Automated cleaning system for beverage dispensing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10822219-B2
Application number	US-201816479472-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2018
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that include providing a beverage dispensing machine with a cleaning system comprising a first water branch and a second water branch connected in fluid communication with a three-way valve, a cleaning supply connected in fluid communication with the second water branch via a pump, and a nozzle. The three-way valve may be operated in a “dispensing mode” to provide a flow of at least one of water and carbonated water through the first water branch and a flowpath of the three-way valve to the nozzle, and operated in a “cleaning mode” to provide a flow of a cleaner, and optionally a flow of at least one of water and carbonated water, through the second water branch and a secondary flowpath of the three-way valve to the nozzle to clean the nozzle and/or a drain of the beverage dispensing machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automated cleaning system for a beverage dispensing machine, comprising:
a first water branch;
a second water branch comprising a check valve, each branch connected in fluid communication with a three-way valve;
a cleaning supply connected to the second water branch downstream from the check valve via a pump; and
a nozzle;
wherein the three-way valve is configured to operate in a first mode to prevent a flow of a cleaner from the cleaning supply through the second water branch and allow a flow of a fluid through the first water branch and the three-way valve to the nozzle and operate in a second mode to allow a flow of a cleaner from the cleaning supply through the second water branch and the three-way valve to the nozzle.

2. The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the second mode is initiated as a result of a schedule stored in a system controller schedule.

3. The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the second mode is initiated manually.

4. The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the cleaner is injected into the second water branch absent a flow of at least one of water or carbonated water flowing through the second water branch.

5. The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the cleaner is injected into the second water branch simultaneously with a flow of at least one of water or carbonated water flowing through the second water branch.

6. The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein a flow of at least one of water or carbonated water through the second water branch is initiated prior to beginning the flow of the cleaner through the second water branch.

7. The automated cleaning system of claim 6 , wherein the flow of the cleaner into the second water branch begins at a predetermined pre-flush time period after the flow of at least one of water or carbonated water is initiated.

8. The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein a flow of at least one of water or carbonated water through the second water branch continues after the flow of the cleaner through the second water branch is ceased.

9. The automated cleaning system of claim 8 , wherein the flow of at least one of water or carbonated water through the second water branch is configured to purge residual cleaner from the nozzle.

10. The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the cleaner is injected into the second water branch for a predetermined time period.

11. The automated cleaning system of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined time period comprises at least about 2 minutes.

12. An automated cleaning system for a beverage dispensing machine, comprising:
a water branch coupled to a nozzle; and
a cleaning supply coupled to a pump;
wherein the beverage dispensing machine is configured to operate in a first mode to allow a flow of a fluid through the water branch to the nozzle and operate in a second mode to allow a flow of a cleaner from the cleaning supply through the nozzle, wherein the first mode is a “dispensing mode” and the second mode is a “cleaning mode,” and wherein the “cleaning mode” is initiated according to a cleaner drink recipe, wherein the cleaning supply is connected to the water branch upstream of the nozzle via a check valve, and wherein the check valve prevents the flow of the cleaner to the water branch for drink recipes other than the cleaner drink recipe when the beverage dispensing machine is operating in the dispensing mode.

13. The automated cleaning system of claim 12 , wherein the fluid is at least one of water or carbonated water.

14. The automated cleaning system of claim 12 , wherein the flow of the cleaner is configured to clean at least one of the nozzle or a drain of the beverage dispensing machine.

15. The automated cleaning system of claim 12 , wherein the cleaner comprises at least one of iodine or chlorine, and wherein the flow of the cleaner is delivered to at least one of the nozzle or the water branch simultaneously with the flow of the fluid through the water branch.

16. The automated cleaning system of claim 12 , wherein the cleaner comprises an enzyme, and wherein the flow of the cleaner is delivered to at least one of the nozzle or the water branch without the flow of the fluid through the water branch.

17. An automated cleaning system for a beverage dispensing machine, comprising:
a cleaning supply for dispensing a cleaner;
a pump coupled to the cleaning supply; and
a supply line coupled to at least one drain line;
wherein the pump is controlled by a controller to deliver the cleaner from the cleaning supply to the at least one drain line;
a water branch coupled to a nozzle;
a second cleaning supply for dispensing a second cleaner;
a second pump coupled to the second cleaning supply; and
a second supply line coupled to the water branch upstream of the nozzle;
wherein the second pump is controlled by a second controller to deliver the second cleaner from the second cleaning supply to the nozzle.

Assignees

• Coca Cola Co

Inventors

• Katz Marc
• Rudick Arthur G
• Orr Samuel L
• Kaplita Stan C
• Sanders James Alan
• Moore William J
• Bozung Lindsey Jane
• Welch Dick P
• Wilson Jamal Omari

Classifications

• B67D2001/0812

  Bottles, cartridges or similar containers · CPC title

• B67D1/0078

  Ingredient cartridges · CPC title

• B08B9/0325 Primary

  Control mechanisms therefor · CPC title

• B67D2001/075

  Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus · CPC title

• B67D1/07 Primary

  Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus {(B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence)} · CPC title