Abstract: A unitary one-piece, disposable package includes a canister for storing a product. A pump housing formed integrally with the canister contains a progressive cavity pump that pumps product from the canister to an outlet chamber of the pump housing and out an outlet from the chamber. A product dispenser for use with the unitary one-piece, disposable package includes a housing, a chamber in the housing for receiving the package, and a motor within the housing for driving the progressive cavity pump of the package. An alternative product dispenser includes a housing having a chamber for receiving a product canister wherein the chamber facilitates communication of product from the canister to a pump chamber. A progressive cavity pump mounts within the pump chamber for pumping product from the canister out an outlet from the pump chamber. A motor within the housing drives the progressive cavity pump.

Abstract: An intelligent volumetric module for use in metering pressurized syrup to a drink dispenser machine comprises a solenoid driven metering system for controlling liquid flows from a pressurized syrup container and a controller for controlling operation of said solenoid driven metering system according to uniquely addressed instructions received from the drink dispenser's system controller. The controller comprises a self-addressing capability, wherein serial communication to all but one non-addressed volumetric module is disrupted while a first address is assigned to that one module. Communication is the enabled along a serial bus to a next non-addressed module, to which a second address is assigned. The process continues until each volumetric module is assigned a unique address and connected to the serial communication bus.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for treating fluids, a pump delivers a fluid flow from a fluid source to a manifold. The manifold divides the fluid flow into first and second fluid flows, which are delivered from the manifold to a housing. The housing includes therein a first vortex nozzle positioned in opposed relationship to a second vortex nozzle. The first fluid flow enters the first vortex nozzle to create a first rotating fluid flow, and the second fluid flow enters the second vortex nozzle to create a second rotating fluid flow. The first and second vortex nozzles impinge the first and second rotating fluid flows in a collision chamber, thereby treating the fluid.

Abstract: A dispenser system includes a product source, a cooling unit, an agitator, a dispensing station coupled with the product source, a sensor, and a controller. The cooling unit cools product delivered to the dispensing station from the product source. The agitator is disposed in the cooling unit and circulates cooling fluid contained in the cooling unit. The sensor measures an operating parameter of the dispenser system and outputs a signal representative thereof. The controller, responsive to the signal output by the sensor, operates the agitator at a lower speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates the dispenser system is operating in a desired stable state. Alternatively, the controller, responsive to the signal output by the sensor, operates the agitator at a higher speed when the signal output by the sensor indicates the dispenser system is not operating in the desired stable state.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes an electronic control system for controlling beverage dispenser components. The beverage dispenser components include at least a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system includes a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system further includes a program memory with firmware configured in a state machine system architecture for controlling the microcontroller. The state machine system architecture supports either a non-preemptive or a preemptive multitasking real time operating system. The firmware includes supervisory control firmware, dispenser tasks firmware, and low level drivers firmware.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system includes a cooling chamber filled with a bath of cooling fluid for cooling beverage fluids. A cooling unit, including an evaporator coil extending from the cooling unit into the cooling chamber, freezes the cooling fluid into a frozen cooling bank about the evaporator coil. Sensor units positioned at desired locations about the evaporator coil provide output corresponding to the size and shape of the frozen cooling bank. Also, a control unit reads the output from the sensor units and operates the cooling unit to regulate the growth of the frozen cooling bank. In addition, the control unit may read output from temperature sensors attached to dispensing valves or monitoring ambient temperature conditions.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a customer interface and a logic unit for controlling beverage dispenser operations. The customer interface includes a sensor linked with the logic unit. Specifically, the sensor receives an input and outputs a corresponding command signal. The logic unit receives the corresponding command signal from the sensor and thus controls beverage dispenser operations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cold carbonation are provided in which a carbonator (13) having one or more segments is provided within a relatively horizontal cold plate (12). A sensor (14) is provided that can be accessed from a side of a dispenser (10).

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes an electronic control system for controlling beverage dispenser components. The beverage dispenser components include at least a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system includes a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system further includes a program memory with firmware configured in a state machine system architecture for controlling the microcontroller. The state machine system architecture supports either a non-preemptive or a preemptive multitasking real time operating system. The firmware includes supervisory control firmware, dispenser tasks firmware, and low level drivers firmware.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes an electronic control system for controlling beverage dispenser components. The beverage dispenser components include at least a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system includes a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system further includes a program memory with firmware configured in a state machine system architecture for controlling the microcontroller. The state machine system architecture supports either a non-preemptive or a preemptive multitasking real time operating system. The firmware includes supervisory control firmware, dispenser tasks firmware, and low level drivers firmware.

Abstract: An automated sanitizing system for a vacuum ice conveyance system generally includes a source of sanitizing solution, a source of ice, an ice hopper for association of the sanitizing solution with the ice and an outlet from the ice hopper for introduction of the association of solution and ice into a vacuum ice conveyance system. The sanitizing solution is produced at the ice hopper by mixing a concentrated sanitizing agent with water, whereafter the solution is sprayed over a harvest of ice as the ice is dropped into the hopper for conveyance through the vacuum ice conveyance system. The system is also adapted to associate clean water with the ice for rinsing from the conveyance system of the sanitizing agent.

Abstract: A dispensing valve includes a platform, a product inlet supported on the platform, and a product outlet supported on the platform. A flow rate controller receives product from the product inlet and communicates product to the product outlet. A paddle arm disposed at an outlet from the flow rate controller moves from a closed position stopping product flow to an open position allowing product flow. The paddle arm includes a base and a seal mounted on the base. The base includes a lever portion, a seal-retaining portion, and a seal retaining support ridge disposed on the lever portion. The seal includes an outer sealing member supported on the base at the seal retaining support ridge and an inner sealing block supported on the seal-retaining portion. An actuator moves the paddle arm to its open position, while a biasing mechanism returns the paddle arm to its closed position.

Abstract: A self-cleaning prefilter system generally includes a system inlet 11, a sediment filter 13 having a selectively openable drain port 18, a chemical injector 21, a pressure accumulator 28 having a upper chamber 31 in open fluid communication with the filter outlet 16, and a system outlet 12. A controller 33 in communication with a plurality of valves (V1, V2, V3) initiates a backwashing mode such that upon opening of the drain valve V3, fluid within the upper chamber 31 of the pressure accumulator is driven back towards the sediment filter to backwash the filter screen thereof. Contemporaneously, chemicals within the chemical injector 21 are driven along with the backwash flow via capillary 24.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes an electronic control system for controlling beverage dispenser components. The beverage dispenser components include at least a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system includes a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system further includes a program memory with firmware configured in a state machine system architecture for controlling the microcontroller. The state machine system architecture supports either a non-preemptive or a preemptive multitasking real time operating system. The firmware includes supervisory control firmware, dispenser tasks firmware, and low level drivers firmware.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cold carbonation are provided in which a carbonator (13) having one or more segments is provided within a relatively horizontal cold plate (12). A sensor (14) is provided that can be accessed from a side of a dispenser (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing a product includes a support housing, a disposable or non-disposable pump, a disposable product package connectable to the pump, a pump driver connectable to the pump, and a dispensing station on the support housing. The dispensing station supports the pump driver and is adapted to receive the pump and disposable product package. The disposable product package and the pump driver connect to the pump. The pump driver operates the pump to draw product from the disposable product package. When the disposable product package is empty, the disposable product package and the pump if disposable are removed from the dispensing station and disposed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for theft prevention and/or recovery of stolen drink dispensers generally comprises the provision of an anti-theft device within a drink dispenser machine for detecting illegitimate movements of the machine and thereafter disabling the machine's operation. The disruption of operation is accompanied by an indication on the machine's display panel alerting the possessor of a general failure and requesting the placement of a maintenance service call. Concurrently, an innocuous indicator is also activated for alerting the responding service technician to the possibility that the dispenser machine under repair is stolen.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a customer interface and a logic unit for controlling beverage dispenser operations. The customer interface includes a sensor linked with the logic unit. Specifically, the sensor receives an input and outputs a corresponding command signal. The logic unit receives the corresponding command signal from the sensor and thus controls beverage dispenser operations.

Abstract: A self-cleaning pre-filter system generally comprises a system inlet; a sediment filter having a filter inlet in selective fluid communication with the system inlet, a selectively openable drain port and a filter outlet, separated from the filter inlet and the drain port by a filter screen; a pressure accumulator having a first chamber in open fluid communication with the filter outlet and having a sealed second chamber containing a compressible medium, the first chamber and the second chamber being separated one from the other by a flexible diaphragm; and a system outlet in selective fluid communication with the filter outlet and the first chamber. A controller operates valves to periodically back flush the sediment filter utilizing energy stored in the pressure accumulator. Any detritus removed from the filter screen during the back flush process is immediately discharged from the system through the drain port.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a remotely located industrial process from a central service location generally comprises transmitting, through existing two-way digital paging networks, a monitoring instruction to the remote location, executing an operational command contained in the monitoring instruction on the industrial process, logging the effect of the execution of the command in a history file and transmitting content from the history file back to the central service location. The monitoring instruction may comprise the identification of an operational event for execution by the remotely located industrial process or be adapted for the on demand execution of one or more scripts of operational events.