JP7343627B2 - Product dispensing system with PWM controlled solenoid pump - Google Patents

Description

Cross-reference to related applications This application is filed on October 28, 2011.
ng System”, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/552,938 (Attorney Docket No. I82), filed on November 15, 2011, “Product Di
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/560,007 (Attorney Docket No. J13) entitled “Produ Spensing System” filed on April 20, 2012.
ct Dispensing System”, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61,636,
No. 298 (Attorney Docket No. J39), each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to processing systems, and more particularly to processing systems used to produce products from multiple separate raw materials.

A processing system can combine one or more raw materials to form a product. Unfortunately, such systems often have fixed configurations and can only produce a relatively limited number of product types. Such systems may also be reconfigurable to produce other products, although such reconfiguration may require significant changes to the mechanical/electrical/software systems.

For example, creating a different product may require adding new components, such as new valves, lines, manifolds, software subroutines, etc. Such a major modification is required because the existing equipment/processes within the machining system are not reconfigurable and have a single, dedicated use, and are therefore required to be replaced by another to perform the new task. This is because component parts must be added.

According to one aspect of the invention, a system is disclosed for monitoring the flow conditions of fluid flowing from a product container through a solenoid pump. The system includes at least one solenoid pump including a solenoid coil that, when energized, produces a stroke of the solenoid pump, and at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump, the at least one solenoid pump at least one PWM controller configured to dispense fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke and to energize the at least one solenoid pump; and detecting current flow through the solenoid coil; at least one current sensor that produces an output of: and a control for controlling the flow rate of fluid through the solenoid pump by instructing a PWM controller and monitoring the current flow through the solenoid pump by receiving an output from the current sensor. a logic subsystem, the control logic subsystem using measurements of current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether a stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.

Some embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. That is, the control logic subsystem uses measurements of current flow through at least the solenoid coil to determine that at least one product container is in a sold-out condition. A control logic subsystem uses measurements of current flow through the solenoid coil to
Determine whether the solenoid pump stroke is non-functional. A control logic subsystem uses measurements of current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether a stroke of the solenoid pump is a sell-out stroke. A control logic subsystem determines that at least one product container is in a sold-out condition when a threshold number of consecutive sold-out strokes is reached. The at least one product container further includes an RFID tag that stores a level indicator value representative of the amount of fluid remaining within the at least one product container. A control logic subsystem determines that at least one product container is in a sold-out condition when a certain number of consecutive sold-out strokes are determined and the residual quantity value exceeds a threshold volume.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method of monitoring the flow rate of fluid from a product container through a solenoid pump is disclosed. This method includes the steps of energizing a solenoid coil of a solenoid pump to generate one stroke of the solenoid pump, dispensing fluid from a product container through the solenoid pump during each stroke, and using a current sensor to detecting a current flow through the solenoid pump and generating an output of the sensed current flow; and using a control logic subsystem to monitor the current through the solenoid pump, the control logic subsystem detecting a current flow from the current sensor. The method includes receiving a sensed current and determining whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.

Some embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. That is, the control logic subsystem uses measurements of current flow through at least the solenoid coil to determine that at least one product container is in a sold-out condition. A control logic subsystem uses measurements of current flow through the solenoid coil to
Determine whether the solenoid pump stroke is non-functional. A control logic subsystem uses measurements of current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether a stroke of the solenoid pump is a sold-out stroke. A control logic subsystem determines that at least one product container is in a sold-out condition when a threshold number of consecutive sold-out strokes is reached. Measuring the amount of fluid remaining in the product container using an RFID tag that stores a level indicator value representative of the amount of fluid remaining in the at least one product container. A control logic subsystem determines that the product container is in a sold-out condition when a certain number of consecutive sold-out strokes are determined and the remaining quantity indication exceeds a threshold volume.

According to one aspect of the invention, a system for determining that a product container is sold out is disclosed. The system includes at least one solenoid pump including a solenoid coil that, when energized, produces a stroke of the solenoid pump, and at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump, the at least one solenoid pump at least one PWM controller configured to dispense fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke, and to energize the at least one solenoid pump and control a voltage applied to the at least one solenoid coil; , at least one current sensor for detecting current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the detected current flow; a control logic subsystem for monitoring current flow through the pump by receiving, the control logic subsystem using measurements of current flow through the at least solenoid coil to determine when at least one product container is in a sold-out condition. It is determined that

Some embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. That is, the control logic subsystem determines whether the at least one solenoid pump stroke was a functional stroke based on the output of the current sensor. A control logic subsystem determines whether the at least one solenoid pump stroke was a sold-out stroke based on the output of the current sensor. A control logic subsystem determines that at least one product container is in a sold-out condition when a threshold number of consecutive sold-out strokes is reached. A control logic subsystem determines whether the at least one solenoid pump stroke was a non-functional stroke based on the output of the current sensor. The at least one product container further includes an RFID tag that stores a level indicator value representative of the amount of fluid remaining within the at least one product container. A control logic subsystem determines that the system is in a sold-out condition when a certain number of consecutive sold-out strokes is determined and the remaining capacity indication exceeds a threshold volume. A control logic subsystem controls the current measured by the current sensor by varying the high frequency duty cycle of the PWM controller. At least one PWM on at least one solenoid pump
at least one power source connected via the controller and at least one current sensor;

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a product dispensing system has a cross-reading system.
A method for reducing g) is disclosed. This method uses multiple RFs within a product dispensing system.
scanning the ID tag assembly; and if the one or more RFID tag assemblies are read within the plurality of slots, evaluating the RFID tag assembly to locate the RFID tag assembly within the product dispensing system; and comparing the received signal strength indications.

According to one aspect of the invention, in a first embodiment, a flow meter includes a fluid chamber configured to receive fluid. The diaphragm assembly is configured to displace whenever fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced. The transducer assembly is configured to monitor displacement of the diaphragm assembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, on the amount of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.

Some embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. That is, the transducer assembly includes a linear variable differential transformer coupled to a diaphragm assembly by a coupling assembly; the transducer assembly includes a needle/magnet cartridge assembly; the transducer assembly includes a magnetic coil assembly; the transducer assembly includes a piezoelectric buzzer element; the transducer assembly includes a piezoelectric sheet element; the transducer assembly includes an audio speaker assembly; the transducer assembly includes an accelerometer assembly; includes a microphone assembly and/or the transducer assembly includes an optical displacement assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of determining that a product container is empty is disclosed. The method includes the steps of energizing the pump assembly, dispensing the micromaterial from the product container, displacing the capacitive plate by the displacement distance, measuring the capacitance of the capacitor, and calculating the displacement from the measured capacitance. The method includes calculating a distance and determining whether the product container is empty.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of determining that a product container is empty is disclosed. The method includes at least one of the following steps: energizing the pump assembly, displacing the diaphragm assembly by a displacement distance by dispensing microingredients from a product container, and measuring the displacement distance using a transducer assembly. The method includes using a transducer assembly to generate a signal based on the amount of microingredient dispensed from the product container, and using the signal to determine whether the product container is empty. .

According to another aspect of the invention, a bracket for a product dispensing system is disclosed. The bracket includes a plurality of tabs configured to align with at least one barcode reader on a door of the product dispensing system.

The above aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive; other features, aspects and advantages of the invention include:
It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art when read in conjunction with the appended claims and accompanying drawings.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the following drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a processing system. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a control logic subsystem included in the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a bulk material subsystem included in the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a micro-ingredient subsystem included in the processing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of a capacitive flow sensor included in the processing system of FIG. 1 (in a non-dispensing state); FIG. 5B is a schematic top view of the capacitive flow sensor of FIG. 5A; FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of two capacitive plates included in the capacitive flow sensor of FIG. 5A; FIG. 5B is a time-dependent graph of the capacitance value of the capacitive flow sensor of FIG. 5A (in a non-discharge state, a discharge state, and an empty state). FIG. 5B is a schematic side view of the capacitive flow sensor of FIG. 5A (in a dispensing state); FIG. 5B is a schematic side view of the capacitive flow sensor of FIG. 5A (in an empty state); FIG. 5B is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of the flow sensor of FIG. 5A; FIG. 5B is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of the flow sensor of FIG. 5A; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the piping/control subsystem included in the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a geared positive displacement flow measurement device; FIG. 4 schematically depicts an embodiment of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts an embodiment of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; 4 schematically depicts various alternative embodiments of the flow control module of FIG. 3; Figure 3 schematically shows part of a variable line impedance. Figure 3 schematically shows part of a variable line impedance. 1 schematically depicts one embodiment of variable line impedance; 1 schematically depicts gears of a geared positive displacement flow measurement device according to one embodiment; 1 schematically depicts gears of a geared positive displacement flow measurement device according to one embodiment; 2 is a schematic diagram of a user interface subsystem included in the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the FSM process executed by the control logic subsystem of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first state diagram; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second state diagram; 2 is a flowchart of a virtual machine process executed by the control logic subsystem of FIG. 1; 2 is a flowchart of a virtual manifold process executed by the control logic subsystem of FIG. 1; 2 is an isometric view of an RFID system included in the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of the RFID system of FIG. 23; 24 is a schematic diagram of an RFID antenna assembly included in the RFID system of FIG. 23. FIG. FIG. 26 is an isometric view of the antenna loop assembly of the RFID antenna assembly of FIG. 25; 2 is an isometric view of a housing assembly for housing the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an RFID access antenna assembly included in the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an alternative RFID access antenna assembly that may be included in the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of the internal assembly of the processing system of FIG. 30; FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of an upper cabinet of the processing system of FIG. 30; FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of the flow control subsystem of the processing system of FIG. 30; FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram of a flow control module of the flow control subsystem of FIG. 33; FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of an upper cabinet of the processing system of FIG. 30; FIG. FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram of a power module of the processing system of FIG. 35; FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram of a power module of the processing system of FIG. 35; 36 schematically depicts a flow control module of the flow control subsystem of FIG. 35; 36 schematically depicts a flow control module of the flow control subsystem of FIG. 35; 36 schematically depicts a flow control module of the flow control subsystem of FIG. 35; 31 is a schematic diagram of the lower cabinet of the processing system of FIG. 30; FIG. FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram of the micro-ingredient tower of the lower cabinet of FIG. 38; FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram of the micro-ingredient tower of the lower cabinet of FIG. 38; FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram of a quadruple product module of the micro-ingredient tower of FIG. 39; FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram of a quadruple product module of the micro-ingredient tower of FIG. 39; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a microsource container. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a microsource container. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a microsource container. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a micro-ingredient container. 31 schematically depicts an alternative embodiment of the lower cabinet of the processing system of FIG. 30; 31 schematically depicts an alternative embodiment of the lower cabinet of the processing system of FIG. 30; Figures 45A and 45B schematically illustrate one embodiment of a micro ingredient shelf in the lower cabinet. Figures 45A and 45B schematically illustrate one embodiment of a micro ingredient shelf in the lower cabinet. Figures 45A and 45B schematically illustrate one embodiment of a micro ingredient shelf in the lower cabinet. Figures 45A and 45B schematically illustrate one embodiment of a micro ingredient shelf in the lower cabinet. Figures 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D schematically illustrate the four-tier product module of the micro ingredient shelf; Figures 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D schematically illustrate the four-tier product module of the micro ingredient shelf; Figures 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D schematically illustrate the four-tier product module of the micro ingredient shelf; Figures 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D schematically illustrate the four-tier product module of the micro ingredient shelf; Figures 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D schematically illustrate the four-tier product module of the micro ingredient shelf; Figures 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D schematically illustrate the four-tier product module of the micro ingredient shelf; Figures 47A, 47B, 47C, 47D, 47E, and 47F schematically illustrate the piping assembly of the quad product module. Figures 45A and 45B schematically illustrate the bulk micromaterial assembly of the lower cabinet. Figures 45A and 45B schematically illustrate the bulk micromaterial assembly of the lower cabinet. Figures 45A and 45B schematically illustrate the bulk micromaterial assembly of the lower cabinet. 49A, 49B, 49C schematically depict the piping assembly of the bulk microingredient assembly. 2 schematically depicts one embodiment of a user interface screen in a user interface bracket; 1 schematically depicts one embodiment of a user interface bracket without a screen. 53 is a detailed side view of the bracket of FIG. 52; FIG. Figure 2 schematically depicts a membrane pump. Figure 2 schematically depicts a membrane pump. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow control module in a de-energized position. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow control module with a binary valve in an open position. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow control module in the middle of an energized position. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow control module in a fully energized position. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow control module with an anemometer sensor. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow control module with a paddle wheel sensor. FIG. 2 is a cutaway top view of one embodiment of a paddle wheel sensor. FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a flow control module. 1 is an embodiment of a dithering planning method; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow control module in a fully energized position with fluid flow paths shown. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary solenoid pump, measurement, and control circuit; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a PWM controller/current detection circuit. 68A, 68B, 68C, 68D are graphs of time-dependent current of a solenoid pump for various conditions: normal, empty, and occlusion, according to one embodiment. 68A, 68B, 68C, 68D are graphs of time-dependent current of a solenoid pump for various conditions: normal, empty, and occlusion, according to one embodiment. 68A, 68B, 68C, 68D are graphs of time-dependent current of a solenoid pump for various conditions: normal, empty, and occlusion, according to one embodiment. 68A, 68B, 68C, 68D are graphs of time-dependent current of a solenoid pump for various conditions: normal, empty, and occlusion, according to one embodiment. 69A, 69B, 69C, 69D, 69E, 69F schematically illustrate alternative four-way product modules of the micro ingredient shelves of FIGS. 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D according to one embodiment. 69A, 69B, 69C, 69D, 69E, 69F schematically illustrate alternative four-way product modules of the micro ingredient shelves of FIGS. 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D according to one embodiment. 69A, 69B, 69C, 69D, 69E, 69F schematically illustrate alternative four-way product modules of the micro ingredient shelves of FIGS. 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D according to one embodiment. 69A, 69B, 69C, 69D, 69E, 69F schematically illustrate alternative four-way product modules of the micro ingredient shelves of FIGS. 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D according to one embodiment. 69A, 69B, 69C, 69D, 69E, 69F schematically illustrate alternative four-way product modules of the micro ingredient shelves of FIGS. 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D according to one embodiment. 69A, 69B, 69C, 69D, 69E, 69F schematically illustrate alternative four-way product modules of the micro ingredient shelves of FIGS. 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of an external communication module according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one embodiment of an external communication module according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one embodiment of an external communication module attachment means for an upper door of a processing system according to one embodiment; FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one embodiment of an external communication module attachment means for an upper door of a processing system according to one embodiment; FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one embodiment of an external communication module attachment means for an upper door of a processing system according to one embodiment; FIG. 3 is an illustration of one embodiment of an alignment bracket according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a crosstalk reduction method according to one embodiment. 3 is a graph of product pulse and sell-out value according to one embodiment. 2 is a graph of pulses vs. sell-out value and pulses vs. expected standard deviation according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of leak detection for a flow control module according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of leak detection for a flow control module according to one embodiment. Figure 3 is a time versus volume graph showing a leak integrator and detected leaks.

Like reference symbols in different figures indicate similar elements.

A product dispensing system is described herein. The system includes one or more modular components, also referred to as "subsystems." Although example systems are described herein in various embodiments, the product dispensing system may include one or more of the described subsystems, and the product dispensing system may include one or more of the described subsystems. It is not limited to only one or more of the systems. Therefore, in some embodiments, additional subsystems may be used in the product dispensing system.

The following disclosure describes various electrical components, mechanical components, electromechanical components, software processes (
(i.e., "subsystems") interactions and cooperation. Examples of such products include:
Milk-based products (e.g. milkshakes, floats, malts, frappes), coffee-based products (e.g. coffee, cappuccino, espresso), soda-based products (e.g. floats, fruit juices with soda), tea-based products products (e.g. iced tea, sweet tea, hot tea), water-based products (e.g. spring water, flavored spring water, mineral water with vitamins, beverages containing high electrolytes, beverages containing high carbohydrate content, etc.), solid-based products (e.g., trail mixes, granola-based products, mixed nuts, cereal products, millet products), medical products (e.g., insoluble drugs, injectable drugs, ingestible drugs, dialysis fluids), alcohol-based products (e.g.
(mixed drinks, wine spritzers, soda-based alcoholic beverages, water-based alcoholic beverages, beer with flavored "shots"), industrial products (e.g. solvents, paints, lubricants, dyes, etc.), health/beauty aid products (eg, but not limited to, shampoos, cosmetics, soaps, hair conditioners, skin conditioners, topical ointments).

A product may be produced using one or more "ingredients." The raw material may include one or more fluids, powders, solids, or gases. Fluids, powders, solids and/or gases may be reduced or diluted in the context of processing and dispensing. Products include fluids, solids,
It may be a powder or a gas.

Various raw materials may be referred to as "macro raw materials,""micro raw materials," or "bulk micro raw materials." One or more of the raw materials used may be contained within a housing, ie part of the product dispensing machine. However, one or more of the raw materials may also be stored or produced outside the machine. For example, in some embodiments, water or other ingredients used in bulk (different amounts) may be stored external to the machine (e.g., in some embodiments, high fructose corn syrup (may be stored outside the machine), while other raw materials, such as powdered raw materials, concentrated raw materials, nutraceutical ingredients, pharmaceuticals and/or gas cylinders, may be stored within the machine itself.

Various combinations of the electrical components, mechanical components, electromechanical components, and software processes described above are described below. Although combinations are described below that disclose the production using various subsystems of, for example, beverages and pharmaceuticals (e.g., dialysis fluids), this is not intended to be a limitation of the present application; rather, the subsystems may cooperate. work to produce products/
An exemplary embodiment of a pourable method. Specifically, electrical components, mechanical components, electromechanical components, and software processes (each of which is described in more detail below).
may be used to produce any of the above products or any other products similar to them.

Referring to FIG. 1, an overview of a processing system 10 is shown that includes multiple subsystems: a storage subsystem 12, a control logic subsystem 14, a bulk material subsystem 16, and a micromaterial subsystem 18. , a piping/control subsystem 20 , a user interface subsystem 22 , and a nozzle 24 . Each of the above subsystems 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 will be described in more detail below.

During use of processing system 10, user 26 may use user interface subsystem 22 to select a particular product 28 (into container 30) to dispense. A user 26, via the user interface subsystem 22, can select a product to be included in such product.
You may select one or more options. For example, options may include, but are not limited to, the addition of one or more ingredients. In one exemplary embodiment, the system is a system for dispensing a beverage. In this embodiment, the user can add various flavorings to the beverage (including, but not limited to, lemon flavoring, lime flavoring, chocolate flavoring, vanilla flavoring), The addition of one or more nutraceutical ingredients (including, but not limited to, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin _B6 , vitamin _B12 , and zinc) to the beverage; Multiple types of foods (e.g.
You can choose to add ice cream or yogurt.

When user 26 makes the appropriate selections via user interface subsystem 22, user interface subsystem 22 may send appropriate data signals (via data bus 32) to control logic subsystem 14. Control logic subsystem 14 can process these signals and read (via data bus 34 ) one or more recipes selected from a plurality of recipes 36 maintained in storage subsystem 12 . The term "recipe" refers to instructions for processing/producing the requested product. Control logic subsystem 14 reads the recipe from storage subsystem 12, processes the recipe, and sends appropriate control signals (via data bus 38) to, for example, bulk ingredients subsystem 16.
and micromaterial subsystem 18 (and, in some embodiments, bulk micromaterials, not shown, which may be included in the discussion of micromaterials for processing. In some embodiments, pouring includes:
Alternative assemblies to the microsource assembly may be used. ) and can be supplied to the piping/control subsystem 20 resulting in product 28 (which is supplied to the vessel 30
(poured out).

Referring also to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of control logic subsystem 14 is shown. Control logic subsystem 14 includes microprocessor 100 (e.g., California, Sant.
a ARM® manufactured by Intel Corporation of Clara
microprocessor), non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory 102), and volatile memory (e.g., random access memory 104), each of which supports one or more data/system buses. They may be interconnected via 106, 108. As mentioned above, user interface subsystem 22 may be coupled to control logic subsystem 14 via data bus 32.

Control logic subsystem 14 also transmits analog audio signals to speakers 112, for example.
may include an audio subsystem 110 that supplies processing system 1 to
0 may be included. Audio subsystem 110 may be coupled to microphone processor 100 via data/system bus 114.

