Resistance measuring sold out sensor for a beverage dispenser
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorsCaitlin Lahey, Joshua Allen Maust
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beverage dispenser and process of dispensing beverages from a beverage dispenser may include causing an ingredient in the form of a fluid to be drawn from a storage container through a conduit. An electrical conductivity of the fluid ingredient may be sensed within the conduit. A determination as to whether the electrical conductivity of the fluid ingredient crosses a threshold level may be made, and if so, the beverage dispenser may be disabled from dispensing beverages containing the fluid ingredient, otherwise, the beverage dispenser may be enabled to dispense beverages containing the fluid ingredient.
Claims20
A method of dispensing beverages from a beverage dispenser, said method comprising:
- causing an ingredient in the form of a fluid to be drawn from a storage container through a conduit;
- sensing an electrical conductivity of the fluid ingredient within the conduit;
- and
- determining whether the electrical conductivity of the fluid ingredient crosses a threshold level, and if so, disabling the beverage dispenser from dispensing beverages containing the fluid ingredient, otherwise, enabling the beverage dispenser to dispense beverages containing the fluid ingredient.
A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverages, comprising:
- a storage container configured to store a fluid ingredient for use in producing a beverage;
- a conduit extending from the storage container to enable the fluid ingredient to flow to an output for dispensing into a beverage being poured by the dispenser;
- a pump in fluid communication with the conduit, and configured to pump the fluid ingredient through said conduit;
- a dispenser nozzle in fluid communication with said conduit and pump, and configured to dispense the fluid ingredient therefrom;
- an electrical conductivity sensor configured to sense an electrical conductivity of the fluid ingredient within said conduit;
- and
- a processing unit configured to receive electrical conductivity measurements from said electrical conductivity sensor, and further being configured to:
- determine whether the electrical conductivity of the fluid ingredient crosses a threshold level, and if so,
- disable the beverage dispenser from dispensing beverages containing the fluid ingredient,
- otherwise, enable the beverage dispenser to dispense beverages containing the fluid ingredient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.