Patent US4559979A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4559979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasound level detector
Assignee: Coca-Cola Co
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Filing: 1983-12-08
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Granted: 1985-12-24
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Expires: 2003-12-08
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasound liquid level detector system for automatically controlling the dispensing of a post-mix beverage, including microprocessor-controlled circuitry for monitoring and implementing the automatic dispensing process. The microprocessor is interfaced with an ultrasonic transducer which transmits ultrasonic wave energy towards the container to be filled and receives reflected ultrasonic wave energy, the characteristics of which are analyzed within the microprocessor to implement control functions of the automatic dispensing process. Dispensing automatically begins as a container is inserted under the ultrasonic transducer into a proper position beneath a post-mix beverage dispenser nozzle. The transducer continuously measures the distance between the top or lip of the container and a liquid/foam interface of a carbonated beverage being dispensed into the container. Dispensing stops when the transducer senses a predetermined level of carbonated beverage within the container. In addition, dispensing is initially stopped before the liquid level reaches the top of the container to allow for dissipation of foam on the top of a carbonated beverage and dispensing is reinitiated to top off the level of beverage adjacent the top of the container. The disclosed system also utilizes the ultrasonic transducer to measure the level of ice within the container prior to dispensing and precludes dispensing of the beverage if the level of ice exceeds a predetermined limit. The system also has additional safeguards programmed into the microprocessor to preclude operator errors such as triggering of the dispenser system by devices other than the container to be filled.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Koblasz
- 👤 James Hollister
- 👤 Douglas Alexander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:11
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/12; B67D1/1202; B67D1/1234; B67D1/1238; B67D3/00; B67D3/0003; G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/296; G01F23/2962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container with a carbonated beverage which tends to form a head of foam during said filling, comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of carbonated beverage into an opening in the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; valve means for initiating the flow of said carbonated beverage to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereto when closed; detector means for measuring the level of carbonated beverage in said container; first control means responsive to said detector means for closing said valve means to stop the flow of carbonated beverage to said dispenser outlet when said carbonated beverage reaches a predetermined level in said container; means for opening said valve means to reinitiate the flow of said carbonated beverage if said level of beverage subsides following the closing of said valve means by said first control means by more than a predetermined distance, caused by dissipation of said head of foam; and second control means for closing said valve means when said level reaches a predetermined distance from said container lip.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container with a carbonated beverage which tends to form a head of foam during said filling, comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of carbonated beverage into an opening in the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; valve means for initiating the flow of said carbonated beverage to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereto when closed; detector means for measuring the level of carbonated beverage in said container; first control means responsive to said detector means for closing said valve means to stop the flow of carbonated beverage to said dispenser outlet when said carbonated beverage reaches a predetermined level in said container; means for opening said valve means to reinitiate the flow of said carbonated beverage if said level of beverage subsides following the closing of said valve means by said first control means by more than a predetermined distance, caused by dissipation of said head of foam; and second control means for closing said valve means when said level reaches a predetermined distance from said container lip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector means comprises: ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the interior of said container; and ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip and said liquid therein and generating a container lip signal and a liquid level signal, each having a leading and trailing edge with respect to time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: third control means responsive to the trailing edge of said lip signal and the trailing edge of said liquid level signal for generating a stop signal to close said valve means when the trailing edge of said lip signal is absent and the trailing edge of said liquid level signal is present.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detector means includes ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the container bottom, ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip for generating a series of lip signals and further comprising: logic circuit means for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a container only when a predetermined number of said lip signals in said series are at substantially the same level; and third control means responsive to said signal generated by said logic circuit means for opening said valve means to initiate said flow of liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further including a given level of ice in said container and wherein said ultrasonic detector means also receives ultrasonic energy reflected from said ice to generate an ice level signal; means for determining said given level of ice from said ice level signal; and means for precluding the opening of said valve means to initiate said flow if said given ice level exceeds a predetermined limit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further including a given level of ice in said container and wherein said ultrasonic detector means also receives ultrasonic energy reflected from said ice to generate an ice level signal; means for determining said given level of ice from said ice level signal; and means for precluding the opening of said valve means to initiate said flow if said given ice level exceeds a predetermined limit.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container with a liquid comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of said liquid into an opening at the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; valve means for initiating the flow of said liquid to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereto when closed; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the interior of said container; ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip and said liquid therein and generating a container lip signal and a liquid level signal, each having a leading and trailing edge with respect to time; and control means responsive to the trailing edge of said lip signal and the trailing edge of said liquid level signal for generating a stop signal to close said valve means when the trailing edge of said lip signal is absent and the trailing edge of said liquid level signal is present, whereby the absence of the trailing edge of said lip signal and the presence of the trailing edge of said liquid level signal indicate that said container is full of liquid.