This invention relates to dispense valves in general and in particular to a dispense valve for use in a beverage dispensing or beverage vending machine.

U.K. Patent No. 1591803 describes a dispense valve for use in a vending machine which comprises a valve body, a dispense channel in the valve body, a valve member and a valve accommodating bore in the body opening into the dispense channel. The valve is movable in a bore between a closed position which obturates the dispense channel and an open position. In an embodiment described in specification of U.K. Patent No. 1591803 the valve member is made of a ferromagnetic material and is movable by an electromagnetic field provided by a coil, separate from the valve, in the body of the vending machine. In operation the valve is fitted to, or integral with, the neck of a container of powder such as powdered coffee. To dispense powder, the ferromagnetic valve member is caused to reciprocate under the influence of the magnetic field of the coil which is driven by an AC 50 Hertz wave form modified to approximately half

wave form by diode clipping. The valve member reciprocates and beats against the valve body and the vibration transmits tremors through the beverage powder to be dispensed. Powder falls through the dispensing channel through a nozzle, under the action of gravity: the vibrations caused by the reciprocation of the valve member prevent the powder accumulating in the dispensing channel. ^"

Dispense valves of this type have the disadvantage that when the valve member beats against the valve body during dispensing a considerable noise is generated.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispense valve for dispensing particulate material and comprising:- a valve member; a valve body incorporating a dispense passage for ingredients; and valve guide means for said valve member, whereby, in a datum position, the valve member obturates said passage, characterised in that the valve member is capable of oscillation within said

guide means to allow dispensing of said particulate ingredients, and in that said guide means is closed at an end remote from said datum position y an impact plate which is adapted to be struck by said member during oscillation to impart vibrations to the particulate material to assist dispensing thereof, the material of said impact plate and/or the material of the member being selected such that the sound generated by. the member striking the impact plate is reduced without substantially reducing the efficiency of the dispensing of the particulate material.

In existing dispense valves of the type described in the introduction, when the impact plate is struck by the valve member during a dispense cycle, the energy dissipated from the impact is generally converted to heat, vibration and sound. Existing machines use a relatively hard impact plate and a considerable proportion of the energy dissipated is dissipated as noise. By choosing a suitable material i.e. one which when struck produces heat as opposed to sound, for the impact plate, and/or for the valve member, the level of noise or sound produced as the valve member strikes the impact plate can be reduced. The useful

part of the energy dissipated from the impact of the valve member on the impact plate, i.e. the vibrations which create tremors in the powder being dispensed to prevent accumulation or clogging, is retained.

In one embodiment, the impact plate is formed from or coated with an elastomer, which will transmit relatively low frequency vibrations to the powder, but absorbs relatively higher frequency vibrations when struck with the valve member than an impact plate formed from a harder plastic material and thus produces less noise.

In a another embodiment, the part of valve member which strikes the impact plate is coated or tipped with an elastomer.

Alternatively both the impact plate and the valve member may be coated with an elastomer.

Although various elastomers, for example silicone rubber, may be used as the material for the impact plate and for tipping or coating the valve member, the preferred materials are thermoplastic elastomers such

as thermoplastic rubber (manufactured by

onosanto), Hytreα=^ (maufactured by Du Pont) or

Levaflex EF*^ (manufactured by Bayer) .

In a preferred embodiment, the valve member is largely formed from a ferromagnetic material, and during a dispense operation the valve member is caused to move by a time varying magnetic field. The time varying magnetic field may be created by energizing a coil encircling the dispense valve with an AC 50 Hertz waveform electric current or an AC 50 ήertz waveform modified to approximately a half wave form by diode clipping. When the coil is energized the action of the time varying magnetic field on the ferromagnetic valve member causes it to rise up within the guide means, and strike the impact plate repeatedly for the duration of the energization of the coil. The repeated impacts of the valve member against the impact plate are transmitted as vibrations to the particulate material, or powder, and these vibrations loosen the particulate material and prevent it from clogging and thus aid dispensing of the particulate material. At the end of the dispense operation, the coil is

switched off, and the valve member falls and closes the valve outlet. The duration of energization of the coil controls the amount of particulate material dispensed.

