BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a solenoid pump located between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for pumping fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the pump comprising a spring-loaded linear pumping member axially displaceable between a spring-loaded position and a spring-released end position; and
a controller for the solenoid pump, the controller being responsive to a current waveform and generating a control signal for controlling the pumping member from the current waveform by excluding a part of the current waveform from the control signal such that the pumping member is energized into an intermediate position between the spring-released end position and the spring-loaded position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage dispensing apparatus is disclosed, comprising a solenoid pump coupled between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for pumping the fluid from said inlet to said outlet, said pump comprising a spring-loaded linear pumping member axially displaceable between a spring-loaded position and a spring-released end position and a controller for the solenoid pump, said controller being arranged to energize the pumping member into an intermediate position between the spring-released end position and the spring-loaded position. Consequently, the solenoid pump has improved noise characteristics and can be used to control the flow rate of the fluid whilst still being energized in substantially every cycle of an alternating current.
16 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:
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a solenoid pump located between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for pumping fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the pump comprising a spring-loaded linear pumping member axially displaceable between a spring-loaded position and a spring-released end position; and a controller for the solenoid pump, the controller being responsive to a current waveform and generating a control signal for controlling the pumping member from the current waveform by excluding a part of the current waveform from the control signal such that the pumping member is energized into an intermediate position between the spring-released end position and the spring-loaded position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a solenoid pump for pumping a fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet of a beverage dispensing apparatus, the pump comprising a spring-loaded linear pumping member axially displaceable between a spring-loaded position and a spring-released end position, comprising:
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generating a control signal for controlling the pumping member from a current waveform by excluding a part of the current waveform from the control signal; and providing the control signal to the pumping member, thereby energizing the pumping member into an intermediate position between the spring-released end position and the spring-loaded position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a solenoid pump for pumping fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the pump comprising a spring-loaded linear pumping member displaceable between a spring-loaded position and a spring-released end position; and a controller for the solenoid pump, the controller being responsive to a current waveform and generating a control signal for controlling the pumping member from the current waveform by excluding a part of the current waveform from the control signal causing the pumping member to move into an intermediate position between the spring-released end position and the spring-loaded position.
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Specification