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Title: Drink dispensing
Claims: Claims:
What is claimed is: 1. Drink dispensing apparatus comprising a container for holding a supply of a particulate drink ingredient adapted to be mixed with water to constitute a drink, said container having an outlet, means for dispensing a charge of the particulate drink ingredient from the container through the outlet for the mixing of a drink, a mixing and delivery system for receiving the charge of the drink ingredient disposed from the container and a charge of water, mixing the two and delivering the resultant drink into a cup, said system comprising a blender, and means for supplying said charge of water for mixing with said charge of the drink ingredient in the blender, said blender having means for mixing said charges while holding them in the blender and having an outlet for flow of the resultant mixture out of the blender and into a cup after mixing has been completed, the outlet of the blender being a constantly open outlet, said mixing means comprising an impeller rotatable in the blender for mixing the drink ingredient and the water adapted when in operation to impel the water away from the blender outlet thereby to hold the drink ingredient and the water in the blender for the mixing thereof without closing the blender outlet, the blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller having blades for impelling the water away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the chamber, the mixing chamber being of non-circular shape in transverse section with certain portions of its interior periphery disposed closely adjacent to the surface of revolution defined by the rotating impeller, and other portions of its interior periphery spaced radially outwardly of the surface of revolution so as to provide spaces between the interior periphery of the mixing chamber and the surface of revolution enabling water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink. 2. Drink dispensing apparatus comprising a container for holding a supply of a particulate drink ingredient adapted to be mixed with water to constitute a drink, said container having an outlet, means for dispensing a charge of the particulate drink ingredient from the container through the outlet for the mixing of a drink, a mixing and delivery system for receiving the charge of the drink ingredient dispensed from the container and a charge of water, mixing the two and delivering the resultant drink into a cup, said system comprising a blender, and means for supplying said charge of water for mixing with said charge of the drink ingredient in the blender, said blender having means for mixing said charges while holding them in the blender and having an outlet for flow of the resultant mixture out of the blender and into a cup after mixing has been completed, the outlet of the blender being a constantly open outlet, said mixing means comprising an impeller rotatable in the blender for mixing the drink ingredient and the water adapted when in operation to impel the water away from the blender outlet thereby to hold the drink ingredient and the water in the blender for the mixing thereof without closing the blender outlet, the blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller having blades for impelling the water away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the chamber, the mixing chamber being polygonal in transverse section so that spaces are provided between the surface of revolution defined by the rotating impeller and the interior periphery of the mixing chamber to enable water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, said spaces being at the corners of the polygonal transverse section, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink. 3. Drink dispensing apparatus comprising a container for holding a supply of a particulate drink ingredient adapted to be mixed with water to constitute a drink, said container having an outlet, means for dispensing a charge of the particulate drink ingredient from the container through the outlet for the mixing of a drink, a mixing and delivery system for receiving the charge of the drink ingredient dispensed from the container and a charge of water, mixing the two and delivering the resultant drink into a cup, said system comprising a blender, and means for supplying said charge of water for mixing with said charge of the drink ingredient in the blender, said blender having means for mixing said charges while holding them in the blender and having an outlet for flow of the resultant mixture out of the blender and into a cup after mixing has been completed, and a system for delivering a quantity of water to the mixing and delivery system for rinsing it, the outlet of the blender being a constantly open outlet, the blender having an impeller rotatable therein for mixing the drink ingredient and the water adapted when in operation to impel the water away from the blender outlet thereby to hold the drink ingredient and the water in the blender for the mixing thereof without closing the blender outlet, the blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller being rotatable therein and having blades for impelling the water away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the chamber, the mixing chamber being of non-circular shape in transverse section with certain portions of its interior periphery disposed closely adjacent to the surface of revolution of the impelleer, and other portions of its interior periphery spaced radially outwardly of the surface of revolution so as to provide spaces between the interior periphery of the mixing chamber and the surface of revolution enabling water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink. 4. Drink dispensing apparatus comprising a container for holding a supply of a particulate drink ingredient adapted to be mixed with water to constitute a drink, said container having an outlet, means for dispensing a charge of the particulate drink ingredient from the container through the outlet for the mixing of a drink, a mixing and delivery system for receiving the charge of the drink ingredient dispensed from the container and a charge of water, mixing the two and delivering the resultant drink into a cup, said system comprising a blender, and means for supplying said charge of water for mixing with said charge of the drink ingredient in the blender, said blender having means for mixing said charges while holding them in the blender and having an outlet for flow of the resultant mixture out of the blender and into a cup after mixing has been completed, and a system for delivering a quantity of water to the mixing and delivery system for rinsing it, the outlet of the blender being a constantly open outlet, the blender having an impeller rotatable therein for mixing the drink ingredient and the water adapted when in operation to impel the water away from the blender outlet thereby to hold the drink ingredient and the water in the blender for the mixing thereof without closing the blender outlet, the blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller being rotatable therein and having blades for impelling the water