SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING THE DISPENSE OF A PLURALITY OF PRODUCT FORMING INGREDIENTS

• US 20090069934A1
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Phillips, Paul Anderson, Newman, David Roy
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/239
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0041 Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0878 Safety, warning or controlling devices B67D1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0882 Devices for controlling the dispensing conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• 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 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1236 comprising means for detecting the size of vessels to be filled

Abstract

Systems and methods for dispensing a product are provided. A plurality of product ingredients are associated with a product dispenser that is operable to form a plurality of selectable products from the plurality of products ingredients. Input for a selected product is received and a recipe that defines the ratio of product ingredients for forming the selected product is identified. The dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is commenced based at least in part on the identified recipe, and the dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is independently monitored during the dispense of the selected product.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a product, comprising:

associating a plurality of product ingredients with a product dispenser, wherein a plurality of selectable products may be formed from the plurality of product ingredients;

receiving input comprising a selected product for dispense;

identifying a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines the ratio of product ingredients for forming the selected product;

commencing a dispense of each of the respective product ingredients based at least in part on the identified recipe; and

independently monitoring the dispense of each of the respective product ingredients.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving input for a cup size associated with the selected product, and

wherein commencing a dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is further based at least in part on the received input for the cup size.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein independently monitoring the dispense of each of the respective product ingredients comprises monitoring a respective flow rate associated with each of the product ingredients.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring a respective flow rate associated with each of the product ingredients comprises determining the respective flow rates for a predetermined period of time, and further comprising:

comparing the determined respective flow rates for each of the product ingredients to respective expected flow rates for each of the product ingredients; and

adjusting one or more of the respective flow rates based at least in part on the comparison.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on monitoring the dispense of the respective required product ingredients, that at least one of the product ingredients is not being dispensed properly.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining that at least one of the product ingredients is not being dispensed properly is based at least in part on a comparison of a flow rate associated with the at least one of the product ingredients to at least one threshold flow rate value associated with the at least one of the product ingredients.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

implementing a control action based at least in part on determining that at least one of the product ingredients is not being dispensed properly.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein implementing a control action comprises at least one of limiting the dispense of the at least one of the product ingredients, ceasing the dispense of the at least one of the product ingredients, outputting an error message, or communicating an error message to a remote device via a network.

9. A method for dispensing a product ingredient, comprising:

receiving input comprising a selection of a product for dispense, wherein the product ingredient is a component of the selected product;

identifying a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines a ratio of the product ingredient relative to one or more other product ingredients forming the selected product;

commencing a dispense of the product ingredient based at least in part on the identified recipe; and

monitoring the dispense of the product ingredient.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving input further comprises receiving a cup size indication for the dispense, and

wherein commencing a dispense of the product ingredient further comprises commencing a dispense of the product ingredient based at least in part on the received cup size indication.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the dispense of the product ingredient comprises monitoring a flow rate associated with the product ingredient.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring the flow rate associated with the product ingredient comprises determining the flow rate for a predetermined period of time, and further comprising:

comparing the determined flow rate to an expected flow rate for the product ingredient; and

adjusting the flow rate associated with the product ingredient based at least in part on the comparison.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the dispense of the product ingredient comprises determining an amount of the product ingredient that is dispensed in a predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

comparing the determined amount of the product ingredient to an expected amount of the product ingredient for the predetermined period of time, wherein the expected amount is based at least in part on the recipe; and

adjusting the dispense of the product ingredient based at least in part on the comparison.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on monitoring the dispense of the product ingredient, that the product ingredient is not being dispensed properly.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein determining that the product ingredient is not being dispensed properly is based at least in part on a comparison of a flow rate associated with the product ingredient to at least one threshold flow rate value associated with the product ingredient.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

implementing a control action based at least in part on determining that the product ingredient is not being dispensed properly.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein implementing a control action comprises at least one of limiting the dispenses of the product ingredient, ceasing the dispense of the product ingredient, displaying an error message associated with the dispense of the product ingredient, or communicating an error message associated with the dispense of the product ingredient to a remote device via a network.

19. A dispenser apparatus, comprising:

an ingredient matrix operable to receive a plurality of ingredient packages within respective locations, wherein a plurality of selectable products may be formed from at least some of the plurality of product ingredients;

an input device operable to receive a product selection; and

a controller to execute a set of instructions operable to;

receive the product selection;

identify a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines a ratio of product ingredients to form the selected product;

direct a dispense of each of the respective product ingredients based at least in part on the identified recipe; and

independently monitor the dispense of each of the respective product ingredients.

20. A dispenser apparatus, comprising:

an ingredient matrix operable to receive a plurality of ingredient packages within respective locations, wherein a plurality of selectable products may be formed from at least some of the plurality of product ingredients;

an input device operable to receive a product selection;

a controller to execute a set of instructions operable to;

receive the product selection;

identify a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines a ratio of product ingredients to form the selected product; and

direct a dispense of each of the respective product ingredients based at least in part on the identified recipe; and

one or more control nodes respectively associated with each of the product ingredients, wherein each of the one or more control nodes executes a set of instructions operable to;

receive, from the controller, a dispense direction and at least one associated dispense parameter that is based at least in part on the identified recipe;

commence the dispense of an associated product ingredient based at least in part on the at least one associated dispense parameter; and

monitor the dispense of the associated product ingredient.

21. The dispenser apparatus of claim 20, wherein the input device is further operable to receive input for a cup size associated with the selected product, and

wherein the controller is further operable to direct the dispense of each of the respective required product ingredients based at least in part on the received input for the cup size.

22. The dispenser apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of the one or more control nodes is operable to monitor the dispense of an associated product ingredient by monitoring a flow rate associated with the product ingredient for a predetermined period of time.

23. The dispenser apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of the one or more control nodes is further operable to:

compare the monitored flow rate to an expected flow rate for the product ingredient; and

adjust the flow rate of the product ingredient based at least in part on the comparison.

24. The dispenser apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of the one or more control nodes is further operable to:

determine, based at least in part on comparing a flow rate associated with the monitored product ingredient to a least one threshold flow rate value associated with the product ingredient, that the product ingredient is not being dispensed property; and

implement a control action based at least in part on the determination that the product ingredient is not being dispensed properly.

25. The dispenser apparatus of claim 24, wherein the control action comprises at least one of limiting the dispense of the product ingredient, ceasing the dispense of the product ingredient, directing the output of an error indication, or directing, via a network, the communication of an error message to the controller or to a remote device.