PRODUCT DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 20090159612A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DEKA Research and Development Corp.
• Original Assignee: DEKA Research and Development Corp.
• Inventors: Jones, Benjamin W., Manning, Casey Patrick, Charles, Robert A., Gray, Larry B., Winkler, Felix, Beavis, Russell, Kerwin, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,322,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/36 with mechanical pressure-producing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/42 Beverage-making apparatus with incorporated grinding or roasting means for coffee coffee mills A47J42/00; coffee roasters in general A23N12/08
• 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 31/525 the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/5255 of flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/14 responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 of two or more fluids at the same time

Abstract

A product dispensing system includes a flow control device configured to regulate a first ingredient. A pump module is configured to be coupled to a supply of a second ingredient. A controller is configured to provide a first control signal to the flow control device for controlling the supply of a first quantity of the first ingredient based upon, at least in part, a predetermined recipe. The controller is further configured to provide a second control signal to the pump module for controlling the supply of a first quantity of the second ingredient based upon, at least in part, the predetermined recipe.

Claims

1. A product dispensing system comprising:

a flow control device configured to regulate a first ingredient;

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

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 based upon, at least in part, a predetermined recipe, and to provide a second control signal to the pump module for controlling the supply of a first quantity of the second ingredient based upon, at least in part, the predetermined recipe.

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

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

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 fluid delivery system comprising:

a fluid pathway having an inlet disposed at a first vertical height and an exit disposed at a second vertical height higher than the first vertical height;

a fluid pump disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit, the fluid pump further disposed at a third vertical height higher than the first vertical height and lower than the second vertical height; and

a flow sensor disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid pump, the flow sensor configured to detect the flow of fluid through a fluid pathway;

wherein air entering the fluid inlet may travel through the fluid pathway and exit via the fluid exit.

14. The fluid delivery system of claim 13, wherein the inlet of the fluid pathway is coupled to an ingredient supply.

15. The fluid delivery system of claim 13, wherein the flow sensor includes:

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.

16. The fluid delivery system of claim 15, 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.

17. The fluid delivery system of claim 13, wherein the fluid pump includes a solenoid piston pump assembly configured to provide a calibratedly determined volume of the second ingredient.

18. A 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 a 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.

19. The flow control device of claim 18, wherein the flow measuring device includes a positive displacement flow measuring device.

20. The flow control device of claim 19, wherein the positive displacement flow measuring device includes a gear-based positive displacement flow measuring device.

21. The flow control device of claim 18, 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.

22. The flow control device of claim 21, 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.

23. The flow control device of claim 18, 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.

24. The flow control device of claim 18, 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.

25. A fluid pumping system comprising:

a fluid pathway having a fluid inlet and a fluid exit;

a fluid pump configured to pump a fluid through the fluid pathway between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit; and

an air detection sensor disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit, the air detection sensor configured to detect the presence of air within the fluid pathway.

26. The fluid pumping system of claim 25, wherein the fluid pump includes a solenoid piston pump assembly configured to provide a calibratedly determined volume of the fluid.

27. The fluid pumping system of claim 25, wherein the air detection sensor is configured to provide a signal in response to air detection sensor detecting the presence of air within the fluid pathway.

28. The fluid pumping system of claim 27, wherein the fluid pump is further configured to stop pumping the fluid through the fluid pathway in response to the signal provided in response to the air detection sensor detecting the presence of air within the fluid pathway.

29. The fluid pumping system of claim 27, further including a valve within the fluid pathway, the valve configured to move to a closed position in response to the signal provided in response to the air detection sensor detecting the presence of air within the fluid pathway, thereby at least partially preventing the flow of fluid through the fluid pathway.