METHODS OF DISPENSING
First Claim
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1. A method of dispensing a requested weight of an ingredient from a container, comprising:
- measuring an initial weight of the ingredient in the container;
dispensing at least some of the ingredient from the container during a dispense cycle by eroding the ingredient with a diluent for a predetermined period of time;
waiting for a lag time to allow the diluent to drain from the container;
measuring, after the lag time has elapsed, a final weight of the ingredient in the container;
determining a dispensed weight of the ingredient dispensed from the container by comparing the final weight with the initial weight;
comparing the dispensed weight with the requested weight; and
adjusting the predetermined period of time for a subsequent dispense cycle based on the comparison.
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Abstract
Methods of dispensing an ingredient and measuring an amount of the ingredient dispensed, e.g., at a customer'"'"'s location usually as the ingredient is used by the customer, in order to improve the dispensing process by adjusting future dispense cycles, accurately dispensing the ingredient, predicting an amount of ingredient to be dispensed.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of dispensing a requested weight of an ingredient from a container, comprising:
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measuring an initial weight of the ingredient in the container; dispensing at least some of the ingredient from the container during a dispense cycle by eroding the ingredient with a diluent for a predetermined period of time; waiting for a lag time to allow the diluent to drain from the container; measuring, after the lag time has elapsed, a final weight of the ingredient in the container; determining a dispensed weight of the ingredient dispensed from the container by comparing the final weight with the initial weight; comparing the dispensed weight with the requested weight; and adjusting the predetermined period of time for a subsequent dispense cycle based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of dispensing a requested amount of an ingredient, comprising:
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determining an initial weight of the ingredient; activating a dispenser to dispense at least some of the ingredient during a dispensing cycle; determining a current weight of the ingredient during the dispensing cycle; determining a current weight loss of the ingredient based on the initial weight and the current weight; determining whether the dispense cycle is a first dispense cycle associated with the container; if the dispense cycle is the first dispense cycle, determining an offset based on a predetermined new capsule startup value; and deactivating the dispenser when the determined weight loss equals the difference between a maximum weight measured during the dispensing cycle and the requested amount minus the offset. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification