Beverage dispenser with automatic ratio control

• US 5,192,000 A
• Filed: 08/02/1991
• Issued: 03/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Wandrick, Lisa C., Bearden, John H., Hoover, George H., Whigham, Roger C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US07/739,742
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/54, 222/55, 222/59, 222/60, 222/63, 222/129.1, 222/129.2, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 222/132, 222/134, 222/135, 222/136, 222/144.5, 222/640, 222/641
• US Class Current: 222/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0037 based on volumetric dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1218 modulating the opening of a valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1295 Ratio defined by setting flow controllers

Abstract

An automatic ratio control system for a single or multiflavor post-mix beverage dispensing valve of a beverage dispenser including a flow meter in each syrup and water conduit, a temperature sensor in each syrup conduit, an adjustable flow control in each syrup and water conduit, an automatic flow control adjuster, and an electronic control system including a microprocessor and appropriate software for adjusting a particular flow control when a measured flow rate falls outside of a range of preferred flow rates.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

(a) a post-mix beverage dispenser including a beverage dispenser valve having separate syrup and water conduits, a solenoid controlled on-off valve in each of said conduits, and an adjustable, piston/sleeve, pressure compensating flow control in each of said conduits;

(b) means for measuring the flow rat through each of said conduits;

(c) means for automatically comparing each of said measured flow rates with a preferred flow rate;

(d) means for automatically adjusting a selected one of said flow controls a selected amount in response to said comparing means;

(e) wherein said adjusting means includes a flow control sprocket wheel connected to each of said flow controls and for rotating a selected one of said sprocket wheels a selected amount to adjust the flow control connected to said selected sprocket wheel; and

(f) wherein said comparing means includes means for detecting a flow error trend over a plurality of separate pours.

2. Apparatus comprising:

(a) a post-mix beverage dispenser including a beverage dispenser valve having separate syrup and water conduits, a solenoid controlled on-off valve in each of said conduits, and an adjustable flow control in each of said conduits;

(b) means for measuring the flow rate through each of said conduits;

(c) means for automatically comparing each of said measured flow rates with a preferred flow rate;

(d) means for automatically adjusting a selected one of said flow controls a selected amount in response to said comparing means; and

(e) wherein said beverage dispenser valve is a multiflavor valve including a plurality of separate syrup conduits, including a flow control sprocket wheel connected to the adjustable flow control on each of said syrup and water conduits, a single drive sprocket wheel for mating engagement with any one of said flow control sprocket wheels, means for moving said drive sprocket wheel into mating contact with any one of said flow control sprocket wheels and means for turning said drive sprocket wheel a selected amount to adjust the flow control connected thereto.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 including positioning means to move said carriage into locked position with said drive sprocket wheel in mating engagement with a selected one of said flow control sprocket wheels and drive means for turning said drive sprocket wheel when in mating engagement with a selected flow control sprocket wheel to adjust the associated flow control a desired amount.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said positioning means and said drive means include a stepper motor, a drive belt, a movable carriage carrying said drive sprocket wheel, and a solenoid on said carriage for moving said drive sprocket wheel out of engagement with any one of said flow control sprocket wheels and for locking said drive belt to said drive sprocket wheel for moving said carriage and a spring for returning said drive wheel sprocket into engagement with a selected flow control sprocket wheel when the solenoid is de-energized.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for moving said single drive socket wheel include a stationary support, a movable carriage carrying said single drive socket wheel, said stationary support including a stepper drive motor, a drive chain, an encoder, an encoder photosensor adapted to read said encoder, a locking rail with a plurality of locking pin detents to lock said carriage in any one of a number of selected actuating positions, a position rail with a plurality of position holes for locating a selected position, a plurality of carriage guide rods, and a home position photo detector, said movable carriage including a carriage body, a pair of guide blocks slideably mounted on said guide rods, a drive sprocket wheel mounted on a movable slide having a flow control adjustment position and a carriage travel position, said drive sprocket wheel being in mating engagement with a flow control sprocket wheel in said adjustment position and being out of such engagement in said travel position, a solenoid for moving said slide from said adjustment position to said travel position against the action of a spring holding said slide in said adjustment position, a position seeking photo detector position to sense said position holes in said position rail, a home position sensor tab, and a locking pin mounted on a locking pin slide.

