Beverage dispenser with cleaning valve

Abstract

A flushing valve for flushing a beverage dispensing device is provided. The flushing valve may include a valve body having a valve opening, a valve lever coupled to the valve body and configured to move the valve body between a product dispensing position and a sanitizing position, a product port configured to alternately dispense a beverage product and a sanitizing agent based on the position of the valve lever, and a sanitizing agent port configured to receive a sanitizing agent from a sanitizing agent reservoir. The valve opening may be configured to form a first fluid communication path to allow a beverage product to be dispensed from the product port when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position, and may be configured to form a second fluid communication path to allow a sanitizing agent to be dispensed from the product port when the valve lever is in the sanitizing position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 685,686, filed Mar. 3, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 156,323, filed Mar. 3, 2021, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus for dispensing beverages, and more particularly to a beverage dispensing apparatus that can more easily clean a beverage path.

Background Art

[0003] Many beverage dispensing apparatuses are bag-in-box (BIB) systems that produce beverages by mixing a product, often in the form of syrup, with a base liquid such as water. The product syrup is often provided in a bag made of flexible plastic or other material, and the bag is housed in a box that can be made of cardboard or other material. Such apparatuses typically use a pump to extract the syrup from the BIB and mix the syrup with liquid and / or gas to form a beverage that is dispensed through an outlet port.

[0004] A BIB typically consists of a fitting that allows the BIB to be connected to a pump and a product line through which the product syrup is transferred to a mixer where it is mixed with a base liquid. The product syrup pathway from the BIB to the outlet port needs to be disinfected frequently to prevent bacterial growth. To disinfect the product pathway, the BIB is separated from the disinfection pathway, and a disinfection device is connected to the disinfection pathway. The disinfectant then circulates through the product pathway and is discarded from the outlet port. However, disconnecting the BIB and connecting the disinfection device is inconvenient, especially for dispensing devices that may have several BIBs and associated product pathways that require disinfection. Separating and reconnecting the BIB can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Furthermore, the disinfection device is often separate from the beverage dispensing device and requires components such as disinfectant containers, adapter hoses, and various fittings to connect the disinfectant device to the product pathway, in addition to the beverage dispensing components. Therefore, these and other challenges need to be overcome when dispensing various products. [Overview of the project]

[0005] According to one embodiment of one or more exemplary embodiments, a flushing valve is provided, which may include a valve body having a valve opening; a valve lever coupled to the valve body and configured to move the valve body between a product dispensing position and a disinfecting position; a product port configured to alternately dispense a beverage product and a disinfectant based on the position of the valve lever; and a disinfectant port configured to receive a disinfectant from a disinfectant reservoir. The valve opening may be configured to form a first fluid communication path to allow beverage products to be dispensed from the product port when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position, and the valve opening may be configured to form a second fluid communication path to allow disinfectant to be dispensed from the product port when the valve lever is in the disinfecting position. When the valve lever is in the product dispensing position, the valve body may prevent disinfectant from being dispensed from the product port. When the valve lever is in the disinfecting position, the valve body may prevent beverage products from being dispensed from the product port. The valve body may be configured to rotate between the product dispensing position and the disinfecting position. The dispensing position may be a position rotated about 90 degrees relative to the disinfecting position.

[0006] According to one embodiment of one or more exemplary embodiments, a beverage dispensing device can be provided comprising a shuttle configured to receive a beverage-in-box (BIB) container containing a beverage product, a disinfectant reservoir configured to contain a disinfectant, and a flush valve coupled to the shuttle and providing fluid communication to the BIB container and the disinfectant reservoir, wherein the flush valve may include a valve lever configured to switch between a product dispensing position and a disinfecting position. The beverage dispensing device may also include an actuator configured to dispense a beverage product when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position and to dispense a disinfectant when the valve lever is in the disinfecting position. The beverage dispensing device may also include an outer housing and an internal chamber housed within the outer housing. The shuttle may be configured to be at least partially in a first position within the internal chamber when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position. The valve lever may be configured to engage with the edge of the internal chamber when the valve lever is in the disinfecting position and to maintain the shuttle in a second position when the valve lever is in the disinfecting position. The beverage dispensing device may also include a lid. At least one of the shuttle and the BIB container may be configured to prevent the lid from closing completely when the valve lever is in the disinfection position. The shuttle may be hinged to the outer housing and may be configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1A] This shows a top view of a cleaning valve of a beverage dispensing device located at the product dispensing position, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 1B] Figure 1A shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary flushing valve along line AA. [Figure 2A] This shows a top view of the cleaning valve of a beverage dispensing device in a disinfection position, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2B] Figure 2A shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary flush valve along line BB. [Figure 3]This shows a bottom view of a cleaning valve of a beverage dispensing device located at the product dispensing position, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] This shows a perspective view of a cleaning valve in a beverage dispensing device according to an exemplary embodiment, located at the product dispensing position. [Figure 5] A perspective view of a cleaning valve of a beverage dispensing device according to an exemplary embodiment, located at the disinfection position, is shown. [Figure 6] A perspective view of a beverage dispensing device according to one exemplary embodiment is shown. [Figure 7] A top view of a beverage dispensing device according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. [Figure 8] An alternative perspective view of a beverage dispensing device according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Hereafter, we will refer in detail to the following exemplary embodiments shown in the attached drawings, where similar reference numerals throughout refer to similar elements. The exemplary embodiments may be embodied in various forms, but are not limited to the exemplary embodiments specified herein. For clarity, descriptions of well-known parts are omitted.

