Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for optical liquid level determination in a liquid dispensing system. Accurate volume dispensing based on the level determination is also provided. An optical sensor device emits a light signal downward into the tank toward the liquid, and received a portion of the light signal that has been reflected upwardly by a surface at the top of the liquid. A processing system calculates the height of the liquid in the tank based on a time of flight measurement of the light signal. A head pressure of the liquid over a controllable dispensing valve located at the bottom of tank may then be calculated using the calculated height of the liquid in the tank. An open time for the controllable dispensing valve is then calculated, based on the calculated head pressure, in order to dispense a predetermined volume of liquid from the tank.

Abstract: A pinch valve that includes a holder and an insert that fits in the holder. The pinch valve receives a dispensing tube for liquids and controls the flow of liquid in the dispensing valve. The insert defines an inner wall portion against which a plunger assembly pushes the dispensing tube to stop liquid from flowing through the dispensing tube. The insert and the holder define a throttle portion that throttles the flow of liquid when the plunger assembly is moved from the pinch position, where is pushed the dispensing tube against the inner wall portion of the insert, to a flow position.

Abstract: An optical liquid height determination system of the present embodiments includes light sensors capturing different amounts of light, based on level of liquid in the tank that blocks or limits light to particular sensors. The tank is enclosed in a container with a light source and the light sensors are installed on walls of the container. Light emitted by the light source is transmitted to the light sensors by passing through the liquid product, scattered, diffused, diffracted or reflected by the dairy product, through the tank walls which may be transparent or translucent, or from other surfaces in the container within which the tank is enclosed by. The set of electrical signals received from all the light sensors are compared against sets of calibrated signals corresponding to known liquid levels in the tank. The known height corresponding to the nearest set of calibrated signals is determined as the measured liquid height in the tank.

Abstract: A pinch valve has an insert housed in a holder. The insert and the holder are shaped to receive a dispensing tube and the insert can rotate within the holder and around the dispensing tube. The insert can be rotated to have the pinch valve in a release configuration where the insert can be moved downward and out of the holder to allow for cleaning of the insert and holder.

Abstract: An optical liquid height determination system of the present embodiments includes light sensors capturing different amounts of light, based on level of liquid in the tank that blocks or limits light to particular sensors. The tank is enclosed in a container with a light source and the light sensors are installed on walls of the container. Light emitted by the light source is transmitted to the light sensors by passing through the liquid product, scattered, diffused, diffracted or reflected by the dairy product, through the tank walls which may be transparent or translucent, or from other surfaces in the container within which the tank is enclosed by. The set of electrical signals received from all the light sensors are compared against sets of calibrated signals corresponding to known liquid levels in the tank. The known height corresponding to the nearest set of calibrated signals is determined as the measured liquid height in the tank.

Abstract: A pinch valve for a liquid-dispensing unit or machine has a pinch valve body to which is pivotally secured a closure in a clamshell arrangement. The valve body and the closure define a passageway that can hold a liquid-dispensing tube when the pinch valve is in a closed configuration. The axis about which the closure pivots is perpendicular to the passageway.

Abstract: A pinch valve for a liquid-dispensing unit or machine has a pinch valve body to which is connected a pinch bar assembly. The pinch bar assembly has two axes of rotation and can easily be moved by a user from a pinch position, where the pinch bar is the displacement path of a plunger, to an open position where it is not in the displacement path. A liquid-dispensing tube can be installed in the pinch valve between the pinch bar and the plunger.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method for dispensing a granular material. The apparatus includes a hopper for storing the granular material and a feeder for delivering the granular material through a hopper outlet to a dispensing tube that is configured to guide the granular material towards a dispensing outlet. The valve assembly is actuatable to pinch and unpinch the dispensing tube, thereby blocking and unblocking the passage of material. The valve assembly is configured to receive a resilient portion of the dispensing tube, and is actuatable to pinch the resilient portion of the dispensing tube to inhibit passage of the granular material to the dispensing port, and to unpinch said resilient portion of the dispensing tube to enable passage of the granular material through the dispensing port. The dispensing tube may be sloped between the hopper outlet and the valve assembly. Sloping of the dispensing tube promotes sliding of the granular material along an inner surface of the dispensing tube.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a liquid dispenser includes a liquid reservoir, a measurement device providing at least one signal indicative of the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid reservoir, an electrically actuated valve coupled to a tube outlet exiting from a bottom of the liquid reservoir, and a processor. The processor is electrically connected to the measurement device and operatively coupled to and controlling operation of the valve. Further, the processor is configured to determine a valve open time for dispensing a requested amount of liquid. The valve open time depends upon a preliminary time based on the requested amount and at least one signal from the measurement device, and an adjustment to the preliminary time based on a difference between a requested amount and a measured amount determined by the measurement device for at least one previous dispense.

