispensed. The container may be pre-filled with water and / or flavoring, and then it can be attached to the device, pressurized inside, and used to dispense the resulting beverage. However, these devices can generate excessive plastic waste because specially adapted bottles must be manufactured to interface with the device. Utility Model Content

[0003] A reservoir for a beverage machine includes the following features: A housing defines a volume for holding fluid. The housing defines an opening along its top to receive fluid. The housing may also define a separate fluid outlet, for example, at a bottom surface of the housing. A cover is arranged to cover the opening. In some embodiments, the cover may define an aperture through which it passes. A plunger with blades is located within the reservoir. The blades are arranged and configured to move toward the outlet and retain cold materials, such as ice, within the reservoir. In some embodiments, the blades may define a profile generally parallel to the inner wall of the housing. Alternatively or additionally, the plunger may include a shaft extending through the aperture. In this embodiment, the shaft may be attached to a handle at a first end, and the handle may be positioned above the cover. The handle may have a cross-sectional area larger than the aperture. In some embodiments, the blades may be coupled to a second end of the shaft positioned within the volume of the housing. The diameter of the shaft may be smaller than the diameter of the aperture, thereby allowing the plunger to be vertically and slidably moved through the aperture defined by the cover to vertically move the blades within the volume.

[0004] In some embodiments, the blades may be defined with perforations or holes to reduce the drag of the blades as they move through the volume. For example, such holes or perforations may be between 4 mm and 6.5 mm.

[0005] In some embodiments, the reservoir includes a biasing mechanism configured to guide a plunger toward an outlet of the reservoir (e.g., an outlet at the bottom of the housing). This biasing mechanism may include a counterweight within a shaft. The counterweight may be sufficient to generate or provide a downward force on the plunger, the downward force being greater than the buoyancy of any cold material (e.g., ice) within the reservoir.

[0006] In some embodiments, the shaft includes an upper shaft and a lower shaft. The upper shaft may be connected to the handle described previously. The lower shaft may be connected to the blades described previously. In some embodiments, the lower shaft may define a passage extending between the upper shaft and the blades. The lower shaft and the upper shaft may be attached or coupled to each other by fasteners. In some embodiments, the lower shaft is hollow and includes at least one defining hole configured to break a vacuum or release fluid from the passage.

[0007] In some embodiments, a reservoir for a beverage machine is provided, characterized in that the reservoir comprises: a housing defining a volume for holding fluid, the housing defining an opening along the top of the housing to receive fluid; a cover arranged to cover the opening, the cover defining an orifice therethrough; and a plunger comprising: a shaft extending through the orifice; a handle coupled to a first end of the shaft and located above the cover; and a blade coupled to a second end of the shaft and located within the volume of the housing, the shaft of the plunger being vertically slidably movable through the orifice defined by the cover to vertically move the blade within the volume.

[0008] In some embodiments, the perforation defined by the blade has a diameter between 4 mm and 6.5 mm.

[0009] In some embodiments, the plunger is configured to move toward the outlet of the reservoir and retain cold material.

[0010] In some embodiments, the reservoir further includes a biasing mechanism configured to guide the plunger toward the outlet of the reservoir.

[0011] In some embodiments, the biasing mechanism includes a counterweight within the shaft, the counterweight being sufficient to generate a downward force on the plunger greater than the buoyancy of the ice within the reservoir.

[0012] In some embodiments, the shaft includes: an upper shaft connected to the handle; and a lower shaft connected to the blade, the lower shaft defining a passage extending between the upper shaft and the blade, the lower shaft and the upper shaft being attached to each other by fasteners.

[0013] In some embodiments, the lower shaft is hollow and defines an orifice, the orifice being configured to break a vacuum or release fluid from the passage.

[0014] In some embodiments, a fluid reservoir is provided, the fluid reservoir comprising: a housing defining a volume for holding fluid, the housing defining an opening along the top of the housing to receive fluid; the housing defining a fluid outlet at the bottom of the housing; a cover arranged to cover the opening; and a plunger including blades defining a profile parallel to an inner wall of the housing.

[0015] In some embodiments, the plunger is configured to move near the fluid outlet and hold the cold material.

[0016] In some embodiments, the cover defines an opening.

