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US 11,293,797 B2Granted
Liquid product dispensing system
AssigneeFronhofer Design LLC
InventorsBenjamin Ketchum, Paul Fronhofer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed embodiments provide a liquid product dispensing system. Cans are transported onto a weigh plate. The weigh plate is coupled to a dispensing system such that, when the can is filled with product to a predetermined weight, the dispensing system stops the flow of product into the can. A transport system then moves the filled cans from the weigh plate and moves another set of empty cans onto the weigh plate, and the process continues, enabling high-speed production of canned beverages.
Claims21
A beverage container weighing apparatus, comprising:
- a container platform;
- a weigh plate disposed on the container platform;
- a compression spring mechanically coupled to the container platform;
- a stop plate, wherein the stop plate comprises an opening, wherein the opening is wider than the weigh plate, and wherein the container platform is wider than the opening;
- a weigh plate lockdown actuator configured and disposed to secure the weigh plate against the stop plate;
- and
- a sensor configured and disposed to generate a trigger event in response to a predetermined weight being loaded on the weigh plate.
4 more elements
A beverage container weighing apparatus, comprising:
- a container platform;
- a weigh plate disposed on the container platform;
- a compression spring mechanically coupled to the container platform;
- a stop plate, wherein the stop plate comprises an opening, wherein the opening is wider than the weigh plate, and wherein the container platform is wider than the opening;
- a weigh plate lockdown actuator configured and disposed to secure the weigh plate against the stop plate;
- and
- a flange attached to an underside surface of the container platform, wherein the flange is configured and disposed to trigger an optical sensor when a predetermined mass is placed on the weigh plate.
4 more elements
A beverage container weighing apparatus, comprising:
- a first container platform;
- a first weigh plate disposed on the first container platform, wherein the first weigh plate comprises a recessed underside, and wherein a first weight is disposed within the recessed underside of the first weigh plate;
- a second container platform;
- a second weigh plate disposed on the second container platform, wherein the second weigh plate comprises a recessed underside, and wherein a second weight is disposed within the recessed underside of the second weigh plate;
- a first compression spring mechanically coupled to the first container platform;
- a second compression spring mechanically coupled to the second container platform;
- a stop plate, wherein the stop plate comprises an opening, wherein the opening is wider than the first weigh plate and wherein the opening is wider than the second weigh plate, and wherein the first container platform is wider than the opening, and wherein the second container platform is wider than the opening;
- a weigh plate lockdown actuator configured and disposed to secure the first weigh plate and second weigh plate against the stop plate;
- a first sensor configured and disposed to generate a trigger event in response to a first predetermined weight being loaded on the first weigh plate;
- and
- a second sensor configured and disposed to generate a trigger event in response to a second predetermined weight being loaded on the second weigh plate.
8 more elements
A beverage container weighing apparatus, comprising:
- a container platform;
- a weigh plate disposed on the container platform;
- a compression spring mechanically coupled to the container platform;
- a stop plate, wherein the stop plate comprises an opening, wherein the opening is wider than the weigh plate, and wherein the container platform is wider than the opening;
- a weigh plate lockdown actuator operable to press the weigh plate against the stop plate;
- a processor;
- an input/output interface coupled to the processor;
- an optical sensor coupled to an input/output interface;
- a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory contains instructions, that when executed by the processor, perform steps including:
- activating the weigh plate lockdown actuator;
- operating a transport mechanism to place a can on the weigh plate;
- deactivating the weigh plate lockdown actuator;
- starting product dispensing;
- in response to detecting a full condition from the optical sensor, ending product dispensing;
- reactivating the weigh plate lockdown actuator;
- and
- operating the transport mechanism to remove the can from the weigh plate.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.