Control logic subsystem 14 may run an operating system, examples of which include Microsoft Windows CE, Redhat Linux
®, Palm OS® or device specific (i.e., custom)
This may include, but is not limited to, an operating system.

The operating system instruction sets and subroutines described above, which may be stored in storage subsystem 12, may be stored in one or more processors (e.g., microprocessor 100) and one or more processors incorporated in control logic subsystem 14. Memory configuration (e.g., read-only memory 102 and/or random access memory 104)
) may be executed.

Storage subsystem 12 may include, for example, hard disk drives, solid state drives, optical drives, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), CF (i.e., CompactFlash) cards, SD
(i.e., secure digital) card, SmartMedia® card, M
Memory Stick and MultiMedia cards may also be included.

As mentioned above, storage subsystem 12 may be coupled to control logic subsystem 14 via data bus 34. Control logic subsystem 14 may also include a storage controller 116 (shown in phantom) for converting signals provided by microprocessor 100 into a format usable by storage system 12. Additionally, storage controller 116 can convert signals provided by storage subsystem 12 into a format usable by microprocessor 100.

In some embodiments, an Ethernet connection is also included.

As mentioned above, the bulk feedstock subsystem (also referred to herein as “macro feedstock”) 16, the microfeedstock subsystem 18 and/or the piping/control subsystem 20 communicate with the control logic subsystem 14 via the data bus 38. may be connected to. Control logic subsystem 14 connects signals provided by microprocessor 100 to bulk material subsystem 1.
6. May include a bus interface 118 (shown in phantom) for conversion to a format usable by the micro-ingredient subsystem 18 and/or the plumbing/control subsystem 20. Additionally, bus interface 118 may convert signals provided by bulk ingredient subsystem 16, micro ingredient subsystem 18, and/or plumbing/control subsystem 20 into a format usable by microprocessor 100.

As described in more detail below, control logic subsystem 14 executes one or more control processes 120 (e.g., finite state machine process (FSM process 122), virtual machine process 124, virtual manifold process 126, etc.). may control the operation of processing system 10. The instruction set and subroutines of control process 120, which may be stored in storage subsystem 12, include one or more processors (e.g., microprocessor 100) and one or more memories incorporated in control logic subsystem 14. (eg, read-only memory 102 and/or random access memory 104).

Referring also to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of bulk feedstock subsystem 16 and piping/control subsystem 20 is shown. Bulk ingredient subsystem 16 may include containers that store consumables used at a rapid rate in producing beverage 28. For example, bulk ingredient subsystem 16 may include a carbonation supply 150, a water supply 152, and a high fructose corn syrup supply 154. In some embodiments, bulk materials are located adjacent to other subsystems. An example of the carbon dioxide supply section 150 may include, but is not limited to, a compressed carbon dioxide tank (not shown). Examples of the water supply section 152 include water supply (not shown),
A distilled water supply, a filtered water supply, a reverse osmosis (RO) water supply, or any other desired water supply may be included, but are not limited to these. Examples of high fructose corn syrup supplies 154 include one or more tanks (not shown) of concentrated high fructose corn syrup or one or more bag-in-box packages of high fructose corn syrup. However, it is not limited to these.

The bulk feedstock subsystem 16 supplies carbon dioxide gas (supplied by carbon dioxide supply 150) and water (
A carbonator 156 may also be included for producing carbonated water from water (supplied by a water supply 152). Carbonated water 158, water 160, and high fructose corn syrup 162 may be provided to a cold plate assembly 163 (e.g., in embodiments where it may be desirable to cool the product. In some embodiments, the cold plate assembly may not be included as part of the dispensing system or may be bypassed). The cooling plate assembly 163 has carbonated water 15
8, water 160, high fructose corn syrup 162 may be designed to cool to a desired serving temperature (eg, 40°F).

Although a single cooling plate 163 is shown cooling carbonated water 158, water 160, and high fructose corn syrup 162, this is for illustrative purposes only, and other configurations are possible and are not intended for use herein. It is not intended to be limiting. For example, separate cooling plates may be used to cool each of carbonated water 158, water 160, and high fructose corn syrup 162. After cooling, chilled carbonated water 164 , chilled water 166 , and chilled high Kato corn syrup 168 may be provided to plumbing/control subsystem 20 . In yet other embodiments, no cold plate may be included. In some embodiments, only at least one hot plate may be included.

Although the piping is depicted as having an order in the figure, in some embodiments this order is not used. For example, the flow control modules described herein may be configured in another order: flow measurement device, binary valve, then variable line impedance.

For illustrative purposes, the system is described below with respect to dispensing a soft drink as a product using this system, i.e., the macro/bulk ingredients described;
Contains high fructose corn syrup, soda, and water. However, in other embodiments of the dispensing system, the macro-ingredients themselves and the number of macro-ingredients may be different.

For purposes of illustration, the piping/control subsystem 20 includes three flow control modules 170.
, 172, 174. Flow control modules 170, 172, 17
4 can generally control the amount and/or flow rate of bulk feedstock. Flow control module 170
, 172, 174 are each a flow measuring device (e.g., flow measuring device 176, 178, 18
0), which measure the amount of chilled carbonated water 164, chilled water 166, and chilled high fructose corn ship 168 (respectively). Flow rate measuring device 176, 1
78, 180 may provide feedback signals 182, 184, 186 (respectively) to feedback controller systems 188, 190, 192 (respectively).

A feedback controller system 188, 190, 192 (described in more detail below) adjusts the flow rate feedback signal 182, 184, 186 to a desired flow rate (
(set for each of chilled carbonated water 164, chilled water 166, and chilled high fructose corn syrup 168, respectively). flow feedback signal 182;
184 and 186 (respectively), the feedback controller system 188
, 190, 192 (respectively) may generate flow control signals 194, 196, 198, which may be provided to variable line impedances 200, 202, 204 (respectively).
Examples of variable line impedances 200, 202, 204 are shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,755,68.
3 (Attorney Docket No. B13) and US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0085049 (Attorney Docket No. E66). Variable line impedances 200, 202, and 204 can adjust the flow rate of chilled carbonated water 164, chilled water 166, and chilled high Kato corn syrup 168 through lines 218, 220, and 222 (respectively); is supplied to nozzle 24 and (subsequently) container 30. However, other embodiments of variable line impedance are described herein.

Lines 218, 220, 222 further include binary valves 212, 214 (respectively).
, 216, which prevent fluid from flowing through the lines 218, 220, 222 when fluid flow is not desired/required (eg, during shipping, maintenance procedures, downtime).

In one embodiment, binary valves 212, 214, 216 may include solenoid-powered binary valves. However, in other embodiments, the binary valve may be any binary valve known in the art, including, but not limited to, binary valves that are actuated by any means. Additionally, binary valves 212, 214, 216 may be configured to prevent fluid from flowing into lines 218, 220, 222 whenever processing system 10 is not dispensing product. Additionally, the functionality of the binary valves 212, 214, 216 is achieved through the variable line impedances 200, 202, 204.
This may be accomplished by completely closing the lines 218, 220, 222 so that no fluid flows through them.

As previously mentioned, FIG. 3 provides only an exemplary illustration of the piping/control subsystem 20. Therefore, the manner in which piping/control subsystem 20 is shown is not intended to be a limitation of the present application, as other configurations are possible. For example, some or all of the functionality of feedback controller systems 182 , 184 , 186 may be incorporated into control logic subsystem 14 . Additionally, with respect to flow control modules 170, 172, 174, the arrangement of components is shown in FIG. 3 for illustrative purposes only. Therefore, the illustrated arrangement serves merely as an exemplary embodiment. However, in other embodiments, the components may be arranged in different arrangements.

Referring also to FIG. 4, a schematic top view of the micro-ingredient subsystem 18 and the piping/control subsystem 20 is shown. Microingredient subsystem 18 may include a product module assembly 250, which includes one or more product containers 252, 254, 256,
258 , which may be configured to retain microingredients used in the production of product 28 . Microingredients are substrates used in the production of products. Examples of such microingredients/substrates include a first part of the soft drink flavoring, a second part of the soft drink flavoring,
It may include, but is not limited to, coffee flavoring, nutraceutical ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and may be in liquid, powder, or solid form. However, for purposes of illustration, the following description relates to fluidic microsources. In some embodiments, the microingredients are powders or solids. If the micro-ingredient is a powder, the system may include additional subsystems for metering the powder and/or reducing the powder (but if the micro-ingredient is If a powder, the powder may be reduced as part of the method of mixing the product (i.e., software manifold).

Product module assembly 250 includes a plurality of product containers 252, 254, 256, 258.
a plurality of slot assemblies 260, 262, 26 configured to releasably engage the
4,266. In this particular example, product module assembly 25
0 is a four slot assembly (i.e. slots 260, 262, 264, 266)
and can therefore be referred to as a quadruple product module assembly. When positioning product containers 252, 254, 256, 258 within product module assembly 250, the product container (e.g., product container 254) is slid into the slot assembly (e.g., slot assembly 262) in the direction of arrow 268. Good too.
As shown herein, although a "four-product module" assembly is described in this exemplary embodiment, other embodiments may accommodate more products within a single module assembly. It may be more or less. Depending on the product dispensed by the dispensing system, the number of product containers may vary. Therefore, the number of products housed within any module assembly may vary from application to application and depends on the desired characteristics of the system, such as, but not limited to, system efficiency, necessity, and /or may be selected to satisfy the functionality.

For purposes of illustration, each slot assembly of product module assembly 250 is shown to include a pump assembly. For example, slot assembly 252 is shown to include pump assembly 270 and slot assembly 262 is shown to include pump assembly 27
2, slot assembly 264 is shown to include a pump assembly 274, and slot assembly 266 is shown to include a pump assembly 276.

An inlet port is coupled to each of the pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 and may be releasably engaged with a product opening contained within the product container. For example, pump assembly 272 is shown including an inlet port 278 configured to releasably engage a container opening 280 contained within product container 254. Inlet port 278 and/or
Alternatively, product opening 280 may include one or more sealing assemblies (not shown), such as one or more O-rings or Luer fittings, to facilitate a leak-proof seal. An inlet port coupled to each pump assembly (e.g., inlet port 27
8) may be constructed of a rigid "pipe-like" material or of a flexible "tube-like" material.

Examples of one or more pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 include a solenoid that provides an expected amount of fluid based on calibration each time one or more of pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 is energized. A piston pump assembly may also be included, but is not limited to this. In one embodiment, such a pump is
ULKA Costruzioni Elettromecca in Pavia
niche S. p. A. Available from. For example, each time a pump assembly (e.g., pump assembly 274) is energized by control logic subsystem 14 via data bus 38, the pump assembly delivers approximately 30 μL of fluidic micromaterial contained within product container 256. (However, the amount of flavoring provided may vary based on proofing). Again, for purposes of illustration only, the microsource is fluid in this portion of the description. The term "based on calibration" refers to volumetric or other information and/or characteristics that can be ascertained through calibration of a pump assembly and/or its individual pumps.

Other examples of pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 and various pumping techniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,161 (Attorney Docket No. A38);
, 826,482 (Attorney docket number A43), U.S. Patent No. 4,976,162 (Attorney docket number A52), U.S. Patent No. 5,088,515 (Attorney docket number A52) A49), US Pat. No. 5,350,357 (Attorney Docket No. 147), all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments, the pump assembly may be a membrane pump as shown in FIGS. 54-55. In some embodiments, the pump assembly is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,421,823.
(Attorney Docket No. 158) and may use any such pump technology, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. do.

The above references describe non-limiting examples of pneumatically actuated membrane pumps that can be used for fluid delivery. Pneumatically actuated membrane pump assemblies may be advantageous for one or more reasons, including the ability to reliably and accurately pump volumes, e.g., microliter quantities, of fluids of various compositions over multiple duty cycles. and/or
Alternatively, pneumatically operated pumps include, but are not limited to, requiring less electrical power because they can use air power, for example from a carbon dioxide source. In addition, membrane pumps may eliminate the need for dynamic seals where surfaces would move relative to the seal material. Vibratory pumps such as ULKA's products generally require the use of dynamic resilient seals, which can fail over time, for example after exposure to certain types of fluids and/or wear and tear. be. In some embodiments, pneumatically operated membrane pumps may be more reliable, more cost effective, and easier to calibrate than other pumps. They may also generate less noise, generate less heat, and consume less power than other pumps. A non-limiting example of a membrane pump is shown in FIG.

The various embodiments of membrane pump assembly 2900 shown in FIGS. 54-55 include a cavity, which may be referred to as a pump chamber at 2942 in FIG. 54 and a control fluid chamber at 2944 in FIG. . The cavity includes a diaphragm 2940 that separates the cavity into two chambers: a pump chamber 2942 and a volume chamber 2944.

Referring now to FIG. 54, a schematic diagram of an exemplary membrane pump assembly 2900 is shown. In this embodiment, membrane pump assembly 2900 includes a membrane or diaphragm 2940, a pump chamber 2942, a control fluid chamber 2944 (best seen in FIG. 55), a three-port switching valve 2910, and a check valve 2920. 2930. In some embodiments, the volume of pump chamber 2942 is between about 20 microliters and about 50 microliters.
It may be in the range of 0 microliters. In an exemplary embodiment, the pump chamber 29
The volume of 42 may range from about 30 microliters to about 250 microliters. In other exemplary embodiments, the volume of pump chamber 2942 may range from about 40 microliters to about 100 microliters.

Switch valve 2910 connects pump control channel 2958 to switch valve fluid channel 295.
4 or switching valve fluid channel 2956. In a non-limiting embodiment, switching valve 2910 may be an electromagnetically operated solenoid valve and is operated in response to an electrical signal input via control line 2912. In other non-limiting embodiments, the switching valve 2910 may be a pneumatic or hydraulic membrane valve and operates in response to a pneumatic or hydraulic signal input. In yet another embodiment,
The switching valve 2910 may be a piston operated fluidically, pneumatically, mechanically, or electromechanically within a cylinder. More generally, pump assembly 2900
All other types of valves can be envisaged for use in the fluid channel 29 of the switching valve.
Preferably, fluid communication with the pump control channel 2958 can be switched between the pump control channel 2958 and the fluid channel 2956 of the switching valve.

In some embodiments, the fluid channel 2954 of the switching valve communicates with a source of positive fluid pressure (which may be pneumatic or hydraulic). The amount of fluid pressure required may depend on one or more factors, including the tensile strength and resiliency of the diaphragm 2940, the concentration and/or viscosity of the fluid being dispensed, and the amount of fluid dissolved within the fluid. Examples include, but are not limited to, the solubility of solids and/or the length and size of fluid channels and ports within pump assembly 2900. In various embodiments, the fluid pressure source may range from about 15 psi to about 250 psi. In certain exemplary embodiments, the fluid pressure source is about 60 psi to about 100 ps
It may be in the range of si. In other exemplary embodiments, the fluid pressure source ranges from about 70 psi to
It may be in the range of about 80 psi. As mentioned above, some embodiments of the dispensing system are capable of producing carbonated beverages and therefore may use carbonated water as an ingredient. In these embodiments, the gas pressure of the CO2 used to produce the carbonated beverage is often about 75 psi, and in some embodiments, the same gas pressure source is adjusted to a lower pressure to produce the beverage infusion. It may also be used to drive a membrane pump for discharging small amounts of fluid in a pump.

In response to a suitable signal provided via control line 2912 , valve 2910 can place switching valve fluid channel 2954 in fluid communication with pump control channel 2958 . Positive fluid pressure is therefore communicated to diaphragm 2940, which in turn pumps chamber 2942.
The fluid within can be forced out of the pump outlet channel 2950. Check valve 2930 ensures that expelled fluid is prevented from exiting pump chamber 2942 through inlet channel 2952.

The diverter valve 2910 can place a pump control channel 2958 in fluid communication with the diverter valve's fluid channel 2956 via a control line 2912 so that the diaphragm 2940 can reach the wall of the pump chamber 2942 (as shown in FIG. 54). ). In some embodiments, the switching valve fluid channel 2956 may be in communication with a vacuum source, which, when in communication with the pump control channel 2958, can retract the diaphragm 2940 and reduce the volume of the pump control chamber 2944. As a result, the volume of the pump chamber 2942 is increased. Retraction of diaphragm 2940 draws fluid into pump chamber 2942 through pump inlet channel 2952. Check valve 2920 prevents expelled fluid from flowing back into pump chamber 2942 through outlet channel 2950.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm 2940 may be constructed of a semi-rigid spring-like material such that the diaphragm tends to maintain a curved or spheroidal shape and functions as a cup-shaped diaphragm-type spring. For example, diaphragm 2940 may be constructed or stamped, at least in part, from a thin sheet of metal;
Metals that can be used may include, but are not limited to, high carbon spring steel, nickel silver, high nickel alloys, stainless steel, titanium alloys, beryllium copper, and others. The pump assembly 2900 has a convex surface of the diaphragm 2940 connected to the pump control chamber 294.
4 and/or pump control channel 2958. Therefore, diaphragm 2940 may have an inherent tendency to retract after being pressed against the surface of pump chamber 2942. In this situation, the diverter valve fluid channel 2956 may be in communication with ambient (atmospheric) pressure such that the diaphragm 2940 automatically retracts to allow fluid into the pump chamber 2942 via the pump inlet channel 2952. can be drawn in. In some embodiments, a recess in the spring-like diaphragm defines an amount equal or substantially/nearly equal to the amount of fluid to be delivered with each stroke of the pump. This has the advantage that there is no need to construct the pump chamber with a predetermined volume, which can be difficult and/or expensive to manufacture with exact dimensions within acceptable tolerances. In this embodiment, the pump control chamber is shaped to accommodate the convex surface of the diaphragm at rest; the shape of the opposite surface may be of any shape, ie, not performance related.

In some embodiments, the volume delivered by the membrane pump may be performed in an "open-loop" manner, with no mechanism provided to detect and confirm that the expected volume of fluid has been delivered on each stroke of the pump. Good too. In other embodiments, the amount of fluid pumped through the pump chamber during one stroke of the membrane is controlled by a Fluid Management System.
em) (FMS) technique, which is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,808,16
Specification No. 1 (Agent Reference Number A38), Specification No. 4,826,482 (Agent Reference Number A43), Specification No. 4,976,162 (Agent Reference Number A52), Specification No. 4,976,162 (Agent Reference Number A52), 5,08
This is explained in detail in Specification No. 8,515 (Agent's Docket No. A49) and Specification No. 5,350,357 (Agent's Docket No. 147), all of which are incorporated by reference into this application in their entirety. . Briefly, FMS measurements are used to detect the amount of fluid delivered with each stroke of a membrane pump. A small reference air chamber is located outside the pump assembly, such as in a pneumatic manifold (not shown). A valve separates the reference chamber and the second pressure sensor. The tidal volume of the pump can be accurately calculated by filling the reference chamber with air, measuring the pressure, and then opening the valve into the pump chamber.
The amount of air on the reference chamber side can be calculated based on the constant volume of the reference chamber and the pressure change when the reference chamber is connected to the pump chamber. In some embodiments, the amount of fluid pumped through the pump chamber during one stroke of the membrane is measured using acoustic volume sensing.
sing) (AVS) method. Acoustic volume measurement method is DEKA P
U.S. Patent No. 5, assigned to Products Limited Partnership,
Specification No. 575,310 (agent docket number B28) and Specification No. 5,755,683 (
Attorney Docket No. B13) and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0228071 A1 Specification (Attorney Docket No. E70), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0219496 A1 Specification, No. 2
007/0219480 A1, 2007/0219597 A1, and International Application No. 2009/088956, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. This embodiment allows fluid volume sensing in the nanoliter range and therefore lends itself to very accurate and precise monitoring of dispense volume. Other alternative techniques for measuring fluid flow rates can also be used, such as Doppler-based methods, Hall-effect sensors in combination with vanes or flapper valves, strain beams (e.g. with respect to a flexible membrane above the fluid chamber), (detecting the deflection of this flexible membrane), the use of capacitive detection using a plate, or the temperature time-of-flight method.

