The Coca-cola Company

Robert D Hughes, Iv

Lawrence Blair Ziesel

Jonathan Kirschner

Gregg Carpenter

Newton White

Kelly H Sepcic

Arthur G Rudick

William S Credle, Jr

Annis R Morgan, Jr

William J Moore

Gary V Paisley

Charles L Davis

G Merle Bachmann

Kenneth G Smazik

Eddie W King

Jeffrey A Blansit

Walter L Shelton

James Brazell

A method and apparatus for making a composition comprising storing at least one acid in an acid storage container, storing at least one acid-degradable component in a component storage container, and mixing the at least one acid from the acid storage container and the at least one acid-degradable component from the component storage container such that the at least one acid and the at least one acid-degradable component mix together to form the composition. A method and apparatus for providing a selected beverage from a plurality of selectable beverages comprising storing a number of non-sweetener beverage component concentrates separately in a respective number of beverage component storage containers and in response the selection of the selected beverage, automatically dispensing, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, any combination of at least two or more of the number of non-sweetener beverage component concentrates and a diluent.

Methods and apparatuses for making compositions comprising an acid and an acid degradable component and/or compositions comprising a plurality of selectable components

A volume of fluid may be received at the air chamber from a fluid source and dispensed to a nozzle. The fluid source may be in fluid communication with the air chamber. The flow may be reversed to draw the fluid to the air chamber and purge air within the air chamber or the fluid to the atmosphere.

Vacuum side air vent

A pulsation dampener for beverage dispensers and fountain equipment decreases the irregularities in concentrate flow from a single action pump and volumetric dispensing valve combination within a beverage dispenser. The pulsation dampener includes a tube for functionally connecting a pump to a valve, thus providing a flow line between the pump outlet and the valve inlet. The pulsation dampener can also provide a flow line between other beverage equipment functional modules or equipment installed between the pump and the valve. The tube retains and collects concentrate flow from the pump outlet to maintain a minimum fluid pressure on the valve inlet. A retainer around the tube prevents the internal fluid pressure within the tube from exceeding the maximum elongation stress of the tube material. Clamps at each end of the retainer, secure the retainer around the tube. Connectors between the pump and the tube, and between the tube and valve provide a liquid-tight fitting for the pulsation dampener operating in a beverage dispenser or fountain equipment. Material properties of the tube are compatible with the concentrate preventing chemical attack on the tube material. Elastic properties of the tube and the retainer combine to oppose the internal fluid pressure of the concentrate within the tube, thus creating a minimum fluid pressure at the valve inlet.

Pulsation dampener for beverage dispensers and fountain equipment

A post-mix beverage dispensing valve for dispensing syrup and soda in the desired ratio without the need for flow controls for periodic adjustment of the ratio. The valve includes a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the soda and a pump for dispensing metered quantities of syrup. The pump preferably includes a chamber within a ceramic sleeve having first and second distal ends and a double-acting ceramic piston mounted for reciprocating sliding movement within the sleeve. A solenoid valve control system including a pair of solenoid valves controls syrup flow through the pump, in response to signals from the flow meter. The valve preferably also includes a syrup flow regulator. The valve can include a single externally manually adjustable flow rate control to vary the dispensing flow rate to any desired value.

Beverage dispensing value and method

A binary syrup system for beverage dispensing including a pair of syrup containers holding different syrup components, a metering device with two inlets connected one to each container and a single syrup outlet connected to a dispenser. The metering device includes a flow channel therethrough for each component, a diaphragm device for equalizing the pressure in each channel, and a metering orifice downstream from the diaphragm device. This pressure equalization in combination with the metering orifices provides the necessary flow control and a constant predetermined volumetric ratio of the two syrup components when mixed to form the complete syrup.

Binary syrup metering system for beverage dispensing

A carbonator unit for a post-mix beverage dispenser having a carbonator tank immersed in a liquid flotation tank. The carbonator tank floats up and down with changes in the amount of water and head space in the carbonator tank to actuate a switch device mounted externally of the carbonator tank. Actuation of the switch causes a water pump to become operative to supply uncarbonated water to the carbonator tank. When the volume of carbonated water increases to a predetermined amount, the carbonator tank sinks to deactivate the switch.

Buoyant tank carbonator pump control for post-mix beverage apparatus

A motorless carbonator including a single acting pneumatic water pump connected between a carbonator tank and an uncarbonated water supply with the pump having a gas return spring integral therewith. The pump is driven by the carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) fed to the carbonator tank. A CO.sub.2 saving device is coupled between the water pump and the carbonator tank and includes a spring biased diaphragm connected to a piston rod and an O-ring support member which operates to control the venting of CO.sub.2 to the atmosphere so as to reduce the amount of CO.sub.2 required to operate the pump during both a pumping stroke and a return stroke.

Motorless carbonator pump with gas saving device

In a post-mix beverage dispenser in which the concentrate is metered (or portioned) by a positive displacement metering pump having check valves, the improvement of a pressure control device for pressurizing the outlet line from the pump to prevent 'blow-thru' of pressurized concentrate through the check valves of the pump, whereby the dispenser can be inexpensively used with a pressurized concentrate source. In addition, a post-mix beverage dispensing system including such metering pump and pressure control device and also including a pressurized canister holding pliable 5+1 juice concentrate at a temperature below 32.degree. F., and a heater for heating the concentrate in the concentrate line.

Beverage dispenser pump system with pressure control device

Vending machine

A refrigeration system for a chilled-product vending machine including a refrigeration compressor, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature within said vending machine and turning the compressor ON and OFF to define a compressor cycle in response to the detection of predetermined temperature limits, an evaporator coil and evaporator fan means for blowing air across said evaporator coil and circulating said air throughout the vending machine. The system further includes a temperature-based responsive control circuitry including a product sensor for detecting the temperature of the chilled products and cycling said evaporator fan ON in response to detected product temperatures above a predetermined limit, the predetermined limit being less than the temperature required to torn the compressor ON, and a coil sensor for detecting the temperature below a predetermined limit, maintaining said evaporator fan ON during and beyond the end of the compressor cycle, and cycling the evaporator fan OFF when the temperature of the coil stabilizes above the freezing point of water.

Temperature-based control for energy management system

A machine for refunding the deposit on empty containers such as bottles or cans for encouraging their return is disclosed. The machine includes an access door through which an empty container is introduced to an inspection station whereupon an inspection device determines if the empty container is marked with a proper identifying mark unique to that brand of container. The inspection device includes an ultraviolet light source which directs ultraviolet radiation onto an identifying mark on the container and causes fluorescent emmission of a narrow band of light. The radiation detection scheme of the present invention employs at least a pair of photodetectors, one which detects the very narrow band of radiation emitted from the fluorescent identifying mark, and the other which monitors whether or not any adjacent light bands are emitted from the object to a significant degree. The presence of adjacent wavelengths of radiation above a predetermined level would indicate that the container was not authentic and would preclude the refund of any money to the person presenting the incorrect container. If the container is determined to be authentic, then the refund is returned and the container is retained by the machine.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Robert D Hughes, Iv