US2861603A - Coin operated beer dispensing machine - Google Patents

Description

' Nov. 25, 1958 H. R. TERLECKI 2,861,603

' com OPERATED BEER DISPENSING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 all ii 42 "74 I I 22 4Z1\ I] 45 i -7gb 5 T 20 l 3 i: 5! Q in 25 1 J0 3 35 i 7 $4 L, 5 f I 41 2 5 7 6'5 IN V EN TOR.

Harzy Ba Zpiz Terleeki oZZ-Zorzzeg Nov. 25, 1958 H. R. TERLECKI 5 1 com OPERATED BEER DISPENSING MACHINE I Filed May 25, 1955 V 2 Sheets-Shet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Z-Za 7:9 ZEa/ph T erZeeZ z:

BY W

United States PatentC) 2,861,603 COIN OPERATED BEER DISPENSING MACHINE Harry R. Terlecki, Berwyn, Ill. Application May 25, 1955, Serial No. 510,927 4 Claims. c1. 141-94) My invention relates to a coin operated multi-barrel beer dispensing machine which delivers cold palatable beer in individual cups to the purchaser without an undesirable amount of foam, which indicates exhaustion of the cups and beverage without the need of a liquid mdicator device for the beverage, and which draws the beer equally from a plurality of barrels.

Automatic vending machines have proved to be an economic and convenient method of selling beverages for immediate consumption. They have served particularly well in vending beverages in locations where it would not be feasible to maintain a full time vending clerk. For these reasons automatic beverage vending machines have been used successfully in merchandising cool soft drinks. The vending of beer, however, by means of an automatic vending machine presents problems not encountered in the vending of soft drinks. It is necessary that the beverage be as cold as possible when it is dispensed from the machine. the tap to the cup must be as short as possible to prevent an undesirable amount of foam from forming. Keeping the machine adequately supplied with beverage presents a more difiicult problem than is generally present in soft drink machines. Beer is customarily supplied only in barrels and in a beer dispensing machine it is desirable to utilize these containers. It is especially desirable to have a dispensing machine adaptable to utilize a plurality of barrels because of the obvious saving in servicing expense. Because of the difiiculty of installing an accurate liquid measuring device to measure the liquid in a plurality of barrels, it is desirable to provide a simple system responsive to exhaustion of the beverage in the containers.

In the present invention a machine is provided which will dispense cold beer without an undue amount of foam. The machine will dispense beer from a plurality of barrels received in the refrigerated base portion of the machine. The quantity of beer remaining in the barrels is accurately measured by the cup counting device itself. In brief, a cabinet, having an insulated refrigerated space, is provided to hold the beer dispensing mechanism. The refrigerated space of the cabinet contairis a plurality of beer barrels and the cooling coils of a refrigerating unit. An insulated jacket extends upward from the refrigerated space into the uncooled upper portion of the cabinet to the beer dispensing device. This jacket,-which opens into the refrigerated portion immediately in front of the cooling coils, houses the conduit leading from the barrels to the beer dispensing device. A motor driven fan mounted behind the cooling coils assures the circulation of a steady stream of cold air in this jacket. Thus the beer is kept cold until dispensed. With the use of a cup chute designed to deposit the cup at a minimum distance from the beer dispensing device, the formation of an undesirable amount of foam is prevented when the beer is dispensed in the cup. The beer in all barrels is kept under constant equal pressures. This is achieved by means of an' air The drop from 2,861,603 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 pump and a pressure regulator valve. These are connected to the barrels and provide an equal and constant pressure inside the barrels. Consequently, when the faucetis opened beer is drawn equally from all the barrels. Thus, since all barrels initially contain equal quantities of beer they become empty simultaneously. There is no need to provide a complex automatic switching mechanism which would be required if the barrels emptied consecutively. The cup dispenser is initially filled with a number of cups to correspond with the initial quantity of beer contained in the barrels. Therefore the barrels and the cup dispenser become exhausted at the same time. Therefore, at any time the quantity of beer remaining in the barrels is quickly determined by the number of cups remaining in the cup dispensen' The empty signal light is controlled by the cup dispenser and there is no need for a fluid indicator device operated by the fluid in the barrels.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an automatic coin operated vending machine which will dispense a predetermined amount of cold beer and which is of simple construction and highly reliable in operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic beverage dispensing machine wherein the beverage is kept cold until dispensed from the dispensing device.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an automatic beverage dispensing machine in which the beverage containers and conduits carrying the beverage to the beverage dispensing device are kept cold by the circulation of refrigerated air through a single set of cooling coils.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a beer dispensing machine wherein the liquid discharge pipe is jacketed by a stream of cooling air.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic beverage dispensing machine with a plurality of containers from which the beverage is simultaneously drawn in equal quantities.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a coin operated automatic beverage dispensing machine adapted to dispense a uniform predetermined quantity of beverage equally from a plurality of containers.