[0017] In some embodiments, the plunger further includes: a shaft extending through the bore, the diameter of the shaft being smaller than the diameter of the bore, the shaft being vertically slidably movable through the bore to vertically move the blade within the volume; and a handle located at the upper end of the shaft, the handle having a cross-sectional area larger than the bore.

[0018] In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir further includes a biasing mechanism configured to guide the plunger toward the fluid outlet at the bottom of the housing.

[0019] In some embodiments, the biasing mechanism includes a counterweight within the shaft that provides a downward force greater than the buoyancy of the ice within the housing.

[0020] In some embodiments, the shaft includes: an upper shaft connected to the handle; and a lower shaft connected to the blade, the lower shaft defining a passage extending between the upper shaft and the blade, the lower shaft and the upper shaft being attached to each other by fasteners.

[0021] In some embodiments, the lower shaft is hollow and defines an orifice, the orifice being configured to break a vacuum or release fluid from the passage.

[0022] In some embodiments, the blade includes a plurality of perforations. Attached Figure Description

[0023] These and other features will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1A This is a front view of an embodiment of a beverage dispensing device to which a water reservoir is connected;

[0025] Figure 1B The water storage tank was removed. Figure 1A A front perspective view of a beverage dispensing device;

[0026] Figure 1C yes Figure 1B Bottom perspective view of a beverage dispensing device;

[0027] Figure 1D yes Figure 1B A rear perspective view of a beverage dispensing device, showing a door that opens to reveal the CO2 chamber;

[0028] Figure 1E yes Figure 1B A rear perspective view of a beverage dispensing device, in which the door has been removed to expose a CO2 tank housed within the tank cavity;

[0029] Figure 2A yes Figure 1A A front perspective view of the drip tray of a beverage dispensing device;

[0030] Figure 2B The grille has been removed. Figure 2A Front perspective view of the drip tray;

[0031] Figure 3A yes Figure 1A Front perspective view of the reservoir valve seat of the beverage dispensing device;

[0032] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A A side perspective cross-sectional view of the reservoir valve seat;

[0033] Figure 4A yes Figure 1A Front perspective view of the water storage tank;

[0034] Figure 4B yes Figure 1A Bottom perspective view of the water storage tank;

[0035] Figure 4C yes Figure 1A A side cross-sectional view of the valve section of the water storage tank;

[0036] Figure 5A Is it possible to... Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid reservoir with a plunger used in conjunction with a beverage dispenser; and

[0037] Figure 5B yes Figure 5A A perspective view of the plunger.

[0038] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are intended only to depict typical aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and should therefore not be considered as limiting the scope of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Certain embodiments will now be described to provide a general understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the apparatuses and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the apparatuses and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting embodiments, and the scope of this invention is limited only by the claims. Features illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.

[0040] Furthermore, in this disclosure, similarly named components in the embodiments generally have similar features, and therefore, each feature of each similarly named component may not be described in detail within a specific embodiment. Additionally, if linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in conjunction with such systems, apparatuses, and methods. Those skilled in the art will recognize that equivalents of such linear and circular dimensions can be readily determined for any geometry.

[0041] When a beverage is carbonated within a beverage dispenser, several factors contribute to the resulting level of carbonation, including CO2 pressure, holding time, fluid temperature, and turbulence during dispensing. Temperature is particularly important; generally, higher levels of carbonation can be achieved as the fluid temperature decreases. In other words, the colder the fluid to be carbonated, the more CO2 can be entrained and retained in the fluid.

[0042] Therefore, it is desirable to cool the base fluid, such as water, before it enters the carbonation system of a beverage dispenser. This can be achieved by holding a cold material (e.g., frozen base fluid or ice) near the fluid inlet of the beverage dispenser. Since frozen materials (e.g., ice) typically float in the liquid, a plunger is provided for use with a fluid reservoir to position and hold the cold material near the reservoir outlet and the beverage dispenser inlet. In an exemplary embodiment, such a plunger can be used to position and hold the cold material (e.g., floating ice) near the bottom of the reservoir when the fluid outlet of the reservoir is near the bottom of the reservoir. This ensures that the fluid leaving the fluid reservoir via the fluid outlet is adequately cooled during the carbonation of the fluid to maximize the carbonation level of the final beverage. While the subject matter described herein is explained and illustrated with respect to carbonated beverage dispensers, this subject matter can be applied to other applications requiring the positioning and / or holding of cold materials near the fluid outlet.

[0043] For reference Figure 1A-1EThis illustration shows an illustrative embodiment of a beverage dispensing device 10. The beverage dispensing device 10 generally includes a housing assembly 100 in which a carbonation component (not shown) is disposed, a bracket assembly 180 configured to hold one or more flavoring containers 200, and a controller (also called a processor, not shown) having a user interface (UI) 300 for receiving instructions from a user. A fluid reservoir 130 is coupled to the housing assembly 100 and configured to contain fluid to be delivered to the carbonation component. The housing assembly 100 may also include a drip tray 110 configured to support a container for collecting the fluid, such as a glass. In operation, the user can provide various inputs to the UI, and the beverage dispensing device 10 can dispense carbonated or non-carbonated water as needed, and optionally dispense flavorings to flavor carbonated or non-carbonated fluids.

[0044] like Figure 1A-1E As shown, the illustrated housing assembly 100 includes a housing 102 having an elongated, upright, hollow body with a top side 102b, a bottom side 102a, a left side 102c, a right side 102d, a front side 102e, and a rear side 102f. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing is elongated elliptical, and the shape of the housing 102 is longer from the front side 102e to the rear side 102f than from the left side 102c to the right side 102d. The front side 102e is shown to have a flat facade, and the rear side 102f is shown to have a rounded, convex facade, while each of the left side 102c and the right side 102d is substantially flat. However, the housing 102 can have any shape, and therefore, in various embodiments, the shape of the housing 102 can vary to include additional or flat components, or other forms besides those shown. The housing 102 can be sized to suit the internal components of the beverage dispensing device 10, as discussed in further detail below. The housing 102 may be made of any suitable material or a combination of materials, and may include various metals (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum), plastics, glass or other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art, either alone or in combination.

[0045] The bottom side of the housing 102 may provide a flat base for the beverage dispensing device 10, and the bottom side may include a support or foot 103 to provide additional stability. The foot 103 may be in any form, and in one embodiment, such as... Figure 1C As shown, the support feet are provided around the outer edge of the bottom side 102a. To prevent the housing 102 from sliding on the surface, the support feet 103 may be made of a high-friction material such as rubber, or have a portion with high friction.

[0046] As further shown, housing 102 includes a head assembly 120 located on the upper portion of the front side 102e of housing 102. The head assembly 120 may be substantially cylindrical in shape and includes a top side 120a aligned with the top side 102b of housing 102 and a bottom side 120c including various openings for dispensing fluid for producing a beverage. Between the top side 120a and the bottom side 120c is an outer surface 120b that defines the rounded form of the cylindrical head assembly 120. The head assembly 120 may contain components of a mixing assembly configured to carbonate a fluid (e.g., water), which can then be dispensed from the bottom side. Furthermore, the head assembly 120 may be configured to receive one or more flavoring containers 200 for producing a beverage. The outer surface 120b of the head assembly 120 may include a UI 300 for receiving input for operating the device. The mixing assembly, fluid dispensing, and beverage production, including by operating the UI 300, will be discussed in more detail below.

[0047] Figure 1D A CO2 chamber 104 according to the illustrated embodiment is shown. The CO2 chamber 104 is an opening in the housing that receives a CO2 source used in the carbonation process. In the illustrated embodiment, the CO2 chamber 104 is located in the rear left side 102c of the housing 102, but the CO2 chamber 104 may be in other locations. The CO2 chamber 104 can be closed by a door 106, such as... Figure 1E As shown in the diagram, door 106 extends upward from the bottom side 102a and follows the contour of the left side 102c into the rear side 102f. Door 106 may be attached to housing 102 in some way, such as via hinges or by magnets, or may be engaged using other techniques known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, door 106 may be completely removed from housing 102, but may be secured to housing in any of a variety of ways, for example, by a plurality of magnets (not shown) disposed in door 106 and housing 102. A cutout 106a may be formed in housing 102, allowing a user to grip and remove door 106 while maintaining a uniform shape throughout housing 102.

[0048] Door 106 is movable between a closed position (closing CO2 chamber 104) and an open position (opening CO2 chamber 104). When door 106 is in the open position, a CO2 source can be accessed. In the illustrated embodiment, the CO2 source is in the form of a canister 161, which will be described in more detail below.

