Abstract: The present invention is a beverage dispenser having a low overall vertical height profile. The dispenser includes a water bath tank. The tank volume is enclosed along a top surface thereof by a support plate. A condenser extends horizontally with and adjacent to a top surface of the support plate. A motor is secured to the top plate and includes a shaft with a blade on one end thereof for agitating the water held within the water bath, and includes a condenser cooling fan on the opposite end of the shaft thereof for cooling the condenser. An evaporator is located in the tank horizontally with and closely adjacent to the tank bottom surface. An elongate carbonator extends lengthwise in a substantially horizontal manner in the tank and is located therein between the support plate and the evaporator. In one embodiment, the level of water within the carbonator is regulated by the buoyancy level of the carbonator in the tank.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for electronically controlling the size of an ice bank, particularly as used in beverage dispensing equipment. A single pair of probes provide for both establishing a reference conductivity value of the water so that the present invention is adaptable to a wide variance in water qualities. In addition, the single pair of sensors also provide for sensing the physical size of the ice bank.

Abstract: The present invention is a post-mix beverage dispensing valve for accurately maintaining the proper ratio of two liquid beverage components. The present invention includes a valve main body having a gear pump secured thereto. The gear pump includes two sets of oval gears. One set of oval gears is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized carbonated water, and the second set is in fluid communication with a source of syrup. The valve body also includes solenoid operated pallet valves for each of the beverage components. Ratioing of the solenoid provides for simultaneous opening of both pallet valves whereby the pressurized carbonated water flows between the carbonated water gears and is swept thereby through the valve body to the dispensing nozzle. One gear of each gear pair is secured to a common rotating shaft. Pressurized carbonated water provides for the rotation of the syrup gears, thereby providing for the pumping of the syrup to the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing carbonating of water. The apparatus including a carbonating tank having a carbon dioxide inlet, a water inlet, and a carbonated water outlet. The carbonating tank is pivotally mounted to a rigid structure and connected to an electric motor for providing an undulating or rocking motion of the carbonator about its pivot mounting. The motion of the carbonating tank providing for carbonating of the water held therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing beverage with programmable electronic portion control of one or more serving sizes has the steps of and apparatus for placing a discrete magnet adjacent the electronic control, the control having a reed switch which changes state under influence of the field of the magnet and switches the control from a normal select and dispense mode to an alternative hold and program mode.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve primarily for post-mix has a valve body that will accept all known types of beverage flow controls, water and syrup valves that are interchangeable in either of two fluid ports, a reversible block between the valves and a nozzle that enables syrup to be used in either port and water to be used in either port, a positively sealing and easily removable nozzle for improved sanitation and mixing, and multiple fulcrums in the valve body that will respectively accept a manual actuator or a switch actuator and a solenoid driven actuator.

Abstract: The present invention is a beverage dispensing system for providing the parallel connection of a plurality of refrigeration sources responsible for the cooling of associated beverages dispensed from a plurality of dispensing valves. A coolant fluid, such as carbonated water, is cooled by each refrigeration unit and is then co-mingled in a common outflow manifold prior to distribution to each of the valves. Likewise, each similar beverage cooled by each refrigeration unit can be co-mingled in a particular manifold before distribution to each of the dispensing valves. Thus, the failure of one refrigeration unit does not to require the shut-down of a valve or valves, as carbonated water and beverages cooled thereby are co-mingled with the carbonated water and same beverages continuing to be cooled by the remaining functioning refrigeration units prior to delivery thereof to the valves.

Abstract: A novel thermoplastic manifold and thermoplastic fluid fittings for the distribution of fluids, such as pressurized carbonated water, has an elongate tubular thermoplastic conduit with a plurality of apertures spaced along its length for receiving the thermoplastic fittings. Each fitting has a spud extending from one end thereof with a sonic energy director around the perimeter thereof. The fittings also include a saddle portion having a pair of arcuate sonic energy directing ridges thereon spaced on each side of the spud. Each fitting is fastened and sealed to the conduit by the sonic welding of the spud perimeter to the conduit aperture perimeter followed by the sonic welding of the saddle to the exterior surface of the tube.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for maintaining cold carbonated water in a beverage dispensing device so that unacceptably warm water is not dispensed therefrom. A modified beverage dispensing apparatus is shown including a carbonated water supply, a cold plate, a cabonated water supply line extending through the cold plate, and in fluid communication with a carbonated water plenum immediately adjacent and in fluid communication with a plurality of beverage dispensing valves. An electronic control device connected to a temperature sensing thermostat located in the plenum and to a solenoid discharge valve of the plenum. The control device is also connected to a temperature sensing thermostat in the cold plate and to a pressure sensor located in the line between the source of compressed carbon dioxide and the carbonated water reservoir.

