Patents by Inventor Willy Van Esch

Willy Van Esch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10600273
    Abstract: The present application provides a product vending module for vending a number of products. The product vending module includes a product row configured to contain a number of products therein. The product vending module also includes a product gate positioned about the product row and rotatable from a closed position preventing access to the number of products to an open position allowing access to one of the number of products while preventing access to a remainder of the number of products, the product gate including a biased base. The product vending module further includes a product locking system in communication with the product gate, the product locking system including a locking pin releasably engaging the biased base and movable from a first allowing rotation of the product gate toward the closed position to a second position restricting rotation of the product gate toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Bart Carpentier, Jurgen Roekens, Antonio Feltrin, Willy Van Esch, Jacobus P. M. Dessing
  • Patent number: 9633503
    Abstract: The present application provides a vendor for vending a number of products. The vendor may include a cooler and a vending device positioned within the cooler. The vending device may include a number of product shelves with a number of product gates and one or more product locking systems that permit the removal of only one product at a time from the product gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Jurgen Roekens, Antonio Feltrin, Willy Van Esch
  • Patent number: 9082254
    Abstract: The present application provides a product vending module for vending a number of products. The product vending module may include a product row, a product gate positioned about the product row, and a product locking system in communication with the product gate. The product locking system may include a latch and a biased base such that releasing the latch allows the product gate to be opened and one of the number of products to be removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Bart Carpentier, Jurgen Roekens, Antonio Feltrin, Willy Van Esch, Jacobus Petrus Maria Dessing
  • Publication number: 20140367403
    Abstract: The present application provides a product vending module for vending a number of products. The product vending module includes a product row configured to contain a number of products therein. The product vending module also includes a product gate positioned about the product row and rotatable from a closed position preventing access to the number of products to an open position allowing access to one of the number of products while preventing access to a remainder of the number of products, the product gate including a biased base. The product vending module further includes a product locking system in communication with the product gate, the product locking system including a locking pin releasably engaging the biased base and movable from a first allowing rotation of the product gate toward the closed position to a second position restricting rotation of the product gate toward the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Bart Carpentier, Jurgen Roekens, Antonio Feltrin, Willy Van Esch, Jaacobus Petrus Maria Dessing
  • Publication number: 20110238209
    Abstract: A vending system for dispensing a number of products. The vending system may include an enclosure with an access point, a weighing system, a user interface, and an access system. The user interface may include a proximity card coupling device to read and write to a proximity card. The access system allows the access point of the enclosure to be opened in response to the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Jurgen Roekens, Willy Van Esch
  • Publication number: 20110226794
    Abstract: The present application provides a product vending module for vending a number of products. The product vending module may include a product row, a product gate positioned about the product row, and a product locking system in communication with the product gate. The product locking system may include a latch and a biased base such that releasing the latch allows the product gate to be opened and one of the number of products to be removed therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Bart Carpentier, Jurgen Roekens, Antonio Feltrin, Willy Van Esch, Jacobus Petrus Maria Dessing
  • Publication number: 20110226793
    Abstract: The present application provides a vendor for vending a number of products. The vendor may include a cooler and a vending device positioned within the cooler. The vending device may include a number of product shelves with a number of product gates and one or more product locking systems that permit the removal of only one product at a time from the product gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Jurgen Roekens, Antonio Feltrin, Willy Van Esch
  • Patent number: 8001795
    Abstract: A method of adjusting temperatures of products to a desired product temperature. The method may include enabling the selection of a product, enabling the selection of the desired product temperature, enabling the placement of the product into a temperature adjust device, circulating a liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device, the liquid or the gas having been cooled to a cool temperature less than the desired product temperature or heated to a warm temperature greater than the desired product temperature, determining when the desired product temperature has been obtained, and ceasing circulation of the liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Brock Kolls, Carlos A. Barreto, Mathew Scott Reichardt, Thomas P. Howell, Willy Van Esch
  • Publication number: 20090029016
    Abstract: A method of adjusting temperatures of products to a desired product temperature. The method may include enabling the selection of a product, enabling the selection of the desired product temperature, enabling the placement of the product into a temperature adjust device, circulating a liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device, the liquid or the gas having been cooled to a cool temperature less than the desired product temperature or heated to a warm temperature greater than the desired product temperature, determining when the desired product temperature has been obtained, and ceasing circulation of the liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Brock Kolls, Carlos A. Barreto, Mathew Scott Reichardt, Thomas P. Howell, Willy Van Esch
  • Publication number: 20080011771
    Abstract: A vending machine for dispensing a number of containers. The vending machine may include a shelf system and a vend belt system positioned about the shelf system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Jurgen Roekens, Willy Van Esch, Laurent Houtsaeger
  • Patent number: 7048147