[0009] Figures 1A and 3 show a top and bottom view, respectively, of a flush valve in a beverage dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to Figures 1A and 3, the flush valve of the exemplary embodiment includes a valve base 5, a valve body 6 located within the valve base 5, a valve lever 6A extending outside the valve base 5, a pivot shaft 7 on which the valve body 6 can rotate, and a valve cover 4 coupled to the valve base 5 via two bolts 9 and two nuts 8 configured to be coupled to the two bolts 9, respectively. The flush valve may also include a product port 3A having a first end located within the valve base 5 and a second end extending outside the valve base 5. The product port 3A may be configured to allow beverage products, such as concentrated syrup, to flow through it. For example, the product port 3A may be in fluid communication with a pump that transfers the beverage product so that the beverage product can be mixed with a base liquid such as water. The flush valve of the exemplary embodiment may also include a disinfectant port 3B having a first end located within the valve base 5 and a second end extending outside the valve base 5. The disinfectant port 3B can be in fluid communication with a disinfectant reservoir and may be configured to allow a disinfectant, such as a liquid disinfectant, to flow through it.

[0010] The flush valve in the exemplary embodiment may include a beverage connector 10 configured to receive a beverage product. For example, the beverage connector 10 may be a BIB fixture configured to receive beverage syrup from the BIB. The beverage connector 10 may include a beverage opening 10A located near the bottom of the beverage connector 10, which can allow the beverage product to flow out of the beverage connector 10, as will be described in more detail below with reference to Figure 1B.

[0011] Figure 1B shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary flush valve in Figure 1, cut along line AA. As shown in Figure 1B, the beverage opening 10A is in fluid communication with a channel 13 that allows the beverage product to flow into the lower chamber 12, from which the beverage product is drawn out by a vacuum force provided by a pump (not shown) through the product port 3A. When the valve lever 6A is in the product dispensing position (as shown in Figures 1A, 1B, 3 and 4), the valve opening 6B housed within the valve body 6 is in fluid communication with the beverage opening 10A and the lower chamber 12, allowing the beverage product to flow through a first fluid communication path including the beverage opening 10A, the channel 13, the valve opening 6B, the lower chamber 12, and the product port 3A. A pump (not shown) can draw the beverage product out of the lower chamber 12 through the product port 3A, and the beverage product can then be mixed with a base liquid such as water or coffee and dispensed through the outlet port.

[0012] As the valve lever 6A is rotated, the valve opening 6B moves approximately 90 degrees so as to substantially align with the disinfectant opening 11 located at the first end of the disinfectant port 3B, as shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 5, forming a fluid communication path with the disinfectant opening 11. By rotating the valve opening 6B to the disinfection position shown in Figure 5 (by moving the valve lever 6A), the valve body 6 prevents the beverage product from entering the lower chamber 12 through the beverage opening 10A and channel 13. Rather, as shown in Figure 2B, the valve opening 6B, together with the disinfectant port 3B and the lower chamber 12, forms a second fluid communication path, allowing the disinfectant to enter the lower chamber 12 from the disinfectant port 3B. The disinfectant is then pumped out from the lower chamber 12 through the product port 3A, disinfecting the valve opening 6B, the lower chamber 12, and the product port 3A.

[0013] Figures 4 and 5 show perspective views of a wash valve according to an exemplary embodiment, with the valve lever 6A in the product dispensing position and the disinfection position, respectively. As shown in Figure 4, the valve lever 6A is rotated to the right so as to substantially contact the side of the valve base 5 and the valve cover 4. In this position, the valve opening 6B is in fluid communication with the beverage opening 10A, and as a result, the beverage product can be transferred from the BIB coupled to the beverage connector 10 to the lower chamber 12 through the beverage opening 10A, the channel 13, and the valve opening 6B, as shown in Figure 1B. A pump (not shown) provides a vacuum to draw the beverage product from the lower chamber 12 through the product port 3A, after which the beverage product is finally mixed with the base liquid and discharged through the outlet port. In the product dispensing position, the valve body 6 prevents disinfectant from entering the product path by blocking the fluid communication path from the disinfectant port 3B to the lower chamber 12.

