US 7,337,920 B2 · Fluid dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A concentrated flavour dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a few millilitres and few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is in direct fluid communication with a respective storage tank, and a control panel having a programmable microprocessor mounted to the cabinet for receiving user selections and controlling each individual pump. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod for advancing a piston by any one of several predetermined distances to dispense a corresponding volume of fluid. The control panel receives a valid user selection for actuating one or more pumps to dispense the appropriate volume of a concentrated flavouring fluid. The microprocessor tracks the amount of fluid dispensed from each storage tank and alerts users and/or prevents further operation when reservoirs are close to empty to avoid null dispenses to customers. Various maintenance routines can be executed through the user interface, and dispense volumes and combination dispenses can be re-programmed manually or automatically.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A displacement pump for dispensing a predetermined volume of fluid comprising:

a cylindrical chamber coupled to a fluid dispensing outlet having a first one-way check valve, the cylindrical chamber defining an internal volume for storing at least the predetermined volume of fluid;
a fluid inlet coupled to the cylindrical chamber, the fluid inlet including a second one-way check valve;
a piston slidable in the cylindrical chamber towards the fluid dispensing outlet;
a threaded drive rod connected to the piston;
a stepper motor in threaded engagement with the threaded drive rod, the stepper motor rotatable by a number of steps to slide the piston towards the fluid dispensing outlet by a distance corresponding to the predetermined volume;
a guide tube having one end coupled to the cylindrical chamber and another end coupled to the steeper motor, the guide tube housing a portion of the threaded drive rod for shielding the portion of the threaded drive rod from contaminants, and
a rod guide fixed to the threaded drive rod and slidable within the guide tube, the rod guide matingly engaging an inner surface of the guide tube to inhibit rotation of the threaded drive rod.

4 more elements

A dispensing system for providing a predetermined volume of fluid corresponding to a user selection, comprising:

a user interface for providing electrical selection signals in response to the user selection;
a microprocessor for receiving the electrical selection signals and accessing stored displacement pump calibration data in response to the electrical selection signals, the microprocessor calculating the predetermined volume of fluid to dispense corresponding to the electrical selection signals and the stored displacement pump calibration data, for providing pump control data;
a pump driver for receiving the pump control data and providing motor drive signals;
and,
a displacement pump including
a cylindrical chamber coupled to a fluid dispensing outlet having a first one-way check valve, the cylindrical chamber defining an internal volume for storing at least the predetermined volume of fluid,
a fluid inlet coupled to the cylindrical chamber, the fluid inlet including a second one-way check valve,
a piston slidable in the cylindrical chamber towards the fluid dispensing outlet,
a threaded drive rod connected to the piston,
a stepper motor in threaded engagement with the threaded drive rod, the stepper motor rotating in response to the motor drive signals by a number of steps to slide the piston towards the fluid dispensing outlet by a distance corresponding to the predetermined volume of fluid,
a guide tube having one end coupled to the cylindrical chamber and another end coupled to the stepper motor, the guide tube housing a portion of the threaded drive rod for shielding the portion of the threaded drive rod from contaminants, and
a rod guide fixed to the threaded drive rod and slidable within the guide tube, the rod guide matingly engaging an inner surface of the guide tube to inhibit rotation of the threaded drive rod.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid dispensing apparatus

Life of this patent

Fluid dispensing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22