Abstract: A pinch valve for a liquid-dispensing unit or machine has a pinch valve body to which is pivotally secured a closure in a clamshell arrangement. The valve body and the closure define a passageway that can hold a liquid-dispensing tube when the pinch valve is in a closed configuration. The axis about which the closure pivots is perpendicular to the passageway.

Abstract: A pinch valve has an insert housed in a holder. The insert and the holder are shaped to receive a dispensing tube and the insert can rotate within the holder and around the dispensing tube. The insert can be rotated to have the pinch valve in a release configuration where the insert can be moved downward and out of the holder to allow for cleaning of the insert and holder.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method for dispensing a granular material. The apparatus includes a hopper for storing the granular material and a feeder for delivering the granular material through a hopper outlet to a dispensing tube that is configured to guide the granular material towards a dispensing outlet. The valve assembly is actuatable to pinch and unpinch the dispensing tube, thereby blocking and unblocking the passage of material. The valve assembly is configured to receive a resilient portion of the dispensing tube, and is actuatable to pinch the resilient portion of the dispensing tube to inhibit passage of the granular material to the dispensing port, and to unpinch said resilient portion of the dispensing tube to enable passage of the granular material through the dispensing port. The dispensing tube may be sloped between the hopper outlet and the valve assembly. Sloping of the dispensing tube promotes sliding of the granular material along an inner surface of the dispensing tube.

Abstract: A pinch valve for a liquid-dispensing unit or machine has a pinch valve body to which is connected a pinch bar assembly. The pinch bar assembly has two axes of rotation and can easily be moved by a user from a pinch position, where the pinch bar is the displacement path of a plunger, to an open position where it is not in the displacement path. A liquid-dispensing tube can be installed in the pinch valve between the pinch bar and the plunger.

Abstract: A pinch valve that includes a holder and an insert that fits in the holder. The pinch valve receives a dispensing tube for liquids and controls the flow of liquid in the dispensing valve. The insert defines an inner wall portion against which a plunger assembly pushes the dispensing tube to stop liquid from flowing through the dispensing tube. The insert and the holder define a throttle portion that throttles the flow of liquid when the plunger assembly is moved from the pinch position, where is pushed the dispensing tube against the inner wall portion of the insert, to a flow position.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a user input system and method for receiving and processing touch input. The system may cooperate with an interchangeable graphic module that may be received in an overlapping relationship to a touch sensor panel of the system. The interchangeable graphic module may have a graphical layout having one or more graphical elements visually marked on the interchangeable graphic module. A user may view the graphical elements and provide touch input to the touch sensor panel. The user input system may be configured by obtaining a graphic code associated with the interchangeable graphic module identifying the particular graphical layout. The system may configure soft-keys for the touch sensor panel corresponding to the graphical elements. Therefore embodiments of the user input system may provide a configurable touch input system presenting graphical elements without requiring an electronic display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a liquid dispenser includes a liquid reservoir, a measurement device providing at least one signal indicative of the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid reservoir, an electrically actuated valve coupled to a tube outlet exiting from a bottom of the liquid reservoir, and a processor. The processor is electrically connected to the measurement device and operatively coupled to and controlling operation of the valve. Further, the processor is configured to determine a valve open time for dispensing a requested amount of liquid. The valve open time depends upon a preliminary time based on the requested amount and at least one signal from the measurement device, and an adjustment to the preliminary time based on a difference between a requested amount and a measured amount determined by the measurement device for at least one previous dispense.

Abstract: An exercise equipment connector and exercise equipment. Also provided is a method of making an exercise equipment connector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a liquid dispenser includes a liquid reservoir, a load cell supporting at least a partial weight of the liquid reservoir, an electrically actuated valve coupled to a tube outlet exiting from a bottom of the liquid reservoir, and a processor. The processor is electrically connected to the load cell and operatively coupled to and controlling operation of the valve. Further, the processor is configured to determine a valve open time for dispensing a requested amount of liquid. The valve open time depends upon a preliminary time based on the requested amount and an output from the load cell, and an adjustment to the preliminary time based on a difference between a requested amount and a measured amount determined by the load cell for at least one previous dispense.

Abstract: A rack-mounted glute-ham developer and a method of making a rack-mounted glute-ham developer. The rack-mounted glute-ham developer may include a roller assembly and a pad assembly. The roller assembly may be configured to mount to an exercise rack system. The pad assembly may be configured to mount to a support. The roller assembly and the pad assembly may be separate members (not joined by a permanent frame).

Abstract: A concentrated flavor dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a fraction of a milliliter and a few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is realizably connected to a disposable pre-filled fluid cartridge. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod that is advanced or retracted by any one of several predetermined distances. The drive rod impels a plunger positioned within the disposable cartridge to dispense a volume of fluid. Flexible capillary tubes connected to the output of each disposable cartridge direct the fluid to a central dispensing area. The disposable cartridge includes an expandable plunger which draws fluid back into the cartridge when the drive rod is withdrawn after a dispense operation for drip prevention.