QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSER

• US 20100318221A1
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cornelius Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cornelius Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Altenbach, Heinz, Wiemer, Klaus
• Application Number:
  US12/735,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318221A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/240
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0075 by sensing gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0864 in the form of a cooling bath
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0884 Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1243 comprising flow or pressure sensors, e.g. for controlling pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1252 Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation for beer engines B67D1/025

Abstract

A beverage dispense system has sensors 15,16,17,27 for monitoring one or more characteristics relating to dispense of a beverage and outputting a signal representative of the or each monitored characteristic, and a control system 56 responsive to signals received from the sensors 15,16,17,27 for controlling operation of the dispense system.

Claims

1. A beverage dispense system comprising sensor means for monitoring one or more characteristics relating to dispense of a beverage and outputting a signal representative of the or each monitored characteristic, and a control system responsive to signals received from said sensor means for controlling operation of the dispense system.

2. A beverage dispense system according to claim 1, wherein said control system includes diagnostic means responsive to signals received from said sensor means to detect a change in any characteristic affecting beverage quality.

3. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2, wherein said diagnostic means is operable to provide a warning of the detected change allowing appropriate remedial action before quality of dispensed beverages is noticeably compromised.

4. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2, wherein, said diagnostic means is operable to adjust operation of the system to mitigate the effect of the detected change on the quality of dispensed beverages.

5. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2, wherein said diagnostic means has means for comparing the detected characteristics with desired characteristics and providing a warning or adjustment when the detected characteristic deviates from the desired characteristic by more than a pre-determined value.

6. A beverage dispense system according to claim 5, wherein, said diagnostic means causes operation of the system to be adjusted to correct or compensate for the change in the detected characteristic and also cause a warning that servicing or maintenance work is required.

7. A beverage dispense system according to claim 5, wherein, said diagnostics means causes shut-down of the dispense system where dispense of drinks of an acceptable quality cannot be maintained until a service engineer has attended to repair the system.

8. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2, wherein said control system is adapted for remotely accessing information and/or data from said diagnostic means.

9. A beverage dispense system according to claim 8, wherein, said control system allows remote access to information and/or data by a communication link via the interne.

10. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2, wherein said control system is adapted for locally accessing information and/or data from said diagnostic means.

11. A beverage dispense system according to claim 10, wherein, said control system includes an information or data port for local interrogation.

12. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2, wherein said control system includes a memory for storing information and/or data relating to the performance (functionality) of the system from said diagnostic means.

13. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2, wherein said control system is adapted to receive information or data to program operation of the system and/or collection and processing of information or data relating to operation of the system.

14. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2, wherein said control system is adapted to provide a visual indication of the status of the dispense system.

15. A beverage dispense system according to claim 1, comprising a system for dispensing soft drinks by mixing a diluent and a concentrate.

16. A method of dispensing a beverage by monitoring characteristics of the system and/or the beverage and providing a control system including diagnostic means for detecting a change in any of said monitored characteristics and controlling operation of the system in response to said monitored characteristics.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said control system further includes a throughput circuit for monitoring use of the dispense system, and the method further comprises the steps of using said throughput circuit to monitor throughput of concentrate for dispense of post-mix beverages, and using said concentrate throughput to calculate/compare profitability, or to monitor storage life of concentrate, or for stock control of concentrate.

18. A beverage dispense system comprising sensor means for monitoring one or more characteristics relating to dispense of a beverage and outputting a signal representative of the or each monitored characteristic, and a control system responsive to signals received from said sensor means for controlling operation of the dispense system, said control system including a diagnostic circuit for monitoring characteristics of the performance of the dispense system and a throughput circuit for monitoring use of the dispense system.

19. A beverage dispense system according to claim 18, comprising a post-mix system for dispensing soft drinks by mixing a diluent and a concentrate and said throughput circuit monitors throughput of concentrate.

20. A beverage dispense system according to claim 19, wherein throughput of concentrate is used to calculate/compare profitability, or to monitor storage life of concentrate, or for stock control of concentrate.