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container with a liquid comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of said liquid into an opening at the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; valve means for initiating the flow of said liquid to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereto when closed; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the interior of said container; ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip and said liquid therein and generating a container lip signal and a liquid level signal, each having a leading and trailing edge with respect to time; and control means responsive to the trailing edge of said lip signal and the trailing edge of said liquid level signal for generating a stop signal to close said valve means when the trailing edge of said lip signal is absent and the trailing edge of said liquid level signal is present, whereby the absence of the trailing edge of said lip signal and the presence of the trailing edge of said liquid level signal indicate that said container is full of liquid.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container with a liquid, comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of liquid into an opening at the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the container bottom; ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip for generating a series of lip signals; circuit means for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a container only when a predetermined number of lip signals in said series are at substantially the same level; valve means for initiating the flow of said liquid to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow therein when closed; and control means responsive to said signal generated by said circuit means for opening said valve means to initiate said flow of liquid, whereby spurious, non-repetitive signals cannot be interpreted as a lip signal and the presence of a container.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container with a liquid, comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of liquid into an opening at the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the container bottom; ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip for generating a series of lip signals; circuit means for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a container only when a predetermined number of lip signals in said series are at substantially the same level; valve means for initiating the flow of said liquid to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow therein when closed; and control means responsive to said signal generated by said circuit means for opening said valve means to initiate said flow of liquid, whereby spurious, non-repetitive signals cannot be interpreted as a lip signal and the presence of a container.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container with a beverage, said container having ice therein, comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of beverage into an opening in the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; valve means for initiating the flow of said beverage to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereto when closed; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic energy through said opening toward the ice therein; detector means for measuring ultrasonic energy reflected from said ice and determining said given level thereof; and control means for precluding the opening of said valve means to initiate said flow if said given ice level exceeds a predetermined limit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container with a beverage, said container having ice therein, comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of beverage into an opening in the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; valve means for initiating the flow of said beverage to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereto when closed; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic energy through said opening toward the ice therein; detector means for measuring ultrasonic energy reflected from said ice and determining said given level thereof; and control means for precluding the opening of said valve means to initiate said flow if said given ice level exceeds a predetermined limit.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container having a given level of ice therein with a beverage comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of liquid into an opening at the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the container bottom; ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip and said ice therein for generating a series of lip signals and an ice level signal; logic circuit means for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a container only when a predetermined number of lip signals in said series are at substantially the same level; valve means for initiating the flow of said liquid to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereon when closed; and control means responsive to said signal generated by said logic circuit means and said ice level signal for opening said valve means to initiate said flow of liquid when said given ice level is below a predetermined limit.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container having a given level of ice therein with a beverage comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of liquid into an opening at the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the container bottom; ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip and said ice therein for generating a series of lip signals and an ice level signal; logic circuit means for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a container only when a predetermined number of lip signals in said series are at substantially the same level; valve means for initiating the flow of said liquid to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereon when closed; and control means responsive to said signal generated by said logic circuit means and said ice level signal for opening said valve means to initiate said flow of liquid when said given ice level is below a predetermined limit.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