Further it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the foregoing type wherein the desired discharge of beverage from a plurality of containers is achieved without the use of valve mechanisms, fluid measuring devices or similar apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a coin operated beverage dispensing device in which the entire sequence of dispensing operation is conducted by the cup dispensing device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic beverage dispensing machine in which means actuated by the cup dispensing device indicates an exhaustion of the beverage. I

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a coin operated beverage'dispensing device with: a readily removable cup guiding device.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together;

in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which! Figure 1 is a front elevational view with partsin crosssection showing the cabinet of the beveragedispensing 3 machine and the arrangement of the components of the machine trierein';

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through section 22 ofFigurel;

Figur 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view or the beer discharge valve actuating mechanism;

Figure 4 is an enlarged axial cross-sectional view with partsin elevation of the beer dispensing conduit and jacket;

Figure 5 is mechanism; 1

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the cup guiding device showing its location in relation to the cup dispenser and the beverage dispensing device;

Figure7 is a view in perspective of the cup dispenser motor shaft showing the cam operated dispenser switch and motor circuit switch; ,7 I s.

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram of the beverage dispensingmechanism; and. V

Eigure 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the barrel and barrel fitting showing the beverage conduit inserted in thebarrel. I

The machine of the present invention is shown generally in Figures 1 and 2. The cabinet which houses the, mechanism is shown generally at 10. This cabinet is divided into an uninsulated upper space 11 and a lower insulated refrigerated space 12. Access to the refrigerated space 12 is achieved by a hinged insulated door .62. Two beverage containers 16 and 17, which may be conventional beer barrels of one-half barrel capacity, are received in the refrigerated space 12. Cooling coils of a conventional refrigeration unit 21 and an air circulating motor driven fan 63 are installed in the space 12 and provide the necessary refrigerated air circulation to maintain the beverage containers 16 and 17 at the proper serving and storing temperature. The other units of the automatic beer dispensing machine are installed in the upper uninsulated space 11.

The beer dispensing device, or faucet 39 as shown in Figure 2, has a beverage dispensing outlet valve (not shown) which is opened by pivoting valve actuating rod 40 in the forward direction. This rod may, for example, be the handle of a conventional hand operated beer dispensing faucet. The end of the actuating rod 40 opposite its fulcrum is attached pivotally to the clevis 64, Figure 3 of the solenoid plunger extension rod 41. The extension rod 41 is connected to the solenoid plunger 43 which is slideably received within solenoid 42. A spring 44 is connected at o-ne end to the solenoid plunger 43 and connected at the other end to the cabinet 10. The spring biases the slideable solenoid plunger 43 in its position outside the solenoid as shown in Figure 3. With the solenoid plunger in this position the beer dispensing outlet valve is in the closed position. When the solenoid 42 is energized the solenoid plunger 43 is pulled forwardly into the solenoid against the bias of the spring 44. This motion is transmitted through the plunger extension rod 41 and pivots the valve actuating rod 40 to open the faucet outlet valve. When the solenoid, is de-energized the action of the spring 44 returns the beer dispensing outlet valve to the normally closed position. ,The solenoid 42 is supported by bracket 45 which is affixed to the conduithousing 37.

