Abstract: A method for steering a machine while commanded to be in neutral, including: sensing that a transmission is in a neutral setting; applying one or more service brakes into a braking mode; ramping off a steering pump on a hydraulic steering system; sensing a steering command; releasing the one or more service brakes from the braking mode in response to sensing the steering command; and ramping on the steering pump on the hydraulic steering system.

Abstract: A method for steering a machine while commanded to be in neutral, including: sensing that a transmission is in a neutral setting; applying one or more service brakes into a braking mode; ramping off a steering pump on a hydraulic steering system; sensing a steering command; releasing the one or more service brakes from the braking mode in response to sensing the steering command; and ramping on the steering pump on the hydraulic steering system.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator, such as a spin dryer that separates water from wet clothing includes a stationary chamber. A perforated basket is arranged to spin within the stationary chamber. A DC or AC motor is arranged below the bottom floor fastened to a mechanical floor. A driveshaft can be connected to the motor output shaft via a flexible coupling and passes through the bottom floor and is connected to the basket. A brake disc is operatively fixed to the output shaft, and a brake caliper is fixed to the mechanical floor to stop the brake disc. A balance ring, having an annular chamber holding a balance fluid, is mounted to an outside of the basket. The centrifugal separator can include a cycle controller that can ramp up or down the basket speed and reverse spinning direction of the basket.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator, such as a spin dryer that separates water from wet clothing includes a stationary chamber. A perforated basket is arranged to spin within the stationary chamber. A DC or AC motor is arranged below the bottom floor fastened to a mechanical floor. A driveshaft can be connected to the motor output shaft via a flexible coupling and passes through the bottom floor and is connected to the basket. A brake disc is operatively fixed to the output shaft, and a brake caliper is fixed to the mechanical floor to stop the brake disc. A balance ring, having an annular chamber holding a balance fluid, is mounted to an outside of the basket. The centrifugal separator can include a cycle controller that can ramp up or down the basket speed and reverse spinning direction of the basket.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator, such as a spin dryer that separates water from wet clothing includes a stationary chamber. A perforated basket is arranged to spin within the stationary chamber. A DC or AC motor is arranged below the bottom floor fastened to a mechanical floor. A driveshaft can be connected to the motor output shaft via a flexible coupling and passes through the bottom floor and is connected to the basket. A brake disc is operatively fixed to the output shaft, and a brake caliper is fixed to the mechanical floor to stop the brake disc. A balance ring, having an annular chamber holding a balance fluid, is mounted to an outside of the basket. The centrifugal separator can include a cycle controller that can ramp up or down the basket speed and reverse spinning direction of the basket.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the size of an object. The method includes the steps of reflecting light from the object, measuring a plurality of adjacent light intensities reflected off an axis of the object, comparing adjacent light intensities, identifying a position where the light intensity markedly changes along the axis by a predetermined amount, and determining the size of the object from the identified position. The method is used to determine the amount of liquid necessary to fill a cup of the height determined. The apparatus for determining the size of an object includes means for reflecting light from the object, means for measuring a plurality of adjacent light intensities reflected off an axis of the object, means for comparing adjacent light intensities, means for identifying a position where the light intensity markedly changes along the axis by a predetermined amount, and means for determining the size of the object from the identified position.

Abstract: An ice transport and dispensing system includes an ice maker for introducing ice into a remote ice storage bin and a plurality of ice dispensing stations that receive ice from the bin. Each dispensing station has an ice storage hopper, and at least one downwardly sloping ice delivery conduit extends between the bin and the hoppers for a flow of ice through the conduit from the bin to the dispensing stations solely under the influence of gravity. So that a single conduit can deliver ice to at least two dispensing stations, the conduit extends past one of the stations and leads to the other station and an ice diverter assembly is actuable to divert a flow of ice from the conduit to the one station. A control circuit monitors the level of ice in the hoppers of the dispensing stations and operates the system in a manner to maintain a supply of ice in each hopper.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispenser having a single flavor or a multiflavor automatic beverage dispensing valve (faucet) and including a system for preventing the dispensing of a warm casual drink. The automatic dispenser includes an on-board computer having a timer circuit to purge the warm water in the uncooled portion of the water line between the cooling apparatus and the dispensing valve whenever a drink is requested and no drink has been dispensed for a particular period of time. The warm water is purged or drained out for a period of time needed to purge the warm water from the uncooled portion of the water line. In another embodiment, a temperature sensor is included in the water line and the warm water purging terminates when the temperature falls to a predetermined value.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispenser having a multiflavor automatic beverage dispensing valve (faucet) and including means for preventing color and flavor carryover from one drink to the next. The automatic dispenser includes an electronic control system with an on-board computer with a microprocessor which, when a drink vend signal is received by the electronic control system, first checks to determine whether a dark or light colored drink was requested, then checks the last vend to determine if it was a light or dark drink. If the drink ordered was a light drink and the previous drink was a dark drink, then the controller looks to see if the cup dispenser position is occupied. If it is occupied, the flush is delayed until it is free when the soda water will flush to cleanse the nozzle. After flushing, the vend is processed.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system including a conveyor, a multiflavor valve, and a programmable cup drop system which includes means for searching through a plurality of separate cup supply tubes for a cup of the selected size.

