Beverage Dispense Valve Controlled by Wireless Technology

• US 20100200110A1
• Filed: 02/11/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, John F., Stein, Aaron M., Segiet, William W., Gray, Alex L., Ubidia, Fernando A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,910,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/94
• 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 1/0894 for the vessel to be filled
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1279 regulating the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0074 Safety or warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

Methods and systems directed to dispensing fluids, such as beverages, using wireless technology are provided. Aspects relate to a container, such as a beverage cup, having a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals to a second wireless transceiver associated with a dispenser. The wireless transceiver may be configured to transmit electronic signals indicative that the container is validated to receive a beverage and whether it is properly located to receive the beverage from a valve of the dispenser. Further aspects of the invention relate to a beverage dispensing system having a wireless transceiver. In one embodiment, the dispenser is configured to receive a return signal from a container indicative that the container is validated to receive a beverage and whether the container is properly located to receive a beverage from a valve of the dispenser.

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing system comprising:

at least one beverage container, the beverage container comprising;

a sidewall disposed around a central bottom, wherein the bottom is distal to an opening for receiving a beverage, and

a container wireless transceiver associated with the container; and

at least one beverage dispenser, the beverage dispenser comprising;

a housing,

a valve extending from the housing configured to dispense the beverage into the container located below the valve, and

a dispenser wireless transceiver located in close proximity to the beverage dispenser configured to communicate with the container wireless transceiver on the beverage container.

2. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the container wireless transceiver is affixed to the bottom of the container.

3. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the container wireless transceiver is affixed to the sidewall of the container.

4. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the container wireless transceiver is located in an impermeable layer between the sidewall and the bottom of the container, wherein the impermeable layer is not in fluid communication with the location where the beverage would be received in the opening.

5. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the container wireless transceiver is configured to transmit an electronic signal indicative that the beverage container is validated to receive a beverage and whether the beverage container is properly located to receive the beverage from the valve of the drink dispenser.

6. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a push-button or a lever actuator.

7. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 6, wherein the push-button illuminates when one or more of the events occur:

when the beverage dispenser is ready, when the beverage dispenser is communicating with the beverage container, and when the push-button is pushed.

8. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes self-contained electronics, wherein the self-contained electronics control the functionality of the beverage dispenser.

9. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the valve includes a relay or electromechanical switch that turns the valve on or off based on the communication between the container wireless transceiver and the dispenser wireless transceiver.

10. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the beverage dispenser further includes a valve lever that extends from the housing.

11. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 9, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is located on the valve lever.

12. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 9, wherein the valve lever includes a lever backing that extends from the housing, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is located on the lever backing.

13. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is configured to receive a return signal from a compatible container indicative that the beverage container is validated to receive the beverage from the beverage dispenser and whether the beverage container is properly located to receive the beverage.

14. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is positioned such that upon placement of a compatible container in a location to properly receive the beverage from the valve, the dispenser wireless transceiver is aligned with the container wireless transceiver of the beverage container.

15. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein when the beverage container is placed under the valve, the dispenser wireless transceiver transmits a first electronic signal to the beverage container and the container wireless transceiver transmits a second electronic signal to the dispenser wireless transceiver to confirm proper placement under the valve and to confirm that the beverage container is a compatible container to receive the beverage from the valve, and wherein, upon a push button or lever actuation, the valve subsequently dispenses the beverage into the beverage container.

16. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver transmits an electronic signal that is continually transmitted.

17. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver and the container wireless transceiver transfer information that can be rewritten.

18. A beverage container configured to communicate with a beverage dispenser that includes a dispenser wireless transceiver, the beverage container comprising:

a sidewall disposed around a central bottom, wherein the bottom is distal to an opening for receiving a beverage; and

a container wireless transceiver affixed to the container, the container wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the dispenser wireless transceiver.

19. The beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the container wireless transceiver is affixed to the bottom of the container.

