Beverage dispenser
US6142340A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB67D2001/0827
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In a beverage dispenser, a beverage material-supplying tube extending from BIB is squeezed by a pump to draw the beverage material from BIB and then to extrude the beverage material to a nozzle. The beverage dispenser has a sensor provided adjacent to the beverage material-supplying tube and a processor into which the output of the sensor is input. The sensor calculates a moving average value using, as a data source, highest signal values among sampled signals obtained by multipoint sampling of analog signals output from the sensor, and, based on the magnitude of a change in the moving average value, a decision is made on whether or not the beverage material has been sold out. By virtue of the above construction, the sold-out of the beverage material in BIB can be accurately detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.