US 12,135,019 B2
Product dispensing system
Russell H. Beavis, Merrimack, NH (US); and Daniel F. Pawlowski, Mont Vernon, NH (US)
Assigned to DEKA Products Limited Partnership, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed by DEKA Products Limited Partnership, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed on May 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/200,649.
Application 18/200,649 is a continuation of application No. 17/113,468, filed on Dec. 7, 2020, granted, now 11,655,806.
Application 17/113,468 is a continuation of application No. 13/662,102, filed on Oct. 26, 2012, granted, now 10,859,072, issued on Dec. 8, 2020.
Application 17/113,468 is a continuation of application No. 13/339,962, filed on Dec. 29, 2011, granted, now 8,516,902, issued on Aug. 27, 2013.
Application 13/662,102 is a continuation of application No. 12/549,778, filed on Aug. 28, 2009, granted, now 8,087,303, issued on Jan. 3, 2012.
Application 12/549,778 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/437,356, filed on May 7, 2009, granted, now 9,146,564, issued on Sep. 29, 2015.
Application 12/437,356 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/205,762, filed on Sep. 5, 2008, granted, now 8,322,570, issued on Dec. 4, 2012.
Application 12/205,762 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/851,344, filed on Sep. 6, 2007, granted, now 7,905,373.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/636,298, filed on Apr. 20, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/560,007, filed on Nov. 15, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/552,938, filed on Oct. 28, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/092,404, filed on Aug. 28, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/092,396, filed on Aug. 27, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/092,394, filed on Aug. 27, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/092,388, filed on Aug. 27, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/054,776, filed on May 20, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/054,757, filed on May 20, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/054,629, filed on May 20, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/054,745, filed on May 20, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/970,495, filed on Sep. 6, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/970,501, filed on Sep. 6, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/970,493, filed on Sep. 6, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/970,494, filed on Sep. 6, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/970,497, filed on Sep. 6, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2023/0383734 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F04B 17/04 (2006.01); B67D 1/00 (2006.01); B67D 7/22 (2010.01); F04B 13/00 (2006.01); F04B 23/02 (2006.01); F04B 49/06 (2006.01); F04B 49/10 (2006.01); G01F 23/80 (2022.01)
CPC F04B 17/044 (2013.01) [F04B 13/00 (2013.01); F04B 17/04 (2013.01); F04B 23/025 (2013.01); F04B 49/065 (2013.01); F04B 49/106 (2013.01); B67D 1/0012 (2013.01); B67D 7/221 (2013.01); G01F 23/804 (2022.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beverage system for monitoring flow conditions of a beverage fluid, comprising:
at least one solenoid pump actuated by a solenoid coil;
at least one micro-ingredient product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump;
at least one PWM controller configured to initiate a current flow to energize the solenoid coil to actuate the at least one solenoid pump;
at least one current sensor for sensing the current flow energizing the solenoid coil and producing an output of the sensed current flow; and
a control logic subsystem for controlling a flow of a beverage fluid through the at least one solenoid pump by commanding the PWM controller to actuate said at least one solenoid pump and for monitoring the current flow through the at least one solenoid pump by receiving the output from the at least one current sensor,
wherein the control logic subsystem uses the sensed current flow through the solenoid coil at a certain time to determine a condition of said at least one solenoid pump, said pump condition selected from a group that consists of: a normal pump condition, an abnormal pump condition, and a Sold-Out condition,
wherein the control logic subsystem uses the second order time derivative of the sensed current flow through the solenoid coil to determine the abnormal condition.