    Abstract: A drink dispensing head incorporating a Venturi valve to utilize the motive force of a high pressure liquid to draw a low pressure liquid into the dispensing head without the need for additional pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Jurgens Roekens, Willy Van Esch, Gary A. Short
  • Patent number: 6808083
    Abstract: A vending machine for dispensing a first number of products and a second number of products. The vending machine may include a product compartment. The product compartment may include a first column with the first products and a second column with the second products. A dispensing path may be positioned about the product compartment so as to dispense the first products without heating. A heating device may be positioned adjacent to the product compartment for heating the second products. A positioning device may be positioned about the second column to maneuver the second products to the heating device and the dispensing path so as to dispense the second products as heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Jurgen Roekens, Willy Van Esch, Bart Carpentier
  • Publication number: 20040007594
    Abstract: A device for adding an amount of a secondary fluid to a primary fluid stream. The device may include an outer shell, an inner compartment for storing the secondary fluid, and a flow path defined between the outer shell and the inner compartment for the primary fluid stream. A flow control device may be positioned within the inner compartment so as to control the amount of the secondary fluid added to the primary fluid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Willy Van Esch, Henrique Braun
  • Publication number: 20030222093
    Abstract: A vending machine for dispensing a first number of products and a second number of products. The vending machine may include a product compartment. The product compartment may include a first column with the first products and a second column with the second products. A dispensing path may be positioned about the product compartment so as to dispense the first products without heating. A heating device may be positioned adjacent to the product compartment for heating the second products. A positioning device may be positioned about the second column to maneuver the second products to the heating device and the dispensing path so as to dispense the second products as heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Jurgen Roekens, Willy Van Esch, Bart Carpentier
  • Publication number: 20030010054
    Abstract: An ice-making system may include a bin configured to contain an initial quantity of water and an ice making assembly configured to make ice solely from the initial quantity of water. A conveyor may be configured to transport the ice from the ice making assembly to the bin, and a water circuit may be configured to re-circulate the initial quantity of water through the ice making assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Willy Van Esch, Scott Summerville
  • Patent number: 6495049
    Abstract: A water treatment method uses a removable, disposable cartridge having an internal mesh structure. A disposable heater heats water fed to the cartridge. Precipitated solids collect on the mesh surface provided temperature and residence times are appropriately maintained. The heat breaks down the bicarbonate hardness of the water thereby depositing carbonates on the mesh surface and heavy metals will be codeposited due to the resultant change in pH. The cartridge has a head-space for collecting entrained gases such as volatile organic compounds, chlorine and air. Water sterility is achieved by heating the water over an appropriate period of time. Turbidity is removed within the cartridge due to settling induced by the low fluid velocity controlled by a controller and by a filter provided at the outlet of the cartridge. The filter will become blocked when bicarbonate hardness is carried over forcing a user to replace a spent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Willy Van Esch
  • Patent number: 6416673
    Abstract: A water treatment method uses a removable, disposable cartridge having an internal mesh structure. A disposable heater heats water fed to the cartridge. Precipitated solids collect on the mesh surface provided temperature and residence time are appropriately maintained. The heat breaks down the bicarbonate hardness of the water thereby depositing carbonates on the mesh surface and heavy metals will be codeposited due to the resultant change in pH. The cartridge has a head-space for collecting entrained gases such as volatile or Manic compounds, chlorine and air. Water sterility is achieved by heating the water over an appropriate period of time. Turbidity is removed within the cartridge due to settling induced by the low fluid velocity controlled by a controller and by a filter provided at the outlet of the cartridge. The filter will become blocked when bicarbonate hardness is carried over forcing a user to replace a spent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: George Plester, Willy Van Esch
  • Publication number: 20010032823
    Abstract: A water treatment method uses a removable, disposable cartridge having an internal mesh structure. A disposable heater heats water fed to the cartridge. Precipitated solids collect on the mesh surface provided temperature and residence time are appropriately maintained. The heat breaks down the bicarbonate hardness of the water thereby depositing carbonates on the mesh surface and heavy metals will be codeposited due to the resultant change in pH. The cartridge has a head-space for collecting entrained gases such as volatile organic compounds, chlorine and air. Water sterility is achieved by heating the water over an appropriate period of time. Turbidity is removed within the cartridge due to settling induced by the low fluid velocity controlled by a controller and by a filter provided at the outlet of the cartridge. The filter will become blocked when bicarbonate hardness is carried over forcing a user to replace a spent cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: George Plester, Willy Van Esch
  • Patent number: 6264830
    Abstract: A water treatment method uses a removable, disposable cartridge having an internal mesh structure. A disposable heater heats water fed to the cartridge. Precipitated solids collect on the mesh surface provided temperature and residence time are appropriately maintained. The heat breaks down the bicarbonate hardness of the water thereby depositing carbonates on the mesh surface and heavy metals will be codeposited due to the resultant change in pH. The cartridge has a head-space for collecting entrained gases such as volatile organic compounds, chlorine and air. Water sterility is achieved by heating the water over an appropriate period of time. Turbidity is removed within the cartridge due to settling induced by the low fluid velocity controlled by a controller and by a filter provided at the outlet of the cartridge. The filter will become blocked when bicarbonate hardness is carried over forcing a user to replace a spent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: George Plester, Willy Van Esch