The beer dispensing device or faucet 39 is located in the uninsulated space 11 of the cabinet. It is connected by conduit 33 to the; beer containers 16 and 17, located in the insulated refrigerated space 12. Since it is important. that the beverage be as cold as possible when discharged from, the faucet 39, it is highly undesirable to have the beer in the conduit exposed to the warm conditions of the uninsulated space 11 of the cabinet. Also it is desirable that the dispensing device itself be kept as coolas possible. Figure shows in detail the jacket construction which keeps the conduit 33 and the a top plan View of the cup dispensing dispensing device cool. The cylindrical jacket housing 37 extends from inside the refrigerated space 12 to a point adjacent the beer dispensing device 39 in the uninsulated space 11. The beer dispensing device 39 is mounted on the outside of the upper part of the housing 37. The beverage carrying conduit 33 extends from the beer dispensing device through the inside of the housing into the insulated refrigerated space 12 as shown. Theportion of the housing 37 which extends into the uninsulated space 11 is encased in an insulating wrapping 36 of suitable heat insulating material such as cotton, glass, wool, etc, The top of the housing is closed and packed with an insulating material 38. The bottom of the housing opens into the insulated refrigerated space 12. A close press fit of the housing 37 in the ceiling 15 of the refrigerated space prevents entry of warm air. In addition, the insulating wrapping 36 around the housing helps toseal the opening inthe ceiling 15. The housing 37 is secured in position by brazing or welding to the top plate. 15a of the housing as shown at 37a, Figure 4. A cold air circulating pipe 34 extends from a point outside the jacket 37 adjacent the cooling coils of the unit 21 in the refrigerated space 12 to a point inside the jacket near its upper end. The inlet pipe is held in position by clamps 77 secured to the inside of the housing. The end of the inlet pipe 34 adjacent the cooling coils has a funnel or flared portion 67 facing the cooling coils and in the cold air discharge stream from the cooling coils. In this position the inlet pipe 34 receives a stream of cold air which has passed through the cooling coils from the air circulating fan 63, located on the opposite side of the cooling coils from the air inlet tube as shown in Figure 2. This cold air passes through the inlet pipe 34 into the upper part of the housing 37, circulates through the housing, and passes out of the housing through the bottom end to return into the refrigerated space 12, as so shown by the arrows of Figure 4. 7

Thus the beverage carrying conduit is kept cool for its entire length. Cold air is' kept circulating about this conduit, even for the portion extending into the uninsulated space 11 of the cabinet, by utilizing the refrigeration machinery of the refrigerated space 12. No additional cooling coils or circulating fans are required with this jacket construction. It should be noted that the beer dispensing device 39 which is necessarily exposed to the warmer air of the uninsulated space 11 is kept relativelycool by its contact with the air cooled housing 37.

The beer is delivered from the beverage containers 16 and 17 to the beer dispensing device by means of gas pressure maintained within the beverage containers. The pressure must be constant at all times in order to deliver a fixed predetermined quantity of beer during the fixed time interval the beer dispensing device 39 is open. With the use of a plurality of beverage containers it is desirable that the containers empty simultaneously. This obviates the necessity of having a switching or valve mechanism actuated by beverage level indicators which would be required if the containers emptied consecutively. In the present construction means is provided to deliver a constant, but adjustable, pressure above atmosphere, to each of the containers. The pressure delivered to all the containers is kept equal. By maintaining equal pressures in all containers, thebeverage will be drawn equally from all containers. Since all the containers initially contain the same quantity of beverage they will empty simultaneously.

.An air compressor. 23 is installed in the upper uninsulated space 11 of the cabinet as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Conduit 28 connects the compressor to a pres sure regulator 24. The regulator can be pre-set to any desired pressure and is responsive to small pressure differentials. A small pressure change actuates a switch 'vvh'ich stops for starts the compressor as required to maintain the pre 'set pressure. The pressure regulator 24 has 5. two outlets connected by conduits 29 and 30 to fittings 26 and 27, respectively, in the tops of the containers 16 and 17. Since both containers receive pressure from a common source the pressure inside the containers are equal. Each of the fittings 26 and 27 consists of two unconnected passages, one inside the other. As shown in Figure 9, compressed air received through conduit 29 passes through the outer passage of fitting 26 into the container 16. When the beer dispensing device 39 is opened beer is forced from the containers through conduit 68 which extends into the container 16 to a point near the bottom. This conduit passes through fitting 26 and connects to conduit 31. An equal quantity of beer is forced from container 17 into conduit 32 in the same manner. Fitting 27 on container 17 is similar in construction to fitting 26. Conduits 31 and 32 connect to the single conduit 33 which carries the beverage to the beverage dispensing device.

A cup dispenser 19 is located in the upper uninsulated space 11 of the cabinet, near the beer dispensing device as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cup dispenser is divided into compartments 46 by partition sections 47 as shown in Figure 5. These partitions are joined to a central hub 70 and rotate with the hub in relation to the cup dispenser housing 71. Each compartment holds a stack of cups 49. A cup discharge opening 48 is located in the bottom of the cup-dispenser adjacent the beer dispensing device. A cup dividing device 22 receives the cup as it is discharged from the opening 48 in the cup dispenser as shown in Figure 6. The cup guiding device 22 is a rectangular structure, open at the front and on the top. An enclosed chute 52 extending downward at an angle from the upper corner of the rectangular structure serves to guide each cup to a standing position in the center of the base of the guiding device 22. The location of the cup guiding device in relation to the beer dispensing device, or faucet, is important. It is necessary to have the drop from the faucet to the cup as short as possible to eliminate undesirable foaming. To achieve this the chute 52 is designed to provide a minimum clearance between the descending cup and the beer dispensing faucet 39 which overhangs and extends into the cup guiding device 22, as shown in Figures 2 and 6. The beer dispensing faucet is centrally positioned in relation to the cup dispensing device 22 and directly above the cup in its upstanding receiving position.

