Product dispensing system

• US 10,459,459 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Beavis, Russell H., Jones, Benjamin W., Kerwin, John M., Gray, Larry B., Manning, Casey P., Winkler, Felix, Charles, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US15/894,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20180164837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5987 Solenoid or electromagnetically operated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7782 With manual or external control for line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86027 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86799 With internal flow passage

Abstract

A flow control device is disclosed. The flow control device includes a solenoid, the solenoid including an armature. Also, a piston connected to the armature. The piston includes a primary orifice. The piston having an open position and a closed position. A piston spring connected to the piston is also includes and at least one secondary orifice. The movement of the piston to the open position at least partially opens the at least one secondary orifice and the movement of the piston to the closed position at least partially closes the at least one secondary orifice. The movement of the armature actuates the piston movement and controls fluid flow from the primary orifice through the at least one secondary orifice.

Claims

1. A product dispensing system comprising:

a flow control device configured to regulate a first ingredient;

a flow measuring device configured to provide a feedback signal based upon a volume of the first ingredient flowing within the flow control device;

a pump module configured to be coupled to a supply of a second ingredient; and

a controller configured to provide a first control signal to the flow control device for controlling a supply of a first quantity of the first ingredient and to provide a second control signal to the pump module for controlling the supply of a first quantity of the second ingredient, wherein the controller further configured to receive the feedback signal.

2. The product dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the flow control device includes:

a variable line impedance configured to regulate the first ingredient based upon, at least in part, the feedback signal of the flow measuring device and the first control signal provided by the controller.

3. The product dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the flow measuring device includes a positive displacement flow measuring device.

4. The product dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the positive displacement flow measuring device includes a gear-based positive displacement flow measuring device.

5. The product dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the variable line impedance includes:

a first rigid member having a first surface;

a second rigid member having a second surface; and

a variable cross-section fluid pathway defined by, at least in part, the first surface and the second surface;

the first surface being movable relative to the second surface to increase and decrease the variable cross-section fluid pathway.

6. The product dispensing system of claim 5, further including a stepper motor coupled to one of the first rigid member and the second rigid member for moving the first surface relative to the second surface.

7. The product dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the pump module is configured to releasably engage the supply of the second ingredient.

8. The product dispensing system of claim 7, wherein the pump module includes a bracket assembly configured to releasably engage a plurality of supplies of the second ingredient.

9. The product dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the pump module includes a solenoid piston pump assembly configured to provide a calibratedly determined volume of the second ingredient.

10. The product dispensing system of claim 1, further including a flow sensor associated with the pump module, the flow sensor including:

a fluid chamber configured to receive a fluid;

a diaphragm assembly configured to be displaced whenever the fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced; and

a transducer assembly configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragm assembly and generate a flow signal based, at least in part, upon the quantity of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.

11. The product dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the transducer assembly includes a first capacitive plate coupled to the diaphragm and moveable therewith, and a second capacitive plate rigidly affixed relative to the fluid chamber, the flow signal based upon, at least in part, a change in capacitance between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate.

12. The product dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the flow control device and the pump module are coupled to a nozzle for mixing the first ingredient and the second ingredient.

13. A product dispensing system comprising:

a flow control device configured to regulate a first ingredient, the flow control device comprising;

a flow measuring device configured to generate a flow feedback signal indicative of a volume of content flowing within a line of the dispensing system;

a feedback controller system, responsive to the flow feedback signal and configured to compare a desired flow volume to the flow feedback signal to generate a flow control signal, wherein the feedback controller system includes a feed forward controller for establishing, at least in part, an initial value for the flow control signal; and

a variable line impedance positioned within the line of the dispensing system and responsive to the flow control signal, the variable line impedance being configured to regulate the volume of content flowing within the line of the dispensing system based, at least in part, upon the flow control signal;

a pump module configured to be coupled to a supply of a second ingredient; and

a controller configured to provide a first control signal to the flow control device for controlling the supply of a first quantity of the first ingredient and to provide a second control signal to the pump module for controlling the supply of a first quantity of the second ingredient.

14. The product dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the flow measuring device includes a positive displacement flow measuring device.

15. The product dispensing system of claim 14, wherein the positive displacement flow measuring device includes a gear-based positive displacement flow measuring device.

16. The product dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the variable line impedance includes:

a first rigid member having a first surface;

a second rigid member having a second surface; and

a variable cross-section fluid pathway defined by, at least in part, the first surface and the second surface;

the first surface being movable relative to the second surface to increase and decrease the variable cross-section fluid pathway.

17. The product dispensing system of claim 16, further including a stepper motor coupled to one of the first rigid member and the second rigid member for moving the first surface relative to the second surface.

18. The product dispensing system of claim 13, further including a binary valve positioned within the line of the dispensing system for selectively preventing flow of content within the line of the dispensing system.

19. The product dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the variable line impedance includes:

a first rigid member defining a first fluid-path portion including a bore;

a second rigid member defining a second fluid-path portion;

the first fluid-path portion being moveable relative to the second fluid-path portion to increase and decrease a fluid path defined by the first fluid-path portion and the second fluid path portion.