Abstract: A self feeding peg and pegbar have a pair of elongate parallel support members extending outward from a mounting structure to a common nose, a goods pusher slideably mounted upon the support members, and a negator spring having a coil behind the pusher and a fixed end secured to the peg nose. The method has the step of pulling the pusher and goods forward with the negator spring being extended through the goods.

Abstract: The present invention concerns improvements in the electronic control of frozen carbonated beverage machines and improvements in electric defrost heaters used therein. A control scheme is shown that provides for accurately determining the viscosity of a semi-frozen beverage as a function of the torque of a drive motor used in the harvesting and mixing thereof. The torque is first calculated based upon the current and voltage to the motor and the phase difference there between. The torque is adjusted to compensate for motor efficiency after which the net torque value is converted to a viscosity scale. The viscosity scale has a zero value relating to the net torque experienced by the motor when the beverage is known to be completely liquid. Viscosity is maintained within a narrow range based upon pre-defined three level low, medium and high viscosity sets, and wherein compressor short-cycling is eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention concerns improvements in the electronic control of frozen carbonated beverage machines and improvements in electric defrost heaters used therein. A control scheme is shown that provides for accurately determining the viscosity of a semi-frozen beverage as a function of the torque of a drive motor used in the harvesting and mixing thereof. The torque is first calculated based upon the current and voltage to the motor and the phase difference there between. The torque is adjusted to compensate for motor efficiency after which the net torque value is converted to a viscosity scale. The viscosity scale has a zero value relating to the net torque experienced by the motor when the beverage is known to be completely liquid. Viscosity is maintained within a narrow range based upon pre-defined three level low, medium and high viscosity sets, and wherein compressor short-cycling is eliminated.

Abstract: A receptacle tray for permitting the filling of oversized receptacles by a beverage dispenser designed for the filling of standard sized receptacles. The receptacle tray releasably secureable with the dispenser below the valves thereof. The tray having a top surface area the perimeter of which is greater than a standard size dispenser tray. The receptacle tray of the present invention also including a receptacle support. The support of equivalent surface area with that of the tray for resting on the top thereof. The tray surface area substantially greater than a standard sized dispenser tray surface area so that over sized containers can be placed on the receptacle rest and supported thereon.

Abstract: The present invention is a liquid sensing device used for in determining the presence or absence of liquid in a container by the presence or absence of electrical current flow between two conductive probes. Moreover, the present invention prevents the false indication of liquid as can result from the presence of foam, or from bridging of the probes at the proximal ends thereof. A main body portion is formed of an electrically conductive material and has a probe channel extending therethrough. A non-conductive plug is inserted into the proximal end of the probe channel and provides for the retaining of a conductive probe that extends along the central axis of the probe channel. An end cap is secured to the distal end of the main body and covers the distal end of the probe channel for preventing foam access into the probe channel.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing head and a method of dispensing that provide increased carbonation in a dispensed fountain beverage; the dispensing head has a discrete carbonated water decompression chamber in-between an upstream volumetric flow control and a downstream normally closed valve; the method includes the steps of propelling carbonated water through a flow control and then decompressing the carbonated water before it reaches the normally closed valve.

Abstract: An agitating and pumping device particularly for use with a beverage cooling and dispensing ice-bank system. The ice-bank includes a reservoir for holding water and refrigerating coils therein for cooling the water. A heat exchange circuit is in heat exchange relationship with the reservoir water for cooling beverage circulated therethrough. The agitating and pumping device includes an electric motor for driving a shaft having agitating blades secured thereto. A pump is magnetically coupled to the shaft and is fluidly connected to the heat exchange circuit and to a source of beverage. The motor is secured above the reservoir with the agitating blades and pump submerged in the reservoir water. Operation of the motor provides for agitating of the reservoir water and for the pumping of the beverage through the heat exchange circuit.