[0049] As described above, housing 102 may include components that can be... Figure 2A-2BA closer look at the drip tray 110 reveals that it extends from the lower portion of the front side 102e below the head assembly 120. The drip tray 110 can have any shape or form, and in the illustrated embodiment, it is flat and round, corresponding to the size of the head assembly 120. In some embodiments, the drip tray 110 may be integrally formed with the housing 102, while in other embodiments, it may be completely removed from the housing 102. Removing or excluding the drip tray 110 allows for the placement of a taller receiving dish below the head assembly 120. This also allows for a shorter overall system 10 with a head assembly having a lower bottom, while still accommodating the same dish height that the system 10 and the drip tray 110 can accommodate.

[0050] The drip tray 110 shown includes a recess 112 defining a central cavity 113, and a grid 114 placed on the recess 112 and covering the central cavity 113. The grid 114 includes a plurality of holes. During operation of the beverage dispensing device 10, the recess 112 can be used to capture and retain splashed or dripping fluid that can pass through the holes in the grid 114 and be collected within the central cavity 113. The drip tray 110 can be made of any material similar to the housing 102, and can be the same material as the housing or a different material. The recess 112 and the grid 114 can also be made of the same material or a different material. The recess 112 and the grid 114 can be removed from the housing to allow a user to discard any collected fluid. In some embodiments, the system 110 can drain fluid into the drip tray 110 for various purposes, allowing fluid to leave the system 10 as needed without causing a mess.

[0051] As indicated above, the fluid reservoir 130 can be coupled to the housing 100 for storing fluid to be delivered to the system. Figures 3A-3B A reservoir valve seat 116 is shown, configured to connect the fluid reservoir 130 to the carbonation system. The reservoir valve seat 116 extends outward from the right side 102d of the housing 102 at the same level as the bottom side 102a. In this way, the reservoir valve seat 116 provides additional support to prevent tilting of the beverage dispensing device 10. In other embodiments, the reservoir valve seat 116 may be located at the rear side 102f, the left side 102c, or any other location. The reservoir valve seat 116 may be in the form of a hollow housing 118 with an upwardly extending valve 119. The upwardly extending valve 119 may be received by a corresponding valve structure located on the bottom side of the water reservoir. Figure 3B A valve 119 is also shown that connects to a water line 154 inside the reservoir valve seat 116. This line 154 allows fluid to be delivered to the carbonation assembly 150, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0052] Figures 4A-4BA water reservoir 130 according to an illustrative embodiment is shown. The water reservoir 130 is typically a container for holding fluids such as water and may interface with a reservoir seat 116, thereby enabling fluid communication between the water reservoir 130 and a beverage dispensing device 10 for the production and dispensing of beverages. The water reservoir 130 may have any shape and may be designed to complement the shape and size of the housing 102. For example, both the water reservoir 130 and the housing 102 may have flat sides to minimize the overall coverage of the system. In the illustrated embodiment, the water reservoir 130 is shown in the form of a can and has a main container 132, a handle 134, and a removable cap 136. The bottom side 132a of the water reservoir 130 is recessed, and a support 133 extends around the periphery of the bottom side 132a.

[0053] A valve structure 140 is located on the bottom side 132a and is received by an upwardly extending valve 119 of the reservoir valve seat 116. The valve structure 140 includes a central plug 142 housed within a central valve chamber 144. A valve shield 146 is located within the water reservoir 130, surrounding the upper portion of the central plug 142. The valve shield 146 is mounted to the water reservoir 130 and blocks direct access to the central plug while still allowing fluid flow through the valve structure 140. When not received by the upwardly extending valve 119, the central plug 142 is biased downwards to a closed position within the central valve chamber 144 to retain fluid in the water reservoir 130. When the valve structure 140 is received by the upwardly extending valve 119, the central plug 142 can move upwards to an open position within the central valve chamber 144 to allow fluid to flow from the water reservoir 130 through the valve structure 140 and into the remainder of the beverage dispensing device 10.

[0054] As previously discussed, a higher level of carbonation can be achieved if the base fluid within the fluid reservoir 14 is cooled compared to the base fluid maintained at ambient temperature. For example, if ice, a phase change material, or any other cold material 302 with sufficient heat capacity is included within the reservoir 300, the temperature of the base fluid will drop to a level associated with greater carbonation. Because the fluid closest to the ice or phase change material will be the coldest within the reservoir 300, this enhancement is more pronounced the closer the ice or phase change material is to the reservoir outlet. In some cases, the carbonation level can increase by approximately 20% compared to room temperature fluid, defined as an increase of approximately 20% in the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in a given volume of fluid, all other things being equal.