Product module assembly 250 may be configured to releasably engage bracket assembly 282. Bracket assembly 282 may be part of (and rigidly fixed within) processing system 10. Although referred to herein as a "bracket assembly," this assembly may be different in other embodiments. The bracket assembly helps secure product module assembly 282 in a desired location.
One example of a bracket assembly 282 may include, but is not limited to, a shelf in processing system 10 that is configured to releasably engage product module 250. For example, product module 250 may include an engagement device (e.g., a clip assembly, a slot assembly, a latch assembly, a pin assembly) that releasably engages a complementary device incorporated into bracket assembly 282. It is configured as follows.

Piping/control subsystem 20 may include a manifold assembly 284, which may be rigidly secured to bracket assembly 282. Manifold assembly 28
4 may be configured to include a plurality of inlet ports 286, 288, 290, 292, which include pump openings incorporated into each of the pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 (e.g. 294, 296, 298, 300). Product module 250 is attached to bracket assembly 28
2, product module 250 may be moved in the direction of arrow 302 such that inlet ports 286, 288, 290, 292 (respectively) are connected to pump openings 294, 2.
96, 298, and 300. Inlet ports 286, 288, 290, 2
92 and/or pump openings 294, 296, 298, 300 may include one or more O-rings or other sealing assemblies (not shown) as described above to facilitate a leak-proof seal. . The inlet ports (e.g., inlet ports 286, 288, 290, 292) included in manifold assembly 284 may be constructed of a rigid "pipe-like" material or of a flexible "tube-like" material. Momoyoshi.

Manifold assembly 284 may be configured to engage tube bundle 304, which may be plumbed (directly or indirectly) to nozzle 24. As previously mentioned, the bulk feedstock subsystem 16 also supplies the chilled carbonated water 1 in at least one embodiment.
64, providing (directly or indirectly) a fluid in the form of chilled water 166 and/or chilled high fructose corn syrup 168 to nozzle 24. Accordingly, control logic subsystem 14 (in this particular example) provides specific amounts of various bulk ingredients, such as chilled carbonated water 164, chilled water 166, chilled high fructose corn syrup 168; The control logic subsystem 14 allows for the ability to adjust the amounts of various microingredients (e.g., a first substrate (i.e., flavoring, a second substrate (i.e., nutraceutical ingredient), and a third substrate (i.e., pharmaceutical). can precisely control the composition of product 28.

As mentioned above, one or more of the pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 may be a solenoid piston pump assembly, which includes the pump assembly 270,
Each time one or more of 272, 274, 276 are energized (via data bus 38) by logic subsystem 14, they provide a predetermined and always the same amount of fluid. Additionally, as discussed above, control logic subsystem 14 may execute one or more control processes 120, which may control operation of processing system 10. An example of such a control process includes control logic subsystem 14 to pump assembly 270 via data bus 38.
, 272, 274, 276 may be included. One exemplary method for generating the drive signal described above includes:
“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENER,” which was filed on September 6, 2007 and is now U.S. Patent No. 7,905,373 (Attorney docket number F45)
U.S. Patent Application No. 11/851,3 entitled “ATING A DRIVE SIGNAL”
No. 44, the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Although FIG. 4 shows one nozzle 24, multiple nozzles 24 may be included in various other embodiments. In some embodiments, multiple containers 30 may receive product dispensed from the system, such as via multiple collections of tube bundles. Therefore, in some embodiments, the dispensing system may be configured to allow one or more users to request dispensing of one or more products at the same time.

Capacitive flow sensors 306, 308, 310, 312 are connected to pump assemblies 270, 27
2, 274, 276.

Referring also to FIGS. 5A (side view) and 5B (top view), an exemplary capacitive flow sensor 308
A detailed view of is shown. Capacitive flow sensor 308 may include a first capacitive plate 310 and a second capacitive plate 312. The second capacitive plate 312 may be configured to be movable with respect to the first capacitive plate 310. For example, first capacitive plate 310 may be rigidly secured to a structure within processing system 10. Additionally, capacitive flow sensor 308 may also be rigidly secured to structure within processing system 10. However, second capacitive plate 312 may be configured to be movable with respect to first capacitive plate 310 (and capacitive flow sensor 308) by using diaphragm assembly 314. Diaphragm assembly 314 may be configured such that second capacitive plate 312 is displaceable in the direction of arrow 316. Diaphragm assembly 314 may be constructed of a variety of materials that allow for displacement in arrow 316. For example, diaphragm assembly 314 may be constructed of stainless steel foil with a PET (ie, polyethylene terephthalate) coating to prevent corrosion of the stainless steel foil. Alternatively, diaphragm assembly 314 may be constructed from titanium flakes. Still further, the diaphragm assembly 314 may be constructed of plastic, in which case one side of the plastic diaphragm assembly is plated to form the second capacitive plate 312. In some embodiments, the plastic may be, but is not limited to, injection molded plastic or PET rolled sheet.

As mentioned above, each time a pump assembly (e.g., pump assembly 272) is energized by control logic subsystem 14 via data bus 38, the pump assembly:
For example, the appropriate microsource fluid contained in product container 254 may be dispensed in a calibrated amount, eg, 30-33 μL. Therefore, control logic subsystem 1
4 may control the flow rate of the microfeedstock by controlling the rate at which the appropriate pump assembly is energized. Exemplary rates for energizing the pump assembly are between 3 Hz (ie, 3 times per second) and 30 Hz (ie, 30 times per second).

Thus, when pump assembly 272 is energized, a suction force is generated (within cavity 318 of capacitive flow sensor 308 ), which aspirates the appropriate micromaterial (eg, substrate) from, for example, product container 254 . Thus, when the pump assembly 272 is energized and a suction force is created within the cavity 318, the second capacitive plate 312 may be displaced downwardly (
5A), thus the distance "d" (i.e., the distance between the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 312) increases.

により決まり、式中、「ε」は第一の容量性プレート３１０と第二の容量性プレート３１
２の間に配置された誘電材料の透過性であり、「Ａ」は容量性プレートの面積であり、「
ｄ」は第一の容量性プレート３１０と第二の容量性プレート３１２との間の距離である。
「ｄ」は上式の分母に置かれているため、「ｄ」が大きくなると、これに対応して「Ｃ」
（すなわち、コンデンサのキャパシタンス）が小さくなる。 Referring also to Figure 5C, as is known in the art, the capacitance (C) of a capacitor
is the following formula,

In the formula, "ε" is the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 31.
2, “A” is the area of the capacitive plate, and “
d'' is the distance between the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 312.
Since "d" is placed in the denominator of the above equation, as "d" becomes larger, "C" correspondingly increases.
(ie, the capacitance of the capacitor) becomes smaller.

Continuing with the above example and referring also to FIG. 5D, when pump assembly 272 is not energized, the capacitor formed by first capacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312 has a value of 5.00 pF. Assume that there is. Further, when the pump assembly 272 is energized at time T=1, a suction force is generated within the cavity 316, which forces the second capacitive plate 312 downwardly and between the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 310. Assume that the displacement is sufficient to reduce the capacitance of the capacitor formed by capacitive plate 312 by 20%. Therefore, the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 312
The new value of the capacitor formed by may be 4.00 pF. An illustrative example of downward displacement of the second capacitive plate 312 during the pumping sequence described above is shown in FIG. 5E.

Once the appropriate micromaterial is aspirated from the product container 254, the suction force within the cavity 318 is reduced and the second capacitive plate 312 is displaced upward to its original position (as shown in FIG. 5A). You can. As the second capacitive plate 312 is displaced upward, the distance between the second capacitive plate 312 and the first capacitive plate 310 may decrease and return to its original value. Therefore, the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 312 may again be 5.00 pF. When the second capacitive plate 312 is moving upward and returning to its original position, the momentum of the second capacitive plate 312 causes the second capacitive plate 312 to pass past its original position and momentarily , the second capacitive plate 312 is closer to the first capacitive plate than in its original position (as shown in FIG. 5A). Therefore, the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 312 may be momentarily greater than its initial value of 5.00 pF and then stabilize at 5.00 pF shortly thereafter.

The change in capacitance value as described above between 5.00 pF and 4.00 pF (in this example) while the pump assembly 272 is cycled on and off, e.g., until the product container 254 is emptied. Can be continued. For purposes of illustration, assume that product container 254 is emptied at time T=5. At this point, second capacitive plate 312 may not return to its original position (shown in FIG. 5A). Additionally, as the pump assembly 272 continues to cycle, the second capacitive plate 312 may continue to be sucked downward until eventually the second capacitive plate 312 can no longer be displaced (as shown in FIG. 5F). . At this point, the value of the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 312 is at a minimum because the distance "d" is larger than that shown in FIGS. 5A and 5E. The capacitance value can be minimized to 320. Minimum capacitance value 3
The actual number of 20 may vary depending on the flexibility of the diaphragm assembly 314.

Thus, by monitoring the value (absolute variation or peak-to-peak variation) of the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 312, e.g., verify the proper operation of the pump assembly 272. can. For example, if the capacitance value described above varies periodically between 5.00 pF and 4.00 pF, this variation in capacitance indicates that pump assembly 272 is operating properly and product container 254 is not empty. can be shown. However, if the capacitance value described above does not change (e.g., remains at 5.00 pF), this may indicate a failure of the pump assembly 272 (e.g., a mechanical component within the pump assembly has failed, and/or an electrical This may indicate that a target component has failed) or that the nozzle 24 has become clogged.

Additionally, if the capacitance value described above drops to a point below 4.00 pF (such as to a minimum capacitance value of 320), this may indicate that the product container 254 is empty. Still further, if the peak-to-peak variation is less than expected (eg, less than the 1.00 pF variation discussed above), this may indicate a leak between the product container 254 and the capacitive flow sensor 308.

A signal is also provided to a capacitance measurement system 326 (via conductors 322, 324) to measure the value of the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the first capacitive plate 310 and the second capacitive plate 312. good. Capacitance measurement system 32
The output of 6 may be provided to control logic subsystem 14 . Examples of capacitance measurement systems 326 include Cypress Sem of San Jose, California.
A CY8C21434-24LFXI PSOC from Cypress Semiconductor may be included, the design and operation of which is described in the “CSD User Module” published by Cypress Semiconductor, which is incorporated herein by reference. Capacitance measurement circuit 326 may be configured to compensate for environmental factors (eg, changes in temperature, humidity, power supply voltage).

Capacitance measurement system 326 performs capacitance measurements (with respect to the capacitor formed by first capacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312) over a predetermined period of time to determine whether the aforementioned variations in capacitance are occurring. It may be configured to determine whether the For example, capacitance measurement system 326 may be configured to monitor changes in the capacitance values described above that occur over a 0.50 second time frame. Thus, in this particular example, as long as pump assembly 272 is energized at a minimum rate of 2.00 Hz (i.e., at least once every 0.50 seconds), capacitance measurement system 326 is activated during each 0.50 second measurement cycle. should detect at least one of the above capacitance variations.

Although the flow sensor 308 is described above as capacitive, this is by way of example only and is not intended to be a limitation of this application, as other configurations are possible and considered within the scope of this application. .

For example, referring also to FIG. 5G, assume for purposes of illustration that flow sensor 308 does not include first capacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312. Alternatively, flow sensor 308 may include a transducer assembly 328, which may be coupled (directly or indirectly) to diaphragm assembly 314. If coupled directly, transducer assembly 328 may be attached/attached to diaphragm assembly 314. Alternatively, if indirectly coupled, transducer assembly 328
For example, coupling assembly 330 may be coupled to diaphragm assembly 314 .

As discussed above, when fluid is displaced within cavity 318, diaphragm assembly 314 may be displaced. For example, diaphragm assembly 314 may move in the direction of arrow 316. Additionally/alternatively, diaphragm assembly 314 may be distorted (eg, slightly concave/convex, as shown by dashed diaphragm assemblies 332, 334). As is known in the art, (a) diaphragm assembly 314 remains essentially flat during displacement in the direction of arrow 316, or (b) remains stationary with respect to arrow 316. (c) exhibiting a combination of both forms of displacement, resulting in a deflected convex diaphragm assembly 332/concave diaphragm assembly 334; or (c) a combination of both forms of displacement. rigidity, etc.). Therefore, transducer assembly 328 (coupling assembly 330
and/or in combination with transducer measurement system 336) to monitor displacement of all or a portion of diaphragm assembly 314 to measure the amount of fluid displaced within cavity 318.

The amount of fluid passing through cavity 318 can be measured through the use of various types of transducer assemblies (described in more detail below).

For example, transducer assembly 328 may include a linear variable actuation transformer (LVDT) and may be rigidly secured to structure within processing system 10, which is coupled to diaphragm assembly 314 via coupling assembly 330. may be done. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such an LVDT is the SE 750 100 manufactured by Macro Sensors of Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Flow rate sensor 308
may also be rigidly fixed to structures within processing system 10. Accordingly, as the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced (eg, along arrow 316 or as it deflects convexly/concavely), movement of the diaphragm assembly 314 may be monitored. Accordingly, the amount of fluid passing through cavity 318 may also be monitored. Transducer assembly 3
28 (ie, it includes an LVDT) may generate a signal, which may be processed (eg, amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. This processed signal is then provided to control logic subsystem 14 to control cavity 318.
may be used to check the amount of fluid passing through.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a needle/magnetic cartridge assembly (eg, a phonograph needle/magnetic cartridge assembly) and may be rigidly secured to structure within processing system 10. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such a needle/magnetic cartridge assembly is the N 16 D manufactured by Toshiba Corporation of Japan. Transducer assembly 328 may be coupled to diaphragm assembly 314 via a coupling assembly 330 (eg, a rigid rod assembly). The needle of transducer assembly 328 may be configured to contact a surface of coupling assembly 330 (i.e., a rigid rod assembly). Therefore, when the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above), the coupling assembly 330 (i.e., the rigid rod assembly) is also displaced (in the direction of arrow 316) and may rub against the needle of the transducer assembly 328. . Thus, the combination of transducer assembly 328 (i.e., needle/magnetic cartridge) and coupling assembly 330 (i.e., rigid rod assembly) may generate a signal that is processed (e.g., amplified/converted/transduced) by transducer measurement system 336. filter processing). This processed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain the amount of fluid passing through cavity 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a magnetic coil assembly (eg, similar to the voice coil of a speaker assembly) and may be rigidly secured to structure within processing system 10. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such a magnetic coil assembly is provided by API Delevan Inn of East Aurora, New York.
c. 5526-I manufactured by. Transducer assembly 328 may be coupled to diaphragm assembly 314 via coupling assembly 330, which may include an axial magnet assembly. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such an axial magnet assembly is
K&J Magnetics, Inc. of Jamison, Pennsylvania. It is D16 manufactured by. An axial magnet assembly included in coupling assembly 330 may be configured to slide coaxially within a magnetic coil assembly of transducer assembly 328. Thus, the diaphragm assembly 314 (as described above)
When displaced/deflected, the coupling assembly 330 (i.e. the shaft magnet assembly) also (arrow 3
16 directions). As is known in the art, motion of the axial magnet assembly within the magnetic coil assembly induces electrical current within the windings of the magnetic coil assembly. therefore,
The combination of a magnetic coil assembly (not shown) of transducer assembly 328 and an axial magnet assembly (not shown) of coupling assembly 330 may generate a signal that is processed (e.g., amplified/converted/filtered). , then the control logic subsystem 14
may be used to ascertain the amount of fluid supplied to and passing through cavity 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a Hall effect sensor assembly and may be rigidly secured to structure within processing system 10. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such a Hall effect sensor assembly is the Massachusetts, W.
orcester's Allegro Microsystems Inc. A manufactured by
It is B0iKUA-T. Transducer assembly 328 connects coupling assembly 330
diaphragm assembly 314, which may include an axial magnet assembly. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such an axial magnet assembly is the Penns
K&J Magnetics, Inc. of Jamison, Ylvania. D manufactured by
It is 16. An axial magnet assembly included in coupling assembly 330 may be configured to be positioned near the Hall effect sensor assembly of transducer assembly 328. Therefore, when diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above), coupling assembly 330 (i.e., shaft magnet assembly) is also displaced (in the direction of arrow 316). As is known in the art, a Hall effect sensor assembly is an assembly that produces an output voltage signal that changes in response to changes in a magnetic field. Accordingly, the Hall effect sensor assembly (not shown) of transducer assembly 328 and coupling assembly 3
A combination of 30 axis magnet assemblies (not shown) may generate signals that are processed (e.g., amplified/converted/filtered) and then provided to control logic subsystem 14 to drive cavity 318. It may be used to check the amount of fluid passing through.

As used herein, piezoelectric material refers to any material that exhibits a piezoelectric effect. This material may include, but is not limited to, ceramics, films, metals, and quartz.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a piezoelectric buzzer element;
It may be coupled directly to diaphragm assembly 314. Therefore, coupling assembly 330 may not be used. Illustrative, non-limiting examples of such piezoelectric buzzer elements include:
AVX Corporation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
It is KBS-13DA-12A manufactured by ion. As is known in the art, a piezoelectric buzzer element may generate an electrical output signal that varies depending on the amount of mechanical stress the piezoelectric buzzer element is subjected to. Thus, the diaphragm assembly 314 (as described above)
Upon displacement/deflection, the piezoelectric buzzer element (included in the transducer assembly 328) may be subjected to mechanical stress, and thus a signal may be generated, which is processed (e.g., amplified/deflected) by the transducer measurement system 336. transformation/filtering). This processed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain the amount of fluid passing through cavity 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a piezoelectric sheet element;
It may be coupled directly to diaphragm assembly 314. Therefore, coupling assembly 330 may not be utilized. Illustrative, non-limiting examples of such piezoelectric sheet elements include:
0-100 manufactured by MSI/Schaevitz of Hampton, Virginia
It is 2794-0. As is known in the art, piezoelectric sheet elements may generate electrical output signals that vary depending on the amount of mechanical stress the piezoelectric sheet element is subjected to. Therefore, when the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above), the piezoelectric sheet element (included in the transducer assembly 328) may be subjected to mechanical stress, and thus a signal may be generated. This may be processed (eg, amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. This processed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain the amount of fluid passing through cavity 318.

Alternatively, the piezoelectric sheet elements described above (included in transducer assembly 328) may be positioned near and acoustically coupled to diaphragm assembly 314. The piezoelectric sheet elements (included in transducer assembly 328) may or may not include a weighting assembly to enhance the resonant capabilities of the piezoelectric sheet elements. Thus, when the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above),
The piezoelectric sheet elements (included in transducer assembly 328) may be subjected to mechanical stress (by acoustic coupling) and thus a signal may be generated, which may be processed (e.g., amplified/converted) by transducer measurement system 336. /filter processing)
may be done. This processed signal is then provided to control logic subsystem 14, which
It may be used to confirm the amount of fluid passing through cavity 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include an audio speaker assembly, in which case a cone of the audio speaker assembly may be coupled directly to diaphragm assembly 314. Therefore, coupling assembly 330 may not be utilized. Illustrative, non-limiting examples of such audio speaker assemblies include Ohio;
AS01308MR- Manufactured by Dayton's Projects Unlimited
It is 2X. As is known in the art, an audio speaker assembly may include a voice coil assembly and a permanent magnet assembly within which the voice coil assembly slides. A signal is typically applied to the voice coil assembly to move the speaker cone, and when the speaker is manually moved, an electrical current is induced in the voice coil assembly. Therefore, when the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above), the voice coil of the audio speaker assembly (included in the transducer assembly 328) may be displaced with respect to the permanent magnet assembly described above, thus causing the signal may be generated, which is processed by the transducer measurement system 336 (
for example, amplification/conversion/filtering). This processed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain the amount of fluid passing through cavity 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include an accelerometer assembly, which may be coupled directly to diaphragm assembly 314. Therefore, coupling assembly 330 may not be utilized. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such an accelerometer assembly is the Analog Device of Norwood, Massachusetts.
s, Inc. It is AD22286-R2 manufactured by. As is known in the art, accelerometer assemblies can generate electrical output signals that vary in response to accelerations experienced by the accelerometer assembly. Therefore, when the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above), the accelerometer assembly (included in the transducer assembly 328) may experience a different level of acceleration, and thus a signal may be generated. , which may be processed (eg, amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. This processed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain the amount of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a microphone assembly, which may be positioned near and acoustically coupled to diaphragm assembly 314. Therefore, coupling assembly 330 may not be utilized. Illustrative, non-limiting examples of such microphone assemblies include
EA-21842 manufactured by Knowles Acoustics. Therefore, when the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above), the microphone assembly (included in the transducer assembly 328) may be subjected to mechanical stress (due to acoustic coupling) and thus a signal is generated. may be processed (eg, amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. This processed signal is then provided to the control logic subsystem 14 to
may be used to ascertain the amount of fluid passing through 18.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include an optical displacement assembly configured to monitor movement of diaphragm assembly 314. Therefore, coupling assembly 330 may not be utilized. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such an optical displacement assembly is the Advanced Motion of Pittsford, New York.
Systems, Inc. This is the Z4W-V manufactured by. By way of example, the optical displacement assembly described above includes an optical signal generator that directs an optical signal to a diaphragm assembly 314 that is reflected by the diaphragm assembly 314 (also included within the optical displacement assembly). ) detected by an optical sensor. Accordingly, when the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above), the optical signal detected by the aforementioned optical sensor (included in the transducer assembly 328) may change. Accordingly, a signal may be generated by the optical displacement assembly (included in transducer assembly 328), which may be processed (eg, amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. This processed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain the amount of fluid passing through cavity 318.

