Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.

Antonio J Jepson

Juha K Salmela

James M Tuyls

Charles E Bennett

Richard A Martindale

John Dewing

Donald A Klotz

Matthew Thomas Straddeck

An apparatus for mixing and distributing sauce is disclosed. The apparatus may include a mixing-pump device coupled a linear arm for distributing sauce over a rotating turntable. The turntable may include an improved gripping device for coupling to a pan. The apparatus may also include a self-expelling concentrated sauce vat which couples to the mixing-pump device. The apparatus may also include a self-expelling concentrated sauce cassette which couples to the mixing-pump device.

Turntable for on-demand mixing and distributing of a food product

A refrigerated liquid dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser has a pump configured for being in fluid communication with a source of a liquid product; a dispensing faucet configured for being in fluid communication with the pump, the dispensing faucet including a cold maintenance device located near the distal end of the dispensing faucet and an insulator device disposed adjacent to the cold maintenance device. The cold maintenance device has a distal end that projects beyond a lower surface of the insulator device. The dispenser also includes a dispensing tower for enclosing the dispensing faucet; and an auxiliary cooling circuit configured to direct cool airflow toward the dispensing faucet, the auxiliary cooling circuit having a passageway that is at least partially located within the dispensing tower and the passageway is configured to deliver cool airflow through the passageway onto the dispensing faucet, to shield the dispensing faucet from ambient temperature, thereby maintaining the dispensing faucet and the passageway at a cool temperature to avoid contamination of the liquid. The dispenser also includes a controller operatively coupled with the pump and the dispensing faucet to control the operation of the refrigerated liquid dispenser.

Refrigerated liquid product dispenser

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a rotary sauce dispensing apparatus for applying a sauce on a receiving surface such as a pizza dough. In one embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing a sauce on a receiving surface comprises a rotating table configured to support and rotate the receiving surface thereon around an axis generally perpendicular to the receiving surface for receiving the sauce. A sauce dispensing member has a dispensing outlet disposed above the rotating table to dispense the sauce on the receiving surface disposed on the rotating table. The sauce dispensing member is movable between an edge position above an outer edge of the receiving surface and a center position above a center of the receiving surface. A controller is coupled with the sauce dispensing member and configured to control a speed of movement of the sauce dispensing member between the edge position and the center position to form a layer of sauce on the receiving surface.

Rotary sauce dispensing apparatus

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a rotary sauce dispensing apparatus for applying a sauce on a receiving surface such as a pizza dough. In one embodiment, an apparatus for producing a flow of a sauce to a dispenser comprises an accumulator including an accumulator chamber with an accumulator inlet to receive and store the sauce and a dispense member configured to dispense the sauce from the accumulator chamber out through an accumulator outlet, and a pump configured to pump the sauce through the accumulator inlet to the accumulator chamber. A diverter valve is coupled with the accumulator and being movable between a closed position to close the accumulator outlet and an open position to open the accumulator outlet. A control member is coupled with the pump, the diverter valve, and the accumulator. The control member is configured to move the diverter valve to the closed position and activate the pump to pump the sauce through the accumulator inlet to the accumulator chamber in a recharge mode, and to move the diverter valve to the open position and drive the dispense member to dispense the sauce from the accumulator chamber out through an accumulator outlet in a dispense mode.

Sauce pumping apparatus

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a rotary sauce dispensing apparatus for applying a sauce on a receiving surface such as a pizza dough. In one embodiment, a system for producing a flow of a sauce to a dispenser comprises a rotating table configured to support and rotate the receiving surface thereon around an axis generally perpendicular to the receiving surface for receiving the sauce, and a sauce dispensing member having a dispensing outlet disposed above the rotating table to dispense the sauce on the receiving surface disposed on the rotating table. The sauce dispensing member is movable between an edge position above an outer edge of the receiving surface and a center position above a center of the receiving surface. A sauce pumping device is configured to deliver a flow of the sauce to the sauce dispensing member. A controller is coupled with the sauce pumping device and configured to control a sauce flow rate of the flow of the sauce to the sauce dispensing member based on a rotational speed of the rotating table and a speed of movement of the sauce dispensing member between the edge position and the center position.

System for pumping and dispensing sauce

A dispensing apparatus includes a chamber cavity having an inlet with an inlet check valve and an outlet with an outlet check valve. The outlet check valve is openable to permit flow substantially only in a direction from the chamber cavity out through the outlet check valve. The inlet check valve is openable to permit flow substantially only in a direction through the inlet check valve into the chamber cavity. A plunger is movable in the chamber. When the plunger is moved from a dispense position to a fill position away from the outlet and inlet check valves, it opens the inlet check valve and closes the outlet check valve and draw fluid through the inlet check valve into the chamber cavity. When the plunger is moved from the fill position to the dispense position toward the outlet and inlet check valves, it closes the inlet check valve and opens the outlet check valve and dispense fluid from the chamber cavity out through the outlet check valve. The outlet check valve is configured to close in a delayed fashion when the plunger moves from the dispense position to the fill position to allow a drawback flow from the outlet into the chamber cavity to prevent leakage and buildup of fluid at the dispensing outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is self-contained, and is operable upon coupling to a BIB fluid source. The apparatus is easy to use and clean, and can be quickly adapted for dispensing another fluid by cleaning the pump channels and changing the BIB. No pump disassembly is required.

Hand-operated syringe pumping system

This invention provides a system and a method of mixing and dispensing a beverage from a beverage concentrate. The flow of the beverage concentrate into a mixing device for mixing water with the beverage concentrate is monitored to detect a low flow situation indicating the need to replace the beverage concentrate supply bag. The system automatically controls the flow of mixed beverage out of the mixing device in response to the detected flow of beverage concentrate. In a specific embodiment, a pressure switch is provided to monitor the pressure of the flow of beverage concentrate into the mixing device. When the pressure sensed by the pressure switch falls below a preset minimum pressure, the pressure switch activates a flow regulating device coupled to the outlet of the mixing device to shut off the flow of beverage from the mixing device. This prevents or minimizes the dispensing of beverages of improper mix ratios from the mixing device. After the beverage concentrate supply bag is replaced, the pressure in the flow of concentrate will build. When the pressure switch senses a pressure that rises to or above the preset minimum pressure, it automatically opens the flow regulating device to the flow of beverage out of the mixing device.

Beverage mixing system

This invention provides a system and a method of mixing and dispensing a beverage from a beverage concentrate. A mixing device receives a beverage concentrate and water, and employs a static mixing device to mix the concentrate and water to produce a beverage in a closed system. Flow regulators precisely control the flows of the beverage concentrate and water to achieve the desired mixing ratio. The carbonation system may include a pump for pumping the beverage from the mixing device to a carbonator, a refrigeration unit, a beverage dispenser, or other. A transformer is coupled with the pump and one or more solenoid valves in the mixing device. The transformer receives power from the pump motor to activate the solenoid valves to allow flow of the beverage out of the mixing device only when the pump is powered. When the pump is shut off, the power to the transformer is terminated and the solenoid valves are switched off to stop the flow of the beverage out of the mixing device. Alternatively, a level sensor is used to sense the liquid level in the carbonator tank. A liquid level control is coupled with the level sensor and with the transformer, and sends a signal to the transformer to activate the solenoid valves to flow beverage into the tank when the level sensor senses a liquid level below a preset minimum level. After the liquid level in the tank reaches a sufficient level, the liquid level control shuts off the transformer to stop the flow of beverage out of the mixing device. A sampling port is provided in a bypass line coupled to the beverage conduit in the mixing device to provide real time monitoring of the beverage for consistency and mixing ratio. The flow regulators can be adjusted in real time to achieve and maintain the desired mixing.

Autofill system with improved automixing

A condiment drawback valve for a condiment dispensing system compensates for run-on from a depressurized pump during deactivation and draws back any hanging condiment left in the dispensing outlet of the system, thereby eliminating drips after the pump is stopped. The condiment drawback valve includes a continuous-flowing condiment channel fluidicly coupled between the pump and the dispensing outlet. A drawback chamber is in continuous fluid communication with the condiment channel. A spring is disposed in the drawback chamber. A piston is coupled with the spring and is movable to change the volume of the drawback chamber. When a flow gas is supplied to the pump to activate the pump during condiment dispensing, a portion of the gas is directed to the piston to push the piston against the biasing force of the spring and reduce the volume of the drawback chamber. When the flow of gas is terminated to deactivate the pump, the spring returns the piston to the rest position, increasing the volume of the drawback chamber and generating a suction to draw the condiment into the drawback chamber.

Passive drawback valve for condiment dispensing

A piston is movable to reciprocate in a chamber. The piston has a transfer check valve which permits condiment flow only in a direction from an inlet side of the chamber to an outlet side of the chamber. The inlet side of the chamber includes an inlet coupled to a condiment source. The outlet side of the chamber includes an outlet with an outlet check valve. When the piston is moved from the outlet side to the inlet side of the chamber, the transfer check valve is open to permit condiment flow from the inlet side to the outlet side of the chamber, and the outlet check valve is closed to accumulate condiment therein. Upon accumulation of a desired amount of condiment in the outlet side of the chamber, the piston is moved from the inlet side to the outlet side of the chamber. During that time, the transfer check valve is closed and the outlet check valve is open to dispense the accumulated condiment in the outlet side of the chamber. At the same time, condiment is flowed into inlet side of the chamber. The amount of condiment transferred to the outlet side of the chamber is determined by the piston stroke, and can be controlled to produce a consistent amount for each cycle of accumulating and dispensing condiment. The cycle is repeated to provide dispensing action with simple portion control. The outlet check valve and transfer check valve may be elastomeric check valves.

Portion control dispensing pump

This invention provides a system and a method of economically and efficiently dispensing frozen beverages within a desired range of consistency in a continuous manner suitable for large-scale high-volume usage. A sensor is used to monitor the level of the beverage in a container for providing the frozen beverage. The beverage is cooled by a cooling device which has a cooling capacity. A flow regulating device is used to regulate the flow rate of the beverage to the container. A controller is coupled with the sensor and the flow regulating device to regulate the flow rate of the beverage in response to the monitored beverage level and the cooling capacity of the cooling device. When properly tuned to match the cooling capacity of the cooling device with the flow rate of the beverage into the container, the controller maintains the desired consistency of the frozen beverage, while automatically refilling the beverage container to within a desired range of levels.

Autofill system for frozen beverages

The invention relates to a condiment dispensing system for dispensing condiment and the like which includes a gas operated pump for moving condiment(s) from a condiment source to a delivery nozzle through a condiment conduit which includes a draw-back valve to prevent condiment buildup on the delivery nozzle. A gas-operated pump is controlled at the delivery nozzle to effect delivery of the condiment.

Condiment dispensing system utilizing a draw-back valve

The invention provides a system and method of dispensing heated condiment from a condiment source. The condiment is flowed through a heater hose, and the temperature of the condiment is controlled within a predetermined range by sensing the temperature of the condiment in the hose and controlling the operation of the heater hose to maintain the temperature of the condiment within the predetermined range which results in the dispensing of condiment at a desired temperature.

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Dixon, CA, United States of America

Antonio J Jepson