TOUCH SCREEN INTERFACE FOR A BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE
A beverage dispensing system including a control unit and a touch screen. Inputs are made to the touch screen to dispense beverages and apply system adjustments. The control unit controls a plurality of beverage dispensing valves according to inputs made to the touch screen.
1 . A control system for a beverage dispenser, the control system comprising:
a touch screen;
a plurality of beverage dispensing valves; and
a control unit electrically coupled to the touch screen and the plurality of valves, the control unit configured to:
display a graphical configuration on the touch screen for dispensing beverages via the plurality of valves, the graphical configuration having at least one displayed button to dispense a beverage and at least one hidden button;
receive a first user input from the at least one hidden button; and
ignore all user input from the at least one displayed button for a predetermined amount of time based on the first user input.
2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein user inputs from the at least one displayed button are accepted after the predetermined amount of time expires.
3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first user input comprises a plurality of inputs made to the hidden button.
4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical configuration includes a plurality of hidden buttons, and wherein the first user input comprises a pattern of inputs made to the plurality of hidden buttons.
5 . A method comprising:
Displaying, on a touch screen of a beverage dispensing system, a graphical configuration for dispensing beverages via a plurality of valves, the graphical configuration having at least one displayed button to dispense a beverage and at least one hidden button;
receiving a first user input from the at least one hidden button; and
ignoring all user input from the at least one displayed button for a predetermined amount of time based on the first user input.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein user inputs from the at least one displayed button are accepted after the predetermined amount of time expires.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first user input comprises a plurality of inputs applied to the hidden button.
8 . The control system of claim 5 , wherein the graphical configuration includes a plurality of hidden buttons, and wherein the first input comprises a pattern of inputs made to the plurality of hidden buttons.
9 . A control system for a beverage dispenser, the control system comprising:
a touch screen;
a plurality of beverage dispensing valves coupled to a plurality of fluid lines; and
a control unit electrically coupled to the touch screen and the plurality of valves, the control unit configured to:
display a graphical configuration on the touch screen for sanitizing the plurality of fluid lines;
receive an input from the touch screen to sanitize at least one fluid line; and
control the plurality of valves to provide sanitizing fluid to the at least one fluid line for a predetermined time interval.
10 . The control system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to flush the sanitizing fluid through the at least one fluid line.
11 . The control system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to statically hold the sanitizing fluid within the at least one fluid line.
12 . The control system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to purge the at least one fluid line of the sanitizing fluid after the predetermined time interval.
13 . The control system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to display a count down of the time interval.
14 . The control system of claim 9 , wherein user inputs made to the touch screen are ignored by the control system during the time interval.
15 . A method comprising:
displaying, on a beverage dispensing touch screen, a graphical configuration for sanitizing a plurality of beverage dispensing fluid lines;
receiving an input from the touch screen to sanitize at least one fluid line; and
controlling the plurality of valves to provide sanitizing fluid to the at least one fluid line for a predetermined time interval.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to flush the sanitizing fluid through the at least one fluid line.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of valves are controlled to statically hold the sanitizing fluid within the at least one fluid line.
18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
purging the at least one fluid line of the sanitizing fluid after the predetermined time interval.
19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
displaying a count down of the time interval.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein user inputs made to the touch screen are ignored by the control system during the time interval.