IP Library Granted Patent US 10,407,292
Granted Patent B2
US 10,407,292 · App. 15/456,052 · Granted Sep 10, 2019

Beverage dispensing machine with touch screen interface for calibrating beverage size

Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht (Winters, CA); Jun Feng (Davis, CA); Boris Brodsky (Vacaville, CA); Richard A. Martindale (Vacaville, CA)
Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.
B67D1/0888A47J31/4403A47J31/46A47J31/52A47J31/60B67D1/0036B67D1/0066B67D1/0081B67D1/07B67D1/0877B67D1/0895B67D1/1209B67D1/16G07F13/065B67D1/0057B67D1/0872B67D1/1202B67D1/1204B67D2001/075B67D2210/00031B67D2210/00091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,407,292
App. No.
15/456,052
Granted
Sep 10, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (21)

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 setting at least one beverage size;

receive a continuous user input from the touch screen to dispense fluid;

control the plurality of valves to dispense fluid for a period of time according to the continuous user input; and

set a beverage dispensing time for the at least one beverage size according to the period of time of the continuous user input.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical configuration includes buttons for a plurality of beverage sizes, each button for setting a respective beverage dispensing time.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical configuration includes a visual indicator that is animated during the continuous user input.

4. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a linear scale.

5. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a numerical indicator.

6. A method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen of a beverage dispensing system, a graphical configuration for setting at least one beverage size;

receiving a continuous user input from the touch screen to dispense fluid;

controlling a plurality of valves of the beverage dispensing system to dispense fluid for a period of time according to the period of time of the continuous user input; and

setting a beverage dispensing time for the at least one beverage size according to the period of time of the continuous user input.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the graphical configuration includes buttons for a plurality of beverage sizes, each button for setting a respective beverage dispensing time.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the graphical configuration includes a visual indicator that is animated during the continuous user input.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the visual indicator comprises an animated linear scale.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the visual indicator comprises an animated numerical indicator.

Continuity (5)
Division 13168875 · Jun 24, 2011
Continuation In Part 12611788 · Nov 3, 2009
Provisional Application 61358858 · Jun 25, 2010
Provisional Application 61113183 · Nov 10, 2008
Related Publication 20170183214A1 · Jun 29, 2017
Cited By (4)
US 12,338,022 US 12,343,690 US 12,415,716 US 12,583,730