303 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container having a given level of ice therein with a carbonated beverage which tends to form a head of foam during said filling, comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of liquid into an opening at the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the container bottom; ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip, said ice therein and said carbonated beverage for generating a series of lip signals, an ice level signal and liquid level signal, respectively; logic circuit means for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a container only when a predetermined number of lip signals in said series are at substantially the same level; valve means for initiating the flow of said liquid to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereto when closed; first control means responsive to said signal generated by said logic circuit means and said ice level signal for opening said valve means to initiate said flow of liquid when said given ice level is below a predetermined limit; second control means responsive to said liquid level signal for closing said valve means to stop the flow of carbonated beverage to said dispenser outlet when said carbonated beverage reaches a predetermined level in said container; means for opening said valve means to reinitiate the flow of said carbonated beverage if said level of carbonated beverage subsides following the closing of said valve means by said control means by more than a predetermined distance, caused by dissipation of said head of foam; and third control means for closing said valve means when said liquid level reaches a predetermined distance from said container lip.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
303 words
An apparatus for automatically filling a container having a given level of ice therein with a carbonated beverage which tends to form a head of foam during said filling, comprising: a dispenser outlet for directing the flow of liquid into an opening at the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; ultrasonic means for transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward said container lip and the container bottom; ultrasonic detector means for receiving ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container lip, said ice therein and said carbonated beverage for generating a series of lip signals, an ice level signal and liquid level signal, respectively; logic circuit means for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a container only when a predetermined number of lip signals in said series are at substantially the same level; valve means for initiating the flow of said liquid to said dispenser outlet when open and stopping the flow thereto when closed; first control means responsive to said signal generated by said logic circuit means and said ice level signal for opening said valve means to initiate said flow of liquid when said given ice level is below a predetermined limit; second control means responsive to said liquid level signal for closing said valve means to stop the flow of carbonated beverage to said dispenser outlet when said carbonated beverage reaches a predetermined level in said container; means for opening said valve means to reinitiate the flow of said carbonated beverage if said level of carbonated beverage subsides following the closing of said valve means by said control means by more than a predetermined distance, caused by dissipation of said head of foam; and third control means for closing said valve means when said liquid level reaches a predetermined distance from said container lip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each lip signal and liquid level signal have a leading and trailing edge with respect to time and said apparatus further comprises: fourth control means responsive to the trailing edge of said lip signal and the trailing edge of said liquid level signal for generating a stop signal to close said valve means when the trailing edge of said lip signal is absent and the trailing edge of said liquid level signal is present.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for automatically filling a container with a carbonated beverage which tends to form a head of foam during said filling, comprising the steps of: initiating the flow of said carbonated beverage into an opening in the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; measuring the level of carbonated beverage flowing into said container; stopping the flow of carbonated beverage into said container when said carbonated beverage reaches a predetermined level therein; reinitiating the flow of said carbonated beverage at a selected time following the stopping of said flow to permit said head of foam to dissipate; and restopping the flow of carbonated beverage when the level therein reaches a predetermined distance from said container lip.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for automatically filling a container with a carbonated beverage which tends to form a head of foam during said filling, comprising the steps of: initiating the flow of said carbonated beverage into an opening in the top of the container, said opening being defined by a surrounding container lip; measuring the level of carbonated beverage flowing into said container; stopping the flow of carbonated beverage into said container when said carbonated beverage reaches a predetermined level therein; reinitiating the flow of said carbonated beverage at a selected time following the stopping of said flow to permit said head of foam to dissipate; and restopping the flow of carbonated beverage when the level therein reaches a predetermined distance from said container lip.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for automatically filling a container having a given level of ice therein with a carbonated beverage which tends to form a head of foam during said filling, comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward the top of the container and through an opening therein toward the container bottom; measuring ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container top, said ice therein and said carbonated beverage for generating container lip signals, an ice level signal and a liquid level signal, respectively; initiating the flow of said carbonated beverage into said container only in the presence of a lip signal, and an ice signal indicative of a level of ice below a predetermined limit; stopping the flow of carbonated beverage to said container when the carbonated beverage in said container reaches a predetermined level therein; reinitiating the flow of said carbonated beverage at a selected time following the stopping of said flow to permit said head of foam to dissipate; and restopping the flow when said liquid level reaches a predetermined distance from the top of said container.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for automatically filling a container having a given level of ice therein with a carbonated beverage which tends to form a head of foam during said filling, comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasonic wave energy toward the top of the container and through an opening therein toward the container bottom; measuring ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said container top, said ice therein and said carbonated beverage for generating container lip signals, an ice level signal and a liquid level signal, respectively; initiating the flow of said carbonated beverage into said container only in the presence of a lip signal, and an ice signal indicative of a level of ice below a predetermined limit; stopping the flow of carbonated beverage to said container when the carbonated beverage in said container reaches a predetermined level therein; reinitiating the flow of said carbonated beverage at a selected time following the stopping of said flow to permit said head of foam to dissipate; and restopping the flow when said liquid level reaches a predetermined distance from the top of said container.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-23 | 1989-06-24 | 1989-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-23 | 1993-06-24 | 1993-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-23 | 1997-06-24 | 1997-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |