Apparatus and technique for setting brix in a soft drink dispenser
AssigneeABCC/TechCorp
InventorJoseph W. Shannon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A soft drink dispenser is provided with a first electrical probe within the syrup dispensing line, and a second electrical probe a fixed distance below the dispensing head. Upon actuation of the syrup dispensing valve, the two probes determine the amount of time required for syrup to pass the distance from the dispensing head to the second probe. This time is a function of flow rate of the syrup and, accordingly, of the brix of the resulting drink. This flow rate can then be adjusted by adjusting the time period that syrup is dispensed, or the pressure head under which the dispensing is achieved, or a restriction within the dispensing line. Such adjustment brings the brix of the soft drink to the desired level.
Claims19
Apparatus for setting the brix of a soft drink dispenser, comprising:
- a source of syrup;
- a dispensing head receiving and dispensing syrup from said source of syrup;
- a valve interposed between said source of syrup and said dispensing head, said valve enabling and inhibiting said dispensing of syrup;
- sensing means operatively connected to said dispensing head for sensing and determining an actual rate of flow of said syrup from said dispensing head wherein a first portion of said sensing means is positioned beneath said dispensing head by a known distance, said syrup dispensed from said dispensing head contacting said first portion;
- and control means operatively interconnected between said sensing means and said source of syrup for adjusting said actual flow rate to attain a desired flow rate.
Apparatus for setting the brix of soft drinks dispensed by a soft drink dispenser, comprising:
- a dispensing head;
- a source of syrup in communication with said dispensing head through a conduit;
- a first electrical probe within said conduit;
- a second electrical probe operatively positioned a set distance beneath said dispensing head;
- a voltage source providing a voltage differential between said first and second probe;
- and
- a valve within said conduit, actuation of said valve emitting a stream of syrup from said dispensing head and providing an electrical interconnection between said first and second electrical probes.
A method for setting the characteristic brix of soft drinks dispensed from a soft drink dispenser, comprising:
- establishing a source of syrup;
- initiating at time T.sub.0 dispensing of said syrup from a dispensing head;
- sensing said syrup upon reaching a point a fixed distance beneath said dispensing head at a time T.sub.1 ;
- determining the time period T.sub.1 -T.sub.0 ;
- and
- adjusting a syrup dispensing cycle of the soft drink dispenser as a function of said time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.