FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules  2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION: An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid

2. APPLICANT:

1. (a) NAME : IDMC Limited
(b) NATIONALITY : Indian
(c) ADDRESS : Plot No. 124 - 128 
GIDC Estate 
Vithal Udyognagar 
Anand- 388121
Gujarat  India

1. PREMABLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
PROVISIONAL

The following specification describes the invention. þ COMPLETE

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine that can able to dispense calibrated volume of desired hygienic liquid quantity with response to input currency fed into the machine or in response to sweeping a smartcard.

Back ground and prior art of the invention
The need for automatic vending machine of dispensing hygienic liquid (oil or milk) of calibrated amount is particularly critical at vending stations in response to the varied range of currencies fed into the machine. This type of vending machine is crucially required in the market to get relief from the frequent manual measurement of liquid volume while delivering liquid at the vending station in response to the requirement of different desired quantity of liquid and at meanwhile to achieve labour free solution for measuring and delivering the liquid to the consumer at the vending station. Many such consumer oriented liquid dispensing machines are available in the market but they are known for their own disadvantages like dispensing of predetermined and premeasured quantity of liquid rather than dispensing desired quantity of liquid as per the consumer’s requirement  user unfriendly machine  devoid of automatic CIP (Clean In Place)  devoid of multiple facility for accessing and getting different operational details of the machine through the machine itself and for automatically receiving details regarding different operations of the machine by sitting away from the machine spot  inflexible and disfavour in the method of vending operation and different CIP (Clean In Place) cycles. Its flexibility with regard to operational relationship among CIP logic  PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) unit and vending calculation; and between the PLC unit and timings for retailing makes the system particularly suitable for adaptation to varied needs of user in terms of desired volume of liquid to be dispensed.

Many Patent applications and granted patents have been conventionally known for coin operated automatic liquid dispensing machine for extent an Indian granted Patent IN218331 discloses a closed system liquid vending machine that delivers or supplies and discharges the liquid from main container to user container with the help of one and only mechanical operation of the machine and no electrical or electro-mechanical components have been involved during the liquid dispensing mechanism or metering the predetermined quantity of liquid. It discloses a closed system vending machine having a coin slot for inserting a coin and discharge mouth for dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid. After inserting a coin into said coin slot the push button is pushed along with the coin and thereby the stem pushes a flanged cap having a compression spring with the help of a coin which in turn operate a lever which closes the mouth of a check valve and opens the discharge mouth  the liquid from the container collected in the metering pot gets discharged and completion of dispensing of liquid gives the normal position to the lever with the help of a torsion spring fixed at fulcrum which makes the return movement of adjustable pusher and said compression spring initiate the backward movement of the said push button  stem and flanged cap with coin which makes the droppage of coin through the opening. The customer or the user will collect the liquid in a glass or bottle or any pot.
Such above patented invention has the disadvantage with regard to the restriction in dispensing substantially predetermined quantity of liquid from the storage tank which is less voluminous and further  the invention uses the dispensing machine which is mechanically operated with a 1 Rs coin and insertion of other coins in the slot does not dispense the liquid. It neither discloses nor teaches about dispensing hygienic quantity of liquid through automatic CIP operation.

GB1239437 bearing the title of “Improvements in or relating to Liquid Dispensing Apparatus” relates to an apparatus for dispensing liquids from a bulk supply and is concerned particularly with the dispensing of milk  squashes and other beverages from flexible containers. According to the invention a liquid dispensing machine comprises a cabinet providing a refrigerated compartment of a size to accommodate two bags of milk or other liquid of the kind  the flexible outlet tubes from the two bags being led to a common central delivery point or station and the discharge from each tube being controlled by a separate closure device in which a solenoid-actuated spring-loader presser bar co-operates with an abutment to clamp or pinch the tube and close off the flow of liquid there-through  a photo electric control which is operable to stop further delivery of liquid to a cup placed at the delivery point when liquid in the cup reaches a predetermined level  and the photo electric control is also provided for creating a controlled but adjustable time delay and thereby to determine accurately the quantity of liquid dispensed at each actuation of the machine.

Such an aforesaid patented invention has different disadvantages with regard to an instant invention that it has the restriction on to get only the predetermined quantity of liquid from the container bag and the machine being operated for only a specific coin. This machine further uses photo electric control mechanism for the controlling the dispensing of liquids which is not reliable. This aforesaid invention also neither discloses nor teaches the automatic cleaning of the liquid storage tank for dispensing hygienic quality of the liquid. The machine further uses zeroising counter control circuit for controlling switchover to the other container when one container is emptied and electronic delay circuit for controlling rotary switch and which are too complicate in operation and no need of using such kind of extra circuits in the instant invention. And It is an object of the invention is to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art.

Object of the invention

The main object of this invention is to provide an automatic gravity fed liquid vending machine that has the multi facility in operation. Accordingly  the machine delivers measured quantity of liquid as per the consumer’s requirement or demand from the storage tank in response to the desired input currency (coin or note) fed into the machine. Optionally  the vending machine may also be operated by an alternative currency source  such as a smartcard. A GSM connectivity being coupled with the machine (8) as an additional facility for sending the different operational details regarding each of the different operations of the machine at regular predetermined time interval to the owner of the machine (8) through SMS. Further  the machine may be operated under the main power supply or under the battery back up system. Plurality of keys being provided on the HMI (Human Machine Interface) unit for displaying and for accessing different facilities  for getting details regarding different operations of the machine and setting different parameters for different operations that being carried through the machine such as to get details regarding start/pause operation  to initiate liquid filling operation  for setting and fixing the parameters such as rate and flow rate of liquid  to initiate liquid empty out operation before executing the CIP cycles  for entering passwords for setting parameters of different operations  for adding/subtracting the offset set value from flow rate  to initiate MIS (Machine Interface System) operation for getting details of number of notes and coins being collected from vending operation  for setting temperature of the liquid  for setting different ON/OFF time of CIP pump  ON/OFF time of vending as well as CIP valves during CIP operation  to reset the MIS data from the MIS menu  to access manual over ride facility for manually checking quantity of liquid for a given amount to be paid. This machine also has the facility for customizing any one unit among three different units such as coin reading unit  note reading unit and smartcard reading unit for starting the vending operation as per the wish of the owner of the machine.

Another object of this instant invention is to dispense controlled and accurately measured quantity of liquid that is determined by the amount paid. Accordingly  a buffer tank is provided inside the machine for minimizing flow variation and while liquid is being dispensed through the vending valves and PLC logic is embedded with the machine to control the vending calculation for performing the measurement of the accurate quantity of liquid that is to be dispensed in response to the variable currency fed into the system.

Still another object of this invention is to provide automatic cleaning facility. Accordingly  automatic CIP (Clean In Place) facility is employed through pre rinse cycle by means of the timely controlled operation for opening and closing the different solenoid valves for mere cleaning the voluminous liquid storage tank and buffer tank.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide long time hygienic liquid storage and liquid supply facility through the machine. Accordingly  in the machine there is a provision for performing different cycles at regular predetermined time intervals such as pre rinse cycle  chemical rinse cycle  final chemical rinse cycle  sterilization cycle and final sterilization rinse cycle before filling the liquid in the liquid storage tank under the control of PLC logic.

Yet further object of the invention is to provide a provision for minimizing flow variation or flow fluctuation during liquid vending mode to enable higher degree accuracy of exact desired quantity of liquid to be dispensed in a quick time interval. Accordingly  such provision is achieved under the precise control of PLC unit over SV1  SV2 and mechanism of magnetic float valve of a buffer tank of the machine.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to an automatic liquid vending machine that can dispense calibrated volume of any desired hygienic quantity of liquid by the direct transaction of different range of currencies. This machine also has optional facility of Smartcard option and GSM connectivity for getting operation details by mobile SMS alert to the customer. The present invention relates to said vending machine which consists of liquid dispensing unit  CIP unit  liquid carrying unit that is in communication among rest of the two units for supplying or delivering the liquid among them; PLC unit  HMI unit and the currency reading unit (Coin reading unit and note reading unit). The PLC unit is in electronic communication with the liquid dispensing unit  CIP unit  liquid carrying unit and currency reading unit to control the time interval for opening and closing of the plurality of valves of the liquid carrying unit and to control the fixed flow rate of the liquid to be dispensed from buffer tank of the liquid dispensing unit during the vending and CIP operation. The vending calculation and CIP calculation are programmed in the PLC unit and the vending calculation is directly depending on the parameters such as the flow rate and rate of liquid with respect to amount of currency being fed into the machine and these two parameters are password protected.

After entering and fixing the rate and flow rate of liquid on the HMI unit by the owner of the machine and after pressing the start/pause button  when a currency is inserted  the PLC unit automatically identifies value or amount of the currency and polls the data to displays the same in the form of credit on the HMI display  as the PLC continuously communicates with the currency reading unit. After identifying the currency amount the PLC unit automatically calculates the time period during which the dispensing valve to be opened with the help of vending calculation that is programmed in the CIP unit and thereby dispenses accurate measured quantity of liquid. The PLC unit is in electronic communication with the said dispensing valve to selectively actuate the dispensing valve for the calibrated time interval.

Detail description of the drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an automatic liquid dispensing machine showing front elevational view of the two sides (a) and (b) of the machine.
Fig. 2 illustrates block diagram of the dispensing unit of the machine.
Fig. 3 illustrates exploded perspective view of the buffer tank showing its different valves.
Fig. 4 depicts the block diagram of general arrangement of different components of the machine illustrates for different operations such as vending  CIP and liquid filling operation.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below while specific exemplary embodiments are discussed  it should be understood that this is done for illustration purpose only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configuration can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Detail description of the invention
This present invention discloses an automatic liquid vending machine (8) that dispenses calibrated metered volume of liquid in response to the desired input currency is framed with four sides along its height are shown in Fig. 1. The front elevational view of said machine (8) at Fig. 1 shows exterior units of the machine (8) such as a start/pause push button (2)  an HMI unit (3) having a display and keyboard  a currency reading unit having a currency note accepter (4)  a currency coin accepter (5)  a liquid dispensing compartment (6) and a smartcard reading unit (30) having a display and a keyboard mounted on it. The machine (8) for plurality of operations such as a vending operation  a CIP operation and a liquid filling operation consists of interior units such as a liquid dispensing unit (9) as directed in Fig. 2  a CIP unit having a peristaltic pump (12)  a CIP pump (14)  a main pipe line coming out from the CIP pump and which is bifurcated into a liquid filling pipe line (21) and a CIP flow pipe line (20); a balance tank (19) of 15 litre having a conductive float valve and a sprayball (15); and a PLC unit. The PLC unit which is the heart of the machine (8) is in electronic communication with the said each of the components of the exterior and interior units of the machine (8). The interior units of machine (8) are housed inside the stainless steel thick sheet covered construction. The liquid dispensing unit is in the progress of operation during the vending mode while the CIP unit is in the progress of operation during the CIP mode and the CIP operation includes different cycles such as a pre rinse cycle  a chemical rinse cycle  a final chemical rise cycle  a sterilization cycle and a final sterilization rinse cycle. The said conductive float valve being mounted with the balance tank is having two level sensors such as a LSH (Level Sensor High (27 (a))) and a LSL (Level Sensor Low (28 (a))). These two sensors are in communication with the PLC unit. The said spray ball (15) is mounted on the top surface of the balance tank (19) for sprinkling the waters and chemicals for cleaning purpose during CIP mode.

Liquid dispensing unit (9) as directed in Fig. 2 includes a liquid storage tank (1) with a sight glass (7) to check the level of the liquid manually inside the tank and the tank is formed of insulated as well as refrigerated 300 litre volume into which the liquid to be dispensed during vending mode being stored  a insulated buffer tank (10) of two litre volume having a magnetic float valve (16) (as directed in Fig. 3) with two level sensors such as LSH (27 (b)) and LSL (28 (b)) at 3 mm distance apart each other  the feed valve (SV1) being secured on the pipe along the flow line between the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10)  the dispensing valve (SV2) being secured on the flow line of the pipe between the buffer tank (10) and a container (11) that is to be placed at the liquid dispensing compartment (6). The liquid storage tank optionally  instead of refrigerating has a heating coil in case when oil is stored in the interior of the tank and heating coil is enabled for maintaining fixed temperature of the oil.

The LSH (27 (b)) and LSL (28 (b)) of the buffer tank (10) are in internal communication with the PLC unit to control the opening and closing of the feed valve (SV1)  as soon as the water or potable liquid or oil level in the buffer tank reaches LSL (28 (b))  the valve (SV1) automatically actuated to fill the water (in case of CIP mode) or potable liquid or oil (in case of vending mode) from the liquid storage tank (1) to the buffer tank (10) up to the LSH (27 (b)).

The liquid carrying unit essentially comprises plurality of solenoid valves being mechanically secured on the plurality of piping systems along its flow line for transmitting and supplying waters  chemicals and other liquids among the liquid dispensing unit and the CIP unit. The solenoid valves include vending valves such as the feed valve (SV1)  a dispensing valve (SV2) being secured along a flow line of a pipe between the buffer tank (10) and the container (11); and the CIP valves such as drain valves (SV3) and (SV5) being respectively secured along a flow line of a pipe drained from the liquid dispensing compartment (6) and the balance tank (19)  recirculation valve (SV4) being secured along a flow line of a pipe between the liquid dispensing compartment and the balance tank (19)  a sprayball valve (SV6) being mechanically secured on the CIP flow pipe line (20) along a flow line between the CIP pump (14) and the liquid storage tank (1)  a water make up valve (SV7) being secured along flow line of a pipe between an external water tank placed outside the machine (8) and the balance tank (19)  and a liquid filling valve (SV8) being mechanically secured on the liquid filling pipe line (21) along a flow line between the CIP pump and the liquid storage tank (1). Except the drain valve (SV3) rest of the vending and CIP valves are in normally closed (NC) condition.

During the liquid filling mode the processed liquid from the tanker (17)  as depicted in Fig. 3  being pumped into the liquid storage tank (1) by means of the CIP pump (14) along with the manual valves (MV1) and (MV3) in connection with a pump (18) through the liquid flow pipe line (21) on to which the liquid filling valve (SV8) being secured. And the liquid that being stored in the liquid storage tank (1) is now available for vending purpose and which would be dispensed during the vending mode through the liquid dispensing unit (9). PLC unit along with the components incorporated within it plays very important role to control the actuation time and ON/OFF time of the pumps and plurality of solenoid valves such as vending valves and CIP valves of the liquid carrying unit; and it also controls the flow of liquids through such valves during the plurality of the operations performed by the machine (8).

The technical concept behind dispensing of liquid from the liquid storage tank (1) to the container (11) with the help of the feed valves (SV1) and the dispensing valve (SV2) during vending during vending operation after entering a password protected rate and a flow rate of liquid on to the HMI unit by the owner of the machine (8) is described as below;

when the customer pushes the start/pause push button (2) after the insertion of the currency through the currency note accepter (4) or the currency coin accepter (5)  all the different channels embodied in the currency coin and currency note accepter identifies the value of the currency amount with the help of the program that has been programmed in a currency processor of the PLC unit for different variable range of currencies in the form of note or coin available in the market. As the PLC unit continuously communicates with the currency coin and currency note accepter it polls the data at regular time interval to display the same amount on the HMI display as being credited. On the other hand when the customer enters the desired currency amount through the keyboard of the smartcard reading unit after sweeping the smartcard across the smartcard reading unit (30) the entered amount will be identified and detected from the customer’s account under the control of PLC unit and display the same amount on the HMI display as being credited. And the said smartcard is being operated under the radio frequency technique.

After identifying the currency amount from the currency processor or after detecting the desired amount through the smartcard  the programmer in a vending calculation unit of the PLC unit automatically calculates the time interval during which the dispensing valve (SV2) to be opened. Such calculation will be automatically performed under the precise control of PLC unit with respect to the currency identified by the machine (8)  flow rate and rate of the liquid that has been fixed or entered by the owner of the machine (8) on the HMI Unit (3). Upon opening of the valve (SV2) for during such calculated interval the accurate measured quantity of liquid would be dispensed with said flow rate.

However  the accuracy of the quantity of liquid that is being dispensed with fixed flow rate through the valve (SV2) with respect the currency fed into the currency accepter during the vending operation depends on the degree of minimization of flow variation  degree of minimization of the flow fluctuation of the liquid which for the time being stored inside the buffer tank (10) and accuracy in opening and closing time of the dispensing valve (SV2) during when the liquid is being dispensed in vending operation and which are achieved by providing a novel integral design of the buffer tank (10) and the precise control PLC unit over the feed valve (SV1)  the dispensing valve (SV2) and the magnetic float valve (16) of the buffer tank (10).

The main object of providing the buffer tank (10) between the liquid storage tank (1) and the container (11) is to control the flow variation while the liquid is being dispensed from such voluminous liquid storage tank (1) to the container (11) during vending mode. In addition to the minimization of flow variation  to achieve minimization of flow fluctuation inside the buffer tank (10) the feed valve (SV1) mechanism in connection with the magnetic float valve (16) and the design of pipe-in-pipe assembly plays very important role. The operative mechanism involved among the magnetic float valve (16)  the feed valve (SV1) and the pipe-in-pipe assembly is explained as below.

As directed in Fig. 3  the buffer tank comprising of the pipe-in-pipe assembly having a vertical pipe (22) in communication with the feed valve (SV1) through a pipe inlet opening (25) and another pipe (24) into which the opened end of said vertical pipe (22) being mechanically inserted so that when the valve (SV1) opens  the water or liquid having a flow direction (29)  as arrowed in Fig. 3  being spilled into a liquid filled interior (23) of the buffer tank without disturbing the flow fluctuation of the liquid that had already present in the liquid filled interior (23) of the buffer tank and thereby minimizes the flow fluctuation of the liquid which for the time being present in the said liquid filled interior while the consequent amount of liquid is being dispensed from the liquid storage tank (1) to the said liquid filled interior (23) during the vending operation. The valve (SV1) opens and closes depending on the actuation of the sensors LSH (27 (b)) and LSL (28 (b)) secured on the magnetic float valve (16) in the liquid filled interior (23). The LSH (27 (b)) and LSL (28 (b)) are mechanically operated through the said magnetic float levels under the precise control of PLC unit. When the liquid level in the buffer tank reaches to level up to the LSL (28 (b))  the feed valve (SV1) opens; and the feed valve (SV1) closes while the liquid level in the buffer tank reaches to level up to LSH (27) so that the flow variation and flow fluctuation inside the buffer tank is maintained to be a minimum.

CIP unit as directed in Fig. 4 for performing plurality of CIP cycles such as pre rinse cycle  chemical rinse cycle  final chemical rinse cycle  sterilization cycle and final sterilization rinse cycle  as explained earlier  comprises the balance tank (19) into the interior of which being mounted the conductive float valve with two level sensors such as LSH (27 (a)) and LSL (28 (a)) as in buffer tank and these sensors are in internal electronic communication with the PLC unit for the opening and closing of water make up valve (SV7); the CIP pump (14)  the liquid storage tank (1)  liquid dispensing unit (9)  the spray ball valve (SV6) through which the pumped waters and chemicals from the CIP pump (14) being sprinkled into the liquid storage tank (1)  the drain valve (SV3) through which liquid has been drained out from the liquid dispensing compartment during plurality of CIP cycles and the recirculation valve (SV4) to recirculate the waters and chemical from the liquid dispensing compartment (6) to the balance tank (19) during CIP cycles. CIP unit also includes the peristaltic pump to pump the chemicals and sterilization solution from chemical inlets (13) into the balance tank (19)  the water make up valve (SV7) secured on the pipe along the flow line between an external water tank (not shown in the Fig) kept outside the machine (8) and balance tank (19) so that the valve (SV7) would be selectively actuated under the control of PLC unit for pouring water from the said external water tank into the balance tank  a manual valve (MV2) of normally opened condition is disposed on the pipe line extending from the balance tank (19) and through which the waters and other chemicals being removed from the balance tank (19) after the completion of each CIP cycles. Below such manual valve (MV2) the drain valve (SV5) being secured for automatically actuate the valve (SV5) for draining out the waters and chemicals from the balance tank.

The CIP mode would be initiated only after the liquid is emptied from the liquid storage tank (1) or on the other hand before the refilling of the liquid from the tanker (17) to the liquid storage tank (1). As the CIP mode is password protected the entry into that mode can only be accessed by the owner of the machine (8). The five different CIP operations have been described as below.

Pre Rinse Cycle: In pre rinse cycle  liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10) is cleaned by pumping the waters from the balance tank (19) and by circulating the pumped waters through the liquid carrying unit till the stain in the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10) being washed out. As discussed earlier as the LSH (27 (a)) and LSL (28 (a)) of the balance tank (19) are in internal communication with the PLC unit to control the opening and closing of the water make up valve (SV7)  as soon as the water level in the balance tank (19) reaches LSL (28 (a)) the valve (SV7) automatically actuated to fill the water up to LSH (27 (a)) of the balance tank. After initiating the pre rinse cycle and after setting a predetermined time interval for which the pre rinse cycle  the chemical rinse cycle  the final chemical rinse cycle  the sterilization cycle and final sterilization rinse cycle to be in progress through a HMI (Human Machine Interface) unit of machine (8)  the following steps will be automatically executed inside the machine (8) in the CIP unit.

a) Filling waters inside the balance tank (19) from the external water tank by actuating water make up valve (SV7) till the water level of the balance tank reached up to the LSH (27 (a)) and stopping the water filling operation inside the balance tank (19) by de-energizing the valve (SV7)  as soon as LSH (27 (a)) of the balance tank is activated after being the water level in the balance tank (19) reached up to LSH (27 (a)).
b) Starting the CIP pump (14) to pump the liquid from the balance tank (19) to the liquid storage tank (1) by alternatively opening the valves such as sprayball valve (SV6) and liquid filling valve (SV8) along a CIP flow pipe line (20) after the delay of 5 seconds to maintain or save the water level in the balance tank; and ON or opening time of said valves (SV6) and (SV8) and predetermined number of counts for which said valves to be opened are settable from the HMI (3) unit and the said time is automatically controllable through PLC unit.
c) Sprinkling the waters at high force through the sprayball (15) that is mechanically secured on the top of the liquid storage tank (1) for cleaning the stains being stuck on the walls and bottom of the liquid storage tank (1).
d) Initiating the opening of the feed valve (SV1) in order to fill the water from the liquid storage tank (1) to the buffer tank up to LSH (27 (b)).
e) Initiating the dispensing valve (SV2) to open for the predetermined time interval under the control of the PLC unit to remove the waters from the buffer tank (10); and at meanwhile the feed valve (SV1) becomes ON when water level in the buffer tank goes to the LSL (28 (b)).
f) Draining of washout out waters from the buffer tank (10) as well as liquid storage tank (1) through the drain valve (SV3) which is in normally opened in condition.
g) Pumping OFF the CIP pump for ending of the pre rinse cycle after the predetermined number of counts for valves (SV6) and (SV8) have been reached.
h) Continuously opening of the dispensing valve (SV2) till the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10) becomes empty and thereby ending the pre rinse cycle.

During pre rinse cycle the valves such as drain valve (SV3) from the liquid dispensing compartment  the recirculation valve (SV4) and drain valve (SV5) from the balance tank (19) are de energized.

Chemical Rinse Cycle: This cycle usually operated in consequence to the pre rinse cycle. In this Cycle  the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10) is cleaned with the help of chemical solution such as alkali detergent solution (NaOH) with 0.5 to 1.5 % concentration by pumping the solution from the balance tank (19) and circulating the pumped solution thorough the liquid carrying unit to avoid the bacterial infection. After initiating the chemical rinse cycle and retaining the cycle for the predetermined time interval  the following steps will be automatically executed inside the machine (8) in the CIP unit.

a) Actuating peristaltic pump (12) to start pumping the chemical solution from inlets (13) for predefined time period which is settable from HMI unit and controllable from PLC unit so that desired quantity of chemical solution is injected into the balance tank (19).
b) Following steps (a) to (e) of the pre rinse cycle.
c) Energizing the drain valve (SV3) from the liquid dispensing compartment and energizing the recirculation valve (SV4) for closing the valve (SV3) and opening the valve (SV4) respectively to re-enter the chemical solution from the buffer tank (10) to the balance tank through the dispensing valve (SV2) and thereby the valve (SV4) allows the recirculation of chemical dosing for predetermined time interval and which can be adjusted through HMI keyboard.
d) Tuning “OFF” the CIP pump (14) and simultaneously de-energizing the valves (SV3) and (SV4)  to stop the recirculation of chemical dosing mixture and to end the chemical rinse cycle  after reaching the predetermined interval as mentioned in step (c).
e) Energizing the valves such as drain valve (SV5) from the balance tank (19)  the sprayball valve (SV6) and liquid filling valve (SV8) for emptying out the chemical solution present inside the pipe lines such as CIP flow pipe line (20) and the liquid flow pipe line (21).
f) Opening continuously the liquid dispensing valve (SV2) till the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10) being emptied out under the control of PLC unit and thereby ending the chemical rinse cycle.

Final Chemical Rinse Cycle: Final chemical rinse cycle is usually operated in consequence to the chemical rinse cycle. In final chemical rinse cycle water is pumped and circulated as defied in the pre rinse cycle to washout the chemicals that being stuck or stained on the walls and bottom surface of the liquid storage tank (1) as well as buffer tank (10) during the chemical rinse cycle. After initiating the final chemical rinse cycle and retaining the cycle for the predetermined time interval  the same procedure following steps (a) to (h) as mentioned in pre rinse cycle will be automatically executed inside the machine (8) in the CIP unit to end the final chemical rinse cycle.