The above example of flow sensor 308 is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be exhaustive, as other configurations are possible and considered within the scope of the present application.
For example, although transducer assembly 328 is shown positioned external to diaphragm assembly 314, transducer assembly 328
It may be located within 8.

Although some of the above examples of flow sensors 308 are described as being coupled to diaphragm assemblies 314, this is for illustrative purposes only; other configurations are possible and within the scope of this application. It is not intended to be a limitation of the present application, as it is believed that the For example, referring also to FIG. 5H, flow sensor 308 may include a piston assembly 338, which may be biased by a spring assembly 340. Piston assembly 3
38 may be positioned near and configured to bias the diaphragm assembly 314. Thus, piston assembly 338 can follow the movement of diaphragm assembly 314. Accordingly, transducer assembly 328 may be coupled to piston assembly 338 to achieve the results described above.

Additionally, if flow sensor 308 is configured to include piston assembly 338 and spring assembly 340, transducer assembly 328 may include spring assembly 340.
The inductance monitoring assembly may include an inductance monitoring assembly configured to monitor zero inductance. Therefore, coupling assembly 330 may not be utilized. An illustrative, non-limiting example of such an inductance monitoring assembly is from Aubur, Washington.
L/C manufactured by Almost All Digital Electronics of n
It is Meter IIB. Therefore, when the diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/deflected (as described above), the inductance of the spring assembly 340 detected by the above-described inductance monitoring assembly (included in the transducer assembly 328) is the resistance of the spring assembly 340 as it deflects. may change due to changes in Accordingly, a signal may be generated by the inductance monitoring assembly (included in transducer assembly 328), which may be processed (eg, amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. This processed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain the amount of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Referring also to FIG. 6A, a schematic diagram of the piping/control subsystem 20 is shown. The piping/control subsystem described below relates to the piping/control system used to control the amount of chilled carbonated water 164 added to product 28 via flow control module 170;
This is for illustration only and is not intended to be a limitation of the present application, as other configurations are also possible. For example, the piping/control subsystem described below may also include, for example, cooled water 166 and/or water that is added to the product 28 (e.g., flow control also via the shul 172).
Alternatively, it may also be used to control the amount of chilled high fructose corn syrup 168 (eg, via flow control module 174).

As mentioned above, the piping/control subsystem 20 is connected to the feedback controller system 1.
88, which may include a flow feedback signal 18 from the flow measurement device 176.
Receive 2. Feedback controller system 188 may compare flow rate feedback signal 182 to a desired flow rate (set by control logic subsystem 14 via data bus 38). Upon processing flow feedback signal 182 , feedback control system 188 may generate flow control signal 194 , which may be provided to variable line impedance 200 .

Feedback controller system 188 may include a trajectory shaping controller 350, a flow regulator 352, a feedforward controller 354, a unit delay 356, a saturation controller 358, and a stepper controller 360, for each of which: This will be explained in detail below.

Trajectory shaping controller 350 may be configured to receive control signals from control logic subsystem 14 via data bus 38. This control signal sets the trajectory for the manner in which the piping/control subsystem 20 is expected to deliver fluid (in this case, chilled carbonated water 164 via flow control module 170) for use to product 28. May be set. However, the trajectory provided by control logic subsystem 14 may need to be adjusted before being processed by flow controller 352, for example. For example, control systems tend to have difficulty handling control curves that are comprised of multiple line sections (i.e., include step changes). For example, the flow regulator 352 may have difficulty processing the control curve 370 because it has three different linear sections: sections 372, 374,
376. Thus, at a transition point (such as transition point 378, 380), the flow controller 352 specifically (and the piping/control subsystem 20 as a whole) instantaneously changes from a first flow rate to a second flow rate. It will be necessary to do so. Accordingly, the trajectory shaping controller 350 may filter the control curve 30 to form a smooth control curve 382, since an instantaneous change from the first flow rate to the second flow rate is not required. , specifically the flow controller 352 (and the piping/control subsystem 20 as a whole).

In addition, the trajectory shaping controller 350 may allow pre-injection wetting and post-injection rinsing of the nozzle 24. In some embodiments, and/or for some recipes, one or more ingredients (referred to herein as "contaminated ingredients") are directly transferred to the nozzle 24, i.e., where it was stored. contact in the form can be problematic for the nozzle 24. In some embodiments, nozzle 24 may be pre-wetted with "pre-injection" materials, such as water, thereby preventing these "contaminated materials" from coming into direct contact with nozzle 24. is prevented. The nozzle 24 may then be subjected to a post-injection rinse with a "post-wash material", such as water.

In particular, if the nozzle 24 is subjected to a pre-injection wetting with, for example, 10 mL of water, and/or a post-injection rinse with, for example, 10 mL of water or "after-wash" material, it is possible to remove contaminated material. Once the addition has stopped, the trajectory shaping controller 350 supplies an additional amount of contaminated material during the injection process to offset the pre-wash material added during pre-injection wetting and/or post-injection rinsing. It is also possible to do so. Specifically, when the product 28 is being poured into the container 30, the pre-fill rinsing water or "pre-wash" may initially result in a product 28 that is depleted of contaminant components. Then, the trajectory shaping controller 350
Contaminant ingredients may be added at a higher flow rate than necessary, resulting in the product 28 transitioning from "under-concentrated" to "right-concentrated" to "over-concentrated," or at a higher level than required by a particular recipe. Exist in concentrations. However, once the correct amount of contaminated material has been added, additional water, or other suitable "post-wash material" may be added in the post-injection rinsing process, so that the contaminated material is again A raw material 28 having "appropriate concentration" is obtained.

Flow controller 352 may be configured as a proportional-integral (PI) loop controller. Flow controller 352 may perform the comparison and processing, which was generally described above as being performed by feedback controller system 188. For example, flow controller 352 may be configured to receive feedback signal 182 from flow meter 176. Flow controller 352 provides flow feedback signal 182 (set by control logic subsystem 14 and adjusted by trajectory shaping controller 350).
It may also be compared with the desired flow rate. Flow controller 352 receives flow feedback signal 18
2 may generate a flow control signal 194, which may be provided to variable line impedance 200.

Feedforward controller 354 may provide a "best guess" estimate of where the initial position of variable line impedance 200 should be. Specifically, at a given constant pressure, the flow rate (of the cooled carbonated water 164) of the variable line impedance is:
Assume between 0.00 mL/sec and 120.00 mL/sec. Further assume that a flow rate of 40 mL/sec is desired when injecting beverage product 28 into container 30. therefore,
Feedforward controller 354 may provide a feedforward signal (at feedforward line 384) that initially opens variable line impedance 200 to 33.33% of its maximum opening (when variable line impedance 200 is linear ).

In determining the value of the feedforward signal, the feedforward controller 354 may utilize a lookup table (not shown), which may be developed empirically, to determine the value of the feedforward signal provided for various initial flow rates. may be defined. An example of such a lookup table may include, but is not limited to, the table below.

Again, assuming, for example, that a flow rate of 40 mL/sec is desired when injecting beverage product 28 into container 30, feedforward controller 354 may utilize the lookup table described above (using feedforward line 384). ) You may also send a pulse signal to the stepping motor to rotate it by 60.0 degrees. Although a stepper motor is used in this exemplary embodiment, any other type of motor may be used in various other embodiments, including servo motors; It is not limited to this.

Unit delay 356 may form a feedback path through which a previous version of the control signal (provided to variable line impedance 200) is provided to flow controller 352.

Saturation controller 358 overrides the integral control of feedback controller system 188 (which may be configured as a PI loop controller as described above) whenever variable line impedance 200 is set to maximum flow rate (by stepper controller 360). The system may be configured to do so, thus improving system stability by reducing flow rate excesses and system vibrations.

Stepper controller 360 may be configured to convert the signal provided by saturation controller 358 (on line 386) into a signal available to variable line impedance 200. The variable line impedance 200 may include a stepper motor to adjust the aperture size (and thus the flow rate) of the variable line impedance 200. Accordingly, control signal 194 may be configured to control a stepper motor included in a variable line impedance.

Referring also to FIG. 6B, examples of flow measurement devices 176, 178, 180 of flow rate control modules 170, 172, 174, respectively, include paddle wheel flow measurement devices, turbine-type measurement devices, or positive displacement flow measurement devices (e.g., Gear type positive displacement flow measuring device 388)
may include, but are not limited to. Therefore, in various embodiments,
The flow measuring device may be any device that can measure flow directly or indirectly. In this exemplary embodiment, a geared positive displacement flow measurement device 388 is used. In this embodiment, flow measurement device 388 includes a plurality of meshing gears (e.g., gear 390
, 392), which may include, for example, a geared positive displacement flow measurement device 38
8 must pass through one or more predetermined paths (e.g., path 394
, 396), resulting in, for example, gear 390 rotating counterclockwise and gear 392 rotating clockwise. By monitoring the rotation of gears 390, 392, a feedback signal (eg, feedback signal 182) may be generated and provided to an appropriate flow controller (eg, flow controller 352).

Referring also to FIGS. 7-14, flow control modules (e.g., flow control module 170
) are shown. However, as mentioned above, the order of the various assemblies may be different in various embodiments, ie, the assemblies may be arranged in any order desired. For example, in some embodiments, the assemblies are arranged in the following order: flow measurement device, binary valve, variable impedance, and in other embodiments, the assemblies are arranged in the following order: flow measurement device,
Variable impedance and binary valve are arranged in that order. In some embodiments,
It may be desirable to change the order of the assembly to maintain pressure and fluid on the variable impedance or to vary the pressure on the variable impedance. In some embodiments, the variable impedance valve may include a lip seal. In these embodiments, it may be desirable to maintain pressure and fluid on the lip seal. This can be achieved by assembling the following sequence: flow measurement device, variable impedance, binary valve. A binary valve downstream of the variable line impedance maintains pressure and fluid on the variable impedance so that the lip seal maintains the desired seal.

Referring first to FIGS. 7A and 7B, one embodiment of a flow control module 170a is shown. In some embodiments, the flow control module 170a may generally include a flow meter 176a, a variable line impedance 200a, and a binary valve 212a, even with a generally straight fluid flow path therein. good. Flow meter 176a may include a fluid inlet 400 for receiving bulk material from bulk material subsystem 16. Fluid inlet 400 may communicate the bulk feedstock to a geared positive displacement flow measurement device (e.g., geared positive displacement device 388 generally described above), which includes multiple feedstocks disposed within housing 402. (eg, including gear 390). Bulk feedstock can pass from flow meter 176a via flow path 404 to binary valve 212a.

Binary valve 212a is banjo valve 40 actuated by solenoid 408.
6 may be included. Banjo valve 406 may be biased (e.g., by a spring, not shown) such that banjo valve 406 is positioned toward a closed position such that bulk material flows through flow control module 170a. I can't. Solenoid coil 408 is energized (e.g., in response to a control signal from control logic subsystem 14) to linearly drive plunger 410 via coupling means 412 to move banjo valve 406 and cause the valve to move. The seat 414 may be removed from sealing engagement, thereby opening the banjo valve 212a to allow bulk material to flow into the variable line impedance 200a.

As previously discussed, variable line impedance 200a may adjust the flow rate of bulk materials. The variable line impedance 200a may include a drive motor 416, which may include, but is not limited to, a stepper motor or a servo motor. Drive motor 416 may generally be coupled to variable impedance valve 418. As previously discussed, variable impedance valve 418 may control the flow rate of bulk feedstock exiting fluid outlet 422 from binary valve 212a via flow path 420, for example. Examples of variable impedance valves 418 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. and the entire text of both is incorporated herein by reference. Although not shown, a gearing arrangement may be coupled between drive motor 416 and variable impedance valve 418.

8 and 9, another embodiment of a flow control module (e.g., flow control module 170b) is shown, which generally includes a flow meter 176b and a binary valve 2.
12b, and a variable line impedance 200b. Flow control module 170a
Similarly, flow control module 170b may include a fluid inlet 400, which may communicate bulk feedstock to flow meter 176b. The flowmeter 176b is, for example, the housing member 40.
meshing gears 390, 392 disposed in cavities 424 that may be formed in 2;
May contain. The meshing gears 390, 392 and the cavity 424 may define a flow path about the periphery of the cavity 424. Bulk feedstock may pass from flow meter 176b via flow path 404 to binary valve 212b. As shown, fluid inlet 400 and flow path 404 enter and exit flow meter 176b (i.e., enter and exit cavity 424) 90
A flow path may be provided.

Binary valve 212b may include a banjo valve 406, which is biased into engagement with valve seat 414 (e.g., in response to a biasing force applied by spring 426 via coupling means 412). . When the solenoid coil 408 is energized, the plunger 410 retracts toward the solenoid coil 408, thereby moving the banjo valve 406 out of sealing engagement with the valve seat 414, so that the bulk material is removed from the variable line impedance 200b. can flow to. In other embodiments, banjo valve 406 may be downstream of variable line impedance 200b.

Variable line impedance 200b may generally include a first rigid member (eg, shaft 428) having a first surface. Shaft 428 may define a first flow path portion having a first termination on a first surface. The first terminal end may include a groove (eg, groove 430) defined in a first surface (eg, of shaft 428). The groove 430 may taper from a large cross-sectional area to a small cross-sectional area perpendicular to a tangent to the curve of the first surface. However, in other embodiments, the shaft 428 may include a hole (i.e., a straight hole, see FIG. 15C) rather than a groove 430. The second rigid member (eg, housing 432) may include a second surface (eg, inner hole 434). A second rigid member (eg, housing 432) may define a second flow path portion having a second termination on a second surface. The first and second rigid members are rotatable relative to each other from a fully open position, sequentially through a partially open position, and into a closed position. For example, shaft 428 may be rotatably driven relative to housing 432 by drive motor 416 (which may include, for example, a stepper motor or a servo motor). The first and second surfaces define a space between them. The aperture (e.g., opening 436) in the second rigid member (e.g., housing 432) may be in either a fully open position or a partially open position with respect to the first and second rigid members relative to each other. Fluid communication may be provided between the first and second flow path portions when the first and second flow path portions are in contact with each other. Fluid flowing between the first and second flow path portions is directed between the grooves (i.e., grooves 430) and the holes (i.e., openings 430).
36). In some embodiments, at least one sealing member (
For example, a gasket, O-ring or other not shown) may be placed between the first and second surfaces to provide a seal between the first and second rigid members to prevent fluid from leaving the space. Prevents leakage, which also prevents fluid from escaping from the desired flow path. However, in the exemplary embodiment shown, this type of sealing means is not used. Rather, in the exemplary embodiment, a lip seal 429 or other sealing means is used to seal the space.

Various connection devices may be included to fluidly couple the flow control modules 170, 172, 174 to the bulk feedstock subsystem 16 and/or downstream components, such as the nozzle 24. For example, a locking plate 438 may be slidably mounted relative to a guide member 440, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 for flow control module 170b. A fluid line (not shown) may be at least partially inserted into the fluid outlet 422, and the locking plate 438 may be translated by a slide to lock the fluid line in engagement with the fluid outlet. Good too. Various gaskets, O-rings, or the like may be used to provide a fluid-tight connection between the fluid line and fluid outlet 422.

10-13 illustrate various other embodiments of flow control modules (eg, flow control modules 170c, 170d, 170e, 170f, respectively). The flow control modules 170c, 170d, 170e, 170f generally correspond to the flow control module 1 described above.
70a and 170b differ in the fluid connector and relative orientation of variable line impedance 200 and binary valve 212. For example, flow control modules 170d and 170f shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, respectively, may include barbed fluid connectors 442 for fluid communication to/from flow meters 176d and 176f. Similarly, flow control module 170c may include a barbed fluid connector 444 for fluid communication to/from variable line impedance 200c. Various additional/alternative fluid connector arrangements are equally available. Similarly, various relative orientations of the solenoid 408 and various configurations of spring biasing of the banjo valve 406 may be used to suit various packaging configurations and design criteria.

Referring also to FIGS. 14A-14C, yet another embodiment of a flow control module is shown (ie, flow control module 170g). The flow control module 170g generally includes a flow meter 176g, a variable line impedance 200g, and a binary valve 212.
g (e.g., which may be a solenoid-operated banjo valve as generally described above). Referring to FIG. 14C, lip seal 202g is visible. FIG. 14C also illustrates one exemplary embodiment in which the flow control module includes a cover that may protect the various flow control module assemblies. Although not depicted in all of the illustrated embodiments, each of the flow control module embodiments may also include a cover.

It should be noted that flow control modules (e.g., flow control modules 170, 1
72, 174), the bulk material is transferred from the bulk material subsystem 16 to a flowmeter (e.g., flowmeter 1).
76, 178, 180), then to a variable line impedance (e.g., variable line impedance 200, 202, 204), and finally to a binary valve (e.g., binary valve 212, 214, 216). Although described, this should not be construed as limiting the present application. For example, as shown in and described with respect to FIGS. 7-14C, the flow control module may be configured to
to a flow meter (e.g., flow meter 176, 178, 180), then to a binary valve (e.g., binary valve 212, 214, 216), and finally through a variable line impedance (e.g., variable line impedance 200, 202, 204). It may be configured to have a flow path. Various additional/alternative configurations are equally available. In addition to this, 1
One or more additional components may be interconnected between one or more of the flow meter, binary valve, variable line impedance.

15A and 15B, a portion of a variable line impedance (e.g., variable line impedance 200) is shown that includes a drive motor 416 (e.g., which may be a stepper motor, a servo motor, or the like). There is. Drive motor 41
6 may be connected to a shaft 428 having a groove 430 therein. Here, Figure 1
5C, in some embodiments, the shaft 428 includes a hole, as shown in FIG. 15C.
In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in , the hole is a ball-shaped hole. For example, Figure 8
As described with respect to and 9, drive motor 416 may rotate shaft 428 with respect to the housing (eg, housing 432) to adjust the flow rate through the variable line impedance. Magnet 446 may be coupled to shaft 428 (e.g., perhaps disposed at least partially within an axial opening in shaft 428; magnet 446 may be generally bipolar magnetized). Often, a south pole 450 and a north pole 452 are provided.The rotational position of the shaft 428 is determined based on the magnetic flux that the magnet 446 imparts onto one or more flux sensing devices, such as sensors 454, 456 shown in FIG. The magnetic flux sensing device may include, for example, but is not limited to, a Hall effect sensor or the like. The magnetic flux sensing device may, for example, provide a position feedback signal to the control logic subsystem 14. You may.

Referring again to FIG. 15C, in some embodiments, magnet 446 is positioned on the opposite side from the embodiments shown and described in FIGS. 8 and 9. Additionally, in this embodiment, magnet 446 is held by magnet holder 480.

In addition to/instead of utilizing a magnetic position sensor (e.g. to determine the rotational position of a shaft), a variable line impedance may be used to determine the motor position,
Alternatively, it may be determined based on an optical sensor that detects the shaft position.

16A and 16B, a gear (e.g., gear 390) of a geared positive displacement flow measurement device (e.g., geared positive displacement flow measurement device 388) has one or more gears coupled thereto. (eg, magnets 458, 460). As previously discussed, when fluid (eg, bulk material) flows through geared positive displacement flow measurement device 388, gear 390 (and gear 392) can rotate. The rotational speed of gear 390 may be generally proportional to the flow rate of fluid through geared positive displacement flow measurement device 388. The rotation (and/or rotational speed) of gear 390 may be measured using a magnetic flux sensor (e.g., a Hall effect sensor or other), which measures the rotational movement of shaft magnets 458, 460 coupled to gear 390. may be measured. For example, the magnetic flux sensor shown in FIG. 8, which may be disposed on printed circuit board 462, provides a flow feedback signal (e.g., flow feedback signal 182) to a flow feedback controller system (e.g., feedback controller system 188). You may.