[0014] As shown in Figure 5, the valve lever 6A is rotated to the left so as to extend substantially perpendicular to the valve base 5 and valve cover 4. When the valve lever 6A is in this position, the valve opening 6B provides a fluid communication path from the disinfectant port 3B to the lower chamber 12, as shown in Figure 2B. In this position, the disinfectant can be supplied from the disinfectant reservoir through the disinfectant port 3B and further through the valve opening 6B into the lower chamber 12, from where it is pumped out through the product port 3A. After the disinfectant leaves the product port 3A, it continues along the product path, through the portion where the beverage product is mixed with the base liquid, and is dispensed through the outlet port. Thus, the disinfectant can pass through the entire product path that the beverage product comes into contact with during dispensing, and disinfect. When the valve lever 6A is in the disinfection position, the valve body 6 prevents the beverage product from entering the product path by blocking the fluid communication path between the beverage opening 10A and (the channel 13) and the lower chamber 12.

[0015] Figure 6 shows a beverage dispensing device 600 according to an exemplary embodiment, which may include a flush valve according to the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 1A to 5. Referring to Figure 6, the exemplary beverage dispensing device 600 may include an outer housing 605, a lid 610 that can be hinged to the outer housing 605, a drip tray 615 that is detachably coupled to the outer housing 605, a plurality of outlet ports 625 coupled to the front of the outer housing 605, and a fouling prevention plate 620 coupled to the front of the outer housing 605 between the drip tray 615 and the plurality of outlet ports 625. The beverage dispensing device 600 may also include a plurality of actuators 655, each of which may be coupled to the plurality of outlet ports 625 and configured to operate a pump to extract beverage products or disinfectants from the lower compartment 12 of the flush valve. The beverage dispensing device 600 may include an internal compartment 635 configured to include one or more shuttles 640, each configured to receive a BIB containing a beverage product. Flushing valves, such as the exemplary flushing valve shown in Figure 1A, may be coupled to the bottom of each of the one or more shuttles 640 so that the beverage connector 10 of each flushing valve can be coupled to a BIB discharge fitting. The internal compartment 635 may also include a disinfectant reservoir 650 configured to contain a disinfectant, such as a liquid disinfectant, which may be supplied to the disinfectant port 3B of one or more flushing valves via one or more tubes.

[0016] During operation, when the valve lever 6A is in the product dispensing position (see Figure 4), one or more shuttles 640 are fitted into the internal chamber 635 so that the lid 610 can be closed. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the beverage dispenser includes multiple shuttles, each of which is positioned in a first position within the internal chamber 635 so that it can house a BIB 645 and close the lid 610. Although the shuttles 640 are described as being positioned "inside" the internal chamber 635, those skilled in the art will understand that the shuttles 640 may not be completely enclosed by the internal chamber 635, as shown in Figure 8. When one or more actuators 655 are engaged, for example by being pulled toward a user facing the beverage dispenser 600, the pump is operated to provide a vacuum force that draws the beverage product from the BIB 645 through the beverage connector 10, the beverage opening 10A, and the valve opening 6B into the lower chamber 12. The vacuum force further draws the beverage product through the product port 3A, where the beverage product is mixed with the base liquid and discharged through the discharge port 625, which corresponds to the engaged actuator 655.

[0017] The drip tray 615 may include a perforated top surface through which excess beverage can enter a drain pipe, which may be located at the bottom of the drip tray 615. The drip tray 615 may be removably coupled to a drain line (not shown), which may be housed in an outer housing 605 through which excess beverage can be discharged into a sink or other drain line or receptacle. A fouling guard 625 may be magnetically coupled to the front of the outer housing 605 and may include a bottom lip portion extending outward from the outer housing 605 to direct any liquid in contact with the fouling guard 625 towards the drip tray 615. The internal compartment 635 may also include a drain pipe, which may be located at the bottom of the internal compartment 635. The drain pipe of the internal compartment may be coupled to a drain line housed in the outer housing 605, which would make it easier to clean the internal compartment 635 and its components.

[0018] Figure 7 shows a top view of the internal chamber 635 of a beverage dispensing device according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the valve lever 6A is in the disinfection position (see also Figure 5) and extends substantially perpendicular to the BIB 645 and the flush valve below the BIB 645. The shuttle 640 can be hinged to the rear of the internal chamber 635 so that the shuttle 640 can rotate and partially lift the front end of the BIB 645 upward from the internal chamber 635. When the valve lever 6A is in the disinfection position, the valve lever 6A contacts the edge 660 of the internal chamber 635, preventing the shuttle 640 from descending into the dispensing position within the internal chamber 635. Thus, according to the exemplary embodiment, the valve lever 6A prevents the shuttle 640 from descending into the internal chamber 635, thereby preventing the lid 610 from closing. Therefore, if the lid 610 is open and the shuttle 640 is partially positioned outside the internal compartment 635, a user attempting to dispense a beverage is more likely to notice that the valve lever 6A is not in the product dispensing position.