[0055] Accordingly, Figure 5AA reservoir 500 is shown, comprising a plunger 304 configured to position and hold cold material closer to a reservoir outlet 306. The reservoir outlet 306 is fluidly connected, for example, to the inlet of a beverage dispensing system 10 via a valve 119. The illustrated reservoir 500 can be used in place of the previously described reservoir 130. As shown, the reservoir 500 generally includes a housing 308 defining a volume for holding a fluid (e.g., water). The housing 308 also defines an opening 310 along the top of the housing 308 to receive fluid. A cap 312 can be arranged to cover the opening 310. The illustrated cap defines a shoulder 314, on which the cap 312 is configured to be supported by the housing 308. In some embodiments, the cap 312 may also include a retaining spring 316 to help hold the cap 312 to the reservoir. This retaining spring 316 may include, for example, a plastic cantilever portion biased outward toward the housing 308. Generally, the cap helps reduce the likelihood of contaminants entering the reservoir. In some embodiments, the cap defines an opening 318 therethrough. This opening 318 may be arranged and sized to receive and / or retain the plunger 304.

[0056] The cover 312 may further include a plunger 304, which, in the illustrated embodiment, extends through the bore 318. At least the portion of the plunger 304 intended to be submerged (shaft 320 and blade 322) is made of a food-safe material. The plunger may be configured to move vertically along the length of the plunger 304 relative to the cover 312 between a first upper position and a second lower position (illustrated). In some embodiments, the shaft 320 of the plunger has a smaller cross-sectional area than the bore 318, thereby allowing the plunger free movement in the vertical direction with little or no friction between the shaft 320 and the cover 312. In the illustrated embodiment, the plunger has sufficient mass and average density to settle into the fluid 324 (e.g., liquid water) within the reservoir 500. In some embodiments, the plunger 304 has sufficient mass to overcome any buoyancy provided by cold material (e.g., chilled water or ice) floating in the liquid water. In some embodiments, the blade 322 may define a profile 404 generally parallel to the inner surface of the housing 308. In some embodiments, the periphery of the blade 322 of the plunger 304 and the inner wall of the housing 308 may define an annular gap, which is small enough to retain ice on the underside of the blade 322 while also reducing or eliminating friction between the blade 322 and the inner wall of the housing 308. In some embodiments, this gap is between 2 mm and 15 mm.

[0057] Generally, the plunger is arranged and configured to keep the cold material closer to the outlet 306, which would otherwise cause the cold material 302 to sink. Although primarily shown as having a fluid outlet along the bottom surface of the reservoir, other positions can be used without departing from this disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the plunger can be moved along the sidewall of the reservoir. Similarly, although the plunger 304 depicted and described in this disclosure is weighted with a counterweight 334 to allow downward bias, other biasing mechanisms and orientations can be used without departing from this disclosure. For example, a spring-biased plunger can be used to guide the cold material toward the outlet along the sidewall of the reservoir. In embodiments having an outlet 306 along the bottom of the housing 308, this spring can be biased to guide the plunger 304 in a downward direction. This spring may include a helical compression spring, a tension spring, a rubber band or diaphragm, or any other spring configuration that provides sufficient biasing force toward the outlet 306 of the reservoir. Alternatively or additionally, other mechanisms can be used to hold the plunger 304 in the desired position. For example, in some embodiments, a latch may be included between the shaft and the cover 312 to hold the plunger in the desired position. Such a latch may be directional, for example, allowing the plunger 304 to move freely in the direction toward the outlet 306, but preventing movement in the direction away from the outlet 306, without requiring additional manipulation by the user.

[0058] Pay attention to the 304 plunger. Figure 5B The diagram shows a perspective view of the plunger 304, which includes a handle 326 at the upper end of the shaft 320. The handle 326 has a larger cross-sectional area than the bore 318, thereby preventing the handle from passing through the bore 318 and from detaching from the cap. In some embodiments, the handle 326 may be sized and shaped for ergonomic gripping by a human hand.

