WO2000027750A1 - Drink dispensing nozzle including an integral seal - Google Patents

Drink dispensing nozzle including an integral seal Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000027750A1
WO2000027750A1 PCT/US1999/026356 US9926356W WO0027750A1 WO 2000027750 A1 WO2000027750 A1 WO 2000027750A1 US 9926356 W US9926356 W US 9926356W WO 0027750 A1 WO0027750 A1 WO 0027750A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
housing
seal
nozzle
dispensing valve
dispensing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/026356
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Craig Cloud
Samuel Durham
Original Assignee
Lancer Partnership, Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lancer Partnership, Ltd. filed Critical Lancer Partnership, Ltd.
Priority to AU17156/00A priority Critical patent/AU1715600A/en
Publication of WO2000027750A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000027750A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/12—Flow or pressure control devices or systems, e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
    • B67D1/1202—Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed
    • B67D1/1234—Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed to determine the total amount
    • B67D1/124—Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed to determine the total amount the flow being started or stopped by means actuated by the vessel to be filled, e.g. by switches, weighing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
    • B67D1/0081—Dispensing valves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0878—Safety, warning or controlling devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D2210/00028—Constructional details
    • B67D2210/00031—Housing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to drink dispensers and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a drink dispensing nozzle including an integral seal.
  • a beverage dispenser includes a dispensing valve 10.
  • a lever 11 activates the dispensing valve 10, which delivers syrup to a syrup outlet 12 and a mixing fluid, such as plain water or carbonated water, to a mixing fluid outlet 13.
  • the syrup outlet 12 and the mixing fluid outlet 13 are concentric annuluses formed integrally as part of the dispensing valve 10.
  • a nozzle 14 attaches to the dispensing valve 10 to mix the syrup and mixing fluid prior to dispensing into a suitable container.
  • the nozzle 14 includes a diffiiser 15 and housing 16.
  • the diffuser 15 resides within the housing 16 and press fits within the annulus defining the syrup outlet 12.
  • An O-ring 17 fits within groove 18 of the diffuser 15 to provide a fluid seal.
  • the diffuser 15 includes a channel therethrough that communicates with the syrup outlet 12 to deliver syrup, via apertures 19, into a mixing chamber defined by the housing 16.
  • the housing 16 includes two tabs 20 and two flanges 21 that serve in securing the housing 16 to the dispensing valve 10. As the housing 16 is positioned around the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 13, a tab 20 fits through a respective notch 22 of the dispensing valve 10. The housing 16 fits over the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 13 and within the dispensing valve 10 until the flanges 21 abut an outer portion of an edge 23 of the dispensing valve 10, whereupon, the housing 16 is rotated such that the tabs 20 engage an inner portion of the edge 23, thereby locking the housing 16 to the dispensing valve 10.
  • the dispensing valve 10 includes an O-ring 24 placed about the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 13.
  • the O-ring 24 is held in place by through an interference fit.
  • the O-ring 24 operates adequately to prevent mixing fluid and syrup leakage, however, the natural tendency for the O-ring 24 over time is to relax its interference fit, which results in the O-ring 24 falling off the annulus dej-ming the mixing fluid outlet 13 when the nozzle 14 is removed.
  • a detached O-ring 24 is either lost or not replaced due to a lack of knowledge where it belongs. Consequently, the nozzle 14 is remounted without the O-ring 24, which causes mixing fluid and syrup leakage, thereby producing a cleaning problem as well as various other problems, such as the shorting of electrical components.
  • a dispensing nozzle in accordance with the present invention, includes a housing with a seal permanently attached at the upper edge of the housing.
  • the seal is formed integrally with and permanently attached at the upper edge of the housing utilizing a two-shot molding process.
  • the nozzle further includes a diffiiser positioned within the housing when the nozzle is mounted on a dispensing valve.
  • a method of preventing leakage from a dispensing nozzle and dispensing valve interface includes the steps of molding a housing of the nozzle, permanently attaching a seal to the housing, and attaching the housing to a dispensing valve.
  • the seal is permanently attached to the housing utilizing a two shot molding process whereby a pliant material is injected into the mold for the housing to form a seal made integral with the housing through a thermal bond created between the housing and the pliant material. It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce a dispensing nozzle that eliminates leakage at a dispensing valve-nozzle interface through the permanent attachment of a seal onto the upper edge of a nozzle housing.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a currently available dispensing valve and dispensing nozzle.
  • Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view illustrating a currently available dispensing valve.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a dispensing valve and dispensing nozzle according to the preferred embodiment.
  • Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating a dispensing valve according to the preferred embodiment.
  • a beverage dispenser includes a dispensing valve
  • a lever 31 activates the dispensing valve 30, which delivers syrup to a syrup outlet
  • mixing fluid outlet 32 a mixing fluid outlet
  • the syrup outlet 32 and the mixing fluid outlet 33 are concentric annuluses formed integrally as part of the dispensing valve 30.
  • a nozzle 34 attaches to the dispensing valve 30 to mix the syrup and mixing fluid prior to dispensing into a suitable container.
  • the nozzle 34 includes a diffuser 35 and housing 36.
  • the diffuser 35 resides within the housing 36 and press fits within the annulus defining the syrup outlet 32.
  • An O-ring 37 fits within groove 38 of the diffuser 35 to provide a fluid seal.
  • the diffiiser 35 includes a channel therethrough that communicates with the syrup outlet 32 to deliver syrup, via apertures 39, into a mixing chamber defined by the housing 36.
  • the housing 36 includes two tabs 40 and two flanges 41 that serve in securing the housing 36 to the dispensing valve 30.
  • a tab 40 fits through a respective notch 42 of the dispensing valve 30.
  • the housing 36 fits over the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 33 and within the dispensing valve 30 until the flanges 41 abut an outer portion of an edge 43 of the dispensing valve 30, whereupon, the housing 36 is rotated such that the tabs 40 engage an inner portion of the edge 43, thereby locking the housing 36 to the dispensing valve 30.
  • the housing 36 includes a seal 44 formed integrally with and therefore permanently attached to its upper edge 45.
  • the seal 44 is molded to the upper edge 45 of the housing 36 utilizing known molding processes, such as a two-shot molding process.
  • the housing 36 is first molded from a suitable material, such as a plastic and preferably polypropylene.
  • a suitably pliant material such as a thermoplastic elastomer and preferably santoprene, is then injected onto the upper edge 45 while the housing 36 is still in the mold.
  • the material forming the housing 36 and the material fo ⁇ ning the seal 44 are hot, which creates a thermal bond therebetween that integrally and permanently attaches the seal 44 to the upper edge 45 of the housing 36.
  • the seal 44 cannot be misplaced, which prevents mixing fluid and syrup leakage from the dispensing valve 30 and other various problems, such as the shorting of electrical components.
  • the seal 44 has been described as being thermally bonded to the upper edge

Abstract

A dispensing nozzle (14) includes a diffuser (35) and a housing (16) with a seal (21) permanently attached at the upper edge of the housing (16). The seal (21) is formed integrally with and permanently attached at the upper edge of the housing (16) utilizing a two-shot molding process, wherein a pliant material is injected into the mold for the housing (16) to form a seal (21) made integral with the housing through a thermal bond created between the housing (16) and the pliant material.

Description

DRINK DISPENSING NOZZLE INCLUDING AN INTEGRAL SEAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drink dispensers and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a drink dispensing nozzle including an integral seal.
2. Description of the Related Art
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a beverage dispenser includes a dispensing valve 10. A lever 11 activates the dispensing valve 10, which delivers syrup to a syrup outlet 12 and a mixing fluid, such as plain water or carbonated water, to a mixing fluid outlet 13. The syrup outlet 12 and the mixing fluid outlet 13 are concentric annuluses formed integrally as part of the dispensing valve 10.
A nozzle 14 attaches to the dispensing valve 10 to mix the syrup and mixing fluid prior to dispensing into a suitable container. The nozzle 14 includes a diffiiser 15 and housing 16. The diffuser 15 resides within the housing 16 and press fits within the annulus defining the syrup outlet 12. An O-ring 17 fits within groove 18 of the diffuser 15 to provide a fluid seal. The diffuser 15 includes a channel therethrough that communicates with the syrup outlet 12 to deliver syrup, via apertures 19, into a mixing chamber defined by the housing 16.
The housing 16 includes two tabs 20 and two flanges 21 that serve in securing the housing 16 to the dispensing valve 10. As the housing 16 is positioned around the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 13, a tab 20 fits through a respective notch 22 of the dispensing valve 10. The housing 16 fits over the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 13 and within the dispensing valve 10 until the flanges 21 abut an outer portion of an edge 23 of the dispensing valve 10, whereupon, the housing 16 is rotated such that the tabs 20 engage an inner portion of the edge 23, thereby locking the housing 16 to the dispensing valve 10.
The dispensing valve 10 includes an O-ring 24 placed about the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 13. The O-ring 24 is held in place by through an interference fit. As the housing 16 fits around the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 13, its upper edge 25 engages and then compresses the O-ring 24, which forms a seal to prevent mixing fluid and syrup leakage while the housing 16 is mounted on the dispensing valve When in place, the O-ring 24 operates adequately to prevent mixing fluid and syrup leakage, however, the natural tendency for the O-ring 24 over time is to relax its interference fit, which results in the O-ring 24 falling off the annulus dej-ming the mixing fluid outlet 13 when the nozzle 14 is removed. A detached O-ring 24 is either lost or not replaced due to a lack of knowledge where it belongs. Consequently, the nozzle 14 is remounted without the O-ring 24, which causes mixing fluid and syrup leakage, thereby producing a cleaning problem as well as various other problems, such as the shorting of electrical components.
Accordingly, a dispensing valve and nozzle design that eliminates the necessity of and O-ring and its subsequent loss will improve over currently available dispensing valves and nozzles. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a dispensing nozzle includes a housing with a seal permanently attached at the upper edge of the housing. The seal is formed integrally with and permanently attached at the upper edge of the housing utilizing a two-shot molding process. The nozzle further includes a diffiiser positioned within the housing when the nozzle is mounted on a dispensing valve.
A method of preventing leakage from a dispensing nozzle and dispensing valve interface includes the steps of molding a housing of the nozzle, permanently attaching a seal to the housing, and attaching the housing to a dispensing valve. The seal is permanently attached to the housing utilizing a two shot molding process whereby a pliant material is injected into the mold for the housing to form a seal made integral with the housing through a thermal bond created between the housing and the pliant material. It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce a dispensing nozzle that eliminates leakage at a dispensing valve-nozzle interface through the permanent attachment of a seal onto the upper edge of a nozzle housing.
Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the following. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a currently available dispensing valve and dispensing nozzle.
Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view illustrating a currently available dispensing valve. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a dispensing valve and dispensing nozzle according to the preferred embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating a dispensing valve according to the preferred embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFEREED EMBODIMENT
As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a beverage dispenser includes a dispensing valve
30. A lever 31 activates the dispensing valve 30, which delivers syrup to a syrup outlet
32 and a mixing fluid, such as plain water or carbonated water, to a mixing fluid outlet
33. The syrup outlet 32 and the mixing fluid outlet 33 are concentric annuluses formed integrally as part of the dispensing valve 30.
A nozzle 34 attaches to the dispensing valve 30 to mix the syrup and mixing fluid prior to dispensing into a suitable container. The nozzle 34 includes a diffuser 35 and housing 36. The diffuser 35 resides within the housing 36 and press fits within the annulus defining the syrup outlet 32. An O-ring 37 fits within groove 38 of the diffuser 35 to provide a fluid seal. The diffiiser 35 includes a channel therethrough that communicates with the syrup outlet 32 to deliver syrup, via apertures 39, into a mixing chamber defined by the housing 36.
The housing 36 includes two tabs 40 and two flanges 41 that serve in securing the housing 36 to the dispensing valve 30. As the housing 36 is positioned around the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 33, a tab 40 fits through a respective notch 42 of the dispensing valve 30. The housing 36 fits over the annulus defining the mixing fluid outlet 33 and within the dispensing valve 30 until the flanges 41 abut an outer portion of an edge 43 of the dispensing valve 30, whereupon, the housing 36 is rotated such that the tabs 40 engage an inner portion of the edge 43, thereby locking the housing 36 to the dispensing valve 30.
The housing 36 includes a seal 44 formed integrally with and therefore permanently attached to its upper edge 45. The seal 44 is molded to the upper edge 45 of the housing 36 utilizing known molding processes, such as a two-shot molding process. The housing 36 is first molded from a suitable material, such as a plastic and preferably polypropylene. A suitably pliant material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer and preferably santoprene, is then injected onto the upper edge 45 while the housing 36 is still in the mold. The material forming the housing 36 and the material foπning the seal 44 are hot, which creates a thermal bond therebetween that integrally and permanently attaches the seal 44 to the upper edge 45 of the housing 36.
The integral and permanent attachment of the seal 44 to the upper edge 45 of the housing 36 of the nozzle 30 improves over currently available nozzles because the seal
44 cannot be misplaced, which prevents mixing fluid and syrup leakage from the dispensing valve 30 and other various problems, such as the shorting of electrical components. The seal 44 has been described as being thermally bonded to the upper edge
45 of the housing 36 because that is currently the most effective attachment method, however, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the seal 44 does not have to be formed integrally as part of the housing 36 and that other attachment methods may be used.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoing embodiment, such description has been for exemplary purposes only and, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degrees will fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoing description, rather, it is defined only by the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:
1. A dispensing nozzle, comprising a housing including a seal permanently attached at the upper edge of the housing.
2. The nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the seal is formed integrally with the upper edge of the housing.
3. The nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the seal is attached utilizing a two-shot molding process.
4. The nozzle according to claim 1 further comprising a diffuser.
5. A method of preventing leakage from a dispensing nozzle and dispensing valve interface, comprising the steps of: molding a housing of the nozzle; permanently attaching a seal to the housing; and attaching the housing to a dispensing valve.
6. The method of preventing leakage from a dispensing nozzle and dispensing valve interface, wherein the step of permanently attaching a seal to the housing comprises the step of injecting a pliant material into the mold for the housing to form a seal made integral with the housing through a thermal bond created between the housing and the pliant material.
PCT/US1999/026356 1998-11-09 1999-11-08 Drink dispensing nozzle including an integral seal WO2000027750A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU17156/00A AU1715600A (en) 1998-11-09 1999-11-08 Drink dispensing nozzle including an integral seal

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US18906198A 1998-11-09 1998-11-09
US09/189,061 1998-11-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000027750A1 true WO2000027750A1 (en) 2000-05-18

Family

ID=22695755

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/026356 WO2000027750A1 (en) 1998-11-09 1999-11-08 Drink dispensing nozzle including an integral seal

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1715600A (en)
WO (1) WO2000027750A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4113145A (en) * 1973-03-08 1978-09-12 Philip Meshberg Dispensing unit for liquid and method of dispensing
US5377873A (en) * 1994-04-08 1995-01-03 Sunbeam Plastics Corporation Dispensing closure
US5595314A (en) * 1994-06-02 1997-01-21 Automatic Liquid Packaging, Inc. Torque-resistant closure for a hermetically sealed container
US5873492A (en) * 1997-01-28 1999-02-23 Coltene/Whaledent, Inc. Dispensing bag for dynamic mixer

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4113145A (en) * 1973-03-08 1978-09-12 Philip Meshberg Dispensing unit for liquid and method of dispensing
US5377873A (en) * 1994-04-08 1995-01-03 Sunbeam Plastics Corporation Dispensing closure
US5595314A (en) * 1994-06-02 1997-01-21 Automatic Liquid Packaging, Inc. Torque-resistant closure for a hermetically sealed container
US5873492A (en) * 1997-01-28 1999-02-23 Coltene/Whaledent, Inc. Dispensing bag for dynamic mixer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1715600A (en) 2000-05-29

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