Control system for timing a sequence of events

A method for controlling the timing of a dispenser apparatus including a valve which moves alternately between a product-loading position and a product-dispensing position in a repeated cycle and means for dispensing a product from the dispenser after each time the valve moves to its product-dispensing position, the method comprising the steps of:

• setting a predetermined time for the dispensing means to begin dispensing the product after the valve reaches its product-dispensing position,
• detecting the time at which the valve reaches its product-dispensing position,
• detecting the time that the dispensing means actually begins dispensing the product,
• determining the actual time difference between the time the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing means actually begins dispensing the product,
• comparing the actual time difference to a preset range of time differences to determine whether the actual time difference between the time the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing means actually begins dispensing the product is within a preset range of the time differences,
• adjusting the predetermined time that a control signal is generated to actuate the dispensing means in the next cycle of the valve by an amount of time based on the time difference between the time the rotary valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing means begins dispensing the product only if the actual time difference is outside the preset range of time differences.

A control system for controlling the timing of a dispenser apparatus including a valve which moves alternately between a product-loading position and a product-dispensing position in a repeated cycle and means for dispensing a product from the dispenser after each time the valve is in its product-dispensing position, the control system comprising

• means for detecting the time at which the valve reaches its product-dispensing position,
• means for generating a control signal at a predetermined time to actuate the dispensing means after the valve reaches its product-dispensing position,
• means for sensing the time that the dispensing means actually begins dispensing product,
• means for determining the actual time difference between the time the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing means actually begins dispensing the product, and
• means for adjusting the predetermined time that the control signal is generated to actuate the dispensing means for the next cycle of the valve by an amount of time based on the time difference to maintain the time difference between the time the rotary valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing means begins dispensing the product within a predetermined time range.

A control system for controlling the timing of a dispenser apparatus including a valve which moves alternately between a product-loading position and a product-dispensing position in a repeated cycle and means for loading a product into the dispenser from a product supply after each time the valve reaches its product-loading position, the control system comprising

• means for detecting the time at which the valve reaches its product-loading position,
• means for generating a control signal at a predetermined time to actuate the loading means after the valve reaches its product-loading position,
• means for sensing the time that the loading means actually begins loading product,
• means for determining the actual time difference between the time the valve reaches its product-loading position and the time the loading means actually begins loading the product, and
• means for adjusting the predetermined time that the control signal is generated to actuate the loading means for the next cycle of the valve by an amount of time based on the time difference to maintain the time difference between the time the rotary valve reaches its product-loading position and the time the loading means begins loading the product within a predetermined time range.

A control system for controlling the timing of a dispenser apparatus including a valve which moves alternately between a product-loading position and a product-dispensing position in a repeated cycle and means for dispensing a product from the dispenser after each time the valve is in its product-dispensing position, the control system comprising

• means for detecting the time at which the dispensing means completes dispensing the product,
• means for generating a control signal at a predetermined time to move the valve from its product-dispensing position to its product-loading position after the dispensing means dispenses the product,
• means for sensing the time that the valve actually begins moving from its product-dispensing position to its product-loading position,
• means for determining the actual time difference between the time the dispensing means completes dispensing the product and the time the valve actually begins to move from its product-dispensing position to its product-loading position, and
• means for adjusting the predetermined time that the control signal is generated to move the valve from its product-dispensing position to its product-loading position for the next cycle of the valve by an amount of time based on said time difference to maintain the time difference between the time the dispensing means completes dispensing the product and the time the valve begins to move from its product-dispensing position to its product-loading position within a predetermined time range.

A control system for controlling the timing of a dispenser apparatus including a valve which moves alternately between a product-loading position and a product-dispensing position in a repeated cycle and means for loading a product into the dispenser from a product supply after each time the valve is in its product-loading position, the control system comprising

• means for detecting the time at which the dispensing means completes loading the product,
• means for generating a control signal at a predetermined time to move the valve from its product-loading position to its product-dispensing position after the loading means loads the product into the dispenser,
• means for sensing the time that the valve actually begins moving from its product-loading position to its product-dispensing position,
• means for determining the actual time difference between the time the loading means completes loading the product and the time the valve actually begins to move from its product-loading position to its product-dispensing position, and
• means for adjusting the predetermined time that the control signal is generated to move the valve from its product-loading position to its product-dispensing position for the next cycle of the valve by an amount of time based on said time difference to maintain the time difference between the time the loading means completes loading the product and the time the valve begins to move from its product-loading position to its product-dispensing position within a predetermined time range.