subject: Bottle Filling Machines In Beverage Production Line [print this page] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a covered water dispensing probe and mechanism for uncovering the probe on insertion of an inverted filling machines into the dispenser;
FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of a covered water dispensing probe and uncovering mechanism;
FIG. 3 is an uncovered but sealed water dispensing probe;
FIG. 4 is an open water dispensing probe; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a closed water bottle and closed water dispensing probe which are automatically opened when joined.
Referring to FIG. 1, the neck of an inverted water bottle 10 is shown being lowered into a bottle guide 11 which is located in the top of the water dispenser. The water bottle usually contains approximately five gallons of water and is made of plastic or glass. An elongated plastic cap 13 covers the open mouth of the water bottle and also has a ridge or bead 15 along the side of the cap which forms a seal with the interior of bottle guide 11. Cap 13 is conventional on water bottles and is usually torn off before the water bottle is inverted and placed into the water dispenser. The opening of the water bottle, however, exposes the fresh water inside the bottle to ambient contaminants, even if only for a short time. It is preferred to leave the bottle closed at all times and to open the bottle in the water dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,188 discloses a cap for a bottled water equipment which has an inwardly turned, recessed portion, extending backwardly into the neck of the bottle, which is closed by a displaceable cap. The device disclosed in this application will function with the aforementioned cap and will also function with a conventional plastic cap.
When the water bottle is inserted, the cap of the water bottle strikes the actuating rod 47 pushing camming surface 59 downwardly against cam surface 61 on cap 63 causing the cover to open. The continued downward motion of the water bottle forces platform 53 and supported tube 69 downwardly until the bottle comes to rest against annular stop 45. Before the bottle reaches stop 45, the sharpened end 19 of probe 17 will cut a flap 81 in cap 13 on the water bottle. In FIG. 1, flap 81 is shown cut before the water bottle reaches probe 17, for clarity. The bottle would normally be closed until probe 17 pierces the cap cutting flap 81. Since probe 19 is sharpened, the edge of the probe is relieved or angled inwardly which causes the probe to cut a hole in cap 13 slightly smaller than the outer diameter of probe 17. This smaller hole in the cap tightly grips the outer surface of probe 17 precluding any air or water leakage.
With the filling machines in place, dispensing valve 29 can be actuated to draw water from the bottle. The water will push open check valve 35 and flow outwardly through spigot 33. Any air needed to relieve the partial vacuum in the bottom of water bottle 10 will flow inwardly through tube 41 and check valve 43 and bubble upwardly through the water to the inverted bottom of the bottle. It can be seen that the system is completely sealed with the exception of the filtered air source. The filter used with the air source can be a single or compound filter designed to protect the water from the specific contaminants in the air surrounding the water dispenser. If biological materials are present, a microfilter can be used. If organic solvents are present, an activated charcoal filter can be used and if dust is present, a coarse paper or filberglass filter can be used. For mixed contaminants, the filter can be assembled with layers of different filter materials to protect the water.
As the water bottle enters bottle guide 11, it forces actuating rod 97 downwardly which, as previously described, causes cover 113 to open. The water bottle continues downwardly until probe 91 displaces the cap from the interior of the water bottle and the bottle comes to rest on the shoulders of bottle guide 11. A guide rod 123 is provided for controlling the motion of tubular member 103 as it is pushed downwardly. A coil spring 125 is positioned about probe 91 and urges the cover assembly upwardly. A flange 127 is attached to the side of tubular member 103 and has an aperture 129 therein for guiding flange 127 upon rod 123. A pin 131 projects through the end of rod 123 and prevents the cover assembly from being pushed beyond the end of probe 91.
Similar check valves and dispensing conduits can be attached to probe 91, as well as a filtered air source 41, to provide an enclosed and sealed water system. The cover of FIG. 2 is similar to the cover of FIG. 1 in that it protects the end of the probe from access to ambient contaminants when a filling machines is not in position.
In FIG. 3, a dispensing system is shown in which the end of the probe is not protected from ambient contaminants while the interior of the probe and the water conduit delivery system is sealed. A bottle guide 11 is again provided for centering an inverted water supply bottle 10 as it is inserted into the water dispenser. A plastic cap 13 closes the end or mouth of the water bottle. Cap 13 has a raised bead 15 for forming a seal against the interior of bottle guide 11. In this figure, as in FIG. 1, the cap of the water bottle is shown as cut while the bottle is separated from the probe. This has been done to facilitate the explanation of the invention. It is obvious that the cutting takes place after the cap is contacted and penetrated by the probe.
When a bottle using cap 181 of FIG. 5 is to be drained, a sealing member (not shown) can be pulled off the end of the collar exposing valve member 187. The bottle can then be inverted and lowered into bottle guide 11 which centers the neck of bottle 10 above tubular member 201. As the bottle descends, valve member 187 in cap 181 and valve member 217 in tubular member 201 are pushed backwardly, opening the fluid passage from the interior of water bottle 10 around the valve members and into tubular member 201 where the water can be distributed in the water dispensing system, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 1. Filtered air is again supplied from a source 41 into the side of tubular member 201. A flap check valve 43 is again used to close the source of filtered air. When water bottle 10 is emptied, it can be raised upwardly out of bottle guide 11 which causes valve member 187 in cap 191 to close the bottled water equipment , protecting the inside from contamination while valve member 217 closes the water dispensing system.
From the above description, it can be seen that a sealed water dispensing system is provided which no longer uses the conventional reservoir for containing water. The water is delivered directly from the water supply bottle to a water dispensing conduit or plumbing inside the water dispenser with the air needed to displace the partial vacuum in the bottom of the water supply bottle being supplied from a filtered source. By using the system of the present invention, the water is substantially protected from all airborne contaminants.
