Method and apparatus for pump control
First Claim
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1. A method for calibrating the operation of a pump used in a beverage forming machine, comprising:
- providing a beverage forming machine including at least one pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location;
operating the pump for calibration purposes;
measuring a performance characteristic of the pump during operation; and
assigning an operation index to the pump based on the performance characteristic, the operation index being usable to control subsequent operation of the pump.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location. The pump may be operated in a calibration period, and based on performance characteristics for the pump, an operation index may be assigned to the pump. The operation index may be used to control subsequent operation of the pump. For example, the operation index may be used to identify an operation time for the pump to deliver a predetermined volume of liquid. Performance characteristics used to determine the operation index may include a voltage supplied to the pump and/or a volume flow rate of the pump.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating the operation of a pump used in a beverage forming machine, comprising:
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providing a beverage forming machine including at least one pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location;
operating the pump for calibration purposes;
measuring a performance characteristic of the pump during operation; and
assigning an operation index to the pump based on the performance characteristic, the operation index being usable to control subsequent operation of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling the operation of a pump used in a beverage forming machine, comprising:
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providing a beverage forming machine including at least one pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location;
determining a power supply characteristic of power supplied to the pump to cause the pump to operate to deliver a predetermined volume of liquid;
determining an operation time for the pump based on the power supply characteristic to deliver the predetermined volume of liquid; and
operating the pump according to the determined operation time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A beverage forming system comprising:
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a beverage forming apparatus adapted to form a beverage at least in part from a liquid, the beverage forming apparatus including a pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location; and
a controller adapted to control the pump to operate for an operation time to deliver a predetermined volume of liquid from the first location to the second location, the controller determining the operation time for the pump based on voltage supplied to the pump during the operation time, and/or based on an operation index that represents an ability of the pump to provide a volume for given voltage supplied to the pump. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A beverage forming system comprising:
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a beverage forming apparatus adapted to form a beverage at least in part from a liquid, the beverage forming apparatus including a pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location; and
a controller adapted to control the pump to operate based on an operation index to deliver a predetermined volume of liquid from the first location to the second location, the controller adapted to cause the pump to operate during a calibration period, the controller determining the operation index based on a performance characteristic of the pump during the calibration period, the operation index being usable to control subsequent operation of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification