# US 5,835,993 A · AC Motor controlling apparatus

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- Number: US 5,835,993 A
- Document ID: US5835993A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/857,551
- Filed: 1997-05-16
- Granted: 1998-11-10
- Earliest claimed: 1997-05-16
- Assignees: Renau Corporation
- Inventors: Karol Renau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5835993A

## CPC

- B23Q 15/24: of linear position
- A47J 31/401: {whereby the powder ingredients and the water are delivered to a mixing bowl}
- H02P 25/04: Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
- G05B 2219/36012: Percentage keys, input percentage values
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

An apparatus for incrementally controlling actuation of an alternating current motor and rotation of the motor shaft, to incrementally control rotation of a rotatable member connectable to the motor shaft. The apparatus includes motor pulsing elements for controlling actuation of the motor and rotation of the motor shaft and rotatable member. The motor pulsing elements increase or decrease motor actuation and motor shaft and rotatable member rotation in increments of about ten percent, between about ten and one-hundred percent of full actuation and rotation, for correspondingly controlling a system controllable thereby, such as a beverage powder dispensing system in a beverage dispensing machine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for incrementally controlling the actuation of an alternating current motor and the rotation of the motor shaft, to incrementally control the rotation of a rotatable element connectable to the motor shaft, so as to incrementally increase or decrease the rotation of the rotatable element, comprising:
(a) an alternating current motor, including a motor shaft to which the rotatable element is connectable; and
(b) means for incrementally controlling the actuation of the motor and the rotation of the motor shaft, and for incrementally controlling the rotation of the rotatable element connected to the motor shaft, to incrementally increase or decrease the rotation of the rotatable element, comprising means for processing the rotation of the motor shaft over time, which comprise a microprocessor, and means for switching the rotation of the motor shaft on and off responsive to the microprocessor, such that the motor shaft rotates incrementally responsive thereto, wherein the switching means are connected to the motor, and the microprocessor is connected to the switching means for control thereof, and means for actuating the microprocessor, connected to the microprocessor, such that actuation of the actuating means in a preset sequence provides programmed instructions to the microprocessor responsive thereto for controlling the switching means and for incrementally rotating the motor shaft responsive thereto.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the incrementally controlling means control rotation of the motor shaft and the rotatable element in increments of about ten percent, between about ten percent and about one-hundred percent of full rotation thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, adapted to be installed in a beverage dispensing machine, further comprising a rotatable element connectable to the motor shaft, adapted to dispense a beverage ingredient in an amount dependent upon the amount of rotation thereof, and means for connecting the rotatable member to the motor shaft.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching means comprise a triac.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the rotatable element comprises an auger for dispensing the beverage ingredient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activating means comprise a push button, connected to the processing means.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the beverage ingredient comprises a beverage powder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the beverage powder comprises cappuccino powder.

### Claim 9

A method of incrementally controlling the actuation of an alternating current motor and the rotation of the motor shaft, to incrementally control the rotation of a rotatable element connected to the motor shaft, so as to incrementally increase or decrease the rotation of the rotatable element, comprising:
(a) activating an apparatus which includes an alternating current motor including a motor shaft to which the rotatable element is connectable, and means for incrementally controlling the actuation of the motor and the rotation of the motor shaft, and for incrementally controlling the rotation of the rotatable element connected to the motor shaft, to incrementally increase or decrease the rotation of the rotatable element, comprising means for processing the rotation of the motor shaft over time, which comprise a microprocessor, and means for switching the rotation of the motor shaft on and off responsive to the microprocessor, such that the motor shaft rotates incrementally responsive thereto, wherein the switching means are connected to the motor, and the microprocessor is connected to the switching means for control thereof, and means for actuating the microprocessor, connected to the microprocessor, such that actuation of the actuating means in a preset sequence provides programmed instructions to the microprocessor responsive thereto for controlling the switching means and for incrementally rotating the motor shaft responsive thereto; and
(b) activating the actuating means in a preset sequence to provide programmed instructions to the microprocessor for controlling the switching means to incrementally control the rotation of the rotatable element connected to the motor shaft, so as to incrementally increase or decrease the rotation of the rotatable element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the step of incremetally controlling the motor comprises pulsing so as to control rotation of the motor shaft and rotatable element in increments of about ten percent, between about ten percent and about one-hundred percent of full rotation of the motor shaft and rotatable element.