US 11,787,682 B2
Material output volume detecting device for automated beverage preparation apparatus
Wu-Chou Kuo, Taipei (TW); Yu-Min Lee, New Taipei (TW); Jia-Hui Chen, Kaohsiung (TW); and Yen-Jui Su, New Taipei (TW)
Assigned to Botrista Technology, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed by Botrista Technology, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/991,029.
Application 17/991,029 is a division of application No. 17/218,314, filed on Mar. 31, 2021, granted, now 11,597,642.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/143,217, filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/110,621, filed on Nov. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0080112 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B67D 1/00 (2006.01); B67D 1/08 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/0012 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0082 (2013.01); B67D 1/0855 (2013.01); B67D 2001/0094 (2013.01); B67D 2001/0097 (2013.01); B67D 2210/00052 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A material output volume detecting device (402) of an automated beverage preparation apparatus (100), the material output volume detecting device (402) comprising:
a damper device (120), arranged to operably buffer liquid material flowing through the damper device (120); and
a flowmeter (130), coupled with the damper device (120), arranged to operably measure a flow of the liquid material outputted from the damper device (120); and
wherein the damper device (120) comprises:
a damper base (420), comprising a material entrance hole (421), a material exit hole (423), and a material buffer chamber (425) located between the material entrance hole (421) and the material exit hole (423), wherein the material entrance hole (421) is arranged to operably transmit received liquid material to the material buffer chamber (425), the material buffer chamber (425) is arranged to temporarily store the liquid material flowing into the material buffer chamber (425), and the material exit hole (423) is arranged to operably transmit the liquid material passed through the material buffer chamber (425) toward the flowmeter (130);
a block element (429), positioned in the material buffer chamber (425) and located in a straight path between the material entrance hole (421) and the material exit hole (423), arranged to operably prevent the liquid material from directly flowing from the material entrance hole (421) to the material exit hole (423) in a straight line path;
a diaphragm (430), covered on the material buffer chamber (425); and
a fastening element (440), positioned on the diaphragm (430) and having a hollow portion (442);
wherein when a volume of the liquid material within the material buffer chamber (425) exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm (430) deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm (430) enters the hollow portion (442) of the fastening element (440).