US 11,230,465 B1Granted

Soda pop syrup sensor

OwnerKevin M. Candler, Mark Riddleinventors

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Abstract

A system for sensing empty soft drink syrup containers in a soda pop dispensing arrangement is provided that includes at least one soft drink syrup container; a mixing station for mixing water and CO2 with soft drink syrup to make a soda pop mixture; a pump for pumping soft drink syrup to the mixing station and beyond to be dispensed; a CO2 container providing CO2 gas; and a soda pop dispenser apparatus. The system also includes a first tubing transmission line extending between the soft drink syrup container and the pump for carrying soft drink syrup, a second tubing transmission line for carrying soft drink syrup between the pump and the mixing station, and a third tubing transmission line extending between the mixing station and the soda pop dispenser for carrying soda pop to be dispensed. An optic sensor is located and spliced in the first tubing transmission line for sensing when the first tubing transmission line is devoid of soft drink syrup, and a signal indicator electrically connected with the optic sensor provides a signal indicating when the first tubing transmission line is devoid of syrup.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for sensing empty soft drink syrup containers in a soda pop dispensing arrangement comprising:

at least one soft drink syrup container;
a mixing station for mixing water and CO2 with soft drink syrup to make a soda pop mixture;
a pump for the pumping soft drink syrup to the mixing station and beyond to be dispensed;
a CO2 container providing CO2 gas;
a soda pop dispenser apparatus
a first tubing transmission line extending between the soft drink syrup container and the pump for carrying the soft drink syrup, a second tubing transmission line for carrying the soft drink syrup between the pump and the mixing station, and a third tubing transmission line extending between the mixing station and the soda pop dispenser for carrying soda pop to be dispensed;
an optic sensor located in a housing and spliced in the first tubing transmission line for sensing when the first tubing transmission line is devoid of the soft drink syrup, at least a portion of the first tubing transmission line extending between the optic sensor and the pump is lower relative to the horizontal than an outlet end of the housing and at least a portion of the pump to create a trap area to prevent back flow of the soft drink syrup from the pump to the optic sensor;
a signal indicator electrically connected with the optic sensor for providing a signal indicating when the first tubing transmission line is devoid of the soft drink syrup;
a DC power supply;
and
a control unit electrically connected to the optic sensor and the signal indicator providing a voltage from the DC power supply.

8 more elements

A method for sensing empty soft drink syrup containers in a soda pop dispensing arrangement comprising the steps of:

providing at least one soft drink syrup container;
providing a mixing station for mixing water and CO2 with soft drink syrup to make a soda pop mixture;
providing a pump for pumping the soft drink syrup to the mixing station and beyond to be dispensed
providing a CO2 container to provide CO2 gas;
providing a soda pop dispenser;
providing a first tubing transmission line extending between the soft drink syrup container and the pump for carrying the soft drink syrup, a second tubing transmission line for carrying the soft drink syrup between the pump and the mixing station, and a third tubing transmission line extending between the mixing station and the soda pop dispensing apparatus for carrying soda pop to be dispensed;
providing an optic sensor;
splicing the optic sensor in the first tubing transmission line;
mounting at least a portion of the first tubing transmission line extending between the optic sensor and the pump lower relative to the horizontal than the optic sensor and an inlet of the pump to which the first tubing transmission line is connected to create a trap area to prevent backflow of the soft drink syrup from the pump to the optic sensor;
providing a signal indicator;
electrically connecting the optic sensor with the signal indicator;
providing a DC power supply;
providing a control unit;
electrically connecting the optic sensor and the signal indicator to the DC power supply through the control unit;
sensing when the first tubing line is at least partially devoid of the soft drink syrup using the optic sensor;
and
signaling with the signal indicator when the first tubing line is at least partially devoid of the soft drink syrup.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/984,498Filed 4 Aug 2020 · continuation
Priority: 26 Jun 2017
Granted: 25 Jan 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B67D 1/0042
Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught: details of specific parts of the dispensers
B67D 1/1247
Flow or pressure control devices or systems , e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers: means for detecting the…
B67D 1/0021
The beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components: the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
B67D 1/0888
Details: means comprising electronic circuitry