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 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 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.

Abstract: In a beverage dispenser of the type including portion control dispensing, the improvement wherein the portion control circuit includes a microprocessor based timer programmed to provide a primary pour cycle and then one or more topping off pour cycles after a wait period of time after termination of the primary pour cycle.

Abstract: A disconnect for coupling a postmix dispenser juice concentrate line to a bag valve of a juice concentrate bag-in-box container. The disconnect includes an open passageway therethrough with no areas or elements therein that can trap concentrate with pulp. The disconnect includes a hollow body with a juice concentrate passageway therethrough, a stationary poppet valve therein, a movable sleeve with a valve seat, and a spring biasing the sleeve into contact with the valve to close the passageway. The spring is located adjacent the outside of the sleeve to keep the spring out of the passageway.

Abstract: A method for automatically filling beverage containers from a pair of adjacent beverage dispensing valves including transmitting ultrasonic energy down from each valve and receiving reflected ultrasonic energy to detect a container, filling the detected container, and operating each valve separated in time by synchronizing their operation to different half cycles of an a.c. power supply, to prevent interference therebetween.

Abstract: A liquid flow control solenoid valve for a beverage dispensing system wherein a rolling diaphragm seal is used between a needle valve and the valve body and the increased hydraulic forces on the needle valve caused by the rolling diaphragm are balanced by using a needle valve that is tapered in a direction to create a force on the needle valve in the direction opposite to the force created by the rolling diaphragm, so that the hydraulic forces are balanced and a smaller solenoid can be used to operate the valve.

Abstract: A method and package for holding food and a beverage cup wherein the package includes a paperboard sleeve defining an elongated enclosure of rectangular cross-section extending therethrough and including a rectangular opening at one end thereof into said enclosure. The sleeve includes a tub holding first portion and a beverage cup holding second portion. An open top food tub is slid into the enclosure through the opening and stop means are provided for holding the tub in the first portion of the sleeve. The top panel of the sleeve includes a tear away panel overlying the tub for providing access to the food in the tub. The tub rigidifies the sleeve, and prevents fluids in the food from leaking out of the package. The sleeve provides a lid for the tub, protects the food and keeps it warm. The top panel of the sleeve includes a cup receiving aperture in the second portion thereof and the stop means prevents the tub from interfering with the cup.

Abstract: A system for improving carbonation in post-mix beverage dispenser carbonators, including the method of automatically venting the headspace in a carbonator tank to atmosphere at predetermined times and for a predetermined length of time. This system eliminates most of the air from the headspace and provides a significant improvement in carbonating efficiency, in-line carbonation and in cup carbonation.

Abstract: A postmix juice dispensing system for reconstituting and dispensing pliable 5+1 orange juice at freezer temperatures of from about -10.degree. F. to 0.degree. F., including a pressurizable canister for pressurizing concentrate in a flexible bag and for forcing the concentrate through a concentrate conduit into a heat exchanger, then into a metering device and then into a mixing chamber where the concentrate mixes with water fed also through a metering device.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser valve system in which the mixture ratio is controlled by continuous modulation of the solenoid valves. The solenoid valves have movable stop (or push rods) that control 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: 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 pairs of crystals.

Abstract: A container inspection process and apparatus is provided for detecting the presence of contaminants present on or absorbed into the walls of plastic containers. The process flushes volatiles from within the container by injecting gas, draws a vapor sample from within the container and analyzes the sample by ionization techniques.

Abstract: A mobile extra display module for storing, transporting, and displaying a quantity of containers, includes a plastic pallet base and a plurality of alternating layers of tier sheets and containers. The tier sheets have a top surface with an array of top recesses for receiving container bottoms, and a bottom surface with an array of bottom recesses for receiving container tops. The containers in each layer are in contact with adjacent containers. For storage and transportation purposes, the display module is made as a package unit including a rigid lid and a pair of straps extending around the unit, over the lid and under the base and being under a high force of about 100 pounds for holding the display module unit in a very strong and stable arrangement. This invention also includes an improved plastic pallet.

Abstract: A postmix juice dispensing system for reconstituting and dispensing pliable 5+1 orange juice at freezer temperatures of from about -10.degree. F. to 0.degree. F., including a pressurizable canister for pressurizing concentrate in a flexible bag and for forcing the concentrate through a concentrate conduit into a heat exchanger, then into a metering device and then into a mixing chamber where the concentrate mixes with water fed also through a metering device. The dispensing system includes a remote, under-the-counter refrigeration system with a recirculating water chiller for chilling the concentrate reservoir in the dispenser, a water tank, a pressurizable concentrate canister in the tank, and a potable water heat exchange coil in a cold water bath to cool the potable water to be used in the dispenser.

Abstract: A postmix juice dispensing system for reconstituting and dispensing pliable 5+1 orange juice at freezer temperature of from about -10.degree. F. to 0.degree. F., including a pressurizable canister for pressurizing concentrate in a flexible bag and for forcing the concentrate through a concentrate conduit into a heat exchanger, then into a metering device and then into a mixing chamber where the concentrate mixes with water fed also through a metering device. The mixing chamber includes a magnetic mixer, preferably in combination with a mixer with no moving parts.

Abstract: A multiflavor valve assembly and a multiflavor tower using such valve assembly. The valve assembly uses microprocessor controlled ratio control. The tower can dispense six flavors through a single nozzle assembly, while using significantly less counter space than six separate valves would require. The valve assembly uses two water flow modules, six syrup flow modules, one control board with a microprocessor, one interface board with its microprocessor, and thirteen touch buttons on the selection panel.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser that can be used with either figals or bag-in-box. The dispenser includes a built-in carbonator, and when used with a bag-in-box syrup supply it includes a plurality of built-in syrup pumps, one for each of four, five or six valves. The dispenser includes an easily removable refrigeration unit and an easily removable carbonator unit.