The cup guiding device 22 is designed to be easily removable to facilitate repairs to structure inside the cabinet. The device rests on a drain tray 65, afiixed to the cabinet, having top flanges 65a extending outward on both sides. The cup guiding device 22 has lower flanges 22a on both sides which are turned under to slidably engage the drain tray flanges 65a.

The cup dispenser hub 70, and hence the turret partitions 47, are rotated by a geared motor 50 which is regulated by the coin actuated vendor 74. Each coin deposited in the vendor causes the motor to make one revolution which rotates the turret 47 in the cup dispenser one-sixth of a revolution. When the turret is at rest, one of the compartments 46 is positioned slightly off center from the cup discharge opening 48. In this position a cup will not be discharged. However, a small amount of travel in the direction of rotation fro-m the rest position brings the compartment 46 over the cup discharge opening 48 and a cup is discharged. The revolution of the partitions 47 continues until the motor 50 has completed one revolution. Because of initial rest position of the compartment 46, the discharge of the cup occurs at an early time in the travel of the compartment and, similarly, at an early time in the revolution of the cup dispenser motor. The cup dispenser has a pressure sensitive feeler switch 58 mounted on the cup dispenser housing 71. The switch is responsive to contact with the cups 49 and consequently senses when the cup dis penser is empty.

The cup dispenser as such forms no part of this ining device 39 by operation of the solenoid 42. This solenoid is energized by a switch 73 operated by' a cam 72 as shown in Figure 7. This cam 72 is mounted on the cup dispenser motor shaft 51. The cam 72 is mounted on the shaft in such a position that it engages the solenoid switch 73 near the end of the full revolution of the motor shaft 51. Thus, when a coin is deposited, the motor 50 and the shaft 51 make one full revolution. The cup is discharged at the early part of this revolution and the beer dispensed near the end of the revolution. This time lag provides a suflicient time for the cup to drop down the chute 52 and fall to position under the beer dispensing faucet 39 before the beer is poured.

The cup dispenser 19 is designed to correspond in cup carrying capacity to the initial quantity of liquid in the containers 16 and 17. Because of the constant and equal pressure applied to the beverage containers and the fixed time interval the beer dispensing device is opened with each coin, a predetermined fixed amountof liquid is dispensed into each cup. Thus, if the cup dispenser is filled at the same time the beverage containers are initially installed, the cups and containers will exhaust simultaneously. A feeler switch device 58 is located at the bottom of the dispenser 19 to respond to the exhaustion of the cups in the dispenser to energize an empty indicator light on the vendor panel 18. This construction obviates the need of any beverage level indicators in the containers. This is particularly advantageous in a beverage dispensing machine which dispenses beer. Beer is conventionally supplied in barrels and it is convenient to utilize these containers in the dispensing machine. The construction of the beer barrel does not lend itself to the installation of a float or other level indicating device.

The wiring diagram for the automatic beverage dispensing machine is shown in Figure 8. An external source of alternating current 75 is connected through an appliance plug (not shown) to supply power for the operation of the machine. Deposit of a coin in the vendor 74 momentarily .closes the vendor switch 53. This momentarily energizes the vend relay 54 and causes the switch 55 to close momentarily. The momentary closing of switch 55 energizes the cup dispenser motor 50 and causes it to start its revolution. Cam 78, Figure 7, is mounted on the cup dispenser motor shaft 51 and receives cam switch 57. When the notch 78a of the cam 78 is registered with the switch 57, the switch defines an open circuit. This is the dwell position at the end of the dispensing cycle. When the switch 55 is momentarily closed, the shaft 51 rotates sufficiently to bring the main face of cam 78 into registry with the switch 57, thus closing that switch. The motor 50 is then energized through switches 57 and 58 to rotate a full revolution. This rotation is brought to an end when the notch 78a again registers with the cam switch 57, thus opening the energizing circuit through switch 57 to the motor 50.

