US 5,454,406 A · Automatic beverage dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser is programmed to automatically dispense a beverage into a plurality of different size containers by storing therein a volume designation for each size container. The flow rate of beverage through the dispenser is determined. To do so, a user manually operates the dispenser to fill a given container with the beverage while the dispenser measures the filling time. The dispenser calculates a beverage flow rate from the volume designation for the given container and the filling time. Then the flow rate and volume designations are used thereafter by the dispenser to derive a dispensing time for each different size container. Thus the dispenser is able to derive dispensing times for each container size from filling only one of the containers. A unique dispenser valve also is disclosed.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of programing a beverage dispenser which includes a computer to automatically dispense a beverage into a plurality of containers of different sizes, steps of the method comprising:

storing into the computer a volume designation for each container of a different size;
using the beverage dispenser to fill a beverage container corresponding to a given volume designation stored in the computer;
the computer measuring an amount of time required to fill the beverage container of a known size;
the computer calculating a beverage flow rate from the given volume designation and the amount of time;
the computer deriving, from the flow rate and the stored volume designations, a dispensing time for each container of a different size;
and
the computer thereafter using the dispensing time to control how long to dispense the beverage into a container.

4 more elements

A beverage dispenser for automatically dispensing a beverage into containers of different sizes, said beverage dispenser comprising:

a coupling for receiving the beverage from a supply;
a spout having an inlet;
a resilient tube connecting said coupling to the inlet of said spout;
an actuator having an armature which is aligned with said resilient tube;
a valve member coupled to the armature, wherein said actuator in a deenergized state forces said valve member against said resilient tube to prevent the beverage from being dispensed, and said actuator in an energized state drives said valve member away from said resilient tube to allow the beverage to flow through the resilient tube;
a input device operable by a user of the beverage dispenser;
and
a control circuit, responsive to a signal from said input device by energizing said actuator for a given period of time to allow the beverage to flow through said resilient tube, wherein said control circuit comprises
(a) a first memory section that stores a volume designation for each container of a different size which is to be filled with the beverage, each volume designation being received from said input device upon activation by the user;
(b) a mechanism connected to the input device and the valve, and producing the control signal in response to a first command from said input device to begin dispensing the beverage, and thereafter terminating the control signal in response to a second command from said input device;
(c) a timer coupled to said mechanism to measure a time interval between receiving the first and second command from said input device;
(d) a flow rate calculator coupled to said first memory section and said timer and determining a beverage flow rate from a stored volume designation and time interval;
(e) a second memory section coupled to said flow rate calculator and storing the beverage flow rate;
and
(f) a dispensing time calculator coupled to said first and second memories and deriving, from the flow rate and stored volume designations, a dispensing time for each container of a different size.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic beverage dispenser

Life of this patent

Automatic beverage dispenser

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11