[0059] At the bottom end of plunger 304 is blade 322. Similar to handle 326, blade is also sized to prevent it from passing through the holes in the cap. Blade can have various configurations, but in the illustrated embodiment, it is in the form of a plate-like structure. It can be generally planar, or, as shown, it can be concave on its downward-facing surface to aid in gripping ice or other cold materials. Blade can also be perforated to allow liquid to pass through, for example, as plunger moves relative to fluid 324. Perforation 402 can reduce the drag generated by the blade as blade 322 moves through the fluid. Perforation 402 is sized such that at least a majority of the cold material is held by blade 322. In some embodiments, perforation can have a diameter between 4 mm and 6.5 mm; however, this size can vary based on the given size of the cold material. Blade can also include any number of perforations. In one embodiment, approximately 50% to 75% of the total surface area of ​​blade can be perforated.

[0060] The configuration of the shaft can also vary. In one embodiment, shaft 320 may include an upper shaft 320a connected to handle 326 and a lower shaft 320b connected to blade 322. In some embodiments, lower shaft 320b and blade 322 may be configured as a single integrated piece, and upper shaft and handle 326 may be configured as a single piece. In other aspects, upper shaft 320a and lower shaft 320b may be configured as a single piece and may be attached to or integrally formed with handle and / or blade.

[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, the upper shaft 320a and lower shaft 320b are separate components and can be attached to each other using various fasteners such as one or more screws 328, threaded connections, clamps, or pins. Such fasteners allow the user to separate the upper shaft 320a and lower shaft 320b of the shaft. This separation allows the plunger to be separated from the cap for cleaning, maintenance, or replacement. Alternatively or additionally, adhesive can be used to connect the upper shaft 320a and lower shaft 320b. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower shaft 320b defines a passage 330 extending between the upper shaft 320a and lower shaft 320b. More specifically, the passage 330 extends between the blade 322 and the upper shaft 320a and is defined by the lower shaft 320b. This passage 330 allows access to screws 328 connecting the upper shaft 320a and lower shaft 320b of the example plunger. The lower shaft 320b may also define one or more orifices 332 near the upper end of the passage 330 to break the vacuum or release fluid (air or liquid) from the passage 330. The orifices 332 may also allow fluid to drain from the passage in the event that the plunger is lifted from or within the reservoir 500. Similarly, the orifices 332 can prevent fluid retention, which could potentially prevent the plunger 304 from sinking within the fluid. In addition to the orifices 332, other features may be included to ensure sufficient stroke of the plunger (e.g., a biasing mechanism). This biasing mechanism can be used, for example, to increase the weight or density of the plunger. For example, in some embodiments, a counterweight 334 may be included within the shaft. The combination of the counterweight 334 with the shaft 320, handle 326, and blade 322 can have sufficient weight and density to exert a downward force greater than the buoyancy of the ice within the reservoir.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 326 is located above the cover 312, and the shaft 320 extends a distance into the reservoir 500 to reach the blade 322. The shaft is long enough to allow the blade to travel between the upper end and 25% of the bottom of the reservoir 500. This clearance allows sufficient space between the blade 322 and the outlet 306 to avoid interfering with the fluid flow from the outlet 306.

[0063] In operation, with the cap 312 closed, fluids such as water are received by the reservoir 500. Ice or another cold material is also received by the reservoir 500. For example, the cold material 302 can be a cooling material similar to a whiskey stone, ice pack, etc., such as metal, stone, ceramic, plastic, composite material, gel bag, etc. By attaching the cap to insert the plunger 304 into the reservoir, the ice or other cold material 302 can move toward the outlet 306 of the reservoir 500. When the cap is attached, the plunger can engage and push the cold material downward. In some cases, the plunger may encounter resistance and may be forced upward when the cap is attached. In such cases, the user can engage the handle and apply a downward force to move the paddle toward the bottom of the container, thereby engaging and moving the cold material as it advances. Once the plunger is fully compressed and the cold material is positioned and held between the plunger and the bottom of the container, resistance is encountered. The user can then release the handle, and the biasing mechanism (e.g., counterweight 334) will hold the plunger, and thus the cold material 302, in place. Alternatively or additionally, the latching mechanism described earlier can be used to hold the plunger, and thus the cold material 302, in place. In some cases, the user does not need to press the handle down to move the blade toward the bottom of the container, because the counterweight 334 provides sufficient downward force to overcome any buoyancy of the ice or other cold material 302. The ice or other cold material 302 is then held by the plunger near the outlet 306 of the reservoir. Fluid 324 can then be directed through the biased and held cold material 302 and into the beverage dispensing system 10.

