Touch screen interface for a beverage dispensing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10457537-B2
Application number	US-201715456027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Nov 10, 2008
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 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 coupled to a plurality of fluid lines; 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 sanitizing the plurality of fluid lines;
receive an input from the touch screen selecting at least one fluid line for sanitization; and
control the plurality of valves to provide sanitizing fluid to the at least one selected fluid line for a predetermined time interval.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to flush the sanitizing fluid through the at least one fluid line.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to statically hold the sanitizing fluid within the at least one fluid line.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to purge the at least one fluid line of the sanitizing fluid after the predetermined time interval.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to display a countdown of the time interval.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein user inputs made to the touch screen are ignored by the control system during the time interval.

7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the input from the touch screen is for selecting a first fluid line and a second fluid line for sanitization, and the control unit is further configured to:
control the plurality of valves to provide sanitizing fluid to the first fluid line and the second fluid line for sanitizing the first fluid line and the second fluid line.

8. A method comprising:
displaying, on a touch screen of a beverage dispenser including a plurality of beverage dispensing valves coupled to a plurality of fluid lines, a graphical configuration for sanitizing the plurality of fluid lines;
receiving an input from the touch screen to selecting at least one fluid line for sanitization; and
controlling the plurality of beverage dispensing valves to provide sanitizing fluid to the at least one selected fluid line for a predetermined time interval.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to flush the sanitizing fluid through the at least one fluid line.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to statically hold the sanitizing fluid within the at least one fluid line.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
purging the at least one fluid line of the sanitizing fluid after the predetermined time interval.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
displaying a countdown of the time interval.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein user inputs made to the touch screen are ignored by the beverage dispenser during the time interval.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the input from the touch screen is for selecting a first fluid line and a second fluid line for sanitization, and the method further comprises:
controlling the plurality of valves to provide the sanitizing fluid to the first fluid line and the second fluid line for sanitizing the first fluid line and the second fluid line.

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

• A47J31/52

  Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus {; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus} · CPC title

• B67D1/0036

  based on the timed opening of valves · CPC title

• B67D1/0081

  Dispensing valves · CPC title