[0019] Referring to Figures 2A, 2B, 6, and 7, when the valve lever 6A is in the disinfection position and the shuttle 640 is partially lifted out of the internal compartment, the valve opening 6B forms a fluid communication path between the disinfectant port 3B and the lower compartment 12. When the actuator 655 is engaged (for example, by the user pulling the actuator 655 away from the outer housing 605), the pump is engaged to provide a vacuum force, which draws the disinfectant from the disinfectant reservoir 650 into the lower compartment 12 through the valve opening 6B, and extracts the disinfectant through the product port 3B, the mixing position where the beverage product is typically mixed with the base liquid, and the outlet port 625. By incorporating the disinfectant reservoir 650 into the beverage dispenser 600 and including a switchable flush valve that allows the beverage product and disinfectant to flow, the product path can be disinfected without connecting or disconnecting the disinfectant device whenever the beverage dispenser needs to be disinfected.

[0020] While the inventive concept of this disclosure has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments, it is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. The valve body including the valve opening, A valve lever is coupled to the valve body and configured to move the valve body between a product dispensing position and a disinfection position, A product port configured to alternately dispense beverage products and disinfectants based on the position of the valve lever, A disinfectant port configured to receive the disinfectant from the disinfectant reservoir and A cleaning valve equipped with, The valve opening is configured to form a first fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position, allowing the beverage product to be dispensed from the product port, and the first fluid communication path includes a first end configured to be coupled to the container for the beverage product and a second end connected to the product port. The valve opening is configured to form a second fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the disinfection position, allowing the disinfectant to be dispensed from the product port. The second fluid communication path is a cleaning valve that allows a disinfectant to flow from the first end of the first fluid communication path to the second end of the first fluid communication path.

2. The cleaning valve according to claim 1, wherein when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position, the valve body prevents the disinfectant from being dispensed from the product port.

3. The cleaning valve according to claim 1, wherein when the valve lever is in the disinfection position, the valve body prevents the beverage product from being dispensed from the product port.

4. The cleaning valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is configured to rotate between the product dispensing position and the disinfection position.

5. The washing valve according to claim 4, wherein the dispensing position is rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to the disinfection position.

6. A shuttle configured to receive beverage-in-box (BIB) containers containing beverage products, A disinfectant reservoir configured to contain disinfectant, A cleaning valve coupled to the shuttle and in fluid communication with the BIB container and the disinfectant reservoir, the cleaning valve includes a valve lever configured to switch between a product dispensing position and a disinfection position, An actuator configured to dispense the beverage product via a first fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position, and to receive the disinfectant from the disinfectant reservoir and dispense it via a second fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the disinfection position. Equipped with, The second fluid communication path allows disinfectant to flow from the first end of the first fluid communication path, which is connected to the BIB container, to the second end of the first fluid communication path, from which the beverage product is dispensed. Beverage dispensing device.

7. Outer housing and The internal compartment within the outer housing and It further includes, The beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the shuttle is configured to be at least partially positioned in the first position within the internal compartment when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position.

8. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein the valve lever is configured to engage with the edge of the internal compartment when the valve lever is in the disinfection position, and to maintain the shuttle in a second position when the valve lever is in the disinfection position.

9. Including the lid, The beverage dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the shuttle and the BIB container is configured to prevent the lid from closing completely when the valve lever is in the disinfection position.

10. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein the shuttle can be hinged to the outer housing and is configured to rotate between the first position and the second position.

11. A shuttle configured to receive beverage-in-box (BIB) containers containing beverage products, A disinfectant reservoir configured to contain disinfectant, A cleaning valve coupled to the shuttle and in fluid communication with the BIB container and the disinfectant reservoir, the cleaning valve includes a valve lever configured to switch between a product dispensing position and a disinfection position, An actuator configured to dispense the beverage product when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position, and to dispense the disinfectant when the valve lever is in the disinfection position, Outer housing and The internal compartment within the outer housing and Equipped with, The shuttle is configured to be positioned at least partially in the first position within the internal compartment when the valve lever is in the product dispensing position. A beverage dispensing device wherein the valve lever is configured to engage with the edge of the internal compartment when the valve lever is in the disinfection position, and to maintain the shuttle in a second position when the valve lever is in the disinfection position.

12. Including the lid, The beverage dispensing device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the shuttle and the BIB container is configured to prevent the lid from closing completely when the valve lever is in the disinfection position.

13. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 11, wherein the shuttle can be hinged to the outer housing and is configured to rotate between the first position and the second position.

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