In one embodiment, the valve body has a first cylindrical portion having an annular cross section coaxial with a second cylinder having an annular cross section. Four circumferentially spaced radial ribs may extend from the internal surface of said first cylinder to project into the interior of the second cylinder where they define small protrusions each having a longitudinal edge. The ribs may be equally spaced around the circumference of the second cylinder and, together with the first and second cylinders, they define four arcuate channels. The four arcuate channels are arranged to define dispense passages for the particulate material. The longitudinal edges of said protrusions may be provided with knife edges, and may act as guide means for the valve member.

The lower portion of the valve member which closes the valve outlet may be cylindrical. The valve outlet may have a cylindrical bore which is adapted to receive

the lower portion of the valve member and to be closed by it. Thus, when the valve member falls from the first position to close the valve outlet at the end of the dispensing operation, the cylindrical portion of the valve member will expel any surplus particulate material from the valve outlet and close the valve outlet.

In prior art beverage dispensing machines particulate material or powder is dispensed from a container and valve assembly into a suitable receptacle. Water is then added from a separate water tank. The dispense valve and container should be cleaned frequently for reasons of hygiene. Often, cleaning is not done as frequently as it should be and a hygiene problem exists.

Thus according to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a disposable container and dispense valve assembly, which assembly comprises a container body adapted to contain ingredients to be dispensed said body having a neck portion to which is attached a dispense valve in accordance with the first

aspect of the present invention for controlling the dispensing of said ingredients.

The use of a disposable container and dispense assembly obviates the need for cleaning the container and dispense valve since the container and valve are merely thrown away when the container is empty, to be replaced by another filled container and dispense valve assembly.

Preferably the powder is stored in a container having a neck portion defining one open end. When placed in the dispensing machine the container is orientated with the open end depending from the main body portion and with the normal base of the container above the neck. A continuous circular groove may be provided around the neck portion of the container. A rabbet is defined in a lower portion of the interior of the neck portion. The interior of the neck portion is adapted to receive part of the valve body which locates against the rabbet.

A sleeve, arranged to fit over the exterior of the neck portion, may be provided to hold the valve body in position in the neck portion. The sleeve has a continuous annular flange adapted to mate with the circular groove on the neck portion of the container so that the sleeve can be snap fitted onto the neck portion of the container and thus secure the valve body in position. • *

The container and dispense valve assembly may be used ^' in beverage dispensing machines to dispense powders such as coffee, tea and sugar. When the dispense valve and container are for use in dispensing foods all materials used should be Food Authority approved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a beverage dispensing or vending machine including a removable container and dispense assembly, comprising a container body adapted to contain ingredients in powder form to be dispensed, the container having a depending neck portion and dispense valve assembly for controlling the dispensing of said ingredients, the dispense valve assembly

including a dispense valve comprising:- a body portion; a dispense channel formed in the said body portion; a valve member; guide means formed in the body portion, and arranged to accommodate the valve member and to guide the same along a path; an impact plate disposed at or towards one end of said path; and a valve outlet disposed at or towards the other nd of said path, characterised in that, in operation, the dispense valve is located below the ingredients to be dispensed, with the impact plate in contact with the same ingredients, so that during a dispense cycle of the dispense valve when the valve member is caused to strike the impact plate, vibrations are transmitted to the ingredients, to aid dispensing of the same, the ingredients passing through the dispense channel and thence through the valve outlet, and wherein when the dispense cycle is completed the valve member falls to close the valve outlet and to terminate the dispensing of the ingredients, the material of said impact plate and/or the material of the valve member, being

selected such that the sound generated by the member striking the impact plate is reduced without significantly reducing the efficiency of the dispensing of the material.

In certain environments there is a tendency to interfere with beverage vending machines to attempt to pilfer powder from them by, for example, pushing the valve member away from the valve outlet.

Thus according to a another aspect of the present invention there is provided an anti-pilfer device for attachment to a valve outlet of a dispense valve for a dispensing machine, to inhibit access to the valve outlet characterized in that the anti-pilfer device comprises a hollow body portion a first end of which is adapted to be fixedly secured to the valve outlet, the body portion having an opening at its second end, the opening having at least one guard piece, the body portion opening and guard piece being so configured and arranged as to inhibit access to the valve outlet through the opening with elongate tools and hence to inhibit opening of the valve with said elongate tools.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the anti-pilfer device is adapted to snap-fit over a continuous annular flange provided on the valve outlet by means of a continuous mating protrusion having a barb cross section inside and at the first end of the body portion of the device.

