Self-monitoring, intelligent fountain dispenser

• US 6,550,642 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Newman, David R., Quartarone, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/090,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/39, 222/63, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 222/23
• US Class Current: 222/39
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0028 based on the timed opening of a valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0032 using flow-rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0041 Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0074 Automatic carbonation control
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0871 Level gauges for beverage storage containers level indicators in general G01F
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00034 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00086 Selector circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00157 Level detected electrically by contact with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

An intelligent fountain dispenser performs automated control and systems diagnostics in real time. The intelligent fountain dispenser includes a controller in electrical communication with a syrup valve, a water valve, a carbonator valve, a water level sensor, a flowmeter, and an input panel. The intelligent fountain dispenser also includes a dispenser housing and a carbonator tank. Water and carbon dioxide mix in the carbonator tank to produce carbonated water. The carbonator valve supplies water to the carbonator tank in accordance with instructions received from the controller. The controller also instructs the syrup valve and the water valve in the supply of syrup and carbonated water, respectively, to the dispenser housing. The controller provides the instructions to the valves based on information received from the water level sensor, flowmeter, and input panel. The controller performs systems diagnostics by monitoring the voltage drop across current-sensing resistors associated with each of the valves. The controller can also perform system diagnostics based on information supplied by a signature resistor associated with the input panel.

Claims

1. An automated fountain dispenser comprising:

a controller;

a syrup valve that supplies syrup to the fountain dispenser;

a water valve that supplies carbonated water to the fountain dispenser;

a current-sensing resistor in association with each of the syrup valve and the water valve,

wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the syrup valve, the water valve, and each current-sensing resistor.

2. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 1, wherein the syrup valve and the water valve each include a solenoid.

3. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller receives information from each of the current-sensing resistors, the information indicating whether the valve associated with its respective current-sensing resistor is performing properly.

4. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 3 wherein the information is derived from the electrical current drawn through the current-sensing resistor, the current being at a first, normal reading when the valve with which it is associated is operating properly, and the current being at a second reading different from the first reading when the valve with which it is associated is not operating properly.

5. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 4, further comprising an outlet in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the controller relays an alert signal to the outlet when the information received by the controller from the current-sensing resistors indicates that at least one of the associated valves is not operating properly, and further wherein the outlet produces an alert notification in response.

6. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 5, wherein the outlet is a sound-emitting device, and further wherein the alert notification produced by the sound-emitting device is an audible message.

7. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 5, wherein the outlet is a diagnostic display, and further wherein the alert notification produced by the diagnostic display is a visual message.

8. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 5, wherein the outlet is a remote monitoring system.

9. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 8, wherein the alert notification produced by the remote monitoring system is an audible message.

10. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 8, wherein the alert notification produced by the remote monitoring system is a visual message.

11. An automated fountain dispenser comprising:

a dispenser housing;

a plurality of consumer interfaces of differing configurations, each selectively and removably attachable to the dispenser housing; and

a controller;

wherein the controller is in electrical communication with a selected consumer interface removably attached to the dispenser housing.

12. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 11, further comprising a distinct signature resistor in association with each of the plurality of consumer interfaces,

wherein the signature resistor can communicate to the controller the particular configuration of the selected consumer interface removably attached to the dispenser housing.

13. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 12, wherein further the controller can communicate with the signature resistor to determine whether the selected consumer interface removably attached to the dispenser housing is operating properly.

14. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 13, further comprising an outlet in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the controller relays an alert signal to the outlet when the selected consumer interface removably attached to the dispenser housing is not operating properly, and further wherein the outlet produces an alert notification in response.

15. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 14, wherein the outlet is a sound-emitting device, and further wherein the alert notification produced by the sound-emitting device is an audible message.

16. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 14, wherein the outlet is a diagnostic display, and further wherein the alert notification produced by the diagnostic display is a visual message.

17. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 14, wherein the outlet is a remote monitoring system.

18. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 17, wherein the alert notification produced by the remote monitoring system is an audible message.

19. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 17, wherein the alert notification produced by the remote monitoring system is a visual message.

20. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of different water supplies, each selectively and removably attachable to the fountain dispenser;

a plurality of different syrup supplies, each selectively and removably attachable to the fountain dispenser; and

software, the software being embedded in the controller and comprising a match list correlating the different water supplies and the different syrup supplies to their respective consumer interface.

21. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 20, wherein the software further comprises a programmed instruction set for properly installing any one of the consumer interfaces and dedicated water supplies and syrup supplies.

22. The automated fountain dispenser of claim 21, wherein the software can deliver instructions for manually installing any one of the plurality of consumer interfaces and dedicated water supplies and syrup supplies.