US 11,702,331 B2
Beverage dispensing machines with dispensing valves
Brian Mastro, Des Plaines, IL (US); Christopher F. Zemko, Elgin, IL (US); Mark Lytell, Glendale Heights, IL (US); David K. Njaastad, Palatine, IL (US); Craig Pavlich, Glen Ellyn, IL (US); and Steven M. Shei, Fort Wayne, IN (US)
Assigned to Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc., Osseo, MN (US)
Filed by Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc., Osseo, MN (US)
Filed on May 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/865,143.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/842,912, filed on May 3, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/884,856, filed on Aug. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0346917 A1, Nov. 5, 2020
Int. Cl. B67D 1/12 (2006.01); B67D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/1218 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0035 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beverage dispensing machine comprising:
a dispensing valve having a first flow path configured to dispense a first fluid and a second flow path configured to dispense a second fluid such that the first fluid and the second fluid mix downstream and form a mixed beverage;
a first flow control device that regulates flow of the first fluid through the first flow path;
a shutoff valve that selectively opens and selectively closes to permit or occlude flow of the first fluid through the first flow path;
a first sensor configured to sense a first flow rate of the first fluid;
a second sensor configured to sense a second flow rate of the second fluid; and
a controller that receives the first flow rate and the second flow rate and automatically controls a first operational position of the first flow control device to adjust the flow of the first fluid based upon the first flow rate and the second flow rate, and thereby dispenses the mixed beverage at a predetermined fluid ratio between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the controller retains the first operational position of the first flow control device while the shutoff valve is selectively closed;
wherein when the shutoff valve selectively closes, the controller controls the first flow control device to a second operational position configured to achieve a flow rate of the first fluid below the first flow rate, and when the shutoff valve selectively opens, the controller controls the first flow control device to open from the second operational position to the first operational position.