Apparatus and method for controlling the consistency and quality of a frozen carbonated beverage product

An apparatus for controlling the consistency and quality of a frozen carbonated beverage product made by mixing several ingredients including syrup, water and carbon dioxide in a mixing chamber of a frozen carbonated beverage machine, said apparatus comprising:

• a first transducer that measures the pressure of carbon dioxide being injected into the mixing chamber;
• a second transducer that measures the pressure of the frozen carbonated beverage product in the mixing chamber;
• a programmable memory device employing an algorithm which determines a low set point pressure value for the mixing chamber and a high set point pressure value for the mixing chamber based upon the pressure of carbon dioxide being injected into the mixing chamber;
• at least one control valve that controls the injection of one or more of the ingredients into the mixing chamber;
• and
• a processor that receives inputs from the first transducer and the second transducer and communicates with the programmable memory device and the at least one control valve.

A method for controlling the consistency and quality of a frozen carbonated beverage product made by mixing several ingredients including syrup, water and carbon dioxide in a mixing chamber of a frozen carbonated beverage machine, said method comprising the steps of:

• measuring the pressure of carbon dioxide being injected into the mixing chamber;
• selecting a low set point pressure value for the mixing chamber and a high set point pressure value for the mixing chamber based on the pressure of carbon dioxide being injected into the mixing chamber;
• measuring the pressure of the frozen carbonated beverage product in the mixing chamber;
• and
• injecting one or more of the ingredients into the mixing chamber when the pressure in the mixing chamber is below the low set point pressure value and cutting off the supply of one or more of the ingredients to the mixing chamber when the pressure in the mixing chamber is above the high set point pressure value.

An apparatus for controlling the consistency and quality of a frozen beverage product made by mixing several ingredients including syrup, water and carbon dioxide in a mixing chamber of a frozen carbonated beverage machine having multiple mixing chambers, said apparatus comprising:

• means for measuring the pressure of carbon dioxide being injected into each of the mixing chambers;
• means for selecting low set point pressure values for each of the mixing chambers and high set point pressure values for each of the mixing chambers based upon the pressure of carbon dioxide being injected into the mixing chambers;
• means for measuring the pressure of the frozen beverage product in each of the mixing chambers;
• and
• means for controlling the injection of the ingredients into each of the mixing chambers, said control means operating to inject one or more of the ingredients into one or more of the mixing chambers when the pressure in the one or more mixing chambers is below the low set point pressure value and cutting off the supply of one or more of the ingredients into the one or more mixing chambers when the pressure in the one or more mixing chambers is above the high set point pressure value.