20. The beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the container wireless transceiver is affixed to the sidewall of the container.

21. The beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the container wireless transceiver is located in an impermeable layer between the sidewall and the bottom of the container, wherein the impermeable layer is not in fluid communication with the location where the beverage would be received in the opening.

22. The beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the container wireless transceiver is configured to transmit an electronic signal indicative that the beverage container is validated to receive a beverage and whether the beverage container is properly located to receive the beverage from the valve of the drink dispenser.

23. The beverage container according to claim 18, wherein when the beverage container is placed under the beverage dispenser, the container wireless transceiver receives an first electronic signal from the dispenser wireless transceiver and then transmits a second electronic signal to the dispenser wireless transceiver to confirm proper placement under the beverage dispenser and to confirm that the beverage container is a proper container to receive the beverage from the beverage dispenser, and wherein the beverage dispenser subsequently dispenses the beverage into the beverage container.

24. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 18, wherein the container wireless transceiver transfers and receives information that can be rewritten.

25. A beverage dispenser configured to communicate with a container that includes a wireless transceiver, the beverage dispenser comprising:

a housing;

a valve extending from the housing configured to dispense liquid into a container located below the valve; and

a wireless transceiver located in close proximity to the beverage dispenser configured to communicate with the wireless transceiver on the container.

26. The beverage dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the housing includes a push-button or a lever actuator.

27. The beverage dispenser according to claim 26, wherein the push-button illuminates when one or more of the events occur:

when the beverage dispenser is ready, when the beverage dispenser is communicating with the beverage container, and when the push-button is pushed.

28. The beverage dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the housing includes self-contained electronics, wherein the self-contained electronics control the functionality of the beverage dispenser.

29. The beverage dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the valve includes a relay or electromechanical switch that turns the valve on or off based on the communication between the container wireless transceiver and the dispenser wireless transceiver.

30. The beverage dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the beverage dispenser further includes a valve lever that extends from the housing.

31. The beverage dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is located on the valve lever.

32. The beverage dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the valve lever includes a lever backing that extends from the housing, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is located on the lever backing.

33. The beverage dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is configured to receive a return electronic signal from a compatible container indicative that the beverage container is validated to receive the beverage from the beverage dispenser and whether the beverage container is properly located to receive the beverage.

34. The beverage dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is positioned such that upon placement of a compatible container in a location to properly receive the beverage from the, the dispenser wireless transceiver is aligned with the container wireless transceiver of the beverage container.

35. The beverage dispenser according to claim 25, wherein when the beverage container is placed under the valve, the dispenser wireless transceiver transmits a first electronic signal to the beverage container and the dispenser wireless transceiver receives a second electronic signal from the container wireless transceiver to confirm proper placement under the valve and to confirm that the beverage container is a proper container to receive the beverage from the valve, and wherein the valve subsequently dispenses the beverage into the beverage container.

36. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 25, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver transmits an electronic signal that is continually transmitted.

37. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 25, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver transfers and receives information that can be rewritten onto the dispenser wireless transceiver.

38. A method for dispensing fluids, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing a beverage container in close proximity to a beverage dispenser;

transmitting a first electronic signal to the beverage container from a dispenser wireless transceiver located in close proximity to the beverage dispenser;

transmitting a second electronic signal to the dispenser wireless transceiver from a container wireless transceiver associated with the container; and

dispensing the fluid from the beverage dispenser to the beverage container,

wherein the transmission of the first electronic signal and the second electronic signal confirms proper placement of the beverage container under the beverage dispenser and confirms that the beverage container is a compatible container to receive a fluid from the beverage dispenser.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the beverage dispenser further includes a housing and a valve extending from the housing configured to dispense the fluid into the container located below the valve.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the dispenser wireless transceiver is positioned such that upon placement of a compatible container in a location to properly receive the beverage from the valve, the dispenser wireless receiver is aligned with the container wireless transceiver of the beverage container.