BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor are configured to execute a method comprising:
- based on an input, determining to dispense a first recipe comprising an estimated amount of at least a first ingredient and a second ingredient;
initiate dispensing the first ingredient of the beverage through a first conduit;
measuring a plurality of parameters of the first ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit to obtain a result for each parameter; and
based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the first ingredient, adjusting the amount of the second ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit or a second conduit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. Aspects relate to obtaining measurements regarding dispensing an ingredient (including the dispensing conditions of the ingredient) and determining whether to adjust dispensing conditions of at least one other ingredient. In one embodiment, at least one ingredient of a recipe is not dispensed based upon a dispensing measurement. The adjustment of one or more ingredients may comprise the use of adjustable orifices, which do not require separate measurements of ingredients before dispensing, but rather may measure ingredients'"'"' parameters (including dispensing conditions) as they are dispensed. Certain embodiments relate to devices and methods that may determine if an ingredient is a non-Newtonian fluid, and if so, may be configured to conduct measurements on such fluids, including, for example, the strain stress and strain rate as the fluid passes within a conduit.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor are configured to execute a method comprising:
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based on an input, determining to dispense a first recipe comprising an estimated amount of at least a first ingredient and a second ingredient; initiate dispensing the first ingredient of the beverage through a first conduit; measuring a plurality of parameters of the first ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit to obtain a result for each parameter; and based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the first ingredient, adjusting the amount of the second ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit or a second conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a first conduit selectively connected to a first ingredient source, the first conduit comprising a plurality of sensors configured to measure parameters of the first ingredient; a user input device configured to transmit an input directing the discharge of a recipe from the apparatus; a computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor are configured to execute a method comprising; based on the input from the user input device, determining to dispense a first recipe comprising an estimated amount of at least the first ingredient and a second ingredient; initiating dispensing the first ingredient of the beverage through the first conduit; utilizing the sensors to measure a plurality of parameters relating to the first ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit to obtain a result for each parameter; and based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the first ingredient, adjusting the amount of the second ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit or a second conduit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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based on an input, determining to dispense a first recipe comprising an estimated amount of at least a first ingredient and a second ingredient; initiate dispensing the first ingredient of the beverage through a first conduit; measuring a plurality of parameters of the first ingredient being dispensed through the first conduit to obtain a result for each parameter, wherein the measured parameters are selected from the group consisting of;
flow rate, viscosity, pressure, pH, temperature, and combinations thereof;based upon the result of at least one measured parameter of the first ingredient, adjusting the amount of the second ingredient to be dispensed into a second conduit; measuring parameters of the second ingredient as it is dispensed; and based upon the measured parameters of the second ingredient, adjusting the amount of a third ingredient to be dispensed into either the first conduit or a second conduit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification