Touch screen interface for a beverage dispensing machine

• US 10,457,537 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc. (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc. (Middleby Corporation)
• Inventors: Hecht, Thomas R., Feng, Jun, Brodsky, Boris, Martindale, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Sean E
• Application Number:
  US15/456,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20170183212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4403 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/52 Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/5255 of flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/60 Cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0036 based on the timed opening of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0066 outside the carbonator
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0081 Dispensing valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/07 Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0872 Aesthetics, advertising
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0877 Advertising means advertising in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0895 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1202 Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1204 for ratio control purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1209 combined with a timer
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/16 Devices for collecting spilled beverages
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/075 Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00031 Housing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00091 : Bar management means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 : for drink preparation

Abstract

A beverage dispensing system including a control unit and a touch screen. Inputs are made to the touch screen to dispense beverages and apply system adjustments. The control unit controls a plurality of beverage dispensing valves according to inputs made to the touch screen.

Claims

1. A control system for a beverage dispenser, the control system comprising:

a touch screen;

a plurality of beverage dispensing valves coupled to a plurality of fluid lines; and

a control unit electrically coupled to the touch screen and the plurality of valves, the control unit configured to;

display a graphical configuration on the touch screen for sanitizing the plurality of fluid lines;

receive an input from the touch screen selecting at least one fluid line for sanitization; and

control the plurality of valves to provide sanitizing fluid to the at least one selected fluid line for a predetermined time interval.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to flush the sanitizing fluid through the at least one fluid line.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to statically hold the sanitizing fluid within the at least one fluid line.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to purge the at least one fluid line of the sanitizing fluid after the predetermined time interval.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to display a countdown of the time interval.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein user inputs made to the touch screen are ignored by the control system during the time interval.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the input from the touch screen is for selecting a first fluid line and a second fluid line for sanitization, and the control unit is further configured to:

control the plurality of valves to provide sanitizing fluid to the first fluid line and the second fluid line for sanitizing the first fluid line and the second fluid line.

8. A method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen of a beverage dispenser including a plurality of beverage dispensing valves coupled to a plurality of fluid lines, a graphical configuration for sanitizing the plurality of fluid lines;

receiving an input from the touch screen to selecting at least one fluid line for sanitization; and

controlling the plurality of beverage dispensing valves to provide sanitizing fluid to the at least one selected fluid line for a predetermined time interval.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to flush the sanitizing fluid through the at least one fluid line.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to statically hold the sanitizing fluid within the at least one fluid line.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

purging the at least one fluid line of the sanitizing fluid after the predetermined time interval.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a countdown of the time interval.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein user inputs made to the touch screen are ignored by the beverage dispenser during the time interval.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the input from the touch screen is for selecting a first fluid line and a second fluid line for sanitization, and the method further comprises:

controlling the plurality of valves to provide the sanitizing fluid to the first fluid line and the second fluid line for sanitizing the first fluid line and the second fluid line.