Sterilization Cycle: This cycle is carried out usually in consequence to the final rinse cycle. In this cycle  sterilization solution such as iodophor solution having 12.5 to 25 ppm iodine concentration is pumped and circulated as defined in the chemical rinse cycle to prevent the growth of the bacteria inside the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10). After initiating the sterilization rinse cycle and retaining the cycle for the predetermined time interval  the following steps will be automatically executed inside the machine (8) in the CIP unit.

a) Actuating the peristaltic pump (12) to start pumping the sterilization solution being fed from inlets (13) for predefined time period that is settable from the HMI unit and which is controllable from PLC unit so that desired quantity of the said sterilization solution is injected into the balance tank (19).
b) Following steps (b) to (f) as mentioned in the chemical rinse cycle and thereby ending the sterilization cycle.

Final Sterilization Rinse Cycle: Final sterilization rinse cycle is usually operated in consequence to the sterilization cycle. In this cycle water is pumped and circulated as defied in the pre rinse cycle to washout the sterilization solution that being stuck or stained on the walls and bottom surface of the liquid storage tank (1) as well as buffer tank (10) during the sterilization cycle. After initiating the final sterilization rinse cycle and retaining the cycle for the predetermined time interval  the same procedure following steps (a) to (h) as mentioned in pre rinse cycle will be automatically executed inside the machine (8) in the CIP unit to end the final sterilization rinse cycle.

Turning ON/OFF of CIP pump (14) and actuating or energizing and de-energizing the plurality of valves as mentioned aforesaid is under the precise control of PLC unit.

Example: If milk is stored into the liquid storage tank (1) after being filled the processed milk from the tanker (17) by means of milk filling operation then automatic vending operation of the machine for the fixed parameters such as rate of milk as 40 Rs/lit and flow rate of milk as 1000 ml/min  in response to the insertion of 20 Rs either through the currency note accepter (4) or currency coin accepter (5) or in response to the swept of smartcard across the smartcard reading unit  is described below;

Pressing start/pause button (2) after being placed the container (11) at the liquid dispensing compartment (6); automatically identifying and reading the amount paid by the customer through different channels of the currency processing unit of the machine with the help of the program programmed for different ranges of currencies and under the precise control of PLC unit; calculating time interval during which the SV2 valve to be opened for dispensing calibrated volume of liquid with the help of vending calculation under the precise control of PLC unit which comes to be 0.5 min i.e.  30 sec (with respect to fixed rate of the milk (40 Rs/lit)  fixed flow rate of the milk (1000 ml/min) and amount fed into the machine (20 Rs); opening the SV2 valve for 30 sec under the precise control of PLC unit; dispensing desired accurate calibrated quantity of 500 ml of milk for 20 Rs. Optionally  if the container (11) placed was of 400 ml volume then as soon as getting 400 ml or of less than 400 ml pressing the start/pause push button (2) would stop the milk dispensing operation. Repressing the start/pause push button (2) after placing another fresh container at the liquid dispensing compartment (6)  remaining volume of 100 ml would be dispensed through the SV2 valve under the precise control of PLC unit.

While the invention has been described with respect to the given embodiment  it will be appreciated that many variations  modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. However  it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the scope of the present invention  as set forth in the following claims.

We Claim 

1. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid comprising exterior units and interior units of the machine (8); wherein the exterior units includes a start/pause push button (2)  a liquid dispensing compartment (6)  a currency reading unit  a smartcard reading unit (30) and an HMI (Human Machine Interface) unit (3) along with a display and a keyboard mounted; wherein the interior units includes a liquid dispensing unit (9)  a currency processing unit  a CIP unit  a liquid carrying unit  a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) unit and a battery back up unit;

wherein the currency reading unit includes a currency note accepter (4) and a currency coin accepter (5);

wherein a display and a keyboard being mounted on the smartcard reading unit (30) and the smartcard is operated by means of radio frequency technique;

wherein the said PLC unit is in electronic communication with said exterior and interior units of the machine (8);

wherein the liquid dispensing unit (9) comprises an insulated as well as refrigerated voluminous liquid storage tank (1)  an insulated buffer tank (10) and a container (11); and wherein a sight glass (7) is mounted with said liquid storage tank (1);

wherein said CIP unit comprising a peristaltic pump (12)  a CIP pump (14)  a main pipe line coming out from the CIP pump and a balance tank (19);

wherein the liquid carrying unit comprising plurality of solenoid valves such as vending valves and CIP valves and wherein each of said solenoid valves being mechanically secured on a plurality of piping system along the flow line;

wherein the currency processing unit has plurality of channels for identifying and processing different currency coins and currency notes automatically.

2. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 1  wherein the main pipe line is bifurcated into a liquid filling pipe line (21) and a CIP flow pipe line (20);

Wherein the into the interior of the balance tank (19) a conductive float valve with two level sensors such as LSH (Level Sensor High (27 (a))) and LSL (Level Sensor Low (28 (a))) being mounted;

wherein the sensors such as LSH (27 (a)) and LSL (28 (a)) of the balance tank (19) are also in electronic communication with the PLC unit;

wherein the CIP operation includes the operation of plurality of cycles such as a pre-rinse cycle  a chemical rinse cycle  a final chemical rinse cycle  a sterilization cycle and a final sterilization rinse cycle.

3. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 1  wherein the liquid storage tank (1) being secured at the top portion of the machine (8) into which the liquid to be dispensed is stored;

wherein the liquid storage tank optionally  instead of refrigerating has a heating coil in case when an oil is stored in the interior of the tank and heating coil is enabled for maintaining fixed temperature of the oil;

wherein the buffer tank (10) which is placed below the said liquid storage tank (1) having a pipe-in-pipe assembly and a magnetic float valve (16) with two level sensors such as LSH (Level Sensor High (27 (b))) and LSL (Level Sensor Low (28 (b))) at a preferred distance apart each other;

wherein the container (11) is disposed at the liquid dispensing compartment (6) and the compartment is disposed below the said buffer tank (10);

wherein the feed valve (SV1) and the sensors such as LSH (27 (b)) and LSL (28 (b)) of the buffer tank (10) are in internal electronic communication with the PLC unit.

4. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 3  wherein the pipe-in-pipe assembly of the buffer tank is having a vertical pipe (22) in communication with the feed valve (SV1) through a pipe inlet opening (25) and another pipe (24) into which the opened end of said vertical pipe (22) being mechanically inserted so that when the valve (SV1) opens  the liquid having a flow direction (29) toward downward direction being spilled into a liquid filled interior (23) of the buffer tank.

5. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 1 and 2  wherein the vending valves include a feed valve (SV1) and a dispensing valve (SV2) and wherein said feed valve being secured along a flow line of a pipe between the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10); wherein said dispensing valve (SV2) being secured along a flow line of a pipe between the buffer tank (10) and the container (11);

wherein the feed valve (SV1) and the dispensing valve (SV2) are in electronic communication with the PLC unit;

wherein said CIP valves include a drain valve (SV3)  a drain valve (SV5)  a recirculation valve (SV4)  a sprayball valve (SV6)  a water make up valve (SV7)  a liquid filling valve (SV8);

wherein the drain valve (SV3) being secured along a flow line of a pipe drained from the liquid dispensing compartment (6);

wherein the drain valve (SV5) being secured along a flow line of a pipe drained from the balance tank (19);

wherein the recirculation valve (SV4) being secured along a flow line of a pipe between the liquid dispensing compartment and the balance tank (19);

wherein the sprayball valve (SV6) being mechanically secured on the CIP flow pipe line (20) along a flow line between the CIP pump (14) and the liquid storage tank (1);

wherein the water make up valve (SV7) being secured along flow line of a pipe between an external water tank placed outside the machine (8) and the balance tank (19);

wherein the liquid filling valve (SV8) being mechanically secured on the liquid filling pipe line (21) along a flow line between the CIP pump and the liquid storage tank (1);

wherein except the drain valve (SV3) rest of the vending and CIP valves are in normally closed (NC) condition.

6. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claimed in claim 1  wherein a sprayball (15) being mounted on the top surface facing liquid filled interior of the balance tank (19) as well as on the top surface facing liquid filled interior of the liquid storage tank (1).

7. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 1  wherein optionally  the machine (8) has the customizing facility to enable any one unit among the two units such as the currency reading unit and the smartcard reading unit.

8. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 1  wherein a GSM connectivity being coupled with the machine (8) as an additional facility for sending the different operational details regarding each of the said different operations of the machine through automatic SMS alert at regular predetermined time interval.

9. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 1  wherein the machine is being operated under main power supply or under the battery back up system.

10. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 1  wherein plurality of the keys being provided on the keyboard of the HMI unit for displaying and for accessing different facilities  for getting details regarding different operations of the machine and setting different parameters for different operations that being carried through the machine such as to get details of start/pause operation  to initiate liquid filling operation  for setting and fixing rate and flow rate of liquid  to initiate liquid empty out operation  for entering passwords for different operations  for adding/subtracting the offset set value from flow rate  to initiate MIS menu for getting details of number of notes and coins being collected from vending operation  for setting temperature of the liquid  for setting different ON/OFF time of CIP pumps  vending as well as CIP valves during CIP operation  to reset the MIS data from the MIS menu  to execute manual over ride for manually checking quantity of liquid for a given amount to be paid.

11. An Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid as claimed in claim 1  wherein the liquid includes any kind of potable liquid like milk or drink or any kind of oils for vending purpose.

12. A method of working of an Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid comprising plurality of operations such as a vending operation for dispensing a liquid through a liquid dispensing unit (9) of a machine (8); a CIP operation for cleaning the liquid storage tank (1) and a buffer tank (10) of the CIP unit by circulating waters and chemicals; and a liquid filling operation for filling liquid from a tanker (17) to a liquid storage tank (1) of the liquid dispensing unit (9) by pumping a CIP pump (14) of the CIP unit.