As previously described, a cup is discharged relatively early during the revolution of motor 50. The beverage dispensing cam 72, as shown in Figure 7, is mounted on motor shaft 51 .and has an enlarged portion 72a to engage switch 73 relatively late in the revolution of motor 50. Switch 73 is closed when its sensing arm 73a rides on portion 72a of cam 72. This energizes solenoid 42 through switch 73 to cause the beverage to dispense during a time interval determined by the circumferential extent of portion 72a of cam 72. By reason of the angular spacing of the two cams on motor shaft 51, the cup has had time to fall into beverage receiving position before the beverage is dispensed. Cam switches 57 and 73 are fixedly mounted on the cabinet structure in position to engage cams 78 and 72, respectively. The cams, al though shown for purposes of illustration in Figure 7 asjbei'ng of unitary construction, may be adjustable to permit alteration of the time period they engage the cam switches 57 and 73. Such an adjustment, for example, might be desired in cam 72 to prolong engagement with switch 73 and thereby increase the quantity of beverage dispensed in each dispensing cycle.

Feeler switch 58 in the cup dispenser has two pairs of contacts 58a and 5817. In normal position of the switch contacts 58a close the circuit to the motor 50 whereas contacts 5812 open the circuit to the empty indicator light 59. The switch is actuated when the cups are exhausted to open contacts 58a and close contacts 58b. This energizes the indicator light and opens the circuit to motor 50. This indicates lack of beverage to be dispensed and prevents dispensing operations.

Switches 76 and 77 are responsive to means provided in the vendor 74. The former closes the circuit containing the no coins light 61 when the vendor has an inadequate supply of change. The latter is in the circuit containing the vendor switch 53 to prevent multiple dispensing operations with a single coin.

The vendor 74 is mounted on the vendor panel 18 in the upper part of the cabinet as shown in Figure 1. It has a coin receiving slot 74a and a coin return chute 74b. The unit may be any one of several types well known in the art, as for example, the model A 3408 Simplex coin changer manufactured by the National Slug Rejectors, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri. 7

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of the present invention it will, of course, be evident that various modifications and alternative constructions may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. I therefore intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternative constructions as come within their true spirit and scope.

What I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An automatic machine for dispensing beverage comprising in combination: a cabinet with an insulated refrigerated space with a cooling unit and an air circulating fan; a plurality of beverage containers of predetermined capacity located in the insulated refrigerated space; means to charge the beverage with equal and constant gas pressure; a dispensing device, normally closed; means defining a common discharge passage to said dispensing device, whereby the containers discharge in unison under the gas pressure; a jacket surrounding the discharge passage to the dispensing device and opening into the refrigerated space and extending to a point adjacent the dispensing device, the jacket having an air intake opening in the path of air from the fan and an air discharge opening located within the jacket; coin operated means to open the dispensing device valve for a predetermined 8. eriod of time; a cup dispensing device operable to dispense cups singly and holding a quantity of cups correspending in total capacity to the predetermined capacity of the beverage containers, the cup dispensing device having means responsive to the discharge of the last cup from the cup dispenser,

2. In an automatic beverage dispensing machine havinga beverage dispensing device, a cabinet with an insulated refrigerated space with a cooling unit and anair circulating fan, a beverage container in the insulated refrigerated space, and a dispensing conduit connecting the dispensing device to the beverage container: the improvement comprising a jacket opening into the refrigerated space and surrounding the dispensing conduit for at least a portion of its length and in spaced relation therewith; and a pipe having an air intake opening in the path of air from the fan and an air discharge opening located within the jacket to create cooling air flow in the space between the pipe and the jacket.

3. In an automatic beverage dispensing machine having a beverage dispensing device and dispensing conduit, a cabinet with an insulated refrigerated space with a cooling unit and an air circulating fan, and a beverage container in the insulated refrigerated space connected to the dispensing conduit: the improvement comprising a jacket opening into the refrigerated space and surrounding the dispensing conduit for at least a portion of its length and in spaced relation therewith; and a pipe having a flared intake opening in the path of air from the fan and an air discharge opening located Within the jacket to create cooling air flow in the space between the pipe and the jacket.

4. In an automatic beverage dispensing machine having a beverage dispensing device and conduit, a cabinet with an insulated refrigerated space with cooling coils and an air circulating fan, and a beverage container in the insulated refrigerated space: the improvement comprising an insulated jacket extending from the refrigerated space to a point adjacent the beverage dispensing device, the jacket opening into the refrigerated space and surrounding the dispensing conduit and in spaced relation therewith; and a pipe with an intake opening in the path of air from the fan and an air discharge opening located within the jacket to create cooling air flow in the space between the pipe and the jacket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 515,740 Braun Mar. 6, 1894 719,846 Neubert et al Feb. 3, 1903 1,989,395 Betz et al. Jan. 29, 1935 2,219,334 Rourke Oct. 29, 1940 2,559,063 Bremer et al. July 3, 1951 2 ,565,084 Parks Aug. 21, 1951 2,744,672 Crist May 8, 1956

Images