Using a continuous annular flange ' and mating protrusion renders the device extremely difficult to remove from the valve outlet without leaving evidence of tampering since the arrangement is very difficult to remove without permanently damaging the anti-pilfer device by for example cutting it away with a knife, or other tool.

The body portion of this anti-pilfer device may comprise a cylinder of an annular cross section, having a depending truncated frustroconical portion. One end of the frustroconical portion defines an outlet which is smaller than the first end of the body.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows a dispense valve assembly attached to a neck of a container;

Figure 2 shows the neck of the container shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a valve body;

Figure 4 shows a view on the valve body of figure 3 in the direction of arrow A;

Figure 5 shows a view of the valve body of figure 3 in the direction of arrow B;

Figure 6 shows a valve member;

Figure 7 shows a valve sleeve;

Figure 8 shows a further valve member;

Figure 9 is a view of the valve member of figure 8 in the direction of arrow D of figure 8;

Figure 10 shows a top view an anti pilfer device; and

Figure 11 shows a quarter section on figure 10 through line C - C.

A container and dispense valve assembly for dispensing powder includes a container for powder. The container, not shown, has an approximately parallelepiped shaped body portion including a generally rectangular top wall; the edges of the parallelepiped are rounded. Depending from the body portion of the container and disposed beneath said top wall is a cylindrical neck portion 2 having an internal rabbet 4. The exterior of said neck portion 2 is provided with a further rabbet 6 and a continuous circular groove 8. The container neck is adapted to locate and carry a depending dispense valve assembly, generally indicated at 10.

The dispense valve assembly includes a generally cylindrical valve body 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16. The first end of the valve body is adapted to abut the internal rabbet 4 of neck portion 2 of the container, with the second end 16 of the valve body 12 disposed beneath the first end 14.

The valve body 12 comprises an outer first cylinder 18 and an inner second cylinder 22 which is disposed inside and coaxial with said first cylinder 18 to provide an annular space between said cylinders; each cylinder has an annular cross section. The annular space is bridged by four circumferentially spaced radial ribs 20 which extend from cylinder 18 to join inner cylinder 22. Second cylinder 22 is longer than, and extends below, first cylinder 18 and is provided with four internal protrusions 24, which are equidistantly spaced around the interior of the second cylinder and define four longitudinal edges which extend along the length of the second cylinder 22. Second cylinder is closed at its first end by a circular impact plate 26 which is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. Second cylinder 22 and protrusions 24 define a passage 25 with guide means

adapted to receive a valve member 30 and to allow free movement of the valve member 30 up and down the passage.

Valve member 30, at its first end 32, has a frustroconical portion 34 which tapers outwardly and away from first end 32 to form a generally cylindrical central body portion 36. Cylindrical body portion 36 at its second end, is provided with a second frustroconical portion 38 which tapers inwardly to form a narrower cylindrical end portion 40 which terminates in a circular bottom wall 41. The cylindrical end portion 40 constitutes a plug which is adapted to locate in and close a valve dispense passage 42 defined by a valve sleeve 50 as hereinafter described.

The valve sleeve 50 has a cylindrical body portion 52 having an annular cross section and is provided at its second end with a depending frustroconical portion 54. Frustroconical portion 54 tapers inwardly towards its second end to form a cylinder 56 having an annular cross section; cylinder 56 defines said valve dispense passage 42.

Valve sleeve 50 is adapted to overlay the rabbet 6 on the exterior of the neck portion 2 of the container, and is provided on its interior surface with a continuous circumferential flange 58 which is adapted to locate in the continuous circular groove 8 on the external surface of neck portion 2 of the container.

Frustroconical portion 54 of the valve sleeve 50 is further provided on its external surface with a protruding circular flange 59.

Where food and drink is to be dispensed, all the materials which come in contact with the food should be Food Authority approved. In the particular embodiment described, the assembly is for use in a cartridge beverage dispensing machine for dispensing powders such as powdered coffee, drinking chocolate, tea and sugar. The powder is dispensed into a receptacle such as a disposable cup and water is then added from a separate tank to make a drink.

Vending machines having a cartridge system generally include a cavity for the insertion of a disposable cartridge which comprises a container and valve

assembly as described hereinbefore. The bottom wall of the cavity is provided with a hole which is adapted to receive the neck and valve assembly of the container. The vending machine is provided with a coil of conducting material which is arranged to encircle the hole. The coil thus encircles the valve assembly when the valve assembly is in the fitted position.

