Automatic controller for a beverage dispensing faucet
US7753231B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 10, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB67D2001/1483
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A beverage dispenser has a faucet with a spout, a fitting for connection to a beverage supply, and a lever operated valve. A servo motor, coupled to the lever, operates the faucet and proportionally controls the flow of the beverage. That proportional flow control manages the amount of beverage foaming. A flow sensor has a magnetic turbine within the faucet and a Hall effect element that magnetically senses turbine motion and produces a signal indicating an amount of beverage flow. A keypad enables service personnel to designate various portions of the beverage to automatically fill serving containers of different sizes. A control circuit responds to activation of the keypad and to the flow sensor by operating the servo motor to dispense the related quantity of the beverage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.