6. Apparatus comprising:

(a) a post-mix beverage dispenser including a beverage dispenser valve having separate syrup and water conduits, a solenoid controlled on-off valve in each of said conduits, and an adjustable flow control in each of said conduits;

(b) means for measuring the flow rate through each of said conduits;

(c) means for automatically comparing each of said measured flow rates with a preferred flow rate;

(d) means for automatically adjusting a selected one of said flow controls a selected amount n response to said comparing means; and

(e) wherein said beverage dispenser valve is a multiflavor valve including a plurality of separate syrup conduits, including a flow control sprocket wheel connected to the adjustable flow control on each of said syrup and water conduits, a plurality of linear gear racks circumferentially and longitudinally spaced-apart on a rotatble multi-rack adjusting shaft adjacent said flow control sprocket wheel and positioning means for rotating said gear rack shaft a selected amount to position a selected one of said gear racks in position in mating engagement with a selected one of said flow control socket wheels, and drive means for moving said gear rack shaft longitudinally to turn the engaged flow control sprocket wheel a selected amount to adjust the flow control connected thereto.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said positioning means includes a solenoid operated ratchet arm for rotating said gear rack shaft a selected amount.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said drive means for moving said gear rack shaft longitudinally includes a motor, a drive chain, a pair of drive sprockets connected to said drive chain, and an eccentric mechanism for moving said gear rack in an eccentric motion including one portion in which said selected gear rack is in mating contact with a selected one of said flow control sprocket wheels.

9. Apparatus for controlling the ratio of syrup to water in a beverage dispensed form a post-mix beverage dispenser comprising:

(a) a beverage dispensing valve system having separate syrup and water conduits extending therethrough, a solenoid controlled on-off valve in each of said conduits, and an adjustable flow control in each of said conduits;

(b) means for measuring the flow rate through each of said conduits;

(c) means for automatically comparing the measured flow rates with preferred flow rates;

(d) means responsive to said comparing means for automatically adjusting a selected one of said flow controls a selected amount; and

(e) wherein said beverage dispenser valve is a multiflavor valve including a plurality of separate syrup conduits, including a flow control sprocket wheel connected to the adjustable flow control on each of said syrup and water conduits, a single drive sprocket wheel for mating engagement with any one of said flow control sprocket wheels, means for moving said drive sprocket wheel into mating contact with any one of said flow control sprocket wheels and means for turning said drive sprocket wheel a selected amount to adjust the flow control connected thereto.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 including positioning means to move said carriage into locked position with said drive sprocket wheel in mating engagement with a selected one of said flow control sprocket wheels and drive means for turning said drive sprocket wheel when in mating engagement with a selected flow control sprocket wheel to adjust the associated flow control a desired amount.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said positioning means and said drive means include a stepper motor, a drive belt, a movable carriage carrying said drive sprocket wheel, and a solenoid on said carriage for moving said drive sprocket wheel out of engagement with any one of said flow control sprocket wheels and for locking said drive belt to said drive sprocket wheel for moving said carriage and a spring for returning said drive wheel sprocket into engagement with a selected flow control sprocket wheel when the solenoid is de-energized.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for moving said single drive socket wheel include a stationary support, a movable carriage carrying said single drive socket wheel, said stationary support including a stepper drive motor, a drive chain, an encoder, an encoder photosensor adapted to read said encoder, a locking rail with a plurality of locking pin detents to lock said carriage in any one of a number of selected actuating positions, a position rail with a plurality of position holes for locating a selected position, a plurality of carriage guide rods, and a home position photo detector, said movable carriage including a carriage body, a pair of guide blocks slideably mounted on said guide rods, a drive sprocket wheel mounted on a movable slide having a flow control adjustment position and a carriage travel position, said drive sprocket wheel being in mating engagement with a flow control sprocket wheel in said adjustment position and being out of such engagement in said travel position, a solenoid for moving said slide from said adjustment position to said travel position against the action of a spring holding said slide in said adjustment position, a position seeking photo detector position to sense said position holes in said position rail, a home position sensor tab, and a locking pin mounted on a locking pin slide.

13. Apparatus for controlling the ratio of syrup to water in a beverage dispensed from a post-mix beverage dispenser comprising:

(a) a beverage dispensing valve system having separate syrup and water conduits extending therethrough, a solenoid controlled on-off valve in each of said conduits, and an adjustable flow control in each of said conduits;

(b) means for measuring the flow rate through each of said conduits;

(c) means for automatically comparing the measured flow rates with preferred flow rates;

(d) means responsive to said comparing means for automatically adjusting a selected one of said flow controls a selected amount; and

(e) wherein said beverage dispenser valve is a multiflavor valve including a plurality of separate syrup conduits, including a flow control sprocket wheel connected to the adjustable flow control on each of said syrup and water conduits, a plurality of linear gear racks circumferentially and longitudinally spaced-apart on a rotatable multi-rack adjusting shaft adjacent said flow control sprocket wheel and positioning means for rotating said gear racks shaft a selected amount to position a selected one of said gear racks in position in mating engagement with a selected one of said flow control socket wheels, and drive means for moving said gear rack shaft longitudinally to turn the engaged flow control sprocket wheel a selected amount to adjust the flow control connected thereto.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said positioning means includes a solenoid operated ratchet arm for rotating said gear rack shaft a selected amount.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said drive means for moving said gear rack shaft longitudinally includes a motor, a drive chain, a pair of drive sprockets connected to said drive chain, and an eccentric mechanism for moving said gear rack in an eccentric motion including one portion in which said selected gear rack is in mating contact with a selected one of said flow control sprocket wheels.