Abstract: A piston-sleeve assembly for a flow control for a beverage dispenser in which the piston and sleeve are preferably injection molded. A rolling diaphragm provides a seal between the piston and sleeve. The piston includes flow control pads biased into contact with the sleeve.

Abstract: A post-mix dispensing valve for a beverage dispenser, including a self-contained volumetric ratio control device incorporated therein to provide positive ratio control. The device includes a single piston in a single cylinder, syrup and soda chambers, and self-contained direct acting electrical solenoid valve means for controlling the flow through the volumetric ratio control device and the reciprocating action of the piston. The soda pressure drives the piston. This post-mix dispensing valve can be used with any of a figal, a bag-in-box, a gravity tank, or a non-returnable container under no pressure or under a low pressure of 5 to 10 psig. This invention also includes a non-returnable, pressurizable syrup container.

Abstract: A microprocessor based control system including an electrical unit attached to a postmix beverage dispensing valve for performing the three functions of: portion control, reminding the operator to check the ratio, and adjusting the ratio. The portion control operation can be identical to known portion control devices. The reminder function can turn on a light every two weeks, for example. In the ratio adjusting function, the operator puts a single cup under the valve, pushes "Small" to dispense syrup for a predetermined time period which should result in the dispensing of a predetermined volume of syrup, measures the volume actually dispensed by comparing it to the desired volume, then adjusts the syrup flow control accordingly, and repeats the process until the exact predetermined volume is dispensed, and then repeats the steps for water using the same cup but a different predetermined volume indicia. The flow rate can accurately be set at the same time as the ratio.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system for use with a plurality of remote point of sale units with order entry keyboards, each having selector buttons for different flavors and cup sizes, the dispenser including an automatic cup dropper, an automatic ice dispenser, a transverse conveyor system for conveying an ice filled cup to any of a plurality of parallel lanes each having a forward conveyor system, a beverage dispenser valve associated with each of the lanes, and each forward conveyor system conveying a cup received from the transverse conveyor to a beverage fill station and then to a cup pick-up station. The dispenser can also be operated manually using buttons on the dispenser itself.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispenser having a multiflavor automatic beverage dispensing valve (faucet) and including means for preventing color and flavor carryover from one drink to the next. The automatic dispenser includes an electronic control system with an on-board computer with a microprocessor which, when a drink vend signal is received by the electronic control system, first checks to determine whether a dark or light colored drink was requested, then checks the last vend to determine if it was a light or dark drink. If the drink ordered was a light drink and the previous drink was a dark drink, then the controller looks to see if the cup dispenser position is occupied. If it is occupied, the flush is delayed until it is free when the soda water will flush to cleanse the nozzle. After flushing, the vend is processed.

Abstract: A postmix valve for a beverage dispenser, including a volumetric ratio control device incorporated therein to provide positive ratio control. The device includes a double acting piston including a syrup piston and a soda piston linked together, syrup and soda chambers, and valve device for controlling the flow to and from the chambers. The soda pressure drives the pistons. The valve device includes paddle valves. This valve can be used with any of a figal, a bag-in-box, a gravity tank, or a non-returnable container under no pressure or under a low pressure of 5 to 10 psig.

Abstract: A microprocessor based control system including an electrical unit attached to a postmix beverage dispensing valve for performing the three functions of: portion control, reminding the operator to check the ratio, and adjusting the ratio. The portion control operation can be identical to known portion control devices. The reminder function can turn on a light every two weeks, for example. In the ratio adjusting function, the operator puts a single cup under the valve, pushes "Small" to dispense syrup for a predetermined time period which should result in the dispensing of a predetermined volume of syrup, measures the exact volume actually dispensed, and then adjusts the syrup flow control accordingly until the exact predetermined volume is dispensed, and repeats the operation for water in the same cup but to a different predetermined volume. The flow rate can accurately be set at the same time as the ratio.

Abstract: A post-mix dispensing valve for a beverage dispenser, including a self-contained volumetric ratio control device incorporated therein to provide positive ratio control. The device includes a single piston in a single cyinder, syrup and soda chambers, and self-contained direct acting electrical solenoid valve for controlling the flow through the volumetric ratio control device and the reciprocating action of the piston. The soda pressure drives the piston. This post-mix dispensing valve can be used with any of a figal, a bag-in-box, a gravity tank, or a non-returnable container under no pressure or under a low pressure of 5 to 10 psig. This invention also includes a non-returnable, pressurizable syrup container.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system including a conveyor, a multiflavor valve, and a programmable cup drop system which includes means for searching through a plurality of separate cup supply tubes for a cup of the selected size.

Abstract: An automatic, ultrasonic system for controlling the filling of different sizes of beverage containers which may or may not contain various quantities of ice. The system includes a transducer assembly and a control module, both preferably connected to a beverage dispenser valve assembly. The transducer assembly includes at least two piezo-electric crystals for separately transmitting and receiving ultrasonic wave energy from the grate, the cup lip, the top of any ice in the cup, and the rising liquid level, and for generating signals corresponding to the travel time of the ultrasonic energy. The control module includes a microcomputer and associated circuitry. The system can include two separate transmitter and receiver crystals, or in a preferred embodiment two transmitter-receiver paris of crystals.

Abstract: A nozzle, preferably a multiflavor nozzle, for a postmix beverage dispenser and a method for dispensing including a nozzle body, a water passageway and one or a plurality of separate syrup passageways therethrough, wherein the water passageway includes a water inlet chamber, a plurality of small holes leading into a water stream shaping passageway which includes a first, radially extending annular chamber leading into a second axially extending annular chamber and then to an annular exit port to produce an even, uniform, hollow cylindrical stream of water surrounding a syrup stream. The CO.sub.2 comes out of solution in the water passageway to prevent foaming and no mixing occurs in the nozzle to prevent flavor carry-over, while providing high carbonation retention and minimizing brix stratification.

Abstract: An ice bank control system for a beverage dispenser having a mechanical refrigeration system including an inexpensive solid state sensor, preferably a thermistor, located in the ice water bath adjacent to the evaporator coil and connected to a control circuit including a microprocessor which not only controls the ice bank, but also protects the compressor motor. The resistance of the thermistor is measured and then compared to a reference value previously stored in the microprocessor memory.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser valve system in which the mixture ratio is controlled by continuous modulation of the solenoid valves. The solenoid valves have a movable stop (or push rod) that controls the travel of the armature, which in turn controls the position of a needle valve with respect to the valve seat to gradually change the flow opening and thus the syrup and water flow rates. A microprocessor uses the movable stop to adjust the syrup and/or water flow rate to deliver the proper ratio of syrup to water based on the flow of water and syrup as measured by flow meters. In addition, the total flow rate from the nozzle can be controlled and varied in relation to the distance the cup lever arm is depressed, thus, the flow rate can be made slow at the beginning and end, and fast in-between.

Abstract: A collapsible bag for use in containing and dispensing a liquid, such as in a bag-in-box arrangement, and a method for making the bag, wherein an elongated reinforcing strip is attached to the outside surface of the inner bag layer of one of the bag walls and extends from adjacent to the spout to remote therefrom, and a plurality of grooves are provided in the strip and also in the portion of the inner bag layer of the bag wall attached to the reinforcing strip, thus providing liquid passageways inside of the bag to achieve complete withdrawal of the liquid from the bag as the bag collapses, without the expense and complication of having to insert a separate dipstrip member into the bag and to connect it to the spout.