Abstract: A postmix juice dispensing system for dispensing a finished beverage directly from a pliable beverage concentrate having an ice point at or near freezer temperatures, with little or no conditioning. The system preferably uses a one-piece, unitary, disposable package that includes both the concentrate container and a positive displacement metering pump. The disposable package is placed in the dispenser which automatically connects the pump to a pump motor. A mixing nozzle is connected to the metering pump and a water line is connected to the mixing nozzle. Upon pushing a load button, the dispenser automatically feeds compressed air on top of a piston in the concentrate container to force concentrate into the pump. The dispenser automatically reads an indicator on the package to set the pump speed in response to the type of concentrate in the package. The dispenser requires no cleanup or sanitization and allows rapid flavor change.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrical plastic parison is expanded within a blow mold against the internal walls thereof to form a plastic drinking vessel with a rim having substantially smooth inner and outer surfaces thereon. The inner surface is formed by a reciprocating cutter head assembly including an annular cutter blade with an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of wall surfaces of the blow mold adjacent to a peripheral recess in the blow mold in which an external bead on the rim is formed. The cutter blade and cutter head assembly form a dome-shaped top in response to expansion of the parison. When the cutter blade is retracted axially from the blow mold the dome-shaped top is severed from the vessel. In an alternative embodiment the vessel and a partially severed dome-shaped top are removed as an integral unit from the blow mold and the dome-shaped top is then completely severed from the vessel utilizing a rotary cutter blade.

Abstract: A bag valve coupling member for a soft drink syrup bag-in-box container having a back-flow preventing one-way valve therein, preferably in addition to the standard self-sealing poppet valve that is biased closed and that is opened when a hose connector coupling member is attached to the bag valve coupling member. The one-way valve prevents back-filling (reuse) of the bag and syrup substitution.

Abstract: A liquid container comprising a multi-layer container including a wall made up of a main layer and a separate, delaminatable inner layer, a container opening at the top for filling and evacuation and a plurality of air vents extending completely through the main layer and terminating at the inner layer, such that the inner layer delaminates when liquid is evacuated by suction.

Abstract: A syrup container system for post-mix beverage dispensing systems comprising filling a blow molded, multi-layer PET container with syrup and connecting the container to a post-mix beverage dispenser through a syrup pump. The PET container includes an inner delaminatable PET layer and an outer PET layer and an air vent partway through the container wall terminating at the inner PET layer, so that the inner PET layer can separate from the outer layer and collapse around the remaining syrup as it is withdrawn, without the need for venting the syrup chamber to atmosphere. The PET container also includes a polyethylene closure sealing the container opening and a coupling for connecting to a quick-disconnect coupling on the distal end of a syrup line. The PET container is disposable and recyclable.

Abstract: A syrup container system for post-mix beverage dispensing systems comprising filling a blow molded, multi-layer PET container with syrup and connecting the container to a post-mix beverage dispenser through a syrup pump. The PET container includes an outer PET layer and a deliminatable inner PET layer and an air vent partway through the container wall terminating at the inner PET layer, so that the inner PET layer can separate from the outer layer and collapse around the remaining syrup as it is withdrawn, without the need for venting the syrup chamber to atmosphere. The PET container also includes a polyethylene closure sealing the container opening and a coupling for connecting to a quick-disconnect coupling on the distal end of a syrup line. The PET container is disposable and recyclable.

Abstract: A method for supplying syrup to a post-mix beverage dispensor comprising filling a blow molded, multi-layer PET container with syrup and connecting the container to the post-mix beverage dispenser through a syrup pump. The PET container includes an outer PET layer and a delaminatable inner PET layer and at least one air vent partway through the container wall terminating at the inner PET layer, such that the inner PET layer can separate from the remainder of the wall and collapse around the remaining syrup as it is withdrawn, without the need for venting the syrup chamber to atmosphere. The PET container also includes a polyethylene closure sealing the container opening and coupling means for connecting to a quick-disconnect coupling on the distal end of a syrup line. The PET container is disposable and recyclable.

Abstract: A liquid container comprising a multi-layer container including a wall made up of a main layer and a separate, delaminatable inner layer, a container opening at the top for filling and evacuation and a plurality of air vents extending completely through the main layer and terminating at the inner layer, such that the inner layer delaminates when liquid is evacuated by suction. The inner layer is thicker at the top end of the container and the air vents have a larger size opening at the bottom of the container, both to prevent premature collapse of the top end of the inner layer. The inner layer is also at least partially predelaminated during (or right after) manufacturing to assist ease of delamination during use.

