Intelligent volumetric module for drink dispenser

• US 7,164,966 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lancer Partnership Limited (Hoshizaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lancer Partnership Limited (Hoshizaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Sudolcan, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro; Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/908,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/233, 700/236, 700/237, 700/239, 700/240, 700/241, 700/242, 700/11, 700/24, 710/29, 710/32, 710/36, 710 58- 60, 222 52- 69, 340 341- 344, 340/3.4, 340/3.5, 340/3.53, 340/825.2, 340/825.21, 340/825.52, 340/825.31, 340/5.91, 340/5.92, 340/286.01, 340/286.02, 347 84- 86
• US Class Current: 700/239
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0022 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]

Abstract

An intelligent volumetric module for use in metering pressurized syrup to a drink dispenser machine comprises a solenoid driven metering system for controlling liquid flows from a pressurized syrup container and a controller for controlling operation of said solenoid driven metering system according to uniquely addressed instructions received from the drink dispenser'"'"'s system controller. The controller comprises a self-addressing capability, wherein serial communication to all but one non-addressed volumetric module is disrupted while a first address is assigned to that one module. Communication is the enabled along a serial bus to a next non-addressed module, to which a second address is assigned. The process continues until each volumetric module is assigned a unique address and connected to the serial communication bus.

Claims

1. A volumetric module for use in metering pressurized syrup to a drink dispenser machine, the volumetric module, comprising:

a metering system for controlling liquid flows from a pressurized syrup container;

a controller for controlling operation of the metering system according to uniquely addressed instructions received from a system controller of the drink dispenser machine; and

a serial data jumper movable to a first position that inhibits flow of serial communication data beyond the volumetric module thereby allowing the system controller of the drink dispenser machine to assign an address to the volumetric module.

2. The volumetric module for use in metering pressurized syrup to a drink dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the serial data jumper is movable to a second position that permits flow of serial communication data beyond the volumetric module thereby allowing the system controller of the drink dispenser machine to assign an address to a second volumetric module.

3. The volumetric module for use in metering pressurized syrup to a drink dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the serial data jumper moves to the first position responsive to a power on reset of the drink dispenser machine.

4. The volumetric module for use in metering pressurized syrup to a drink dispenser machine according to claim 2, wherein the system controller of the drink dispenser machine directs the controller to move the serial data jumper to the second position after the system controller of the drink dispenser machine completes the assignment of an address to the volumetric module.

5. The volumetric module for use in metering pressurized syrup to a drink dispenser machine according to claim 2, wherein the serial data jumper comprises a switch.

6. A drink dispenser machine, comprising:

a drink dispenser machine system controller;

a drink dispenser machine bus connected to the drink dispenser machine system controller;

a first volumetric module connected to the drink dispenser machine bus, wherein the first volumetric module comprises a serial data jumper movable to a first position that inhibits flow of serial communication data beyond the first volumetric module thereby allowing the drink dispenser machine system controller to assign an address to the first volumetric module; and

a second volumetric module connected to the drink dispenser machine bus in series with the first volumetric module, wherein the serial data jumper of the first volumetric module is movable to a second position that permits flow of serial communication data to the second volumetric module thereby allowing the drink dispenser machine system controller to assign an address to the second volumetric module.

7. The drink dispenser machine according to claim 6, wherein the first volumetric module comprises a metering system for controlling liquid flows from a pressurized syrup container.

8. The drink dispenser machine according to claim 7, wherein the first volumetric module comprises a controller for controlling operation of the metering system according to uniquely addressed instructions received from the drink dispenser machine system controller.

9. The drink dispenser machine according to claim 6, wherein the serial data jumper moves to the first position responsive to a power on reset of the drink dispenser machine.

10. The drink dispenser machine according to claim 8, wherein the drink dispenser machine system controller directs the controller to move the serial data jumper to the second position after the drink dispenser machine system controller completes the assignment of an address to the first volumetric module.

11. The drink dispenser machine according to claim 6, wherein the serial data jumper comprises a switch.

12. The drink dispenser machine according to claim 6, wherein the second volumetric module comprises a serial data jumper movable to a first position that inhibits flow of serial communication data beyond the second volumetric module thereby allowing the drink dispenser machine system controller to assign an address to the second volumetric module.

13. The drink dispenser machine according to claim 12, wherein the serial data jumper of the second volumetric module is movable to a second position that permits flow of serial communication data to a third volumetric module connected to the drink dispenser machine bus in series with the second volumetric module thereby allowing the drink dispenser machine system controller to assign an address to the third volumetric module.