Liquid beverage conductivity detecting system
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to a system, method and apparatus for controlling the flavor of a beverage produced from a concentrate, based on the conductivity of the beverage being produced. The apparatus includes a conductivity sensor which provides a controller with real time conductivity data from the beverage being served. The controller is capable of comparing the real time conductivity data to a preprogrammed range of conductivity readings and adjusting a variable speed pump to keep the real time conductivity data within the preprogrammed range.
1. A beverage producing apparatus for controllably combining a concentrate and a dilution material to produce a beverage, the beverage producing apparatus comprising:
means for delivering concentrate;
means for delivering dilution material;
a controller operatively coupled to and operatively controlling the concentrate delivering means and the dilution material delivering means;
means for detecting conductivity;
a mixing chamber for combining the concentrate and the dilution material;
orienting at least two conductivity probes in a horizontally spaced apart orientation in the mixing chamber for detecting conductivity at a horizontal location in the mixing chamber; and
the conductivity means being operatively coupled to the controller for providing conductivity information relating at least a mixture of the concentrate and dilution material, the controller operatively controlling the dispensing of concentrate and dilution material to maintain the conductivity of the mixture in a desired conductivity range.
2. A method for controlling dispensing of a beverage, the method comprising the steps of:
providing means for delivering concentrate;
providing means for delivering dilution material;
providing a controller operatively coupled to the concentrate delivering means and the dilution material delivering means;
providing a mixing chamber for receiving the concentrate and the dilution material;
providing means for detecting conductivity;
positioning the conductivity detecting means in a horizontal orientation in the mixing chamber;
initiating dispensing of a beverage by sending a signal to the controller;
controllably dispensing the dilution material from the dilution material delivering means to the mixing chamber;
dispensing the concentrate from the concentrate delivering means to the mixing chamber;
mixing the concentrate and dilution material in the mixing chamber to produce the beverage;
pooling the concentrate and dilution material prior to dispensing in an area proximate to at least a portion of the conductivity detecting means;
detecting the conductivity of the beverage at a horizontal location in the mixing chamber prior to dispensing; and
controllably adjusting at least one of the concentrate and dilution material when the conductivity is not at least one of a predetermined level and range.
3. A system for controllably dispensing beverages and maintaining a beverage dispensed thereby within a desired conductivity range, the system comprising:
means for delivering concentrate;
means for delivering dilution material;
a controller operatively coupled to and operatively controlling the concentrate delivering means and the dilution material delivering means;
a mixing chamber for receiving and combining the concentrate and the dilution material;
means for detecting conductivity including at least two conductive probes;
orienting the at least two conductive probes in a horizontally spaced apart orientation in the mixing chamber for detecting conductivity at a horizontal location in the mixing chamber; and
the conductivity means being operatively coupled to the controller for providing conductivity information relating to at least a mixture of the concentrate and dilution material, the controller operatively controlling the dispensing of the concentrate and dilution material to maintain the conductivity of the mixture in a desired conductivity range.
4. A beverage producing apparatus for controllably combining a concentrate and a dilution material to produce a beverage, the beverage producing apparatus comprising:
a controllable concentrate dispensing assembly;
a controllable dilution material dispensing assembly;
a mixing chamber for receiving and combining the concentrate and dilution material;
a controller operatively coupled to and operatively controlling the concentrate dispensing assembly and the dilution material dispensing assembly;
a conductivity detector including at least two conductive probes;
orienting the at least two conductive probes in a horizontally spaced apart orientation in the mixing chamber for detecting conductivity at a horizontal location in the mixing chamber; and
the conductivity detector being operatively coupled to the controller for providing conductivity information relating at least a mixture of the concentrate and dilution material, the controller operatively controlling the dispensing of concentrate and dilution material to maintain the conductivity of the mixture within at least one of a predetermined conductivity level and a predetermined conductivity range.
5. A method for controlling dispensing of a beverage, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a controllable concentrate dispensing assembly;
providing a controllable dilution material dispensing assembly;
providing a controller operatively connected to the concentrate dispensing assembly and the dilution material dispensing assembly;
providing a mixing chamber for receiving the concentrate and the dilution material;
providing a conductivity detector;
positioning the conductivity detecting means in a horizontal orientation in the mixing chamber;
initiating dispensing of a beverage by sending a signal to the controller;
controllably dispensing the dilution material from the dilution material delivering means to the mixing chamber;
dispensing the concentrate from the concentrate delivering means to the mixing chamber;
mixing the concentrate and dilution material in the mixing chamber to produce the beverage;
pooling the concentrate and dilution material prior to dispensing in an area proximate to at least a portion of the conductivity detecting means;
detecting the conductivity of the beverage at a horizontal location in the mixing chamber prior to dispensing; and
controllably adjusting at least one of the concentrate and dilution material when the conductivity is not at least one of a predetermined level and range.
6. A system for controllably dispensing beverages and maintaining a beverage dispensed thereby within a desired conductivity range, the system comprising:
means for delivering concentrate;
means for delivering dilution material;
a mixing chamber for receiving and combining the concentrate and the dilution material;
a controller operatively coupled to and operatively controlling the concentrate delivering means and the dilution material delivering means;
means for detecting conductivity including at least two conductive probes;
orienting the at least two conductive probes in a horizontally spaced apart orientation in the mixing chamber for detecting conductivity at a horizontal location in the mixing chamber; and
the conductivity means being operatively coupled to the controller for providing conductivity information relating to at least a mixture of the concentrate and dilution material, the controller operatively controlling the dispensing of the concentrate and dilution material to maintain the conductivity of the mixture in a desired conductivity range.