Abstract: A beverage and ice bodies dispensing apparatus is described in which vertically-oriented chutes through which ice bodies are dispensed are associated with spouts. Gates within the chutes are used to dispense predetermined quantities of ice bodies into the cup to be filled. A storage cabinet for ice is located above and connected to the chute for refilling the chutes with ice bodies. In accordance with one embodiment, the force of the falling ice is utilized to maintain the proper position of, and/or position the cup to be filled.

Abstract: An automatic postmix beverage dispenser having a single or multiflavor automatic beverage dispensing valve (faucet) and including means for preventing the dispensing of a warm casual drink. The automatic dispenser includes an on-board computer having a timer circuit to purge the warm water in the uncooled portion of the water line between the cooling means and the automatic beverage dispensing valve whenever a drink is requested and no drink has been dispensed for a particular period of time. The warm water is drained out for a period of time needed to drain the warm water in the uncooled portion of the water line. In another embodiment, a thermometer is used and the water is purged when a drink is requested and the water temperature is above a certain value, and until it is reduced to a desired temperature.

Abstract: An automatic postmix beverage dispensing system including a conveyor, a multiflavor valve, and a stationary flavor indicator adjacent to each cup pick-up station to inform the operator what beverage is in each cup. Each time the conveyor advances the cups one station, the flavor indicator scrolls forward to continue to correctly identify the beverage in each cup. The flavor indicator can also include order indicia identifying the order number of each cup.

Abstract: A beverage and ice bodies dispensing apparatus is described in which vertically-oriented chutes throuch which ice bodies are dispensed are associated with spouts. Gates within the chutes are used to dispense predetermined quantities of ice bodies into the cup to be filled. A storage cabinet for ice is located above and connected to the chute for refilling the chutes with ice bodies. In accordance with one embodiment, the force of the falling ice is utilized to maintain the proper position off, and/or position the cup to be filled.

Abstract: An ice portion control for an ice dispenser is characterized by a chute having an upper end for receiving ice and a lower end. With the chute filled with ice, to vend a desired quantity of ice a dispensing gate at the lower end of the chute is opened for a selected one of a plurality of timed periods of durations selected to dispense from the chute associated predetermined quantities of ice. Adjusting the lengths of the timed periods varies the quantities of ice vended.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system has a plurality of dispensing faucets, each of which is supplied with carbonated water (soda) and a selected flavor of syrup. The syrups and soda are chilled upstream of the faucets, and after chilling the soda is introduced into a manifold from which it is distributed to each faucet. In order that a warm beverage will not be dispensed from a faucet as a result of the soda becoming warm downstream from the point of chilling upon the system standing idle for a period of time, soda is withdrawn from the manifold either continuously or periodically to maintain the soda downstream from the chilling point in a cold state.

Abstract: A hopper and agitator assembly for an ice dispenser is characterized by an ice storage hopper having at least two ice dispensing openings and dual rotary agitators in the hopper for urging ice bodies through the openings during dispensing operations. The agitators are mounted side by side for rotation in a common plane and have radially extending arms, the ends of which sweep past the dispensing openings. By using dual agitators, the hopper may have a length considerably greater than its width, so that even when the dispensing openings are toward opposite ends of the hopper, the ends of the agitator arms still sweep closely past the openings to efficiently urge ice through the openings.

Abstract: A control system for an icemaker and ice dispenser operates the icemaker to periodically harvest ice for introduction into a hopper of the ice dispenser whenever the hopper is less than full. During and in response to initiation of each harvest cycle, and independent of the level of ice in the hopper, the ice in the hopper is briefly agitated twice, once shortly after harvesting begins and again toward completion of the harvest cycle, such that the second agitation and the cycle end at about the same time. A thermostat senses the level of ice in the hopper, and when ice reaches the level of the thermostat, the icemaker is turned off.

Abstract: An icemaker and ice dispenser combination is characterized by an air sparge system for percolating air through water in the icemaker as the water is being frozen to ice in order to produce clear ice. The air is obtained from an ice storage hopper of the ice dispenser, and after percolation through the water in the icemaker, the air is returned to the hopper for recirculation between the hopper and icemaker. By virtue of the arrangement, the air is free of outside contaminants and may be used over and over again to maintain clear ice, and since the air is chilled by ice in the hopper, increases are obtained in the cooling cycle efficiency of the icemaker. The icemaker includes an improved air diffuser that uniformly percolates air through the water.