Beverage dispenser with automatic cup-filling control and method for beverage dispensing
First Claim
1. A beverage dispenser having an arrangement for automatically controlling the filling of a cup.Iadd., the cup having a top rim and having an interior volume for holding the beverage, the boundaries of the interior volume defined generally by a cup bottom surface, a cup sidewall surface and a top surface, the top surface having a perimeter defined by the cup rim, the beverage dispenser .Iaddend.comprising:
- at least one valve means for controlling discharge of beverage from said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.source into the cup to be filled;
actuating means to cause said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve means to be energized to initiate dispensing of the beverage into the cup to be filled;
an electrically conductive member associated with the beverage dispenser and disposed to be positioned adjacent to and outside of the cup that is being filled;
circuit means electrically interconnecting said electrically conductive member and said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve means to thereby electrically interconnect said conductive member with beverage flowing through said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve means .Iadd.and the conductive member providing for such current flow wherein no portion thereof extends into the volume of the cup and wherein no portion thereof extends transversely therefrom terminating adjacent to the cup top surface.Iaddend.; and
control means for operating said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve means in response to a change in impedance between said electrically conductive member and the beverage, when the cup has been filled to a predetermined level, to discontinue beverage flow to the cup.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic cup-filling control arrangement for beverage dispensers utilizes the spray or mist of liquid droplets, formed by flowing beverage striking beverage already in the cup, to complete an electrical circuit. This electrical circuit extends from an electrically conducting member, such as an actuating lever, to beverage flowing through a dispensing valve. When the mist of droplets permits a pre-established magnitude of current to flow between the actuating lever and the flowing beverage, which occurs when beverage in the cup reaches a pre-determined level, dispensing of the beverage is terminated.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A beverage dispenser having an arrangement for automatically controlling the filling of a cup.Iadd., the cup having a top rim and having an interior volume for holding the beverage, the boundaries of the interior volume defined generally by a cup bottom surface, a cup sidewall surface and a top surface, the top surface having a perimeter defined by the cup rim, the beverage dispenser .Iaddend.comprising:
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at least one valve means for controlling discharge of beverage from said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.source into the cup to be filled; actuating means to cause said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve means to be energized to initiate dispensing of the beverage into the cup to be filled; an electrically conductive member associated with the beverage dispenser and disposed to be positioned adjacent to and outside of the cup that is being filled; circuit means electrically interconnecting said electrically conductive member and said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve means to thereby electrically interconnect said conductive member with beverage flowing through said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve means .Iadd.and the conductive member providing for such current flow wherein no portion thereof extends into the volume of the cup and wherein no portion thereof extends transversely therefrom terminating adjacent to the cup top surface.Iaddend.; and control means for operating said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve means in response to a change in impedance between said electrically conductive member and the beverage, when the cup has been filled to a predetermined level, to discontinue beverage flow to the cup. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17)
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13. A beverage dispenser having an arrangement for automatically controlling the filling of a cup, .Iadd.the cup having a top rim and having an interior volume for holding the beverage, the boundaries of the interior volume defined generally by a cup bottom surface, a cup sidewall surface and a top surface, the top surface having a perimeter defined by the cup rim, the beverage dispenser .Iaddend.comprising:
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at least one source of beverage; at least one solenoid valve for controlling discharge of beverage from said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.source into the cup to be filled; an outer metallic structure associated with said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.solenoid valve, a continuous metallic path existing from said metallic structure to beverage passing through said solenoid valve; a power supply; an electrical connection from said metallic structure .[.one side of.]. said power supply; a power switch to pass power to said at least one solenoid valve when beverage is to be dispensed; an actuating lever to initiate dispensing of beverage; a flip-flop circuit responsive to said actuating lever to close said power switch when said at least one solenoid valve is to be energized to dispense beverage; and an electrical circuit including said flip-flop circuit, said power supply, said electrical connection, said metallic structure and said metallic path to electrically interconnect said actuating lever and the beverage flowing through said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.valve during dispensing, said circuit being completed for current flow of a pre-established magnitude by droplets of beverage, which are produced by flowing beverage striking beverage in the cup when the cup has been filled to a .[.pre-determined.]. level .Iadd.permitting such pre-established current flow.Iaddend., the current of said pre-established magnitude changing the state of said flip-flop circuit to open said power switch and de-energize said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.solenoid valve.Iadd., and the actuating lever providing for such current flow wherein no portion thereof extends into the volume of the cup and wherein no portion thereof extends transversely therefrom terminating adjacent to the cup top surface.Iaddend.. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for automatically filling a cup, the cup having a top rim and having an interior volume for holding the beverage, the boundaries of the interior volume defined generally by a cup bottom surface, a cup sidewall and a top surface, the top surface having a perimeter defined by the cup rim, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing the cup adjacent an electrically conductive member, dispensing beverage into the cup from a valve, electrifying the beverage as it is dispensed into the cup, sensing a current flow between the beverage and the conductive member during the dispensing of beverage into the cup, and the sensed current flow occurring wherein no portion of the conductive member extends into the volume of the cup and wherein no portion thereof extends transversely therefrom terminating adjacent to the cup top surface, and stopping the flow of beverage from the valve to the cup when the sensed current flow exceeds a pre-determined value. .Iaddend. .Iadd. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification