Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling the dispense of a plurality of product forming ingredients
First Claim
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1. A method for dispensing a product, the method comprising:
- associating a plurality of product ingredients with a product dispenser, wherein a plurality of selectable products may be formed from the plurality of product ingredients;
receiving input comprising a selected product for dispense;
identifying a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines a ratio of the plurality of product ingredients for forming the selected product;
identifying, based at least in part on the recipe, a respective expected flow rate for each of the plurality of product ingredients;
commencing a dispense of each of the respective plurality of product ingredients based at least in part on the identified recipe;
independently monitoring, during the dispense, a respective actual flow rate for each of the plurality of product ingredients;
determining a difference between the monitored flow rate for at least one of the plurality of product ingredients and the expected flow rate for the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients;
determining a total accumulated volume of the selected product that has been dispensed during the dispense; and
adjusting, based at least in part upon the determined difference and the total accumulated volume, the flow of the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients to achieve a flow rate other than the expected flow rate for the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients and the monitored flow rate for the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for dispensing a product are provided. A plurality of product ingredients are associated with a product dispenser that is operable to form a plurality of selectable products from the plurality of products ingredients. Input for a selected product is received and a recipe that defines the ratio of product ingredients for forming the selected product is identified. The dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is commenced based at least in part on the identified recipe, and the dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is independently monitored during the dispense of the selected product.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for dispensing a product, the method comprising:
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associating a plurality of product ingredients with a product dispenser, wherein a plurality of selectable products may be formed from the plurality of product ingredients; receiving input comprising a selected product for dispense; identifying a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines a ratio of the plurality of product ingredients for forming the selected product; identifying, based at least in part on the recipe, a respective expected flow rate for each of the plurality of product ingredients; commencing a dispense of each of the respective plurality of product ingredients based at least in part on the identified recipe; independently monitoring, during the dispense, a respective actual flow rate for each of the plurality of product ingredients; determining a difference between the monitored flow rate for at least one of the plurality of product ingredients and the expected flow rate for the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients; determining a total accumulated volume of the selected product that has been dispensed during the dispense; and adjusting, based at least in part upon the determined difference and the total accumulated volume, the flow of the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients to achieve a flow rate other than the expected flow rate for the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients and the monitored flow rate for the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for dispensing a product ingredient, the method comprising:
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receiving input comprising a selection of a product for dispense, wherein the product ingredient is a component of the selected product; identifying a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines a ratio of the product ingredient relative to one or more other product ingredients forming the selected product; identifying, based at least in part on the recipe, an expected flow rate for the product ingredient; commencing a dispense of the product ingredient based at least in part on the identified recipe; and monitoring, during the dispense of the product ingredient, an actual flow rate for the product ingredient; determining a difference between the monitored flow rate for the product ingredient and the expected flow rate for the product ingredient; determining a total accumulated volume of the selected product that has been dispensed during the dispense; and adjusting, based at least in part upon the determined difference and the total accumulated volume, the flow of the product ingredient to achieve a flow rate other than the expected flow rate for the product ingredient and the monitored flow rate for the product ingredient. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A dispenser apparatus, comprising:
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an ingredient matrix operable to receive a plurality of product ingredients within respective locations, wherein a plurality of selectable products may be formed from at least some of the plurality of product ingredients; an input device operable to receive a product selection; and a controller to execute a set of instructions operable to; receive the product selection; identify a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines a ratio of at least some of the plurality of product ingredients to form the selected product; identify, based at least in part on the recipe, a respective expected flow rate for each of the at least some of the plurality of product ingredients; direct a dispense of each of the respective at least some of the plurality of product ingredients based at least in part on the identified recipe; independently monitor, during the dispense, a respective actual flow rate of each of the at least some of the plurality of product ingredients; determine a difference between the monitored flow rate for at least one of the plurality of product ingredients and the expected flow rate for the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients; determine a total accumulated volume of the selected product that has been dispensed; and adjust, based at least in part upon the determined difference and the total accumulated volume, the flow of the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients to achieve a flow rate other than the expected flow rate of the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients and the monitored flow rate of the at least one of the plurality of product ingredients.
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20. A dispenser apparatus, comprising:
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an ingredient matrix operable to receive a plurality of product ingredients within respective locations, wherein a plurality of selectable products may be formed from at least some of the plurality of product ingredients; an input device operable to receive a product selection; a controller to execute a set of instructions operable to; receive the product selection; identify a recipe for the selected product, wherein the recipe defines a ratio of the at least some of the plurality of product ingredients to form the selected product; and direct a dispense of each of the respective at least some of the plurality of product ingredients based at least in part on the identified recipe; and one or more control nodes associated with each of the at least some of the plurality of product ingredients, wherein at least one of the one or more control nodes executes a set of instructions operable to; receive, from the controller, a dispense direction and at least one associated expected flow rate that is based at least in part on the identified recipe; commence the dispense of an associated product ingredient based at least in part on the at least one associated expected flow rate; monitor, during the dispense, an actual flow rate of the associated product ingredient; determine a difference between the monitored flow rate and the expected flow rate; and adjust, based at least in part upon the determined difference and a total accumulated volume of the selected product that has been dispensed during the dispense, the flow of the associated product ingredient to achieve a flow rate other than the expected flow rate and the monitored flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification