Drop-in beverage dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12497282-B2
Application number	US-202318314699-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2023
Priority date	May 11, 2022
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A beverage dispenser includes a plurality of dispensing heads. A cold plates includes a plurality of fluid lines running therethrough. An ice bin is in thermal contact with the cold plate. A carbonator extends vertically from the cold plate with a lower end of the carbonator in thermal contact with the cold plate. A plurality of fluid lines extend from the cold plate to the plurality of dispensing heads.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A beverage dispenser comprising:
an upper portion comprising:
a beverage tower comprising a plurality of dispensing heads; and
a plurality of upper fluid lines extending through the beverage tower to the plurality of dispensing heads;
a lower portion comprising:
a cold plate comprising a plurality of fluid lines running therethrough;
an ice bin in thermal contact with the cold plate;
a carbonator with a lower end of the carbonator in thermal contact with the cold plate and the carbonator extending vertically away from the cold plate;
a plurality of lower fluid lines extending from the cold plate in the direction of the beverage tower;
an enclosure surrounding the carbonator, the plurality of lower fluid lines, and at least portions of the cold plate and ice bin; and
a chase that extends vertically through the upper portion and is laterally centered within the upper portion;
wherein the plurality of lower fluid lines extending from the cold plate comprise first and second fluid line sets to a first lateral side of the chase, and comprise third and fourth fluid line sets to a second lateral side of the chase, and each of the first, second, third, and fourth fluid line sets comprise one line of still water, one line of carbonated water, and at least two lines of syrup; wherein splitters on each line of still water and each line of carbonated water divide each line of still water and each line of carbonated water into sub lines, wherein each dispensing head is connected to a still water sub line and a carbonated water sub line; wherein a still water sub line, a carbonated water sub line, and at least one syrup line from the second fluid line set are diverted into the chase and are connected to a first dispensing head of the plurality of dispensing heads through the chase; wherein a still water sub line, a carbonated water sub line, and at least one syrup line from the third fluid line set are diverted into the chase and are connected to a second dispensing head of the plurality of dispensing heads through the chase; wherein a first still water sub line, a first carbonated water sub line, and a first syrup line from the first fluid line set are connected to a third dispensing head located on the first lateral side and a second still water sub line, a second carbonated water sub line, and a second syrup line from the first fluid line set are connected to a fourth dispensing head located on the first lateral side; and wherein a first still water sub line, a first carbonated water sub line, and a first syrup line from the fourth fluid line set are connected to a fifth dispensing head located on the second lateral side and a second still water sub line, a second carbonated water sub line, and a second syrup line form the second fluid line set are connected to a sixth dispensing head located on the second lateral side.

2 . The beverage dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a first vertical insulation housing, wherein the first group of upper fluid lines extend within the first vertical insulation housing, the first vertical insulation housing being filled with insulation.

3 . A beverage dispenser comprising:
a beverage tower comprising a plurality of dispensing heads, the plurality of dispensing heads comprising first, second, third, and fourth dispensing heads; a cold plate comprising a plurality of fluid lines running therethrough; an ice bin in thermal contact with the cold plate; a carbonator with a lower end of the carbonator in thermal contact with the cold plate and the carbonator extending vertically away from the cold plate; a plurality of lower fluid lines extending from the cold plate in the direction of the beverage tower; a plurality of upper fluid lines respectively coupled to the plurality of lower fluid lines and extending through the beverage tower to the plurality of dispensing heads; a chase that extends vertically to laterally separate the plurality of lower fluid lines into a first group of lower fluid lines and a second group of lower fluid lines, and the chase laterally separates the plurality of upper fluid lines into a first group of upper fluid lines and a second group of upper fluid lines, wherein the first group of lower fluid lines are connected to the first group of upper fluid lines and located to a first lateral side of the chase and the second group of lower fluid lines are connected to the second group of upper fluid lines and located to a second lateral side of the chase; and a first vertical insulation housing, wherein the first group of upper fluid lines extend within the first vertical insulation housing, the first vertical insulation housing being filled with insulation; wherein the first group of upper fluid lines comprise a first fluid line set and a second fluid line set and each of the first fluid line set and the second fluid line set comprises: a still water line having a splitter to divide the still water line into still water sub lines; a carbonated water line having a splitter to divide the carbonated water line into carbonated water sub lines; a first flavoring line; and a second flavoring line; wherein the first fluid line set and the second fluid line set each further comprise a third flavoring line; wherein the still water sub lines of the first fluid line set are fluidly connected to the first and second dispensing heads and the still water sub lines of the second fluid line set are fluidly connected to the third and fourth dispensing heads; wherein the carbonated water sub lines of the first fluid line set are fluidly connected to the first and second dispensing heads and the carbonated water sub lines of the second fluid line set are fluidly connected to the third and fourth dispensing heads; wherein the first flavoring line of the first fluid line set is fluidly connected to the first dispensing head; wherein the second flavoring line of the first fluid line set is fluidly connected to the second dispensing head; wherein the third flavoring line of the first fluid line set is fluidly connected to the third dispensing head; and wherein the first, second, and third flavoring lines of the second fluid line set are fluidly connected to the fourth dispensing head.

4 . The beverage dispenser of claim 2 , further comprising:
a horizontal insulation housing extending from the vertical insulation housing; wherein the plurality of dispensing heads comprises a first, second, third, and fourth dispensing heads; wherein a still water subline and a carbonated water subline of the second fluid line set are connected to the fourth dispenser head through the horizontal insulation housing; and wherein at least one flavoring line of the first flavoring line and the second flavoring line is connected to the fourth dispenser head through the horizonal insulation housing.

5 . The beverage dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the chase terminates at a central junction connected to at least a first dispensing head and a second dispensing head of the plurality of dispensing heads; a first vertical insulation housing, wherein the first group of upper fluid lines extend within the first vertical insulation housing; and a second vertical insulation housing, wherein the second group of upper fluid lines extend within the second vertical insulation housing; wherein a portion of the fluid lines of the first group of upper fluid lines extend out of the first vertical insulation housing and into the central junction to connect to a first dispenser head of the plurality of dispenser heads; and wherein a portion of the fluid lines of the second group of upper fluid lines extend out of the second vertical insulation housing and into the central junction to connect to a second dispenser head of the plur

Assignees

• Marmon Foodservice Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Mastro Brian
• Ravindran Shishirdas Kasaragod
• Coul Chris

Classifications

• B67D2210/00104

  Cooling only · CPC title

• B67D2210/00047

  Piping · CPC title

• B67D2210/00044

  Insulation · CPC title

• B67D1/0066

  outside the carbonator · CPC title

• B67D1/0021

  the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers · CPC title