[0064] Certain illustrative embodiments have been described to provide a general understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the systems, apparatuses, and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting illustrative embodiments, and the scope of this invention is limited only by the claims. Features shown or described in connection with one illustrative embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. Furthermore, in this disclosure, similarly named components of embodiments generally have similar features, and therefore, within specific embodiments, not every feature of every similarly named component may be described in complete detail.

[0065] As used herein and throughout the specification and claims, approximate language can be applied to modify any quantitative expression that may be varied in manner without altering its associated essential function. Therefore, numerical values ​​modified by one or more terms, such as “approximately,” “roughly,” and “substantially,” should not be limited to specified precise values. At least in some cases, approximate language may correspond to the precision of the instrument measuring the numerical value. Scope limitations may be combined and / or interchangeable herein and throughout the specification and claims; unless otherwise indicated by the content or language, such scopes are identified and include all subscopes contained therein.

[0066] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand additional features and advantages of this utility model based on the embodiments described above. Therefore, this application is not limited to what has been specifically shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. A reservoir for a beverage machine, characterized in that, The storage device includes: A housing defined for holding a volume of fluid, the housing defining an opening along the top of the housing to receive the fluid; A cover, arranged to cover the opening, the cover defining a hole through which it passes; and A plunger, comprising: A shaft extending through the hole; A handle, which is coupled to a first end of the shaft and located above the cover; and A blade, connected to the second end of the shaft and located within the volume of the housing, the shaft of the plunger being vertically slidably movable through the hole defined by the cover, to vertically move the blade within the volume.

2. The storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The perforation defined by the blade has a diameter between 4 mm and 6.5 mm.

3. The storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plunger is configured to move toward the outlet of the reservoir and retain the cold material.

4. The storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reservoir further includes a biasing mechanism configured to guide the plunger toward the outlet of the reservoir.

5. The storage device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The biasing mechanism includes a counterweight within the shaft, the counterweight being sufficient to generate a downward force on the plunger greater than the buoyancy of the ice in the reservoir.

6. The storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shaft includes: The upper shaft connected to the handle; and A lower shaft is connected to the blade, the lower shaft defining a passage extending between the upper shaft and the blade, the lower shaft and the upper shaft being attached to each other by fasteners.

7. The storage device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower shaft is hollow and defines an orifice, which is configured to break a vacuum or release fluid from the passage.

8. A fluid reservoir, characterized in that, The fluid reservoir includes: A housing defined for holding a volume of fluid, the housing defining an opening along the top of the housing to receive the fluid; the housing defining a fluid outlet at the bottom of the housing; A cover, which is arranged to cover the opening; and A plunger, comprising blades defining a profile parallel to the inner wall of the housing.

9. The fluid reservoir according to claim 8, characterized in that, The plunger is configured to move near the fluid outlet and hold the cold material.

10. The fluid reservoir according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cover defines the opening.

11. The fluid reservoir according to claim 10, characterized in that, The plunger further includes: A shaft extending through the hole, the diameter of the shaft being smaller than the diameter of the hole, the shaft being vertically slidably movable through the hole to vertically move the blade within the volume; and A handle located at the upper end of the shaft, the handle having a larger cross-sectional area than the hole.

12. The fluid reservoir according to claim 11, characterized in that, The fluid reservoir further includes a biasing mechanism configured to guide the plunger toward the fluid outlet at the bottom of the housing.

13. The fluid reservoir according to claim 12, characterized in that, The biasing mechanism includes a counterweight within the shaft that provides a downward force greater than the buoyancy of the ice within the shell.

14. The fluid reservoir according to claim 11, characterized in that, The shaft includes: The upper shaft connected to the handle; and A lower shaft is connected to the blade, the lower shaft defining a passage extending between the upper shaft and the blade, the lower shaft and the upper shaft being attached to each other by fasteners.

15. The fluid reservoir according to claim 14, characterized in that, The lower shaft is hollow and defines an orifice, which is configured to break a vacuum or release fluid from the passage.

16. The fluid reservoir according to claim 8, characterized in that, The blade includes multiple perforations.

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