US 6,574,575 B2 · Method for rapid calibration of beverage dispensing machine

Abstract

A rapid sensor calibration technique applied prior to each Sensor 9 measuring a beverage in which water (zero Brix), at same temperature as beverage, is drawn from a Water Supply 3 via Valve 6 and passed over the fixed optic Sensor 9 in order to reference out any sensor temperature changes or beverage temperature changes or sensor surface fouling by the dispensed beverage. This technique of continuous and multiple calibrations, provides an enhanced “beverage dispensing system” calibration beyond that achievable using known calibration methods associated with automatically sensing and controlling beverage quality for soft drinks from a fountain dispenser using, for example, water at a specific temperature to initially calibrate Sensor 9, or using a high quality beverage, from a bottle, for example, at a known Brix level to initially calibrate Sensor 9.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method of calibrating a beverage dispenser, comprising the steps of:

a) supplying a first fluid, wherein the flow of the first fluid is controlled by a first valve;
b) supplying a second fluid, wherein the flow of the second fluid is controlled by a second valve;
c) mixing the first fluid and the second fluid;
d) calibrating a fixed optic sensor via passing zero-Brix water, whose temperature is the same as that of the first and seconds fluids, onto the sensing surface of the fixed optic sensor such that temperature inaccuracies are referenced out and further such that contamination and fouling of the sensing surface by any fluids are substantially eliminated;
e) passing a sample of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid onto a sensing surface of the fixed optic sensor;
f) measuring one or more properties of the sample;
g) utilizing the measured properties to determine and improve the quality of the dispensed beverage;
and
h) repeating steps (a)-(g) until a desired ratio of fluid constituents is achieved.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for rapid calibration of beverage dispensing machine

Life of this patent

Method for rapid calibration of beverage dispensing machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27