away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the chamber, the mixing chamber being polygonal in transverse section so that spaces are provided between the surface of revolution defined by the rotating impeller and the interior periphery of the mixing chamber to enable water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, said spaces being at the corners of the polygonal transverse section, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink. 5. Drink dispensing apparatus comprising a container for holding a supply of a particulate drink ingredient adapted to be mixed with water to constitute a drink, said container having an outlet, means for dispensing a charge of the particulate drink ingredient from the container through the outlet for the mixing of a drink, a mixing and delivery system for receiving the charge of the drink ingredient dispensed from the container and a charge of water, mixing the two and delivering the resultant drink into a cup, said system comprising a blender, and means for supplying said charge of water for mixing with said charge of the drink ingredient in the blender, said blender having means for mixing said charges while holding them in the blender and having an outlet for flow of the resultant mixture out of the blender and into a cup after mixing has been completed, a closure for the outlet of said container to exclude air from entering the container through the outlet, and means for opening the closure upon operation of the dispensing means for the dispensing of the drink ingredient, said means for dispensing the charge of the drink ingredient from the container for the mixing of a drink comprising an auger rotatable in the container and extending to the outlet of the container and an electric motor for driving the auger, the means for opening the closure comprising an armature magnetically attractable to the motor by the magnetic field established by the motor when the motor is energized to drive the auger, the armature being biased to a retracted position relative to the field of the motor when the motor is deenergized and the armature is thereby demagnetized, the closure being controlled by the armature for movement from its closed to its open position when the motor is energized and the armature is thereby attracted to the motor, and for movement to this closed position when the motor is deenergized and the armature is thereupon returned to its retracted position. 6. Drink dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising means detachably coupling the motor to the auger and means detachably connecting the closure and the armature, whereby the container may be removed. 7. A dispenser for a particulate product comprising a container for holding a supply of the product, said container having an outlet, means for dispensing product from the container through the outlet comprising an auger rotatable in the container and extending to the outlet and an electric motor for driving the auger, a closure for the outlet to exclude moisture from entering the container through the outlet, and means for opening the closure upon operation of the motor comprising an armature magnetically attractable to the motor by the magnetic field established by the motor when the motor is energized to drive the auger, the armature being biased to a retracted position relative to the field of the motor when the motor is deenergized and the armature is thereby demagnetized, the closure being controlled by the armature for movement to its closed position when the motor is deenergized and the armature is thereupon biased to its retracted position. 8. Apparatus for dispensing a particulate product comprising a support, a container for holding a supply of the product, said container having an outlet, the container being removably mounted on the support, an auger rotatable in the container and extending to the outlet for dispensing the product from the container, an electric motor carried by the support for driving the auger, means for detachable coupling the auger to the motor when the container is mounted on the support, said coupling means being disengageable for removal of the container, closure means for the outlet of the container to exclude air from entering the container through the outlet, said closure means being carried by the container and removable with the container, and means for opening the closure upon operation of the motor comprising an armature a portion of which is magnetically attractable to the motor by the magnetic field established by the motor when the motor is energized to drive the auger, said armature being pivotally mounted on the support for rocking movement and being biased to a retracted position relative to the field of the motor when the motor is deenergized and the armature is thereby demagnetized, the closure being controlled by the armature for movement between a closed position when the motor is deenergized and the armature is thereupon biased to its retracted position and an open position when the motor is energized and the armature is thereupon pivoted away from its retracted position. 9. A blender comprising a receptacle having a bottom outlet and an impeller rotatable in the blender formed to impel liquid in the blender away from the outlet when the impeller is in operation, thereby to hold liquid for a drink in the blender without closing the outlet, the liquid draining out through the outlet when the impeller stops, said blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller having blades for impelling the liquid away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber being of non-circular shape in transverse section with certain portions of its interior periphery disposed closely adjacent to the surface of revolution defined by the rotating impeller, and other portions of its interior periphery spaced radially outwardly of the surface of revolution so as to provide spaces between the interior periphery of the mixing chamber and the surface of revolution enabling the water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink. 10. A blender comprising a receptacle having a bottom outlet and an impeller rotatable in the blender formed to impel liquid in the blender away from the outlet when the impeller is in operation, thereby to hold liquid in the blender without closing the outlet, the liquid draining out through the outlet when the impeller stops, said blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller having blades for impelling the liquid away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber being polygonal in transverse section so that spaces are provided between the surface of revolution defined by the rotating impeller and the interior periphery of the mixing chamber to enable the water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, said spaces being at the corners of the polygonal transverse section, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink. 11. Drink dispensing apparatus comprising a container for holding a supply of a particulate drink ingredient adapted to be mixed with water to constitute a drink, said container having an outlet, means for dispensing a charge of the particulate drink ingredient from the container through the outlet for the mixing of a drink, a mixing and delivery system for receiving the charge of the drink ingredient dispensed from the container and a charge of water, mixing the two and delivering the resultant drink into a cup, said system comprising a blender, and means for supplying said charge of water for mixing with said charge of the drink ingredient in the blender, said blender having means for mixing said charges while holding them in the blender and having an outlet for flow of the resultant mixture out of the blender and into a cup after mixing has been completed, the outlet of the blender being a constantly open outlet, said mixing means comprising an impeller rotatable in the blender for mixing the drink ingredient and the water adapted when in operation to impel the water away from the blender outlet thereby to hold the drink ingredient and the water in the blender for the mixing thereof without closing the blender outlet, the blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller having blades for impelling the water away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the chamber, the mixing chamber being of such shape in transverse section that spaces are provided between the surface of revolution defined by the rotating impeller and the interior periphery of the mixing chamber to enable water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink, the axis of the blender being generally vertical, the outlet of the blender being at the bottom thereof, said impeller comprising a hub extending along the axis of the blender, the impeller blades extending radially from the hub, each blade having an upper portion inclined upwardly in the direction of rotation of the impeller, a flange at the top of the upper portion extending in the direction of rotation, and a lower portion inclined downwardly in the direction of the rotation of the impeller. 12. Drink dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said blender has a conical bottom tapering to said opening, said impeller blades each having an upwardly inclined lower edge extending generally parallel to a generatrix of the surface of the conical bottom, thereby enabling the impeller to be spaced closely adjacent the bottom of the blender. 13. Drink dispensing apparatus comprising a container for holding a supply of a particulate drink ingredient adapted to be mixed with water to constitute a drink, said container having an outlet, means for dispensing a charge of the particulate drink ingredient from the container through the outlet for the mixing of a drink, a mixing and delivery system for receiving the charge of the drink ingredient dispensed from the container and a charge of water, mixing the two and delivering the resultant drink into a cup, said system comprising a blender, and means for supplying said charge of water for mixing with said charge of the drink ingredient in the blender, said blender having means for mixing said charges while holding them in the blender and having an outlet for flow of the resultant mixture out of the blender and into a cup after mixing has been completed, and a system for delivering a quantity of water to the mixing and delivery system for rinsing it, the outlet of the blender being a constantly open outlet, the blender having an impeller rotatable therein for mixing the drink ingredient and the water adapted when in operation to impel the water away from the blender outlet thereby to hold the drink ingredient and the water in the blender for the mixing thereof without closing the blender outlet, the blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller being rotatable therein and having blades for impelling the water away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the chamber, the mixing chamber being of such shape in transverse section that spaces are provided between the surface of revolution defined by the rotating impeller and the interior periphery of the mixing chamber to enable water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink, the axis of the blender being generally vertical, the outlet of the blender being at the bottom thereof, said impeller comprising a hub extending along the axis of the blender, the impeller blades extending radially from the hub, each blade having an upper portion inclined upwardly in the direction of rotation of the impeller, a flange at the top of the upper portion extending in the direction of rotation, and a lower portion inclined downwardly in the direction of the rotation of the impeller. 14. Drink dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said blender has a conical bottom tapering to said opening, said impeller blades each having an upwardly inclined lower edge extending generally parallel to a generatrix of the surface of the conical bottom, thereby enabling the impeller to be spaced closely adjacent the bottom of the blender. 15. A blender comprising a receptacle having a bottom outlet and an impeller rotatable in the blender formed to impel liquid in the blender away from the outlet when the impeller is in operation, thereby to hold liquid for a drink in the blender without closing the outlet, the liquid draining out through the outlet when the impeller stops, said blender defining a mixing chamber, the impeller having blades for impelling the liquid away from the outlet and around the interior periphery of the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber being of such shape in transverse section that spaces are provided between the surface of revolution of the rotating impeller and the interior periphery of the mixing chamber to enable the water to flow back toward the blender outlet after it has been impelled away from the blender outlet, the impeller and said spaces thereby enabling the water to be circulated within the mixing chamber during the mixing of the drink, the axis of the said blender being generally vertical, the outlet of the blender being at the bottom thereof, said impeller comprising a hub extending along the axis of the blender, the impeller blades extending radially from the hub, each blade having an upper portion inclined upwardly in the direction of rotation of the impeller, a flange at the top of the upper portion extending in the direction of rotation, and a lower portion inclined downwardly in the direction of the rotation of the impeller. 16. A blender as set forth in claim 15 wherein said blender has a conical bottom tapering to said opening, said impeller blades each having an upwardly inclined lower edge extending generally parallel to a generatrix of the surface of the conical bottom, thereby enabling the impeller to be spaced closely adjacent the bottom of the blender. Other info: Inventors: Pryor, Harry H. (Crestwood, MO) Schinker, James J. (Hazelwood, MO) Application Number: 06/095209 Filing Date: 1979-11-19 Publication_date: 1982-04-13 Assignee: Umc, Ind Primary Class(es): 366/156.100 222/129.300, 366/138, 366/196, 366/192, 222/1 Other Classes: A47J31/40; A47J31/41; B01F15/02; B67D3/00; B67D5/56; B01F15/02 US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Scherbel, David A. Assistant Examiner: Wacyra, Edward M. Attorney: Senniger, Powers Leavitt And Roedel Claims:
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