Beverage dispensing machine with touch screen interface for calibrating beverage size

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10407292-B2
Application number	US-201715456052-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Nov 10, 2008
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A beverage dispensing system including a control unit and a touch screen. Inputs are made to the touch screen to dispense beverages and apply system adjustments. The control unit controls a plurality of beverage dispensing valves according to inputs made to the touch screen.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for a beverage dispenser, the control system comprising:
a touch screen;
a plurality of beverage dispensing valves; and
a control unit electrically coupled to the touch screen and the plurality of valves, the control unit configured to:
display a graphical configuration on the touch screen for setting at least one beverage size;
receive a continuous user input from the touch screen to dispense fluid;
control the plurality of valves to dispense fluid for a period of time according to the continuous user input; and
set a beverage dispensing time for the at least one beverage size according to the period of time of the continuous user input.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical configuration includes buttons for a plurality of beverage sizes, each button for setting a respective beverage dispensing time.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical configuration includes a visual indicator that is animated during the continuous user input.

4. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a linear scale.

5. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a numerical indicator.

6. A method comprising:
displaying, on a touch screen of a beverage dispensing system, a graphical configuration for setting at least one beverage size;
receiving a continuous user input from the touch screen to dispense fluid;
controlling a plurality of valves of the beverage dispensing system to dispense fluid for a period of time according to the period of time of the continuous user input; and
setting a beverage dispensing time for the at least one beverage size according to the period of time of the continuous user input.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the graphical configuration includes buttons for a plurality of beverage sizes, each button for setting a respective beverage dispensing time.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the graphical configuration includes a visual indicator that is animated during the continuous user input.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the visual indicator comprises an animated linear scale.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the visual indicator comprises an animated numerical indicator.

Assignees

• Automatic Bar Controls Inc

Inventors

• Hecht Thomas R
• Feng Jun
• Brodsky Boris
• Martindale Richard A

Classifications

• A47J31/46

  Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices · CPC title

• A47J31/5255

  of flow rate · CPC title

• B67D1/16

  Devices for collecting spilled beverages · CPC title

• B67D2210/00091

  Bar management means · CPC title

• B67D1/1202

  Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed · CPC title