13. A method of working of an Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid  as claimed in claim 12  wherein the vending operation comprising the following steps 

a) entering or fixing a rate of the liquid and a flow rate of the liquid;
b) inserting a currency amount through a currency note accepter (4) or a currency coin accepter (5) of the machine (8);
c) pressing start/pause push button and initiating the vending operation;
d) identifying the value of the currency amount by different channels embodied in the currency processing unit by means of a program that has been programmed in a currency processor of a PLC unit of machine (8) for different variable currency range and displaying the same amount on the HMI display as being credited;
e) automatically calculating a time interval for which a dispensing valve (SV2) of the liquid dispensing unit (9) to be kept opened;
f) dispensing accurate metered quantity of the liquid with the fixed rate by opening the dispensing valve (SV2) for the calculated time interval and thereby ending the vending operation.

14. A method of working of an Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid  as claimed in claim 13  wherein instead of inserting the currency amount  additionally a smartcard unit (30) along with a display and a keyboard is provided in the machine (8).

15. A method of working of an Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid  as claimed in claim 12  wherein the CIP operation comprising following steps;

a) initiating the pre rinse cycle  after setting a predetermined time interval for which a pre rinse cycle  a chemical rinse cycle  a final chemical rinse cycle  a sterilization cycle and a final sterilization rinse cycle to be in progress through a HMI (Human Machine Interface) unit of machine (8);
b) filling waters inside the balance tank (19) from the external water tank by actuating water make up valve (SV7) till the water level of the balance tank reached up to a LSH (27 (a)) of the balance tank (19) and thereby stopping of the water filling in the balance tank (19) by de-energizing the valve (SV7) as soon as the LSH (27 (a)) is activated after being the water level in the balance tank (19) reached up to LSH (27 (a));
c) starting the CIP pump (14) to pump the liquid from the balance tank (19) to the liquid storage tank (1) by alternatively opening the valves such as sprayball valve (SV6) and liquid filling valve (SV8);
d) sprinkling the waters through a sprayball (15) of the liquid storage tank (1);
e) initiating the opening of feed valve (SV1) in order to fill the water from the liquid storage tank (1) to the buffer tank up to the level LSH (27 (b)) of magnetic float valve (16) of the buffer tank (10);
f) initiating the dispensing valve (SV2) to open for the predetermined time interval under the control of the PLC unit to remove the washout waters from the buffer tank (10);
wherein meanwhile the feed valve (SV1) becomes “ON” when the LSL (28 (b)) of the magnetic float valve (16) is activated after being the water level in the buffer tank reaches up to LSL (28 (b));
g) draining of washout waters from the buffer tank (10) as well as liquid storage tank (1) through drain valve (SV3) which is in normally opened in condition;
h) pumping “OFF” the CIP pump for ending of the pre rinse cycle in consequence to the predetermined number of counts for opening of valves (SV6) and (SV8) have been reached;
i) opening continuously the dispensing valve (SV2) till the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10) becomes empty and thereby ending pre rinse cycle; wherein during the pre rinse cycle the valves such as drain valve (SV3)  recirculation valve (SV4) and drain valve (SV5) are de energized;
j) initiating the chemical rinse cycle and retaining the chemical rinse cycle for the predetermined time interval;
k) actuating peristaltic pump (12) to start pumping desired dosing and desired concentration of the chemical solution such as alkali detergent solution (NaOH) for the predetermined time interval to inject into the balance tank (19);
l) following the steps (b) to (f) of the pre rinse cycle;
m) energizing the drain valve (SV3) from the liquid dispensing compartment and energizing the recirculation valve (SV4) for closing the valve (SV3) and opening the valve (SV4) respectively to re-enter the chemical solution into the balance tank (19) and continuing the recirculation of chemical solution for predetermined time interval;
n) tuning “OFF” the CIP pump (14) and simultaneously de-energizing the valves (SV3) and (SV4)  to stop the recirculation of the chemical solution  after reaching the predetermined time interval as mentioned in step (m);
o) energizing the valves such as drain valve (SV5) from the balance tank (19)  the sprayball valve (SV6) and liquid filling valve (SV8) for emptying out the chemical mixtures present inside the pipe lines such as CIP flow pipe line (20) and liquid filling pipe line (21) of he CIP unit;
p) opening continuously the liquid dispensing valve (SV2) till the liquid storage tank (1) and the buffer tank (10) being emptied out and thereby ending the chemical rinse cycle;
q) initiating the final chemical rinse cycle and retaining the final chemical rinse cycle for the predetermined time interval;
r) following steps (b) to (i) and thereby ending final chemical rinse cycle;
s) initiating the sterilization cycle and retaining the cycle for the predetermined time interval;
t) actuating the peristaltic pump (12) to start pumping the desired dosing and desired concentration of the sterilization solution from inlets (13) for predefined time interval to inject into the balance tank (19);
u) following steps (l) to (p) as described in the chemical rinse cycle and thereby ending the sterilization rinse cycle;
v) initiating the final sterilization rinse cycle and retaining the cycle for the predetermined time interval;
w) following steps (b) to (i) and thereby ending final sterilization rinse cycle;
x) ending the CIP operation.

16. A method of working of an Automatic Vending Machine for Dispensing Calibrated Volume of Desired Quantity of Liquid  as claimed in claim 15  wherein the sterilization solution is of any sanitizing solution.

Dated this 21st day of November  2011