US 12,134,551 B2
Beverage dispensing systems and methods thereof
Joshua Springer, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Assigned to Grinon Industries, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Appl. No. 16/980,340
Filed by Grinon Industries, Indianapolis, IN (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 11, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/021666
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 11, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/177995, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/641,816, filed on Mar. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0039942 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. B67D 1/08 (2006.01); B67D 1/12 (2006.01); G01S 19/13 (2010.01); G06F 17/18 (2006.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06Q 20/18 (2012.01); G06Q 20/20 (2012.01); G06Q 20/32 (2012.01); G06Q 30/0601 (2023.01); G06F 3/04842 (2022.01)
CPC B67D 1/0888 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0894 (2013.01); B67D 1/1277 (2013.01); G01S 19/13 (2013.01); G06F 17/18 (2013.01); G06K 7/10297 (2013.01); G06K 7/10415 (2013.01); G06Q 20/18 (2013.01); G06Q 20/202 (2013.01); G06Q 20/204 (2013.01); G06Q 20/326 (2020.05); G06Q 20/3278 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0607 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2645 (2013.01); G06F 3/04842 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beverage dispensing system, comprising:
a housing including a dispensing platform;
a plurality of valves at least partially below the dispensing platform, each valve of the plurality of valves including a beverage-container coupler extending from each valve through a corresponding opening in the dispensing platform configured to couple with bottom-fillable beverage containers for use with the beverage dispensing system;
a plurality of valve-controlling modules, each valve-controlling module of the plurality of valve-controlling modules disposed within a casing, and received within a cutout of the housing, each of the plurality of valve-controlling modules including a user-facing touchpad for a user interface having one or more buttons configured to control a corresponding valve of the plurality of valves and a printed circuit board assembly with surface-mounted components including a microcontroller with at least a valve-controlling program stored in a memory thereof, the surface-mounted components including a solenoid connector configured for connecting and controlling a solenoid of a valve-actuating assembly, one or more sensor connectors configured for respectively connecting and controlling one or more sensors, one or more data ports configured for sending at least sensor data from each valve-controlling module, and one or more power connectors; and
an embedded system within the housing and including the plurality of valve-controlling modules and a central module communicatively coupled to the plurality of valve-controlling modules, the embedded system configured for beverage dispensation and a function related to beverage dispensation selected from a group consisting of analytics, communications, payment processing, and a combination thereof.