IES20060806A2 - Soft drink dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a device for maintaining the CO2 gas content at a reasonable level in plastic bottles containing soft drinks from beginning to end. The bottle containing the carbonated beverage is impaled and sealed on a probe. A knob operates a cam, which opens the probe centre. Liquid under pressure flows down through the hollow probe and out through a supply tube to a nozzle. The flow of liquid is stopped by pushing back the knob, thereby resealing the bottle until further liquid is required.

Description

SOFT DRINK DISPENSER IHT Cl^££2j-gfe> ft 31 o 0 Statement of invention The object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing liquid from a plastic hottie while 5 maintaining a reasonable level of CO2 gas in a the bottle from beginning to end, e.g. in plastic bottles containing soft drinks. It is well known that soft drinks do not taste very good when they have gone flat. The bottle containing the carbonated beverage is impaled and sealed on a probe.

A knob operates a cam, which opens the probe centre. Liquid under pressure flows down through the hollow probe and out through a supply tube to a nozzle. The flow of liquid is stopped by pushing back the knob, thereby resealing the bottle until further liquid is required.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 show two elevation views of the total assembly of the invention with the plastic bottle and cap attached.

Figures 3 and 4 show details of cap impaled on probe (12) and the proble centre (13) which is actuated by the cam (4). Figure 3 shows the probe centre in an open position, and Figure 4 shows the probe centre in a closed position.

Figures 5(a) - 5(z) and 5(A) - 5(D) show details of the individual components of the invention as defined in the table below.

Part Number Part Name No. Required Material 1 Base 1 Stainless Steel 2 Pillar 1 Stainless Steel 3 Yoke 2 Stainless Steel 4 Cam 2 Stainless Steel 5 Slider A 1 Stainless Steel 6 Slider B 1 Stainless Steel 7 Arm 2 Stainless Steel ΙΕΟ 6 0 8 06 8b ν·. 8 Cam Locator 1 Stainless Steel 9 Spacer 2 Stainless Steel 10 Bolt 2 Stainless Steel 11 Probe Retainer 1 Stainless Steel 12 Probe 1 Stainless Steel 13 Probe Centre 1 Stainless Steel 14 Lower Spring Washer 1 Stainless Steel 15 Cap Support 1 Stainless Steel 16 Upper Guide 1 Stainless Steel 17 Lower Guide 1 Stainless Steel 18 Suply Tube 1 Stainless Steel 19 Tube Lock 1 Stainless Steel 20 Tube Receiver T Stainless Steel 21 Nozzle 1 Stainless Steel 22 Cam Bar I Stainless Steel 23 Arm Elbow 1 Stainless Steel 24 Arm 1 Stainless Steel 25 Cam Bar bracket 2 Stainless Steel 26 Cam 1 Aluminium 27 Arm Knob 1 Mahogony 28 Spacer Arm 1 Mahogony 29 Wooden Base 1 Mahogony 30 Risers ,2 Mahogony Fasteners - all fasteners are made from stainless steel Name Number Required Material/Size Grub Screw 1 M3 x 5 Screw 2 M3 x 10 CSK Screw 2 M3 x 7 CSK Screw 2 M4 x 8 Panhead |£0 60 8 06 Screw 1 M4 x 12 Thumb Screw 1 M3 x 12 Wood Screw 6 4x 18 Yoke Pins 3 3x 13 Yoke Pins 1 2x 13 ‘O’ Rings 2 2x1 Ό’ Rings 1 3 x 1 Detailed description of the invention Base (1) is fixed to wooden base (29) by four wood screws. This base (1) contains a slot into which is fitted pillar (2), which in turn acts as a guide for yoke (3). Yoke (3) is actuated in an ‘up and down’ direction by two circular cams (4). Sliders A (5) and B (6) act as guides for yoke (3) on pillar (2). Arms (7), right and left, are fixed to cam (4), thereby providing a right-hand operated or left-hand operated option for the apparatus. A cam locator (8) (drilled for M4) is used to swivel cam (4). Spacers (9) are inserted between upper guide (16) and lower guide (17). Two M3 csk bolts are used to hold the guide assembly together. Probe retainer (11) is drilled os.s to hold probe (12). Probe centre (13) contains grooves for seals to fit inside probe (12). The angle of the probe allows for a seal to be maintained between the probe and the perforation in the bottle cap, thereby preventing the loss of liquid and gas.

An arm elbow lever (23) and knob (27) operate a cam (26), which raises and lowers the centre probe (13). A spring and washer (14) ensures that the centre probe returns when the lever (23) is returned to its original position. This shuts off the flow of liquid.

Cap support (15), shown in elevation and plan views in Figure 5(o), shows guide-in raised edges to hold the bottle cap in place. Elevation and plan views of the upper (16) and lower (17) guides are show in Figures 5 (p) and (q), respectively. ΙΕΟ 6 Ο 8 Ο 6 Supply tube (18), which delivers liquid from the bottle to the appropriate vessel (not shown), has an Ό’ ring seal and is held fast against o2 hole on probe (12) with the help of tube receiver (20) and tube lock (19). A nozzle (21) is fitted onto the end of supply tube (18).

Cam bar (22) holds cam (26) between cam bar brackets (25). The brackets (25) are each held in place under wooden base (29) by a wood screw.

The cam bar (22) protrudes through a hole in riser (30). The end of the cam bar (22) has an elbow (23), arm (24) and arm knob (27) fitted to it. This mechanism would ape the system for dispensing beer. Spacer arm (28) is drilled through its centre and is fitted between the arms. (7).

In use, the drink bottle is placed upside down on the cap support (15). The arms of the yoke (3) are brought to bear down on the bottle collar. The cams (4) are rotated by the arms (7). The yoke forces the bottle cap to be impaled and sealed on the probe (12).

Knob (27) is pulled forward operating the cam (26). This in turn opens the probe centre (13).

Liquid under pressure can now flow down the hollow probe (12) and out through the supply tube (18) to reach the nozzle (21). This operation is detailed in Figures 3 and 4, and for brevity the nozzle (21) has been left out. By pushing the knob back, the flow can be turned off and the device left until required again.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A device for dispensing liquid from a plastic bottle containing a carbonated beverage while maintaining a reasonable level of gas in the bottle characterised in that it comprises a. a base which is fitted a pillar that acts as a guide for a yoke, b. arms fixed to a first set of cams c. a cap support onto which is fitted an inverted bottle containing a carbonated beverage d. a probe retainer for holding a probe onto which the bottle cap is impaled e. a second cam which, when operated by a knob, opens and closes the probe centre f. a supply tube connected to the probe for delivering liquid from the bottle to a vessel g. a nozzle fitted to the supply tube. 15

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the yoke is actuated in an up and down direction by two circular cams using the arms, thereby allowing the bottle cap to be impaled and sealed on the probe.

3. A device as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the probe centre contains grooves into 20 which are fitted seals. Preferably wherein the seals are o-ring seals.

4. A device as claimed any of the preceding claims wherein a spring washer if fitted to the centre of the probe..

5. A device as described herein with reference to the and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.