Beverage machine and method

Abstract

Provided is a beverage machine including a vibration pump for displacing liquid. The vibration pump includes a pumping member and a solenoid. A control system receives an electrical signal from a power supply. The electrical signal defines a maximum power for driving the solenoid. The control system drives the solenoid, using the electrical signal, at a first power level. An initial time period of at most 1 second is defined from start of energizing of the solenoid to the first power level to a point at which power is decreased. A power spike for driving the solenoid is generated by the control unit, the power spike drives the solenoid at the first power level and then diminishes to decrease power. Subsequently, the control system uses the electrical signal to increase power to drive the solenoid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.