The use of a disposable cartridge can improve hygiene in the vending machine since, when a cartridge is empty, it can be thrown away. This obviates the onerous requirement to clean the container and dispense valve assembly for refilling.

In order to dispense powder from a cartridge during a dispense operation, the coil is energized to provide a time varying magnetic field e.g. with a sinusoidal or halfwave sinusoidal waveform. The time varying magnetic field induces a magnetic field in the ferromagnetic valve member 30 thereby causing the same to move along the passage 25 defined by the guide means and beat against the impact plate 26. Since the impact plate is made from a thermoplastic elastomer.

when the valve member strikes it, it will produce very little sound having a relatively high frequency. The energy received by the impact plate as a result of being struck by the valve member is mainly converted to heat, and to low frequency vibrations which agitate the powder in the container above the impact plate and aid dispensing of the powder by preventing it from accumulating in the valve assembly during ^' dispensing. Consequently, when the valve member is energised and beats against the impact plate, powder will fall under gravity through the dispense passage into a suitable receptacle placed therebeneath. The amount of powder dispensed will depend on the length of time the coil is energized. At the end of the dispense operation, when the coil is switched off, the valve member will fall under the influence of gravity towards the valve outlet, thereby pushing any surplus powder remaining in the valve assembly out through the dispense passage and obturating the passage.

Figures 8 and 9 show a second valve member 100. The external shape and dimensions of the second valve member 100 are similar to those of the ferromagnetic valve member 30. The second valve member 100 has a

ferromagnetic body portion 101 with a thermoplastic tip 102.

The ferromagnetic body portion at its first end is provided with an upstanding frustroconical portion 104 which tapers downwardly and outwardly from the first end to form a first cylindrical body portion 106 which is slightly narrower than the widest part of frustroconical portion 104. Body portion 106 is . provided at its second end, remote from frustoconical portion 104 with a further, wider cylindrical body portion 108 which has a diameter approximately three times that of cylindrical body portion 106. Body portion 101 has an external, circumferential groove 110 disposed between frustroconical portion 104 and cylindrical body portion 108. Cylindrical body portion 108 is provided at its second end with a frustroconical portion 112 which tapers downwardly and inwardly towards a narrower second end cylindrical body portion 114, which corresponds in size to end body portion 40 of valve member 30, and defines a plug adapted to locate and close valve dispense passage 42.

The thermoplastic tip 102 has a frustroconical exterior surface, and its interior surface also defines a frustrocone and has an annular, inwardly extending flange 112 towards its second end which is adapted to locate in groove 108 and secure the tip 102 to the body portion 101.

The valve member 100 operates in the same manner as valve member.30. It may be used either with an impact plate made fro either a hard or a soft material.

In some environments, pilfering of beverage forming powder from cartridge vending machines is known to occur. Such pilfering can be effected by inserting an elongate tool into the dispense passage of a valve assembly to push against the valve member thereby to displace the valve member from the dispense passage and permitting powder to fall. An anti-pilfer device 80 can be used to prevent this as follows.

Anti-pilfer device 80 is designed to snap-fit over the exterior surface of cylindrical end portion 40 of valve sleeve 50. This snap-fit is achieved by providing the anti-pilfer device at its first end,

with protrusions 82 which define a barb in cross section. Protrusions 82 are adapted to mate with the protruding circumferential flange 59 on the valve sleeve 50.

The anti-pilfer device has a cylindrical body portion has an annular cross section 84, and is provided at its second end with a depending frustroconical portion 86. Frustroconical portion, towards its second end 88, is open to allow powder to fall therethrough. The frustroconical portion is provided with internal, radially directed elongate guard pieces 89 which are circumferentially spaced around the internal surface of frustoconical portion 86 and meet at a central axis 87 of the anti-pilfer device. Each guard piece extends away from open end 88 and meets the central axis of the device at an angle of approximately 45° to the same.

When the anti-pilfer device is in the snap-fitted position over the valve sleeve 50, it is very difficult to detach it without actually cutting or breaking the anti-pilfer device. Access to the valve dispense passage can only be through the open end 88

of the anti-pilfer device 80; such access is inhibited by arrangement of the guard pieces and by the the open end of the anti-pilfer device being disposed remote from the valve dispense passage.