Flow Control Module Leak Detection In various embodiments, the flow control module may be in an operational state, but fluid should not be flowing, ie, the flow control module is not being activated by any pump commands. In some embodiments, a system that includes a leak detection method may be used to detect fluid flow from a flow control module when fluid should not flow.

In various embodiments of flow control module leak detection, leak detection occurs when the flow control module is not operated by any pump commands, the banjo valve or other valve controller is idle, and the gear meter spins after injection. It may be activated when the gear meter monitor is idle after all downtime has elapsed. When these conditions are met, leak detection is activated. In some embodiments, a predetermined amount of time elapses before the flow control module initiates leak detection.

Referring now also to FIG. 76, in various embodiments, the leak detection method operates in three states:
That is, it includes leak test start, leak test initialization, and leak test execution. At the start of the leakage test,
Leak detection is idle because one or more of the activation criteria have not yet been met. In various embodiments, the activation criteria may include one or more of the criteria described above. The leak test initialization state controls the timing guard band that occurs when the flow control module transitions from an operating state to an idle state (ie, when a start-up criterion is satisfied). In the leak test run state, once the timing guard band has elapsed, the leak test method remains in this state until the flow control module is activated.

Referring now also to FIG. 77, at a high level, the FCM leak detection method receives and monitors the fluid volume conveyed and measured by the gear meter. If the reported amount exceeds a predetermined preset threshold, an alarm is triggered. To do this, it is necessary to use a “leakage integrator circuit (l
An "easy integrator" algorithm is used, which in some embodiments includes a fluid volume, or integral value, measured by the gear meter and added to an intermediate accumulation at every update, such that the integral value exceeds a threshold value. If it exceeds it, it is determined that there is a leak. After that, the integral value is reduced by a certain "attenuation amount" at each update. The interim cumulative total cannot be lower than zero.

In various embodiments, three factors may be used, including an update period, a leak detection threshold, and an integral decay rate. Various other embodiments may use different coefficients, or may use additional or fewer coefficients.

In some embodiments, the update period defines how often leak detection is performed. In some embodiments, leak detection may be performed periodically, for example, once every two seconds (0.5 Hz). In some embodiments, a leak detection threshold is set and a leak is declared when the integral value exceeds this number. The leak detection threshold may, in some embodiments, be set as the maximum flow rate set in the flow control module calibration data as follows.
Leak_Detection_Threshold=(0.25 ^* FCM_Maxim
um_Flow_Rate) ^* Update_Period

In some embodiments, the integral decay rate is the value by which the gear meter's integral flow rate is reduced each time it is updated. This may be advantageous, as it improves the noise immunity of the method, for example by attenuating the integral value, and the algorithm is reset when the leakage condition disappears. The integral decay rate is set as the maximum flow rate defined in the calibration data of the flow control module as follows:
Integrator_Drain_Rate = (0.001 ^* FCM_Maximum
_Flow_Rate) ^* Update_Period

In various embodiments, an alert or alarm is generated when the following conditions are met: the integral value exceeds the leak detection threshold and the alarm generation is "armed". In various embodiments, alarm generation is "armed" when the algorithm is initialized and whenever the integral value is zero. In various embodiments, once an alarm is triggered, the alarm occurrence is "disarmed." This arming/disarming process prevents the method and system from generating multiple alarms in a single leak event. The following are examples of when an alarm may be issued. These are provided by way of illustration and example only and are not intended to be exhaustive. In various embodiments, the methods may be different:
Alerts/alarms may be issued under other conditions. In various embodiments, a warning/alarm may be issued under conditions in addition to those described above.

As an example, a flow control module always has a leak until the integral value exceeds a threshold value. The flow control module continues to leak. In this example, one alarm may be issued the first time the integral value exceeds the threshold.

As another example, a flow control module has intermittent leaks until the integral value eventually exceeds a threshold value. Then, the integral value oscillates around the threshold value. In this example, one alarm may be issued the first time the integral value exceeds the threshold. The disarming logic present in some embodiments may prevent subsequent loud alarms from sounding even if the integral value again exceeds the threshold.

As another example, a flow control module always has a leak until the integral exceeds a threshold.
The fluid control module then stops the leak. In this example, an alarm may be triggered the first time the integral value exceeds the threshold. When the flow control module stops the leak, the integral value slowly decays back to zero. When the integral value decays back to zero, the alarm generation is re-armed so that if the flow control module starts leaking again, the alarm may be generated again.

Referring now also to FIG. 77, this graph represents data collected in an example leak detection method. In this example, a high fructose corn syrup leak was simulated using a manual override on the flow control module. The manual override was toggled between open and closed states for a period of time and then held in the fully open position. Once a detection has been declared,
Closed manual override. As shown in Figure 77, it can be seen that the integral value increases until a leak is declared. At that point, the integral value cannot be increased any further. Closing the manual override will see the integral decay to zero, at which point the leak condition will be cleared and the alarm will be re-armed.

Referring also to FIG. 17, a schematic diagram of the user interface subsystem 22 is shown. User interface subsystem 22 may include a touch panel interface 500 (an example embodiment is described below with respect to FIGS. 51-53) that allows user 26 to select various options regarding beverage 28. For example, user 26 may be able to select the size of beverage 28 (via "Drink Size" column 502). Examples of available sizes include "12 ounces,""16ounces,""20ounces," and "24 ounces."
, "32 ounces" and "48 ounces" may be included, but are not limited to these.

User 26 may select the type of beverage 28 (via "Drink Type" column 504). Examples of selectable types may include, but are not limited to, "Cola,""LemonLime,""RootBeer,""IcedTea,""Lemonade," and "Fruit Punch."

User 26 may also select one or more flavorings/products for inclusion in beverage 28 (via “Add” column 506). Examples of selectable additives may include “cherry flavor,” “lemon flavor,” “lime flavor,” “chocolate flavor,” “coffee flavor,” and “ice cream,” but these Not limited.

Additionally, user 26 may be able to select one or more nutraceutical ingredients for inclusion in beverage 28 (via “nutraceutical ingredient” column 508). Examples of such nutritional supplements may include "vitamin A", "vitamin B6", "vitamin B12", "vitamin C", "vitamin D", and "zinc", but these Not limited.

In some embodiments, a separate screen at a lower height than the touch panel may include a "remote control" (not shown) for the panel. The remote control may include, for example, buttons indicating up, down, right, left, and selection. However, in other embodiments, other buttons may be included.

Once user 26 makes the appropriate selection, user 26 may select a "Go!" button 510, and user interface subsystem 22 sends the appropriate data signal (via data bus 32) to the control logic subsystem. It may also be supplied to system 14. Upon receipt, control logic subsystem 14 may read appropriate data from storage subsystem 12 and provide appropriate control signals to, for example, bulk ingredient subsystem 16, micro ingredient subsystem 18, and piping/control subsystem 20. may be supplied, which may be processed (as described above) to produce beverage 2.
8 is prepared. Alternatively, user 26 may select "Cancel" button 512 and touch panel interface 500 may be reset to a default state (eg, no buttons selected).

User interface subsystem 22 may be configured to allow two-way communication with user 26. For example, the user interface subsystem 22 may
14, which allows processing system 10 to provide information to user 26. Examples of the types of information that may be provided to user 26 may include, but are not limited to, promotions, information/warnings regarding system anomalies, and information regarding prices of various products.

As mentioned above, control logic subsystem 14 may execute one or more control processes 120, which may control operation of processing system 10. Accordingly, control logic subsystem 14 may execute a finite state machine process (eg, FSM process 122).

As also mentioned above, during use of processing system 10, user 26 may use user interface subsystem 22 to select a particular beverage 28 to be dispensed (into container 30). User 26 may use user interface subsystem 22 to select one or more options to include in such beverage. Once user 26 makes the appropriate selection using user interface subsystem 22, user interface subsystem 22 provides appropriate instructions to control logic subsystem 14 indicating user 26's selection and preference (regarding beverage 28). You may also send it to

In making a selection, user 26 may select a multi-part recipe, which is essentially a combination of two separate and different recipes, producing a product of multiple ingredients. For example, user 2
6 may choose a root beer float, which is a multi-part recipe that is essentially a composite of two separate and different ingredients (i.e., vanilla ice cream and root beer soda). As another example, user 26 may select a drink that is a combination of cola and coffee. This cola/coffee composite product is essentially a combination of two separate and different ingredients (ie, cola soda and coffee).

Referring also to FIG. 18, upon receiving the instructions described above (550), the FSM process 122:
The instructions may be processed 552 to determine whether the product to be produced (eg, beverage 28) is a multi-ingredient product.

If the product to be produced is a product consisting of multiple raw materials (554), FSM process 1
22 may identify the recipes needed to produce each of the components of the multi-ingredient product (556). The identified recipe may be selected from a plurality of recipes 36 maintained in the storage subsystem 12 shown in FIG.

If the product to be produced is not a multi-ingredient product (554), FSM process 122 may identify a single recipe for producing the product (558). A single recipe may be selected from multiple recipes 36 maintained in storage subsystem 12. Therefore, if the instruction received (550) and processed (552) was an instruction defining lemon-lime soda, this is not a multi-ingredient product, so the FSM
Process 122 may identify a single recipe needed to produce lemon-lime soda (558).

If the instructions pertain to a multi-ingredient product (554), an appropriate recipe selected from the plurality of recipes 36 maintained in the storage subsystem 12 is identified (554).
56), the FSM process 122 parses each of the recipes into multiple discrete states (560);
One or more state transitions may be determined. FSM process 122 may then define at least one finite state machine (for each recipe) using at least a portion of the plurality of separate states (562).

If the instructions are not for a multi-ingredient product (554), then the FSM process 122 processes the recipe once a suitable recipe selected from the plurality of recipes 36 maintained in the storage subsystem 12 is identified (558). Parse into multiple separate states (564)
, one or more state transitions may be defined. FSM process 122 may then define at least one finite state machine for the recipe using at least a portion of the plurality of different states (566).

As is known in the art, a finite state machine (FSM) is a behavioral model consisting of a finite number of states, transitions and/or actions between these states. For example, and referring also to FIG.
A "closed" state 572 may also be included. In addition to this, two transitions may be defined, allowing a transition from one state to another. For example, if transition state 574 "opens" the door (therefore transitioning from "closed" state 572 to "open" state 570), transition state 5
76 "closes" the door (therefore transitioning from the "open" state 570 to the "closed" state 572).

Referring also to FIG. 20, a state diagram 600 is shown for how coffee may be brewed. The state diagram 600 has five states: an idle state 602, an extractable state 604,
It is shown to include an extraction state 605, a warming state 608, and an off state 610. In addition to this, five transition states are shown. For example, transition state 612 (eg, attach coffee filter, add coffee grounds, fill water in coffee machine) may transition from idle state 602 to ready-to-brew state 604. Transition state 614 (e.g.
(pushing the extraction button) may transition from the extraction enabled state 604 to the extraction in progress state 606. The transition state 616 (eg, water supply completed) may transition from the brewing state 606 to the keep warm state 608. A transition state 618 (eg, turning off a power button or exceeding a maximum “keep warm” time) may transition from the keep warm state 608 to the off state 610. A transition state 620 (eg, power on) may transition from off state 610 to idle state 602.

Accordingly, FSM process 122 may generate one or more finite state machines that correspond to recipes (or portions thereof) utilized to generate products. Once the appropriate finite state machine is generated, the control logic subsystem 14 executes the finite state machine to, for example, produce the product (e.g., of multiple ingredients or of a single ingredient) requested by the user 26. may be generated.

Accordingly, processing system 10 (via user interface subsystem 22)
Assume that user 26 receives an indication (550) that he has selected a root beer float. FSM process 122 may process this instruction (552) to determine whether the root beer float is a multi-ingredient product (554). Because a root beer float is a multi-ingredient product, the FSM process 122 identifies (556) the recipes needed to produce a root beer float (i.e., a root beer soda recipe and a vanilla ice cream recipe) and creates a root beer soda recipe. and vanilla ice cream recipe into multiple separate states (560) and one or more state transitions may be defined. FSM process 122 may then define at least one finite state machine (for each recipe) utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of separate states (562). These finite state machines are then executed by control logic subsystem 14 to generate the root beer float selected by user 26.

When executing the state machine corresponding to the recipe, the processing system 10
One or more manifolds (not shown) included in 0 may be utilized. In this application, a manifold is a temporary storage area designed to allow one or more processes to execute. To facilitate the movement of materials to and from the manifolds, processing system 10 includes a plurality of valves (e.g., controllable by control logic subsystem 14) to facilitate the movement of materials to and from the manifolds. Good too. Examples of various manifolds may include mixing manifolds, blending manifolds, grinding manifolds, heating manifolds, cooling manifolds, freezing manifolds, leaching manifolds, nozzles, pressure manifolds, vacuum manifolds, stirring manifolds. but not limited to.

For example, when making coffee, a grinding manifold may grind coffee beans. Once the beans are ground, water may be provided to a heating manifold in which water 160 is heated to a predetermined temperature (eg, 212° F.). Once the water is heated, the hot water (produced by the heating manifold) may be filtered through the coffee grounds (produced by the grinding manifold). In addition to this, depending on how the processing system 10 is configured, the processing system 10 may add cream and/or sugar to the produced coffee in other manifolds or at the nozzle 24. good.

Accordingly, each part of a multi-part recipe may be executed in a different manifold included in processing system 10. Accordingly, each ingredient in a multi-ingredient recipe may be produced in a different manifold included in processing system 10. Continuing with the above example, the first ingredient of a multi-ingredient product (ie, root beer soda) may be produced within a mixing manifold included in processing system 10. Additionally, the second ingredient of the multi-ingredient product (i.e., vanilla ice cream) may be produced within a refrigeration manifold included in processing system 10.

As previously discussed, control logic subsystem 14 may execute one or more control processes 120 that may control operation of processing system 10. Accordingly, control logic subsystem 14 may execute virtual machine processes 124.

Also as previously discussed, during use of processing system 10, user 26 may use user interface subsystem 22 to select a particular beverage 28 to be dispensed (into container 30). User 26 may select one or more options to include in such beverage via user interface subsystem 22. When user 26 makes the appropriate selections via user interface subsystem 22, user interface subsystem 22 may send appropriate instructions to control logic subsystem 14.

In making a selection, the user 26 may select a multi-part recipe, which is essentially a combination of two separate and different recipes to produce a product of multiple ingredients. For example, user 26 may select a root beer float, which is a multi-part recipe that is essentially a composite of two separate and different ingredients (i.e., vanilla ice cream and root beer soda). As another example, user 26 may select a drink that is a combination of cola and coffee. This cola/coffee complex is essentially made up of two separate and different ingredients (i.e.
It is a combination of cola soda and coffee).

Referring also to FIG. 21, upon receiving the instructions described above (650), the virtual machine process 124
processes 652 these instructions to determine whether the product to be produced (eg, beverage 28) is a multi-ingredient product.

If the product to be produced is a product made of multiple raw materials (654), the virtual machine process 124 generates a first recipe for producing the first raw material of the product made of multiple raw materials;
At least a second recipe for producing at least a second ingredient of the multi-ingredient product may be identified (656). The first and second recipes are storage subsystem 1
The recipe may be selected from a plurality of recipes 36 held in 2.

If the product to be produced is not a multi-ingredient product (654), virtual machine process 124 may identify a single recipe for producing the product (658). A single recipe may be selected from multiple recipes 36 stored in storage subsystem 12. Therefore, if the received instruction (650) were for lemon-lime soda, the virtual machine process 124 would create the single recipe needed to produce lemon-lime soda, since this is not a multi-ingredient product. may be specified (658).

Once a recipe is identified from the plurality of recipes 36 stored in storage subsystem 12 (656, 658), control logic subsystem 14 executes the recipe (660, 6).
62), send appropriate control signals (via data bus 38) to e.g.
6 may be fed to the micro-ingredient subsystem 18 and the plumbing/control subsystem 20, resulting in the production of a beverage 28 (which is dispensed into a container 30).

Accordingly, assume processing system 10 receives instructions (via user interface subsystem 22) to generate a root beer float. Virtual machine process 124
may process these instructions (652) to determine whether the root beer float is a multi-ingredient product (654). Because a root beer float is a multi-ingredient product, virtual machine process 124 identifies (656) the recipes needed to produce a root beer float (i.e., a root beer soda recipe and a vanilla ice cream recipe).
, both recipes may be executed 660 to produce both root beer soda and vanilla ice cream (respectively). Once these products are produced, processing system 10 combines the individual products (i.e., root beer soda and vanilla ice cream) and delivers them to user 2.
6 may produce the root beer float requested.

In executing a recipe, processing system 10 may utilize one or more manifolds (not shown) included therein. In this application, a manifold is a temporary storage area designed to allow one or more processes to execute. on the manifold,
Processing system 10 may include a plurality of valves (e.g., controllable by control logic subsystem 14) to facilitate the movement of materials between manifolds and therefrom. . Examples of various manifolds may include mixing manifolds, blending manifolds, grinding manifolds, heating manifolds, cooling manifolds, freezing manifolds, leaching manifolds, nozzles, pressure manifolds, vacuum manifolds, stirring manifolds. but not limited to.

For example, when making coffee, coffee beans may be ground in a grinding manifold. Once the beans are ground, water may be supplied to a heating manifold in which the water 160 is heated to a predetermined temperature (
For example, heated to 212°F. Once the water is heated, the hot water (produced by the heating manifold) may be filtered through the coffee grounds (produced by the grinding manifold). Additionally, depending on how the processing system 10 is configured, the processing system 10 may add cream and/or sugar to the produced coffee in other manifolds or at the nozzle 24.

Accordingly, each part of a multi-part recipe may be executed in a different manifold included in processing system 10. Accordingly, each ingredient of a multi-ingredient recipe may be produced in a different manifold included in processing system 10. Continuing with the example above, the first portion of the multi-part recipe (i.e., the one or more processes utilized by processing system 10 to make the root beer soda) is performed within a mixing manifold included in processing system 10. may be done. Additionally, the second part of the multi-part recipe (i.e., the one or more processes utilized by processing system 10 to make the vanilla ice cream)
may be performed in a freezing manifold included in processing system 10.

As mentioned above, during use of processing system 10, user 26 may use user interface subsystem 22 to select a particular beverage 28 to be dispensed (into container 30). User 26 may select one or more options for inclusion in such beverage via user interface subsystem 22. When user 26 makes the appropriate selections via user interface subsystem 22, user interface subsystem 22 sends the appropriate data signals (via data bus 32) to control logic subsystem 14.
You may also send it to Control logic subsystem 14 may process these data signals (via data bus 34 ) to create one or more recipes selected from a plurality of recipes 36 maintained in storage subsystem 12 . It may be read out. Upon reading the recipe from the storage subsystem 12, the control logic subsystem 14 processes the recipe,
Suitable control signals may be provided (via data bus 38) to, for example, the bulk feedstock subsystem 16, the microfeedstock subsystem 18, and the piping/control subsystem 20, such that:
A beverage 28 is produced (which is dispensed into a container 30).

When user 26 makes a selection, user 26 may select a multi-part recipe, which is essentially a combination of two separate and different recipes. For example, user 26 may select a root beer float, which is a multi-part recipe that is essentially a composite of two separate and different recipes (i.e., vanilla ice cream and root beer soda). As another example,
User 26 may select a drink that is a combination of cola and coffee. This cola/coffee combination product is essentially a combination of two separate and different recipes (ie, cola soda and coffee).

Accordingly, when processing system 10 (via user interface subsystem 22)
Assuming that an instruction to make a root beer float is received, processing system 10 simply obtains an independent recipe for root beer soda and an independent recipe for vanilla ice cream, once the root beer float recipe is determined to be a multi-part recipe. and run both recipes to produce root beer soda and vanilla ice cream (respectively). Once these products are produced, processing system 10 may combine the individual products (ie, root beer soda and vanilla ice cream) to produce the root beer float requested by user 26.

In executing a recipe, processing system 10 may utilize one or more manifolds (not shown) included therein. In this application, a manifold is a temporary storage area designed to allow one or more processes to execute. on the manifold,
Processing system 10 may include a plurality of valves (e.g., controllable by control logic subsystem 14) to facilitate the movement of materials between manifolds and therefrom. . Examples of various manifolds may include mixing manifolds, blending manifolds, grinding manifolds, heating manifolds, cooling manifolds, freezing manifolds, leaching manifolds, nozzles, pressure manifolds, vacuum manifolds, stirring manifolds. but not limited to.

For example, when making coffee, coffee beans may be ground in a grinding manifold. Once the beans are ground, water may be supplied to a heating manifold in which the water 160 is heated to a predetermined temperature (
For example, heated to 212°F. Once the water is heated, the hot water (produced by the heating manifold) may be filtered through the coffee grounds (produced by the grinding manifold). In addition to this, depending on how the processing system 10 is configured, the processing system 10 may add cream and/or sugar to the produced coffee in other manifolds or at the nozzle 24.

As mentioned above, control logic subsystem 14 may execute one or more control processes 120, which may control operation of processing system 10. Accordingly, control logic subsystem 14 may execute virtual manifold process 126.

Referring also to FIG. 22, virtual manifold process 126 monitors (680) one or more processes occurring, for example, in a first portion of a multi-part recipe being executed in processing system 10, and may obtain data regarding at least a portion of the process. For example, suppose your multi-portion recipe is about preparing a root beer float,
This (as previously discussed) is essentially a composite of two separate and distinct recipes (i.e., root beer soda and vanilla ice cream), which are selected from a plurality of recipes 36 stored in storage subsystem 12. Good too. Accordingly, the first part of the multi-part recipe may be considered one or more processes that processing system 10 uses to make the root beer soda. Additionally, the second part of the multi-part recipe may be considered one or more processes that processing system 10 uses to make vanilla ice cream.

Each part of these multi-part recipes may be executed in a different manifold included in processing system 10. For example, a first portion of a multi-part recipe (i.e., one or more processes utilized by processing system 10 to make the root beer soda) may be performed within a mixing manifold included in processing system 10. . Additionally, the second portion of the multi-process recipe (i.e., the one or more processes utilized by processing system 10 to make the vanilla ice cream) may have previously been performed within a freezing manifold included in system 10. good. As previously mentioned, the processing stem 10 may include multiple manifolds, examples of which include a mixing manifold, a blending manifold, a grinding manifold, a heating manifold, a cooling manifold, a freezing manifold, a leaching manifold, a nozzle, a pressure manifold. peritoneal manifolds, vacuum manifolds, agitation manifolds, etc., but are not limited to these.

Accordingly, virtual manifold process 126 may monitor 680 the process that processing system 10 utilizes to make root beer soda (or monitor the process that processing system 10 utilizes to make vanilla ice cream). ), thereby obtaining data about these processes.

Examples of the types of data obtained may include raw material data and processing data;
Not limited to these.

Ingredient data may include, but is not limited to, a list of ingredients used in a first part of a multi-part recipe. For example, if the first part of a multi-part recipe is about making root beer soda, the list of ingredients might include a given amount of root beer flavoring, a given amount of carbonated water, a given amount of still water, a given amount of May contain high fructose corn syrup.

Processing data may include, but is not limited to, a list of processes to be performed on the raw material. For example, a predetermined amount of carbonated water may begin to be introduced into a manifold within processing system 10. While filling the manifold with carbonated water, an amount of root beer flavoring, an amount of high fructose corn syrup, and an amount of non-carbonated water may also be introduced into the manifold.

At least a portion of the acquired data may be stored (temporarily or permanently) (68).
2). Additionally, virtual manifold process 126 may make this stored data available for subsequent use by one or more processes that occur, for example, within a second portion of a multi-part recipe (684). Upon saving the acquired data (682), the virtual manifold process 126 stores the acquired data in a non-volatile memory system (682) for subsequent diagnostic purposes.
For example, it may be stored as an archive (686) in the storage subsystem 12).
. Examples of such diagnostic purposes may include allowing a maintenance technician to review characteristics of material consumption and develop a purchasing plan for purchasing consumables for processing system 10. Alternatively/in addition, upon saving the acquired data (682), the virtual manifold process 126 may write the acquired data to a volatile memory system (eg, random access memory 104) (688).

In making the retrieved data available (684), the virtual manifold process 126 sends the retrieved data (or a portion thereof) to one or more processes performed in the second part of the multi-part recipe. Good (690). Continuing with the above example of one or more processes utilized by processing system 10 to make vanilla ice cream, the second part of the multi-part recipe, virtual manifold process 126 may ) may be available to one or more processes utilized to make vanilla ice cream (684).

Assume that the root beer flavoring utilized to make the root beer float described above is flavored with a significant amount of vanilla flavoring. Further assume that a significant amount of vanilla flavoring is also used in making vanilla ice cream. Virtual manifold process 126 uses the acquired data (e.g., raw material and/or process data) by a control logic subsystem (i.e., a subsystem that integrates one or more processes utilized to make vanilla ice cream). As may be available, control logic subsystem 14 may review this data to change the ingredients utilized to make the vanilla ice cream. Specifically, control logic subsystem 14 may reduce the amount of vanilla flavoring utilized to make the vanilla ice cream to avoid having too much vanilla flavoring in the root beer float.

In addition to this, the retrieved data is made available to subsequently executed processes (684
), procedures may be performed that would not be possible without the data being made available to subsequently executed processes. Continuing with the above example, assume that it has been determined empirically that consumers tend to dislike products that contain more than 10.0 mL of vanilla flavoring per serving. In addition, 8.0 mL of vanilla flavoring is included in the root beer flavoring used to make the root beer soda for the root beer float, and another 8.0 mL is included in the vanilla flavoring used to make the vanilla ice cream used to make the root beer float. Assume that 8.0 mL of vanilla flavoring is utilized. Therefore, when we put these two products together (root beer soda and vanilla ice cream), the final product will be flavored with 16.0 mL of vanilla flavoring (which is
(exceeds the empirically set rule of not exceeding 10.0 mL).

Therefore, root beer soda ingredient data is not saved (682) by the virtual manifold process 126 and such saved data is not made available (684).
The fact that the root beer soda contains 8.0 mL of vanilla flavoring would be unaccounted for, resulting in a final product containing 16.0 mL of vanilla flavoring. Therefore, this data obtained and stored (682) may be used to identify the occurrence of undesirable effects (e.g., undesirable flavor characteristics, undesirable appearance characteristics, undesirable aroma characteristics, undesirable textural characteristics, undesirable textural characteristics, nutritional supplement ingredients, etc.). can be used to avoid (or reduce) exceeding the maximum appropriate dosage of

With this acquired data available, subsequent processes may also be adjustable. For example, assume that the amount of salt used to make vanilla ice cream varies depending on the amount of carbonated water utilized to make root beer soda. Again, the virtual manifold process 126 does not save root beer soda ingredient data (682);
If such stored data were not made available (684), the amount of carbonated water used to make root beer soda would be unknown and the amount of salt utilized to make ice cream would not be adjustable. Probably.

As previously discussed, virtual manifold process 126 monitors (680) one or more processes occurring, for example, within a first portion of a multi-part recipe being executed in processing system 10, and Data regarding at least some of the plurality of processes may be obtained. The one or more processes to be monitored (680) may be performed within one manifold of processing system 10, or one of a plurality of procedures performed within one manifold of processing system 10. It may also represent two parts.

For example, when making root beer soda, there are four inlets (for example, one for root beer flavoring, one for carbonated water, one for still water, and one for high fructose corn syrup) and one outlet. (as the entire root beer soda is fed into one second manifold) may be used.

However, if the manifold has two outlets instead of one (one with a flow rate four times that of the other), the virtual manifold process 126 means that the process involves two separate and different parts, and that they are in the same manifold. It may be considered that they are executed at the same time. For example, 80% of the total ingredients may be mixed to produce 80% of the total root beer soda;
Meanwhile, the remaining 20% of the total ingredients may be mixed at the same time (in the same manifold) to produce 20% of the root beer soda. Therefore, the virtual manifold process 12
6 may make the data obtained for the first portion (i.e., the 80% portion) available to a downstream process that utilizes 80% of the root beer soda (684); 20% portion) may be made available to a downstream process that utilizes the 20% of the root beer soda (684).

Additionally/alternatively, a portion of a multi-part procedure performed within a single manifold of processing system 10 may be a portion of a multi-part procedure that occurs within a single manifold that performs multiple separate processes. May also indicate a process. For example, when making vanilla ice cream in a freezing manifold, the individual ingredients may be introduced, mixed, and chilled until frozen.
Accordingly, the process of making vanilla ice cream may include an ingredient introduction process, an ingredient mixing process, an ingredient freezing process, each of which is implemented in the virtual manifold process 126.
(680).

As mentioned above, product module assembly 250 (of microingredient subsystem 18 and plumbing/control subsystem 20) includes a plurality of product containers configured to releasably engage a plurality of product containers 252, 254, 256, 258. slot assemblies 260, 262, 264,
266 may be included. Unfortunately, during maintenance inspection of the processing system 10, the product container 2
52, 254, 256, 258, the product container is inserted into the product module assembly 25.
It is possible to install it in the wrong slot assembly in 0. Such a mistake could damage one or more pump assemblies (e.g., pump assemblies 270, 2
72, 274, 276) and/or one or more tube assemblies (eg, tube bundle 304) may become contaminated with one or more micromaterials. For example, root beer flavoring (i.e., the micro-ingredients contained within product container 256) has a very strong taste, so when a particular pump assembly/tube assembly is used to dispense root beer flavoring, for example, It can no longer be used for dispensing weaker tasting micro-ingredients (e.g. lemon-lime flavoring, iced tea flavoring, lemonade flavoring).

Additionally, as previously discussed, product module assembly 250 may be configured to releasably engage bracket assembly 282. Therefore, when processing system 10 includes multiple product module assemblies and multiple bracket assemblies, it is possible that a product module assembly may be attached to the wrong bracket assembly during maintenance of processing system 10. Unfortunately, such mistakes can also damage one or more pump assemblies (e.g., pump assemblies 270, 272, 2
74, 276) and/or one or more tube assemblies (eg, tube bundle 304) may become contaminated with one or more micromaterials.

Accordingly, processing system 10 may include an RFID-based system to ensure proper positioning of product containers and product modules within processing system 10. Referring also to FIGS. 23 and 24, processing system 10 may include an RFID system 700, which is an RFID system located in product module assembly 250 of processing system 10.
A D-antenna assembly 702 may also be included.

As mentioned above, product module assembly 250 may be configured to releasably engage at least one product container (eg, product container 258). RFID system 700 includes an RFID located (e.g., attached) to product container 258.
A tag assembly 704 may also be included. Whenever product module assembly 250 releasably engages a product container (e.g., product container 258), RFID tag assembly 7
04 may be positioned within the upper detection area 706 of the RFID antenna assembly 702, for example. Therefore, in this example, RFID tag assembly 704 should be detected by RFID antenna assembly 702 whenever product container 258 is positioned within (ie, releasably engaged) product module assembly 250 .

As mentioned above, product module assembly 250 may be configured to releasably engage bracket assembly 282. RFID system 700 may further include an RFID tag assembly 708 positioned (eg, attached) to bracket assembly 282. Whenever bracket assembly 282 is releasably engaged with product module assembly 250, RFID tag assembly 708 is
It may be positioned within a lower detection area 710 of FID antenna assembly 702.

Therefore, RFID antenna assembly 702 and RFID tag assembly 704, 7
08, the RFID system 700 can identify various product containers (e.g., product container 2
52, 254, 256, 258) are properly positioned within product module assembly 250. Additionally, RFID system 700 may also determine whether product module assembly 250 is properly positioned within processing system 10.

Although RFID system 700 is shown to include one RFID antenna assembly and two RFID tag assemblies, this is for illustration purposes only and other configurations are possible and should not be considered a limitation of the present application. Not intended. Specifically, a typical configuration of RFID system 700 may include one RFID antenna assembly positioned within each slot assembly of product module assembly 250. For example, RFID system 700 may additionally include R
FID antenna assemblies 712, 714, 716 may be included. Therefore, R
The FID antenna assembly 702 is connected to the product container (of the product module assembly 250).
The RFID antenna assembly 712 may determine whether the product container is inserted into the slot assembly 264 of (product module assembly 250) and the RFID antenna Assembly 714 may determine whether the product container is inserted into slot assembly 262 (of product module assembly 250), and RFID antenna assembly 716 may determine whether the product container is inserted into slot assembly 260 (of product module assembly 250). It may be determined whether or not it has been inserted. Further, since processing system 10 may include multiple product module assemblies, each of these product module assemblies may have one or more methods for determining which product container has been inserted into a particular product module assembly. RFID antenna assembly.

As mentioned above, the RFID in the lower detection area 710 of the RFID antenna assembly 702
By monitoring the presence of the tag assembly, RFID system 700 can determine whether product module assembly 250 is properly positioned within processing system 10. Accordingly, any of the RFID antenna assemblies 702, 712, 714, 716 may be utilized to read one or more RFID tag assemblies attached to the bracket assembly 282. For purposes of illustration, product module assembly 282 is shown having only one RFID tag assembly 708. however,
This is for illustration only and is not intended to be a limitation of the present application, as other configurations are possible. For example, bracket assembly 282 may include a plurality of RFID tag assemblies: RFID tag assembly 718 (shown in phantom) that is read by RFID antenna assembly 712;
FID tag assembly 720 (shown in dashed line) may include an RFID tag assembly 722 (shown in dashed line) that is read by RFID antenna assembly 716.

one or more of the RFID tag assemblies (e.g., RFID tag assembly 704
, 708, 718, 720, 722) may be passive RFID tag assemblies (eg, RFID tag assemblies that do not require a power source). In addition, one or more of the RFID tag assemblies (e.g., RFID tag assemblies 704, 708, 71
8, 720, 722) may be a writable RFID tag assembly, in which case the RFID system 700 may write data to the RFID tag assembly. R
Examples of the types of data that can be stored within an FID tag assembly include a product container quantity identifier, a product container manufacturing date identifier, a product container disposal date identifier, a product container ingredient identifier, a product module identifier, and a bracket identifier. may include, but are not limited to.

Regarding quantity identifiers, in some embodiments, each quantity of ingredient dispensed from a container includes an RFID tag, the tag being written as containing the most recent quantity in the container and/or the quantity dispensed. There is. Later, when the container is removed from the assembly and reattached to another assembly, the system reads the RFID tag and knows the volume of the container and/or the amount dispensed from the container. In addition to this, the date on which the dispensing took place may also be written on the RFID tag.

Accordingly, each of the bracket assemblies (e.g., bracket assembly 282)
When installing the RFID tag assembly (e.g., RF
An ID tag assembly 708) may be attached, in which case the attached RFID tag assembly may define a bracket identifier (to uniquely identify the bracket assembly). Therefore, if processing system 10 includes 10 bracket assemblies, there will be 10 RFID tag assemblies (i.e., 1 RFID tag assembly for each bracket assembly).
may set ten unique bracket identifiers (ie, one for each bracket assembly).

Additionally, when a product container (e.g., product containers 252, 254, 256, 258) is manufactured and filled with microingredients, the RFID tag assembly includes an ingredient identifier (for identifying the microingredient within the product container). ), quantity identifier (to identify the amount of microingredient in the product container), manufacturing date identifier (to identify the date of manufacture of the microingredient), disposal date identifier (to identify the date on which the product container should be disposed of/recycled) ) may be included.

Accordingly, when product module assembly 250 is installed within processing system 10 , RFID antenna assemblies 702 , 712 , 714 , 716 may be energized by RFID subsystem 724 . RFID subsystem 724 connects data bus 72
The control logic subsystem 14 may be coupled to the control logic subsystem 14 via 6. When energized, the RFID antenna assemblies 702, 712, 714, 716 scan their respective upper and lower detection areas (e.g., upper detection area 706 and lower detection area 710) to confirm the presence of the RFID tag assembly. You may start.

As mentioned above, one or more RFID tag assemblies may be attached to a bracket assembly that product module assembly 250 releasably engages. Thus, when the product module assembly 250 is slid into (i.e., releasably engaged) the bracket assembly 282, the RFID tag assemblies 708, 718, 7
20, 722 (respectively) RFID antenna assemblies 702, 71
2, 714, 716 may be located within the lower detection area. For purposes of illustration, assume that bracket assembly 282 includes only one RFID tag assembly, namely only RFID tag assembly 708. Additionally, for purposes of illustration, product containers 252, 254,
Assume that 256, 258 are installed in slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266 (respectively). Therefore, the RFID subsystem 714 (RF
by detecting the ID tag assembly 708) and the RFID tag assembly (e.g., RFID tag assembly 708) that is attached to each product container.
product containers 252, 254, 256 by detecting the ID tag assembly 704).
, 258 should be detected.

Location information regarding various product modules, bracket assemblies, and product containers may be stored, for example, in storage subsystem 12 coupled to control logic subsystem 14. Specifically, if nothing changes, the RFID subsystem 724
Antenna assembly 702 connects to RFID tag assembly 704 (i.e., product container 258
RFID antenna assembly 702 should expect to detect RFID tag assembly 708 (i.e., attached to bracket assembly 282). In addition to this, if nothing changes,
RFID antenna assembly 712 would detect an RFID tag assembly (not shown) attached to product container 256 and RFID antenna assembly 714 would detect an RFID tag assembly (not shown) attached to product container 254. It should be,
RFID antenna assembly 716 would detect an RFID tag assembly (not shown) attached to product container 252.

By way of example, product container 258 may be accidentally inserted into slot assembly 264 during routine maintenance.
Assume that the product container 256 is incorrectly positioned within the slot assembly 266. Once the RFID subsystem 724 obtains the information contained within the RFID tag assembly (using the RFID antenna assembly), the RFID subsystem 724 detects the RFID tag assembly associated with the product container 258 using the RFID antenna assembly 262. RFID antenna assembly 702 may be used to detect an RFID tag assembly associated with product container 256. RFID subassembly 724 compares the new positions of product containers 256, 258 to previously stored positions of product containers 256, 258 (stored in storage subsystem 12) to determine the location of each of these product containers. It may also be determined whether the position is incorrect.

Accordingly, the RFID subsystem 724, via the control logic subsystem 14, may display a warning message, e.g., on the information screen 514 of the user interface subsystem 22, to alert, e.g. Explain that the container was not reseated correctly. Depending on the type of microingredient in the product container, the maintenance technician may, for example, choose to continue or may be informed not to continue. As previously mentioned, certain micro-ingredients (e.g. root beer flavoring) have very strong tastes, so once this is dispensed through a particular pump assembly and/or tube assembly, that pump assembly/tube assembly may can no longer be used for any of the micro-raw materials. In addition, as previously discussed, various RFID tag assemblies attached to a product container may identify microingredients within that product container.

Therefore, if a pump assembly/tubing assembly that was used for lemon lime flavoring is now going to be used for root beer flavoring, the maintenance technician may be given a warning to confirm that this is ok. . However, if a pump assembly/tubing assembly that was used for root beer flavoring is now going to be used for lemon-lime flavoring, the service technician must not proceed with the operation and must return the product container to its original configuration. A warning may be given explaining that the defective pump assembly/tubing assembly must be reverted or replaced with a new pump assembly/cheap assembly. A similar alert may also be provided if RFID subsystem 724 detects that the bracket assembly has been moved within processing system 10.

RFID subsystem 724 may be configured to monitor consumption of various micro-ingredients. For example, as discussed above, an RFID tag assembly may initially be encoded to specify the amount of microingredient within a particular product container. Since the control logic subsystem 14 knows the amount of microingredient dispensed from each of the various product containers at predetermined intervals (e.g., hourly), the various RFID tag assemblies included in the various product containers R
It may be rewritten by the FID subsystem 724 (via the RFID antenna assembly) to indicate the current amount of microingredient contained in that product container.

RFID subsystem 724 may display a warning message on information screen 514 of user interface subsystem 22 via control logic subsystem 14 upon detecting that a product container has reached a predetermined minimum volume. In addition, the RFID subsystem 724 determines whether one or more product containers have an expiration date (RFID tag attached to the product container).
A warning may be provided (via the information screen 414 of the user interface subsystem 22) if the amount specified in the tag assembly is reached or exceeded.

