US 12,394,271 B2
System and method for dispensing consumable liquids
Edward Locke, Elmhurst, IL (US); Raymond T. Hecker, Elmhurst, IL (US); Trevor Robert Smouter, Waterloo (CA); and Timothy Scott Edward Hiller, Waterloo (CA)
Assigned to EMC Water LLC, Downers Grove, IL (US)
Filed by EMC Water LLC, Downers Grove, IL (US)
Filed on May 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/661,509.
Application 18/661,509 is a continuation of application No. 18/458,370, filed on Aug. 30, 2023, abandoned.
Application 18/458,370 is a continuation of application No. 17/817,900, filed on Aug. 5, 2022, granted, now 11,776,350, issued on Oct. 3, 2023.
Application 17/817,900 is a continuation of application No. 17/062,351, filed on Oct. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,410,483, issued on Aug. 9, 2022.
Application 17/062,351 is a continuation of application No. 16/687,352, filed on Nov. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,004,298, issued on May 11, 2021.
Application 16/687,352 is a continuation of application No. 15/642,672, filed on Jul. 6, 2017, granted, now 10,482,704, issued on Nov. 19, 2019.
Application 15/642,672 is a continuation of application No. 14/701,973, filed on May 1, 2015, granted, now 9,704,329, issued on Jul. 11, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/987,219, filed on May 1, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0296708 A1, Sep. 5, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G07F 13/00 (2006.01); B67D 1/00 (2006.01); B67D 1/08 (2006.01); B67D 1/12 (2006.01); B67D 3/00 (2006.01); G07F 13/02 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 13/00 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0014 (2013.01); B67D 1/0857 (2013.01); B67D 1/0878 (2013.01); B67D 1/0888 (2013.01); B67D 1/1279 (2013.01); B67D 3/0009 (2013.01); B67D 3/0022 (2013.01); B67D 2210/0001 (2013.01); B67D 2210/00089 (2013.01); B67D 2210/00118 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
20. A beverage dispenser comprising:
a filler including a filler outlet configured to dispense a beverage;
a fluid flow line in fluid communication with the filler outlet;
a controller configured with a processor and a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for carrying out a set of beverage dispenser operations, the operations including an “off” operating mode characterized by no flow of beverage from the filler outlet, an “on” operating mode characterized by a flow of beverage through the filler outlet,
wherein the beverage dispenser is assigned to a group of beverage dispensers based on the proximity to a particular location, further wherein the controller is configured to apply a set of settings transmitted to the group of beverage dispensers; and
a base station connected to the controller and configured to communicate with an external server to transmit to or receive from the external server instructions indicating a current or a desired operating state, such that the beverage dispenser can be remotely controlled to be in the “on” or “off” operating states so that beverage flow can be selectively and remotely started or stopped,
wherein the controller is operative to detect a beverage dispenser error condition, and in response thereto transmit an error condition signal to the base station, which in turn transmits the error condition to the external server.