US 12,479,712 B2
Flow detection circuit
Edwin Johannes Cornelis Griffioen, Amsterdam (NL); and Johannes Adriaan Dronkert, Nieuw-Vennep (NL)
Assigned to Heineken Supply Chain B.V., Amsterdam (NL)
Filed by Heineken Supply Chain B.V., Amsterdam (NL)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/600,034.
Application 18/600,034 is a continuation of application No. 15/734,576, granted, now 12,054,379, previously published as PCT/NL2019/050345, filed on Jun. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2021069 (NL), filed on Jun. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0208791 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. B67D 1/08 (2006.01); B67D 1/12 (2006.01); G01F 1/56 (2006.01); G01F 1/58 (2006.01); G01F 13/00 (2006.01); G01F 15/02 (2006.01); G01F 15/14 (2006.01); G01F 23/263 (2022.01)
CPC B67D 1/0855 (2013.01) [B67D 1/08 (2013.01); B67D 1/0888 (2013.01); B67D 1/12 (2013.01); B67D 1/1247 (2013.01); G01F 1/56 (2013.01); G01F 1/584 (2013.01); G01F 13/006 (2013.01); G01F 15/022 (2013.01); G01F 15/14 (2013.01); G01F 23/263 (2013.01); G01F 23/266 (2013.01); G01F 13/008 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dispensing device for dispensing a beverage, the device comprising:
a casing for housing at least part of a duct for a beverage dispensing tap, the casing comprising:
an elongate bore having a proximal opening and a distal opening for housing and guiding the duct;
a first signal electrode provided over at least part of a length of the bore;
a second signal electrode provided over at least part of a length of the bore;
a circuit for detecting a flow through the duct of the tap for dispensing beverages, the circuit comprising:
an alternating signal source having a signal terminal arranged to provide an alternating signal to a capacitive element comprising two electrodes provided adjacent to the duct along the at least part of the length of the duct and the signal source further comprising a zero terminal, the signal terminal being connected to the first signal electrode;
a detection circuit arranged to be connected to the capacitive element and arranged to detect a signal amplitude value, the detection circuit being arranged to provide a detection signal based on the signal amplitude value at a detection terminal comprised by the detection circuit,
the detection terminal being connected to the second signal electrode for receiving an electrode signal;
a processing circuit arranged to:
receive the detection signal;
determine whether the detection signal satisfies a pre-determined criterion;
provide a flow signal if the pre-determined criterion is met;
determine whether the detection signal satisfies a further pre-determined criterion; and
provide a signal if the further pre-determined criterion is met for indicating that no duct is provided in the bore.