Although the RFID system 700 is described above as having an RFID antenna assembly and a bracket assembly attached to a product module and an RFID tag assembly attached to a product container, this is by way of example only and is not a limitation of this application. Not intended. Specifically, the RFID antenna assembly can be attached to any product container, bracket assembly,
Alternatively, it may also be positioned in a product module. Additionally, the RFID tag assembly may be positioned on any product container, bracket assembly, or product module. Thus, if the RFID tag assembly is not attached to the product module assembly, the RFID tag assembly may define a project module identifier that defines, for example, a serial number of the product module.

The proximity of the slot assemblies (e.g., slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266) included in product module assembly 250 allows RFID antenna assembly 702 to read, e.g., a product container positioned within an adjacent slot assembly. It may be desirable to configure the system in a way that avoids this. For example, RFID antenna assembly 702 may be configured such that RFID antenna assembly 702
The ID tag assemblies 704, 708 should be configured such that only the ID tag assemblies 704, 708 can be read, and the RFID antenna assembly 712 should be configured so that only the
The ID tag assembly 718 and the RFID tag assembly attached to the product container 256 (
RFID antenna assembly 714 should be configured such that RFID antenna assembly 714 can only read RFID tag assembly 72 (not shown).
0 and the RFID tag assembly (not shown) attached to the product container 254, and the RFID antenna assembly 716 should be configured to read only the
RFID antenna assembly 716 connects to RFID tag assembly 722 and product container 252.
should be configured to be able to read only the RFID tongue assembly (not shown) attached to the RFID tongue assembly (not shown).

Reducing RFID False Readings In some embodiments, the RFID tag assembly is scanned to detect information inside the machine, such as during machine start-up, and in some embodiments when the machine door is open. Map the location of various elements, for example the location of each product container. As discussed herein, accurate mapping is important for many reasons, including but not limited to preserving recipes and dispensing products and maintaining the quality of the dispensed product. In some embodiments, various embodiments of tag scanning methods are used to reduce unintended readings, e.g., by RFID antenna assemblies of product containers positioned in adjacent slot assemblies. You can.

Referring now also to FIG. 73, all of the RFID tag assemblies are scanned and the scanning data is then evaluated to determine the location of each RFID tag assembly.
If the RFID tag assembly is found to belong to multiple slots after scanning, the scanning data is further evaluated to determine the correct slot to which the RFID tag assembly is assigned. In some embodiments, the time in slot, fitment map, and RSSI values are used to determine the correct location of the RFID tag assembly.

With respect to intra-slot time, in some embodiments this means that an RFID tag assembly is identified within each slot that was assigned to it prior to the scan in which the RFID tag assembly was determined to belong to multiple slots. It may also be a count of the number of scan cycles. If the RFID tag assembly has been in the slot to which it was assigned (referred to as the "current slot") prior to the scan, and the scan indicates that it belongs to another slot and the current slot, then The time spent in one slot will be significantly longer than in another slot. In some embodiments, the system then determines that R
Assign the FID tag assembly to the slot assigned to it in the most scans, which in this example is the current slot.

In some embodiments, the product container may be a "double-wide" product container, in which the product container requires two slots that are adjacent and in the same product module. It will be. In some embodiments, the product module is a quad product module and is therefore configured to receive four product containers; however, for double-wide product containers, the quad product module receives two product containers. Configured to receive a double width product container and/or two single width product containers and one double width product container. For double-width product containers, these cannot span two product modules (i.e. cannot straddle product module boundaries), so R
If an FID tag assembly is read in multiple slots and one of the slots is, for example, an odd slot (i.e., slot 1 or 3 on a quad product module), the system uses this information to It may be excluded from the candidates for the location of the RFID tag assembly. Therefore, in some embodiments, the system may use the fitment map to determine the actual/correct position of the double-width product container.

In some embodiments, if the RFID tag assembly is read in multiple slots and not all of the second or more slots are eliminated using an in-slot time and/or fitment map method, the system compares the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values. In some embodiments, the slot with the higher RSSI value will be assigned as the location of the RFID tag assembly.

If, after scanning all RFID tag assemblies, multiple RFID tag assemblies are found to belong to one slot (referred to as "the slot"), the system performs the following methods to identify the correct RFID tag to be assigned to the slot. Judge the assembly. In some embodiments, the time in slot, fitment map, and RSSI values are used to determine the correct location of the RFID tag assembly.

With respect to time within a slot, in some embodiments this may be a count of the number of scan cycles in which the RFID tag assembly was identified within that slot. If the RFID tag assembly has been in another slot to which it was assigned prior to the scan (referred to as the "current slot"), and the scan identifies it as belonging to another slot, i.e., the slot in question; The time within the current slot will be significantly longer than another slot, ie, the current slot. In some embodiments, the system then assigns the RFID tag assembly to the slot assigned to it in the most scans, which in this example is the current slot. However, if an RFID tag assembly is in a slot for a longer predetermined period of time than any of the other candidate RFID tag assemblies for that slot, then the R
A FID tag assembly will be assigned to that slot.

In some embodiments, the product container may be a "double-wide" product container, in which the product container requires two slots that are adjacent and in the same product module. It will be. In some embodiments, the product module is a quad product module and is therefore configured to receive four product containers; however, for double-wide product containers, the quad product module is configured to receive two product containers. one double-wide product container and/or two
Configured to receive one single width product container and one double width product container. For double-wide product containers, one of the RFID tag assemblies read for that slot is a double-wide The system uses this information if it is attached to a product container and the slot is, for example, an odd numbered slot (i.e., slot 1 or 3 on a quad product module) or cannot accommodate a double-wide product container. The product module/RFID tag assembly may then be removed as a candidate for that slot. Therefore, in some embodiments, the system may use the fitment map to determine the actual/correct position of the double-width product container.

In some embodiments, multiple RFID tag assemblies are read within the slot and not all of the second or more RFID tag assemblies are eliminated using the in-slot time and/or fitment map method. If so, the system compares the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values. In some embodiments, the RFID tag assembly with the higher RSSI value of the antenna associated with the slot will be assigned the position of the slot.

Thus, referring also to FIG. 25, RFID antenna assemblies 702, 712, 71
One or more of the antennas 4,716 may be configured as loop antennas. Although the following description relates to RFID antenna assembly 702, this is for example only and is a limitation of this application, as the following description may equally apply to RFID antenna assemblies 712, 714, 716. is not intended.

The RFID antenna assembly 702 is connected to a first capacitor assembly 750 (e.g. 2
．． 90 pF capacitor), which may be coupled between ground 752 and port 754 to energize RFID antenna assembly 702. A second capacitor assembly 756 (eg, a 2.55 pF capacitor) may be positioned between port 754 and inductive loop assembly 758. A resistive assembly 760 (e.g., a 2.00 ohm resistor) may couple the inductive loop assembly 758 and ground 752 while reducing the Q-factor to increase bandwidth and increase the operating width. Make it wider.

As is known in the art, the characteristics of RFID antenna assembly 702 can be tuned by changing the physical properties of electromagnetic induction loop assembly 758. For example, increasing the diameter "d" of the inductive loop assembly 758 causes the RFID antenna assembly 7
The far field performance of 02 can be improved. Additionally, the diameter "d" of the electromagnetic induction loop assembly 758
Reducing , the far field performance of the RFID antenna assembly 702 may be degraded.

In particular, the far field performance of the RFID antenna assembly 702 may vary depending on the energy emitting capability of the RFID antenna assembly 702. As is known in the art, the energy emitting capabilities of RFID antenna assembly 702 (port 754
may depend on the circumference of the electromagnetic induction loop assembly 708 with respect to the wavelength of the carrier signal 762 used to energize the RFID antenna assembly 702 via.

Referring also to FIG. 26, in the preferred embodiment, the carrier signal 762 has a wavelength of 12.5.
It may be a 915 MHz carrier signal that is 89 inches. For loop antenna designs, when the circumference of the inductive loop assembly 758 approaches or exceeds 50% of the wavelength of the carrier signal 762, the inductive loop assembly 758 extends radially from the axis 812 of the inductive loop assembly 758. outwardly (for example, arrows 800, 802, 804, 8
06, 808, 810) resulting in strong far field performance. Conversely, the circumference of the electromagnetic induction loop assembly 758 is connected to the carrier signal 76.
By keeping the wavelengths below 25% of 2, the amount of energy emitted outwardly by the electromagnetic induction loop assembly 758 is reduced and the far field performance is weakened. Additionally, magnetic coupling can occur in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the electromagnetic induction loop assembly 758 (as indicated by arrows 814, 816), resulting in strong near-field performance.

As discussed above, due to the close proximity of the slot assemblies (e.g., slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266) included in product module assembly 250, R
It may be desirable to configure FID antenna assembly 702 in such a way that it can avoid reading product containers positioned in, for example, adjacent slot assemblies. Accordingly, the inductive loop assembly 758 is configured such that the circumference of the inductive loop assembly 758 is less than or equal to 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal 762 (e.g.,
3.22 inches for a 915 MHz carrier signal), the far field performance can be reduced and the near field performance can be improved. Additionally, the RFID tag assembly is inductively coupled to the RFID antenna assembly 702 by positioning the inductive loop assembly 758 such that the RFID tag assembly to be read is either above or below the RFID antenna assembly 702. sell. For example, if the circumference of the inductive loop assembly 758 is 10% (91%) of the wavelength of the carrier signal 762,
1.29 inch for a 5 MHz carrier signal), the diameter of the inductive loop assembly 758 is 0.40 inch, resulting in a relatively high level of near-field performance and a relatively high level of far-field performance. is at a relatively low level.

Referring also to FIGS. 27 and 28, processing system 10 may be incorporated into a housing assembly 850. Housing assembly 850 includes one or more access doors/panels 852, 85
4, which may, for example, enable maintenance of processing system 10 and replace empty product containers (eg, product container 258). For various reasons (e.g., security, safety, etc.), it may be desirable to secure the access doors/panels 852, 854 so that only authorized personnel can access the interior components of the beverage dispensing machine 10. Maybe. Therefore, the aforementioned RFID subsystem (i.e., RF
The ID subsystem 700) is connected to the access doors/panels 852, 85 except when a suitable RFID tag assembly is positioned near the RFID access antenna assembly 900.
4 may be configured so that it does not open. Examples of such suitable RFID tag assemblies include RFID tag assemblies attached to product containers (e.g., product container 258).
may include an RFID tag assembly 704) attached to the RFID tag assembly 704).

RFID access antenna assembly 900 may include a multi-segment inductive looper assembly 902. A first matching component 904 (eg, a 5.00 pF capacitor) may be coupled between ground 906 and port 908, which may energize RFID access antenna assembly 900. A second matching component 910 (eg, a 16.56 nanoHenry inductor) may be positioned between the port 908 and the multi-segment electromagnetic induction loop assembly 902. Matching components 904, 910 adjust the impedance of the multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902 to a desired impedance (e.g., 50.00 ohms).
It may be adjusted to In general, matching components 904, 910 may improve the efficiency of RFID access antenna assembly 900.

RFID access antenna assembly 900 may include a Q-factor reduction element 912 (e.g., a 50 ohm resistor), which may be configured to allow RFID access antenna assembly 900 to be utilized over a wider frequency range. . Thereby, R
It also allows full band use of the FID access antenna assembly 900 and accommodates tolerances in the matching network. For example, the band of interest for RFID access antenna assembly 900 is 50 MHz, and Q-factor reduction element (also referred to herein as a "de-Qing element") 912 is configured to make the antenna 100 MHz wide. , the center frequency of RFID access antenna assembly 900 is R
It can be moved by 25 MHz without affecting the performance of the FID access antenna assembly 900. De-Qing element 912 may be positioned within multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902 or elsewhere within RFID access antenna assembly 900.

As previously discussed, by utilizing a relatively small inductive loop assembly (eg, inductive loop assembly 758 of FIGS. 25 and 26), the far field performance of the antenna assembly can be reduced and the near field performance can be improved. Unfortunately, utilizing such small electromagnetic induction loop assemblies also results in a relatively small detection range depth for the RFID antenna assembly (eg, generally proportional to the loop diameter). Therefore, a larger loop diameter may be utilized to increase the depth of the detection range. Unfortunately, as previously discussed, far-field performance can be improved by using larger loop diameters.

Accordingly, multi-segment electromagnetic induction assembly 902 includes a plurality of individual antenna segments (e.g., antenna segments 914, 916, 918, 920, 9
22, 924, 926) and phase shifting elements (e.g., capacitor assemblies 928, 9
30, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940). Examples of capacitor assemblies 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940 include 1.0 pF
capacitor or varactor (e.g. voltage variable capacitor), e.g. 0.1-25
A 0 pF varactor may also be included. The phase shifting elements described above may be adapted to allow adaptive control of the phase shift of the multi-segment induction loop assembly 902 to compensate for varying conditions or to modulate the characteristics of the multi-segment induction loop assembly 902. may be configured to provide a variety of inductive loop coupling functions and/or magnetic properties. An alternative example of the phase shifting element described above is a connected line (not shown).

As mentioned above, the length of the antenna segment can be adjusted to fit the length of the RFID access antenna assembly 9.
By keeping the 00 below 25% of the wavelength of the energizing carrier signal, the amount of energy emitted outwardly by the antenna segment is reduced, weakening the far field performance and increasing the near field performance. Therefore, antenna segments 914, 916, 918, 920, 9
Each of 22, 924, 926 may be sized such that they are no longer than 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal that powers the RFID access antenna assembly 900. Additionally, capacitor assemblies 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938
, 940 so that any phase shift that occurs as the carrier signal propagates around the multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902 is can be offset by various capacitor assemblies incorporated into the Thus, for purposes of illustration, for each of the antenna segments 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926, 90°
Assume that a phase shift of . Thus, by utilizing properly sized capacitor assemblies 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940, the 90° phase shift occurring in each segment may be reduced/eliminated. For example, if the carrier signal frequency is 915 MHz and the length of the antenna segment is less than 25% (and typically 10%) of the carrier signal wavelength, the desired phase can be achieved by using a 1.2 pF capacitor assembly. Shift cancellation may be achieved and segment resonance may be adjusted.

Although the multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902 is shown to be comprised of a plurality of linear antenna assemblies coupled via a joining joint, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not a limitation of the present application. It is not intended to become. For example, multiple curved antenna segments may be utilized to construct the multi-segment electromagnetic induction loop assembly 902. In addition to this, an electromagnetic induction loop segment 902 consisting of multiple segments
may be configured in any loop type shape. For example, the multi-segment electromagnetic induction loop assembly 902 may be configured as an ellipse (as shown in FIG. 28), a circle, a square, a rectangle, or an octagon.

Although the system is described above as being utilized within a processing system, this is by way of example only, as other configurations are possible. It is not intended to be a limitation of this application. For example, the system described above may be utilized to process/dispense other consumables (eg, ice cream and alcoholic beverages). In addition to this, the above system can also be used in areas other than the food industry. For example, the above system may be utilized for vitamins, pharmaceuticals, medical products, cleaning products, lubricants, paint/stain products, and other non-consumable liquids/semi-liquids/particulate solids and/or fluids.

The system has an RFID tag assembly (e.g., RFID tag assembly 704) attached to a product container (e.g., product container 258), which in turn has an RFID tag (e.g., RFID tag assembly 708) attached to bracket assembly 282.
Although described above as being positioned above an RFID antenna assembly (e.g., RFID antenna assembly 702), this is for illustrative purposes only and other configurations are possible; It is not intended to be a limitation. For example, an RFID tag assembly (e.g., RFID tag assembly 704) attached to a product container (e.g., product container 258) may be connected to an RFID antenna assembly (e.g., R
FID antenna assembly 702) may be positioned below an RFID tag (e.g., RFID tag assembly 708) attached to bracket assembly 282.
) may be positioned below.

As previously discussed, relatively short antenna segments (e.g., 914, 916
, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926), the far field performance of the antenna assembly 900 can be reduced and the near field performance can be improved.

Referring also to FIG. 29, if a higher level of far-field performance is desired from the RFID antenna assembly, the RFID antenna assembly 900a may include a far-field antenna electrically coupled to a portion of a multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902a. assembly 94
2 (eg, a dipole antenna assembly). Far-field antenna assembly 942 includes a first antenna portion 944 (i.e., forming a first portion of a dipole) and a second antenna portion 946 (i.e., forming a second portion of a dipole). It's okay to stay. As previously discussed, the antenna segments 914, 916, 918, 920,
By keeping the lengths of 922, 924, 926 less than 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal, the far field performance of antenna assembly 900a can be reduced and the near field performance can be improved. Therefore, the sum of the lengths of the first antenna portion 944 and the second antenna portion 946 may be greater than 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal, which may result in a higher level of far-field performance.

Referring also to FIG. 30, processing system 10 as described above (e.g., with respect to FIG. 27)
may be incorporated into housing assembly 850. Enclosure assembly 850 may include one or more access doors/panels (e.g., upper door 852 and lower door 854), which, for example, allow for maintenance of processing system 10, This allows replacement of a damaged product container (eg, product container 258). A touch panel interface 500 may be installed on the upper door 852 to facilitate user access. Upper door 852 also provides access to dispensing assembly 1000, which allows a beverage container (eg, container 30) to be filled with beverage, ice, or the like (eg, via nozzle 24, not shown). In addition to this, the lower door 854
may include an RFID communication area 1002, which may be associated with an RFID access antenna assembly 900, thereby, e.g.
One or more of panels 852, 854 can be opened. Interaction area 1002 is depicted for illustrative purposes only, as RFID access antenna assembly 900 can equally be placed in a variety of other locations, including locations other than access doors/panels 852, 854. .

Referring also to FIGS. 51-53, an exemplary embodiment of a user interface assembly 5100 is shown, which may be incorporated into the housing assembly 850 shown in FIG. 30. The user interface assembly may include a touch panel interface 500. User interface assembly 5100 includes touch panel 510
2, a frame 5104, an edge 5106, a sealant 5108, and a system controller case 5110. The border 5106 may provide spacing around the touch panel 5102 and also serves as a clear visual boundary. touch panel 5
102 is a capacitive touch panel in this exemplary embodiment, although other types of touch panels may be used in other embodiments. However, in this exemplary embodiment, due to the capacitive nature of touch panel 5102, it may be desirable to maintain a predetermined distance between touch panel 5102 and door 852 via edge 5106.

A sealant 5108 may protect the display, shown as 5200 in FIG. 52, and may serve to prevent moisture and/or particulates from reaching the display 5200. In this exemplary embodiment, sealant 5108 contacts the door of housing assembly 852 to better maintain a seal. In this exemplary embodiment, display 5200 is an LCD display and is held to the frame by at least one set of spring fingers 5202 that can engage and hold display 5200. In this exemplary embodiment, display 5200 is a 15" LCD display, such as model LQ150X1LGB1 from Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. However, in other embodiments, display 5200 may be any other type of display. Spring fingers 5202 may additionally function as springs, which can accommodate tolerances in user interface assembly 5100 and thus float touch screen 5102 relative to display 5200 in this exemplary embodiment. The touch panel 5102 is manufactured by Zytronics of Blaydon on Tyne, UK.
A projected capacitive touch panel, such as model ZYP15-10001D, but in other embodiments, the touch panel may be other types of touch panels and/or other capacitive touch panels. In this exemplary embodiment, the sealing material is a cast-on foam gasket, which in this exemplary embodiment is made from a die cut of polyurethane foam, but in other embodiments is made of silicone foam or other similar material. may be produced. In some embodiments, the seal may be a dissimilar integrally molded seal or any other type of sealing body.

In this exemplary embodiment, user interface assembly 5100 includes four sets of spring fingers 5202. However, other embodiments may include more or fewer spring fingers 5202. In this exemplary embodiment, spring fingers 5202 and frame 5104 are made of ABS, but in other embodiments they may be made of any other material.

Referring also to FIG. 53, the user interface assembly 5100 may also include at least one PCB and at least one connector 5114 in this exemplary embodiment, which in some embodiments may include a connector cap 5116 It may be covered with.

