# US 6,293,430 B1 · Apparatus and method for recovering beverage syrup > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,293,430 B1 - Document ID: US6293430B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/405,569 - Filed: 1999-09-25 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 1999-09-25 - Inventors: Odell Kent Haselden, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293430B1 ## CPC - A23L 2/00: Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor (soup concentrates A23L23/10); Preparation or treatment thereof (preparation of non-alcoholic beverages by removal of alcohol C12H3/00) - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) ## Abstract An apparatus and method for automatically gauging container and syrup requirements for beverage production includes: (a) an enclosed syrup recovery tank, (b) an inlet port leading into the syrup recovery tank; (c) an outlet port, syrup being transportable into and out of the syrup recovery tank through inlet and outlet distribution lines; (d) a pump connected to the outlet distribution lines for pumping syrup from the syrup recovery tank; (e) a microprocessor; (f) a level transmitter for measuring syrup levels within the syrup recovery tank and transmitting information concerning syrup levels to the microprocessor; (g) a level control valve on the inlet distribution line for controlling the flow of syrup to the syrup recovery tank; and (h) a control mechanism connected to the microprocessor for a user to input to, and receive information from, the microprocessor. This apparatus and method allow conservation of syrup and containers at the end of a production run. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for automatically gauging container and syrup requirements for beverage production, the apparatus comprising: (a) an enclosed syrup recovery tank connected by at least one inlet distribution line to at least one syrup supply tank, and connected to at least one outlet distribution line leading out of the syrup recovery tank; (b) an inlet port leading into the syrup recovery tank, the inlet port being located on a lower portion of the syrup recovery tank and being connected to the syrup supply tank by the inlet distribution line, syrup being transportable through the inlet distribution line into the syrup recovery tank from at least one syrup supply tank; (c) an outlet port on a lower portion of the syrup recovery tank, the syrup being transportable from the syrup recovery tank through the outlet port and through the outlet distribution line; (d) a centrifugal pump connected to the outlet distribution line adjacent to the syrup recovery tank, the pump being adapted for pumping syrup from the syrup recovery tank through the outlet distribution line; (e) a microprocessor in communication with the syrup recovery tank; (f) a level transmitter within the syrup recovery tank adapted for measuring syrup levels within the syrup recovery tank and transmitting information concerning syrup levels to the microprocessor; (g) a level control valve on the inlet distribution line for controlling the flow of syrup to the syrup recovery tank, the level control valve being adapted to receive input from the microprocessor; (h) a control mechanism connected to the microprocessor adapted to enable a user to input to the microprocessor, and to receive information from the microprocessor, and (i) a source of electrical power, the electrical power source being within, on, or connected to the control mechanism; wherein the apparatus allows conservation of syrup and containers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control mechanism comprises an input/output screen for inputting information to the microprocessor and visually displaying information received from the microprocessor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an operator can automatically monitor syrup and container inventories during a beverage production run, and end the production run with substantially no wasted syrup or containers. ### Claim 4 An apparatus for automatically gauging container and syrup requirements for beverage production, the apparatus comprising: (a) an enclosed syrup recovery tank connected by at least one inlet distribution line to at least one syrup supply tank, and connected to at least one outlet distribution line leading out of the syrup recovery tank; (b) an inlet port leading into the syrup recovery tank, the inlet port being located on a lower portion of the syrup recovery tank and being connected to the syrup supply tank by the inlet distribution line, syrup being transportable through the inlet distribution line into the syrup recovery tank from at least one syrup supply tank; (c) an outlet port on a lower portion of the syrup recovery tank, the syrup being transportable from the syrup recovery tank through the outlet port and through the outlet distribution line; (d) a pump connected to the outlet distribution line adjacent to the syrup recovery tank, the pump being adapted for pumping syrup from the syrup recovery tank through the outlet distribution line; (e) a microprocessor in communication with the syrup recovery tank; (f) a level transmitter within the syrup recovery tank adapted for measuring syrup levels within the syrup recovery tank and transmitting information concerning syrup levels to the microprocessor; (g) a level control valve on the inlet distribution line for controlling the flow of syrup to the syrup recovery tank, the level control valve being adapted to receive input from the microprocessor; (h) a control mechanism connected to the microprocessor adapted to enable a user to input to the microprocessor, and to receive information from the microprocessor, the control mechanism comprising a screen for visually displaying information received from the microprocessor; and (i) a source of electrical power in communication with the control mechanism; wherein an inlet distribution line includes a divert valve adapted for diverting syrup to a line for cleaning the syrup recovery tank; and wherein the apparatus allows conservation of syrup and beverage containers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the microprocessor is connected to: the level control valve, the divert valve, the level transmitter, and a drain valve for draining the syrup recovery tank. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the level transmitter comprises a probe, which extends down into the syrup recovery tank, and a movable float on the probe adapted to float on top of the syrup in the syrup recovery tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An apparatus according to claim 6, the level control valve being automatically openable and closable by the microprocessor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An apparatus according to claim 7, the microprocessor automatically controlling opening or closing a stop gate on a filler in a beverage production system comprising the syrup recovery apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) An apparatus according to claim 7, the microprocessor automatically controlling opening or closing of a syrup supply valve on a distribution line from a syrup supply tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pump is a centrifugal pump. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the microprocessor also inputs to a depalletizer alarm and input button, and a syrup cut-off alarm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a conductivity sensor on the outlet distribution line, the conductivity sensor being adapted for inputting to the microprocessor when the syrup recovery tank has emptied.