Automatic control system for filling beverage containers
US4944335A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 8, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jul 31, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S367/908
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An automatic, ultrasonic system for controlling the filling of different sizes of beverage containers which may or may not contain various quantities of ice. The system includes a transducer assembly and a control module, both preferably connected to a beverage dispenser valve assembly. The transducer assembly includes at least two piezo-electric crystals for separately transmitting and receiving ultrasonic wave energy from the grate, the cup lip, the top of any ice in the cup, and the rising liquid level, and for generating signals corresponding to the travel time of the ultrasonic energy. The control module includes a microcomputer and associated circuitry. The system can include two separate transmitter and receiver crystals, or in a preferred embodiment two transmitter-receiver pairs of crystals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.