Product identification system for beverage dispenser

• US 5,312,017 A
• Filed: 05/14/1992
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Schroeder, Alfred A., Romanyszyn, Michael T. Jr., Wittig, Norman P., Brumley, Jack F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US07/883,332
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/23, 222/95, 222/105, 222/57, 222/63, 222/129.1, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 222/134, 222/135, 222/137, 222/129.2, 222/145, 222/252, 222/256, 222/326, 222/327 , 222/386, 222/387, 222/390, 222/325, 222/63, 222/262
• US Class Current: 222/23
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0032 using flow-rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0048 with baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/005 with means for converging streams
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0079 having their own dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0895 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/10 Pump mechanism in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/108 of the peristaltic type
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0817 with a venting orifice
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00034 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/1071 the inner and outer member having a different number of threads and one of the two being made of elastic materials, e.g. Moineau type
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/021 of the piston type G01F11/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for automatically identifying the desired concentrate to water ratio of a juice product in a concentrate container inserted into a juice dispenser and for automatically switching the ratio control system to the desired ratio. The system includes a product ratio I.D. member having ratio indicia on the fill plug of the container and a sensor in the dispenser. The sensed information is used by the ratio control system in the dispenser to change the pump motor speed to provide the desired ratio.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically identifying a desired product ratio of a product in a concentrate container inserted into a postmix beverage dispenser comprising:

(a) said postmix beverage dispenser;

(b) said beverage dispenser including a concentrate container-receiving chamber;

(c) a product ratio I.D. sensor located in said chamber;

(d) said concentrate container located in said chamber, said container including product ratio indicia thereon;

(e) said dispenser including means for receiving and supporting said container in said chamber in a single orientation of said container;

(f) said product ratio indicia on said container being located on said container in a position such that when said container is in said single orientation in said chamber, said indicia is adjacent to said sensor;

(g) said container including a fill plug and wherein said indicia being on said fill plug; and

(h) said sensor including a pair of Hall effect sensors mounted in said chamber.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a pair of spring-biased, two-position, rocker members in tandem, each having a sensor arm and a contact arm and having a magnet in said sensor arm, and said each of said magnets being adjacent a respective one of said Hall effect sensors when said rocker members are in a first position.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 in which said indicia are tabs extending from said fill plug adapted to selectively contact one or both of said contact arms of said rocker members.

4. Apparatus for automatically identifying a desired product ratio of a product in a concentrate container inserted into a postmix beverage dispenser comprising:

(a) said postmix beverage dispenser;

(b) said beverage dispenser including a concentrate container-receiving chamber;

(c) a product ratio I.D. sensor located in said chamber;

(d) said concentrate container located in said chamber, said container including product ratio indicia thereon;

(e) said dispenser including means for receiving and supporting said container in said chamber in a single orientation of said container;

(f) said product ratio indicia on said container being located on said container in a position such that when said container is in said single orientation in said chamber, said indicia is adjacent to said sensor; and

(g) said dispenser including means for automatically switching the mixing ratio of the dispensed beverage in response to said desired product ratio.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said automatic switching means includes a concentrate pump motor and means for changing the motor speed.