Other

Imi Cornelius, Inc.

Remcor Products Company

Cornelius, Inc.

The Coca-cola Company

Restaurant Technology Inc.

Thaddeus M Jablonski

Daniel C Leaver

Benjamin D Miller

Kyle B Elsom

Peter F Wolski

Kevin A Brandt

Todd Manisco

Eric Schertz

Robert M Koeneman

David M Joyce

James A Kasallis

Andrew J Tobler

Dusan N Ivancevic

Michael A Zizas

Bryant Crane

Daniel S Quartarone

Paul Anderson Phillips

William A Edwards

David K Njaastad

Franchot Chang

Michael S Meyer

Donald E Wiley, Jr

Frank D Brill

Jeffrey DeBuhr

Ehab Jaleel

Ryan D Schuchart

Alfred A Schroeder

Andrew J Sanguinet

Samuel Durham

Vincenzo DiFatta

E Scott Sevcik

Ronald L Wiley

Peter S Tinucci

Richard Schultz

Albert L Schafer

Richard E Marsh

Richard Logue Laughlin

Bassey E Duke

Doulgas F Marsh

Douglas F Marsh

Michael J Scheurich

David Pham

A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing structure, a transportation mechanism linked with the dispensing structure and a staging structure linked with the transportation mechanism. A control system is linked with the dispensing structure, staging structure and the transportation mechanism. A sensor mechanism is linked with the control system. The sensor mechanism provides signals indicating the position of a cup. A cup identification system having an interactive display is connected to the control system. The display has visual characteristics indicating the position and characteristics of a cup.

Beverage dispensing apparatus

Systems and methods of beverage dispensing include a dispensing unit, at least one diluent source, and at least one flavoring source. An amount of beverage product to dispense is calculated and a beverage product including at least one diluent and at least one flavoring is dispensed. An actual diluent-to-flavoring ratio is calculated based upon at least one value from the sensing unit during the dispense of the beverage product.

Beverage dispensing systems and methods of dispensing beverages from beverage dispensing systems

The cup storage device includes a tube having opposing dispensing and terminal ends and inner and outer surfaces that define an inner volume. The inner volume receives cups stacked upon each other and stores them. The cup storage device includes a plurality of resilient cup restraining members disposed on the inner surface of the tube at the dispensing end. The cup restraining members extend from a mounting end proximate the inner surface of the tube to a contact end. A guide structure is positioned on the inner surface of the tube. The guide structure defines a recess. The contact ends of the plurality of cup restraining members are disposed within the recess.

Cup storage system

A process for dispensing a beverage into a cup comprising the steps of: providing a dispensing structure; providing a transportation mechanism linked with the dispensing structure; providing a staging structure linked with the transportation structure; providing a control system linked with the dispensing structure, staging structure and the transportation mechanism; providing a sensor mechanism linked with the control system, the sensor mechanism providing signals indicating the position of a cup; providing a cup identification system having an interactive display connected to the control system; picking a cup from a storage device and positioning it within a dispensing structure; dispensing ice and a beverage at separate locations within the dispensing structure; transporting the filled beverage to a staging structure; positioning the filled cup in the staging structure; removing the filled cup from the staging structure for sale to a customer wherein the cup identification system and the display outputs visual characteristics indicating the position and characteristics of a cup at every stage of the process.

An improved undercounter ice dispenser is disclosed that has a multiple piece auger made in sections for moving ice from the dispenser bin to its ice chute. The auger ice chute invention includes a sensor to reduce ice jamming and to detect when the ice chute is filled or needs filling and works in conjunction with a paddle on the auger to help make the transition. Proportional size ice quantities may also be selected via an interface and auger control.

Undercounter ice dispenser

An ice dispense system for an ice dispenser is characterized by a chute having an ice receiving upper end in communication with an ice bin outlet passage and an ice dispensing lower end. Beginning with the chute filled with ice and its lower end closed, to dispense a selected quantity of ice, the chute lower end is opened for one of a plurality of different time periods, where each individual time period of the plurality is of a duration to dispense from the chute an associated predetermined quantity of ice. In response to dispensing ice from the chute, an agitator in the bin is operated for one of a plurality of different time periods, where each individual time period of the plurality is of a duration to move through the bin outlet passage and into the upper end of the chute an amount of ice substantially equal to that dispensed. The ice dispensing system is provided with an improved user interface and user programmable features.

Ice dispense system and method

A beverage dispensing system is characterized by a beverage dispenser and a beverage dispensing tower located remote from the beverage dispenser. The beverage dispenser has a cold plate and the tower has a heat exchanger. To deliver chilled beverage components to and for dispensing by the tower, a closed-loop water circulating circuit extends between and includes a fluid chilling circuit of the cold plate and a heat exchange circuit of the heat exchanger. The closed-loop circuit is fluid coupled to a beverage valve of the tower to deliver chilled water to the valve, and a supply of beverage syrup is fluid coupled to the tower valve through a fluid chilling circuit of the heat exchanger for delivery of chilled syrup to the valve for mixing with chilled water in the dispensing of a beverage from the tower valve.

Cold carbonation and cold syrup system for beverage dispenser with remote tower

A beverage dispensing system is characterized by an ice/beverage dispenser and a remote beverage tower. The dispenser has a cold plate, a carbonator pump and a carbonator tank and the tower has a carbonator tank. To chill the tower carbonator tank, a closed loop fluid circuit extends between and heat exchange couples the dispenser cold plate and the tower carbonator tank. The dispenser carbonator pump can be used to circulate water through the closed loop circuit or a carbonator pump for the tower can be used for the purpose. A valve arrangement is provided for and as part of the dispenser cold plate to conveniently enable the dispenser to be switched between stand-alone operation and operation as a base unit for the remote tower. Arrangement is also made to cause ice agitation at the dispenser in response to drinks dispense at the remote tower to maintain a supply on the cold plate.

Cold carbonation system for beverage dispenser with remote tower

A carbonator for a beverage dispenser is characterized by a carbonator tank that is placed at a generally inaccessible first location in the beverage dispenser. Liquid and COare supplied to the tank to carbonate liquid in the tank and carbonated liquid at an outlet from the tank is delivered to a beverage dispensing valve. To control delivery of liquid to the carbonator tank and thereby the level of liquid in the tank, a liquid level sensor is fluid coupled to an interior of the tank and is placed in the beverage dispenser at a generally accessible second location that is remote from the first location and from the tank. Placement of the liquid level sensor remote from the carbonator tank and at an accessible location facilitates its repair and replacement.

Carbonator with remote liquid level sensor

A control system for an icemaker for an ice/beverage dispenser is responsive to both a sensed level of ice in an ice bin of the dispenser and to a customer ice usage profile to operate the icemaker at such times as to build ice for the ice bin just before and in sufficient time and quantity to meet an anticipated demand for ice. The control system may be programmed manually or automatically through use of adaptive algorithms, with ice usage patterns that identify the days and times of day when demands for ice will occur, and the control system then operates the icemaker in accordance with such ice usage patterns.

Control system for icemaker for ice and beverage dispenser

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Pallatine, IL, United States of America

Thaddeus M Jablonski