US4890774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beverage dispensing system
Assignee: Coca-Cola Co
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Filing: 1988-04-26
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Granted: 1990-01-02
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Expires: 2008-04-26
Abstract
Abstract In a beverage dispenser of the type including portion control dispensing, the improvement wherein the portion control circuit includes a microprocessor based timer programmed to provide a primary pour cycle and then one or more topping off pour cycles after a wait period of time after termination of the primary pour cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Poore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:51
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/12; B67D1/127; B67D1/0015; B67D1/0021; B67D1/0022; B67D1/0034; B67D1/0035; B67D1/0037; B67D1/0878; B67D1/0882; B67D1/0888; B67D1/1202; B67D1/1204; B67D1/1211; B67D1/1213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a dispensing valve and nozzle for mixing together syrup and carbonated water and dispensing the mixture as a beverage out the nozzle; (b) a syrup conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering syrup thereto; (c) a carbonated water conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering carbonated water thereto; (d) a flow meter and a control valve in each of said conduits; (e) microprocessor control means connected to each of said flow meters and control valves for delivering said syrup and carbonated water to said dispensing valve at a desired ratio; (f) said microprocessor control means including portion control means for carrying out a primary pour cycle for dispensing any one of several different selected volumes of beverage from said dispensing valve; and (g) said microprocessor control means including topping off means for carrying out a pre-programmed topping off pour cycle after a period of time after said primary pour cycle has been terminated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a dispensing valve and nozzle for mixing together syrup and carbonated water and dispensing the mixture as a beverage out the nozzle; (b) a syrup conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering syrup thereto; (c) a carbonated water conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering carbonated water thereto; (d) a flow meter and a control valve in each of said conduits; (e) microprocessor control means connected to each of said flow meters and control valves for delivering said syrup and carbonated water to said dispensing valve at a desired ratio; (f) said microprocessor control means including portion control means for carrying out a primary pour cycle for dispensing any one of several different selected volumes of beverage from said dispensing valve; and (g) said microprocessor control means including topping off means for carrying out a pre-programmed topping off pour cycle after a period of time after said primary pour cycle has been terminated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said topping off means includes means for carrying out a plurality of separate topping off pour cycles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
160 words
A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a dispensing valve and nozzle for mixing together syrup and carbonated water and dispensing the mixture as a beverage out the nozzle; (b) a syrup conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering syrup thereto; (c) a carbonated water conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering carbonated water thereto; (d) means for controlling the syrup to water ratio in the dispensed mixture; (e) a control valve in each of said conduits; (f) control means connected to each of said control valves for controlling the flow of syrup and carbonated water through said dispensing valve; (g) said control means including portion control means and a microprocessor based timer for carrying out a primary pour cycle for dispensing any one of several different selected volumes of beverage from said dispensing valve, and for carrying out a pre-programmed topping off pour cycle after a wait period of time after said primary pour cycle has been terminated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
160 words
A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a dispensing valve and nozzle for mixing together syrup and carbonated water and dispensing the mixture as a beverage out the nozzle; (b) a syrup conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering syrup thereto; (c) a carbonated water conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering carbonated water thereto; (d) means for controlling the syrup to water ratio in the dispensed mixture; (e) a control valve in each of said conduits; (f) control means connected to each of said control valves for controlling the flow of syrup and carbonated water through said dispensing valve; (g) said control means including portion control means and a microprocessor based timer for carrying out a primary pour cycle for dispensing any one of several different selected volumes of beverage from said dispensing valve, and for carrying out a pre-programmed topping off pour cycle after a wait period of time after said primary pour cycle has been terminated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said wait period of time and said topping off pour cycle period of time are different for different syrups being dispensed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a dispensing valve and nozzle for mixing together syrup and carbonated water and dispensing the mixture as a beverage out the nozzle; (b) a syrup conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering syrup thereto; (c) a carbonated water conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering carbonated water thereto; (d) a control valve in each of said conduits; (e) control means connected to each of said control valves for controlling the flow of said syrup and carbonated water through said dispensing valve; (f) said control means including portion control means and a microprocessor based timer for carrying out a primary pour cycle for dispensing any one of several different selected volumes of beverage from said dispensing valve, and for carrying out a pre-programmed topping off pour cycle after a wait period of time after said primary pour cycle has been terminated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a dispensing valve and nozzle for mixing together syrup and carbonated water and dispensing the mixture as a beverage out the nozzle; (b) a syrup conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering syrup thereto; (c) a carbonated water conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering carbonated water thereto; (d) a control valve in each of said conduits; (e) control means connected to each of said control valves for controlling the flow of said syrup and carbonated water through said dispensing valve; (f) said control means including portion control means and a microprocessor based timer for carrying out a primary pour cycle for dispensing any one of several different selected volumes of beverage from said dispensing valve, and for carrying out a pre-programmed topping off pour cycle after a wait period of time after said primary pour cycle has been terminated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said control means includes means for carrying out a plurality of separate topping off pour cycles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said control means includes means for carrying out said topping off pour cycle for a different period of time and after a different wait period of time for each of several different syrups.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a dispensing valve and nozzle for mixing together syrup and carbonated water and dispensing the mixture as a beverage out the nozzle; (b) a syrup conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering syrup thereto; (c) a carbonated water conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering carbonated water thereto; (d) a control valve in each of said conduits; (e) means for controlling the syrup to water ratio in the dispensed mixture; (f) portion control means for carrying out a plurality of different primary pour cycles each lasting a different predetermined period of time for dispensing different selected volumes of beverage from said dispensing valve; (g) said portion control means including topping off means and a programmable microprocessor based timer ;and (h) said topping off means including means for carrying out at least one of said primary pour cycles with a pre-programmed topping off pour cycle after a wait period of time after said primary pour cycle has been terminated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a dispensing valve and nozzle for mixing together syrup and carbonated water and dispensing the mixture as a beverage out the nozzle; (b) a syrup conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering syrup thereto; (c) a carbonated water conduit connected to said dispensing valve for delivering carbonated water thereto; (d) a control valve in each of said conduits; (e) means for controlling the syrup to water ratio in the dispensed mixture; (f) portion control means for carrying out a plurality of different primary pour cycles each lasting a different predetermined period of time for dispensing different selected volumes of beverage from said dispensing valve; (g) said portion control means including topping off means and a programmable microprocessor based timer ;and (h) said topping off means including means for carrying out at least one of said primary pour cycles with a pre-programmed topping off pour cycle after a wait period of time after said primary pour cycle has been terminated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said topping off means includes means for carrying out a plurality of separate topping off pour cycles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said wait period of time and said topping off pour cycle period of time are different for different syrups being dispensed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said topping off means includes means for carrying out a topping off cycle for each of said pour cycles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said topping off means includes means for carrying out a plurality of separate topping off pour cycles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said wait period of time and said topping off pour cycle period of time are different for different syrups being dispensed.
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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) | 1993-01-01 | 1993-07-03 | 1994-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-01 | 1997-07-03 | 1998-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-01 | 2001-07-03 | 2002-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |