Electronically controlled beverage dispenser

A control device for regulating the size of an ice bank in a beverage dispenser, the dispenser having a tank for holding a volume of water and an evaporator coil, the evaporator coil connected to refrigeration means for providing cooling thereof for forming the ice bank thereon, the control comprising:

• a control means,
• a pair of probes, the probes held at a first predetermined position,
• and the probes connected to the control means, the control means providing for a flow of electrical current between the probes, and the control means including means for sensing and determining the magnitude of resistance to the flow of electrical current between the probes,
• a temperature sensing means connected to the control means and positioned at a second predetermined position wherein the temperature sensing probe is located within the ice bank formed on the evaporator coil, and the control means for determining the presence of ice at the first predetermined position as a function of the magnitude of the resistance of the flow of electrical current between the probes, and the control means for determining the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means and determining the thickness of the ice between the first predetermined position and an outer surface portion on the ice bank as a function of the sensed temperature for turning the refrigeration means off if ice is sensed at the first predetermined position and if the sensed temperature indicates that ice of sufficient thickness has formed between the first predetermined position and the ice bank outer surface portion.

A method for regulating the size of an ice bank in a beverage dispenser, the dispenser having a tank for holding a volume of water and an evaporator coil, the evaporator coil connected to refrigeration means for providing cooling thereof for forming the ice bank thereon, the steps comprising:

• periodically sensing for the presence of ice at a first predetermined position,
• periodically sensing temperature at a second predetermined position within the ice bank when sensing for the presence of ice at the first predetermined position,
• determining the thickness of ice between the first predetermined position and an outer surface position of the ice bank as a function of the sensed temperature at the second predetermined position,
• turning the refrigeration means off if ice is sensed at the first predetermined position and if the sensed temperature at the second predetermined position indicates that ice of sufficient thickness has formed between the first predetermined position and the outer surface position of the ice bank.