Abstract: A disposable and recyclable plastic container for use in a post-mix beverage dispensing system includes first and second openings at a top end thereof. The container may be filled with syrup through the first opening and withdrawn by a pump through the second opening. The second opening is defined by an upper end of a tube, which is integrally formed with the container by blow-molding. The tube extends from the top end of the container, down the exterior of the container sidewall and through the bottom. As syrup is withdrawn, the first opening, or an associated vent, vents the container to assist in the withdrawal of syrup. The second opening and tube have a valve actuator therein for a spring-loaded valve in a conventional quick-disconnect coupling such as used in bag-in-box type systems.

Abstract: A postmix juice dispensing system for dispensing a finished beverage directly from a pliable beverage concentrate having an ice point at or near freezer temperatures, with little or no conditioning. The system preferably uses a one-piece, unitary, disposable package that includes both the concentrate container and a positive displacement metering pump. The disposable package is placed in the dispenser which automatically connects the pump to a pump motor. A mixing nozzle is connected to the metering pump and a water line is connected to the mixing nozzle. Upon pushing a load button, the dispenser automatically feeds compressed air on top of a piston in the concentrate container to force concentrate into the pump. The dispenser automatically reads an indicator on the package to set the pump speed in response to the type of concentrate in the package. The dispenser requires no cleanup or sanitization and allows rapid flavor change.

Abstract: A syrup container system for post-mix beverage dispensing systems comprising filling a blow molded, multi-layer PET container with syrup and connecting the container to a post-mix beverage dispenser through a syrup pump. The PET container includes a release agent such as a layer of EVOH located outside of the inner PET layer and an air vent partway through the container wall terminating at the inner PET layer or at the adjacent release layer, so that the inner PET layer can separate from the remainder of the wall and collapse around the remaining syrup as it is withdrawn, without the need for venting the syrup chamber to atmosphere. The PET container also includes a polyethylene closure sealing the container opening and coupling means for connecting to a quick-disconnect coupling on the distal end of a syrup line. The PET container is disposable and recyclable.

Abstract: A syrup container system for post-mix beverage dispensing systems comprising filling a blow molded, multi-layer PET container with syrup and connecting the container to a post-mix beverage dispenser through a syrup pump. The PET container includes a release agent such as a layer of EVOH located outside of the inner PET layer and an air vent partway through the container wall terminating at the inner PET layer or at the adjacent release layer, so that the inner PET layer can separate from the remainder of the wall and collapse around the remaining syrup as it is withdrawn, without the need for venting the syrup chamber to atmosphere. The PET container also includes a polyethylene closure sealing the container opening and a coupling for connecting to a quick-disconnect coupling on the distal end of a syrup line. The PET container is disposable and recyclable.

Abstract: A tamper evident device for use on a soft drink syrup container (a figal) comprising a one-piece body including a pair of spaced-apart arms with a socket on the distal end of each arm, the socket including internal locking teeth to lock onto a plug of the syrup container. The sockets include fracture zones and must be broken to be removed. A handle portion joins the two arms and includes a large flat upper surface for use in applying a label thereon identifying the syrup in the container.

Abstract: A disposable and recyclable plastic container for use in a post-mix beverage dispensing system includes first and second openings at a top end thereof. The container may be filled with syrup through the first opening and withdrawn by a pump through the second opening. The second opening is defined by an upper end of a tube, which is integrally formed with the container by blow-molding. The tube extends from the top end of the container, down the exterior of the container sidewall and through the bottom. As syrup is withdrawn, the first opening, or an associated vent, vents the container to assist the withdrawl of syrup. The second opening and tube have a valve actuator therein for a spring-loaded valve in a conventional quick-disconnect coupling such as used in bag-in-box type systems. The top and bottom of the container have complementary shapes to permit vertical nesting and stacking of plural like containers.

Abstract: A disposable container for use as a syrup package in a post-mix beverage dispenser comprising a base end and a discharge end opposite thereto, sidewalls extending from the base end towards the discharge end, and a neck connecting the sidewalls to the discharge end and defining a discharge opening through which syrup or flavor concentrate may be dispensed. A flow-rate control tube having an openable, sealed end and a closed end is integrally formed with the container sidewalls. The flow-rate control tube has the openable, sealed end positioned in the container base end and has a major portion which extends substantially longitudinally of the container on the outside of the sidewalls, to an associated minor portion of the tube, which extends through the neck of the container so that the open end of the tube is in communication with the interior of the container in the neck region.

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.

Abstract: A binary syrup system bag and valve for beverage dispensing including a pair of separate syrup bags holding two different syrup components, a single spout connected to both bags and a bag valve connected to the spout for opening or closing liquid communication to the bags. The spout and valve have two separate liquid flow channels therethrough, one for each bag. A quick-disconnect coupling is connected to the valve for opening the valve and allowing the syrup to be fed to a beverage dispenser. The connection of the valve parts and the connection between the valve and the spout are snap-fit, liquid-tight interference fits.