Referring also to FIG. 31, according to certain exemplary embodiments, processing system 10 may include an upper cabinet portion 1004a and a lower cabinet portion 1006a. However, this should not be construed as a limitation of this application, as other configurations may equally be used. Furthermore, Figure 32
and 33, upper cabinet portion 1004a (e.g., which may be at least partially covered by upper door 852) may include one or more functional components of plumbing subsystem 20 described above. . For example, upper cabinet portion 1004a may include one or more flow control modules (e.g., flow control module 170), a fluid cooling system (e.g., cold plate 163, not shown), and a discharge nozzle (e.g.,
A nozzle 24 (not shown), and piping and others for connection to a bulk raw material supply section (for example, a carbon dioxide supply section 150, a water supply section 152, and an HFCS supply section 154, not shown) may be included. In addition, the upper cabinet portion 1004a may include an ice hopper 1008 for storing ice and an ice discharge chute 1010 for dispensing ice from the ice hopper 1008 (eg, into a beverage container).

Carbonation supply 150 may be supplied by one or more carbonation cylinders, which may, for example, be remotely located and plumbed to processing system 10 . Similarly, the water supply 152 may be supplied as a water supply, for example it may also be piped to the processing system 10. High fructose corn syrup supply 154 may include, for example, one or more reservoirs (e.g., in the form of 5-gallon bag-in-box containers) that are stored in a remote location (e.g., in a closet). may have been done. A high fructose corn syrup supply 154 may be plumbed to processing system 10. Piping for various bulk feedstocks may be implemented with conventional rigid or flexible line piping configurations.

As described above, the carbonated water supply section 158, the water supply section 152, and the high fructose corn syrup supply section 1
54 is remotely located and connected to processing system 10 (e.g., flow control module 170
, 172, 174). Referring to FIG. 34, a flow control module (eg, flow control module 172) may be coupled to a bulk feedstock supply (eg, water 152) via a vertical point connector 1012. For example, water supply 152 may be coupled to plumbing connector 1012, which may be releasably coupled to flow control module 172, thereby completing plumbing of water supply 152 to flow control module 170. do.

Referring to FIGS. 35, 36A, 36B, 37A, 37B, and 37, another embodiment of an upper cabinet portion (eg, upper cabinet portion 1004b) is shown. Similar to the exemplary embodiments described above, the upper cabinet portion 1004b may include one or more functional components of the plumbing subsystem 20 described above. For example, upper cabinet portion 1004b may include one or more flow control modules (e.g., flow control module 1
70), a fluid cooling system (e.g., cold plate 163, not shown), a discharge nozzle (e.g., nozzle 24, not shown), and a bulk feedstock supply (e.g., carbon dioxide supply 150, not shown). It may also include piping and others for connecting to the water supply section 152, HFCS supply section 154). In addition to this, the upper cabinet portion 1004b
The ice hopper 1008 may include an ice hopper 1008 for storing ice and an ice discharge chute for dispensing ice from the ice hopper 1008 (eg, into a beverage container).

Referring also to FIGS. 36A-36b, the upper cabinet section 1004b includes the power supply module 10
14 may be included. Power module 1014 may house, for example, a power source, one or more power distribution buses, a controller (eg, control logic subsystem 14), a user interface controller, storage device 12, and the like. Power module 1
014 may include one or more status indicators (eg, generally indicator lights 1016) and a power/data connector (eg, generally connector 1018).

Referring also to FIGS. 37A, 37B, 37C, flow control module 170 may be mechanically and fluidically coupled to upper cabinet portion 1004b generally via connection assembly 1020. The connection assembly 1020 may include a supply fluid passageway, for example, which connects a bulk feedstock supply (e.g., carbonated water 158, water 160,
(such as high fructose corn syrup 162). The inlet 1024 of the flow control module 170 may be configured to be at least partially received within the outlet passageway 1026 of the connection assembly 1020. Accordingly, flow control module 170 may receive bulk material via connection assembly 1020. Connection assembly 1020 further includes:
A valve (eg, ball valve 1028) may be included that is movable between open and closed positions. When ball valve 1028 is in the open position, flow control module 170 may be fluidly coupled to the bulk feedstock supply. Similarly, when ball valve 1028 is in the closed position, flow control module 170 may be fluidly isolated from the bulk feedstock supply.

Ball valve 1028 may be moved between open and closed positions by rotatably actuating locking tab 1030. In addition to opening and closing ball valve 1028 , locking tab 1030 may engage flow control module 170 , eg, thereby retaining the flow control module with respect to connection assembly 1020 . For example, shoulder 1032 may engage tab 1034 of flow control module 170. The engagement between the shoulder 1032 and the tab 1034 allows the inlet 1024 of the flow control module 170 to
may be retained within the outlet passageway 1026 of the connection assembly 1020. connecting with the flow control module 170 by retaining the inlet 1024 of the flow control module 170 within the outlet passageway 1026 of the connection assembly 1020 (e.g., by maintaining sufficient engagement between the inlet 1024 and the outlet 1026); A fluid-tight connection between the assemblies 1020 can be more easily maintained.

A locking tab surface 1036 of locking tab 1030 may engage an outlet connector 1038 (eg, which may be fluidly coupled to an outlet of flow control module 170). For example, as shown, locking tab surface 1036 is connected to surface 10 of outlet connector 1038.
40, thereby connecting the outlet connector 1038 to the fluid control module 170.
is held in fluid-tight engagement with the

Connection assembly 1020 may facilitate attachment/removal of flow control module 170 from processing system 10 (eg, to replace a damaged/failed flow control module 170). Locking tab 1030 according to the direction shown
may be rotated counterclockwise (eg, about a quarter turn in the illustrated embodiment). By rotating locking tab 130 counterclockwise, outlet connector 1038 may be disengaged from tab 1034 of flow control module 170. Outlet connector 1038 may be disconnected from flow control module 170. Similarly, inlet 102 of flow control module 170
4 may be out of the outlet passageway 1026 of the connection assembly 1020. In addition, counterclockwise rotation of locking tab 1030 may rotate ball valve 1028 to a closed position, thereby closing the fluid supply passageway connected to the bulk material. As such, when the locking tab 1030 is rotated to disengage the flow control module 170 from the connection assembly 1020, the fluid connection with the bulk material is closed, which may, for example, reduce/prevent contamination of the processing system by the bulk material. Tab extension 1042 of locking tab 1030 may prevent flow control module 170 from being removed from connection assembly 1020 until ball valve 1028 is in the fully closed position (for example, Flow control module 170 is removed from fluid engagement and cannot be removed until rotated 90 degrees to a fully closed position).

In a related manner, flow control module 170 may be coupled to connection assembly 1020. For example, rotating locking tab 1030 in a counterclockwise direction may insert inlet 1024 of flow control module 170 into outlet passageway 1026 of connection assembly 1020. Outlet connector 1038 may engage an outlet (not shown) of flow control module 170. Locking tab 1030 may be rotated clockwise, thereby engaging flow control module 170 and outlet connector 1038. In the clockwise rotated position, the connection assembly 1020 connects to the inlet 1024 of the flow control module 170.
may be maintained in fluid-tight connection with the outlet passageway 1026 of the connection assembly. Similarly,
An outlet connector 1038 may be held in fluid tight contact with an outlet of the flow control module 170. Additionally, clockwise rotation of locking tab 1030 may move ball valve 1028 to an open position, thereby fluidly coupling fluid control module 170 to the bulk feedstock.

Still referring to FIG. 38, the lower cabinet portion 1006a may include one or more functional components of the microingredient subsystem 18 and may house one or more self-contained consumable material supplies. Good too. For example, lower cabinet portion 1006a has 1
one or more micro-ingredient towers (e.g., micro-ingredient towers 1050, 1052
, 1054) and non-nutritive sweeteners (e.g., artificial sweeteners or combinations of artificial sweeteners)
The supply unit 1056 may also be included. As shown, micro raw material towers 1050, 10
52, 1054 may include one or more product module assemblies (e.g., product module assembly 250), each of which has one or more product containers (e.g., product containers 252, 254, not shown). 256, 258). For example, each of micro-ingredient towers 1050 and 1052 may include three product module assemblies, with micro-ingredient tower 105
4 may include four product module assemblies.

Referring also to FIGS. 39 and 40, one or more of the micro-ingredient towers (e.g., micro-ingredient tower 1052) may be coupled to a stirring mechanism, which may include, for example, micro-ingredient tower 1052, and/or a portion thereof. may be vibrated, linearly slid, or otherwise agitated. The stirring mechanism may serve to maintain the mixture of separate ingredients stored in the micro-ingredient tower 1052. The stirring mechanism includes, for example, a stirring motor 1.
100, which may drive the stirring arm 1102 via a connection 1104. Stirring arm 1102 may be driven in a generally longitudinal oscillatory motion and may be driven by one or more product module assemblies (e.g., product module assemblies 250a, 250
b, 250c, 250d), thereby imparting a vibratory agitation motion to the product module assembly 250a, 250b, 250c, 250d. A safety stop feature may be associated with the lower door 854, such as the lower cabinet door 11.
The agitation function may be disabled when 54 is open.

As mentioned above, RFID system 700 can detect the presence, presence, and location of various product containers (e.g.,
product module assembly and slot assembly), the contents may be detected. Thus, when a product container containing contents that require agitation is installed in a micro-ingredient tower (e.g., micro-ingredient tower 1052) that is not coupled to an agitation container, the RFID system 700 (e.g., the RFID subsystem 724 and/or control logic subsystem 14). Additionally, control logic subsystem 14 may prevent unstirred product containers from being used.

As described above, a product module assembly (e.g., product module assembly 25
0) may be configured to have four slot assemblies and thus:
It may be referred to as a four-way product module and/or a four-way product module assembly. Still referring to FIG. 41, product module assembly 250 may include multiple pump assemblies (eg, pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276). For example, one pump assembly (e.g., pump assemblies 270, 272,
274, 276) is the product module 250 (for example, in the case of a quadruple product module)
may be associated with each of the four slot assemblies. pump assembly 27
0, 272, 274, 276 may dispense product from a product container (not shown) releasably engaged with a corresponding slot assembly of product module assembly 250.

As shown, each product module assembly (e.g., product module assembly 250a, 250b, 25
0c, 250d) may be coupled to a common wiring harness via connector 1106, for example. In this manner, micro-ingredient tower 1052 may be electrically coupled to, for example, control logic subsystem 14, power supply, etc., via a single connection point.

Referring also to FIG. 42, as previously discussed, product module 250 may include multiple slot assemblies (eg, slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266). Slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266 may be configured to releasably engage a product container (eg, product container 256). slot assembly 260,
262, 264, 266 may include respective doors 1108, 1110, 1112. As shown, two or more of the slot assemblies (e.g., slot assemblies 260, 262) may be releasably engaged into a double-width product container (e.g., two slot assemblies). (a product container configured to contain a product container configured to
The product container may be configured to releasably engage two separate product containers. Accordingly, slot assemblies 260, 262 may include a double-width door (eg, door 1108) that covers both slot assemblies 260, 262.

The doors 1108, 1110, 1112 can be releasably engaged with the hinge rails, thereby allowing the doors 1108, 1108, 1112 to pivot open and closed. For example, door 110
8, 1110, 1112 may include a snap-fit feature that allows the door 1108, 1108, 1112 to snap into and out of the hinge rail. Thus, doors 1108, 1110, 1112 may be snapped into and out of the hinge rails, thereby replacing a broken door or changing the door configuration (e.g., converting a double-width door into a (can be replaced with two single-width doors and vice versa).

Each door (e.g., door 1110) includes a tongue-like functional member (e.g., tongue-like member 1114);
, which may engage a cooperating functional member of the product container (eg, notch 1116 of product container 256). The tongue member 1114 (e.g. notch 11
16) can be transmitted to the product container to assist in inserting and removing the product container 256 from the slot assembly 264. For example, during insertion,
Product container 256 may be inserted at least partway into slot assembly 264.
When the door 1110 is closed, the tongue 1114 engages the notch 1116 to transmit a door closing force to the product container 256, thereby causing the product container 256 to slide into the slot assembly 264.
(e.g., by leverage from door 1110). Similarly,
The tongue 1114 may at least partially engage the notch 1116 (e.g., at least a portion may be captured by the edges of the notch 1116) and apply a removal force to the product container 256 (e.g., as described above). (also due to the leverage provided by door 1110)
.

Product module 250 may include one or more indicator lights, which may include, for example, one or more slot assemblies (e.g., slot assembly 260,
262, 264, 266). For example, each of the doors (
For example, door 1112) may optionally include a light guide (eg, light guide 1118) coupled to a light source (eg, light source 1120). The light guide 1118 may be made of, for example, a clear or transparent material (e.g., a clear plastic such as acrylic,
The light source 1120 may transmit light from the light source 1120 to the front of the door 1112. Light source 1120 may include, for example, one or more LEDs (e.g., a red L
ED and a green LED). For a double-width door (eg, door 1108), only one light pipe corresponding to one of the slot assemblies and one light source associated with one light pipe may be utilized. An unused light source corresponding to the other slot assembly of the double-width door may be shielded by at least a portion of the door.

As previously discussed, light guide 1118 and light source 1120 may convey various information regarding the slot assembly, product container, and the like. For example, light source 1120 may emit green light (which is
12) to determine the operational status of slot assembly 266 and the non-empty status of a product container releasably engaged with slot assembly 266. may also be shown. Light source 1120 is a red light (this is light guide 1118
may be communicated to the front of the door 1112 via the slot assembly 26
6 may indicate that the product container releasably engaged is empty. Similarly, light source 11
20 may provide a flashing red light (which may be transmitted to the front of door 1112 via light guide 1118) to indicate an anomaly or failure associated with slot assembly 266. Various additional/alternative information may be displayed using light source 1120 and light guide 1118. Additionally, additional and related lighting schemes may also be utilized (eg, flashing green light, amber light from a light source providing both green and red light, and others).

Referring also to FIGS. 43A, 43B, and 43C, the product container 256 may include, for example, a two-part housing (eg, a front housing portion 1150 and a rear housing portion 1152). The front housing portion 1150 may include a protrusion 1154, which may provide a lip 1156, for example. Rim 1156 allows product container 256 to
can become easier to handle.

The rear housing portion 1152 may include a fitment feature 1158a, which, for example, connects a product container (e.g., product container 256) to an engaging fitment of a pump assembly (e.g., pump assembly 272 of product module 250). may be fluidly coupled to. Fitment feature member 1158a may include a blind mate fluid connector that connects product container 256 when the fitment feature member is pushed into a cooperating feature member (e.g., stem) of pump assembly 272. pump assembly 2
72. Various alternative fitment functional components (e.g.
A fitment feature 1158b), shown in FIG. 44, may be provided to provide fluid communication between the product container 256 and various pump assemblies.

Front housing portion 1150 and rear housing portion 1152 may include separate plastic components that may be joined to form product container 256. For example, the front housing portion 1150 and the rear housing portion 1152 may be joined by heat crimping, adhesive bonding, ultrasonic welding, or other suitable methods. Product container 256 may further include a product pouch 1160, which may be disposed at least partially within front housing portion 1150 and rear housing portion 1152. For example, product pouch 1160 may be filled with a consumable (e.g., beverage flavoring) and positioned within front housing portion 1150 and rear housing portion 1152, which are then connected to form product pouch 1160. Store. Product pouch 1160 may include, for example, a flexible bag that collapses when the consumable is dispensed from product pouch 1160 (eg, by pump assembly 272).

Product pouch 1160 may include a fold-out 1162, such as to allow product pouch 1160 to occupy a relatively large portion of the interior space defined by front housing portion 1150 and rear housing portion 1152. By doing so, the volumetric efficiency of the product container 256 can be improved. In addition to this, the insert 1162 indicates that the consumables are in the product pouch 1160.
The product pouch 1162 can be made to collapse as it is dispensed from the product pouch 1162. Additionally, fitment feature member 1158a may be physically coupled to product pouch 1160, such as by ultrasonic welding.

As mentioned above, in addition to the microingredient tower, the lower cabinet portion 1006a may include a bulk microingredient supply 1056. For example, in some embodiments, the bulk microingredient may be a non-nutritive sweetener (eg, an artificial sweetener or a combination of artificial sweeteners). Some embodiments may include micro-ingredients that are required in larger amounts. In these embodiments, one or more bulk microfeedstock supplies may be included. In the illustrated embodiment, the supply 1056 may be a non-nutritive sweetener, which may include, for example, a bag-in-box container, such as a bag-in-box container, which is generally disposed within a rigid box. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to include flexible bags containing non-nutritive sweetener products, where a rigid box can, for example, protect the flexible bags from bursting or the like. For purposes of illustration only, examples of non-nutritive sweeteners are used. However, in other embodiments, any micro-ingredient may be stored in the bulk micro-ingredient supply. In some alternative embodiments, other types of raw materials may be stored in supplies similar to supply 1056 described herein. The term "bulk microingredient" refers to microingredients that are identified as frequently used microingredients, such as those for which multiple microingredient pump assemblies are used due to their frequent use with respect to the dispensed product.

The non-nutritive sweetener supply 1056 may be coupled to the product module assembly, which may include one or more pump assemblies (eg, as described above). For example, the non-nutritive sweetener supply 1056 may be coupled to a product module that includes four pump assemblies as described above. Each of the four pump assemblies includes a tube or line leading to a nozzle 24 for dispensing the non-nutritive sweetener (e.g., in combination with one or more additional ingredients) from the respective pump assembly. You can stay there.

Referring to FIGS. 45A and 45B, lower cabinet portion 1006b may contain one or more functional components of microingredient subsystem 18. For example, the lower cabinet portion 106b may house one or more micromaterial supplies. 1
The one or more microingredient supplies may be configured as one or more microingredient shelves (eg, microingredient shelves 1200, 1202, 1204) and a non-nutritive sweetener supply 1206. As shown in the figure, each micro raw material shelf (for example, micro raw material shelf 1200)
may include one or more product module assemblies (eg, product module assemblies 250d, 250e, 250f) configured in a generally horizontal arrangement. One or more of the microingredient shelves may be configured to agitate (eg, in a manner generally similar to microingredient tower 1052 described above).

Continuing with respect to the above embodiments in which the one or more micro-ingredient supplies may be configured as one or more micro-ingredient shelves, as described above, the shelf 1200 may contain multiple product module assemblies (i.e., product module assembly 250d, 250e,
250f). Each product module assembly (e.g., product module assembly 250f) is connected to one or more product containers (e.g., product container 256) within a respective slot assembly (e.g., slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266). and may be configured to enable engagement.

In addition, each of product module assemblies 250d, 250e, 250f may include a respective plurality of pump assemblies. For example, Figures 47A, 47B, 47
D, 47E, 47F, product module assembly 250d may generally include pump assemblies 270a, 270b, 270d, 270e. Each one of the pump assemblies 270a, 270b, 270c, 270d is coupled to one of the slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266, for example, to dispense feedstock contained within a respective product container (e.g., product container 256). They may be associated with one. For example, each of pump assemblies 270a, 270b, 270c, 270d may include a respective fluid connection stem (e.g., fluid connection stem 1250, 1252, 1254, 1256), which, e.g. , 43B and 44) to a product container (eg, product container 256).

Referring to FIG. 47E, a cross-sectional view of pump module assembly 250d is shown. Assembly 250d includes a fluid inlet 1360, shown as a cross-sectional view of the fitment. The fitment mates with the female portion (shown as 1158a in FIG. 43B) of the product container (not shown, but shown as 256 in FIG. 43B in other figures). Fluid from the product container enters the pump assembly 25 at the fluid inlet 1360.
Enters 0d. Fluid enters capacitive flow sensor 1362 and then flows through pump 1364, through backpressure regulator 1366, and to fluid outlet 1368. As shown here,
A fluid flow path through pump module assembly 250d allows air to flow through assembly 250d.
flow through and are not captured within the assembly. Fluid inlet 1360 is on a lower plane than fluid outlet 1368. Additionally, the fluid moves longitudinally towards the flow sensor and is then again at a higher plane than the inlet 1360 as it travels through the pump. therefore,
This arrangement allows fluid to flow continuously upwards and through the system without air being trapped. Therefore, the design of pump module assembly 250d is a self-priming, self-purging, volumetric fluid delivery system.

47E and 47F, an exemplary embodiment of a back pressure regulator 1366 for dispensing small volumes is shown, although back pressure regulator 1366 may be any back pressure regulator.
Backpressure regulator 1366 includes a diaphragm 1367 that includes a "volcano" feature and a molded O-ring around its outer diameter. The O-ring creates a seal. Piston is diaphragm 13
67. A spring around the piston biases the piston and diaphragm into the closed position. In this embodiment, the spring is seated on the outer sleeve. When the fluid pressure matches or exceeds the cracking pressure of the piston/spring assembly, the fluid is directed to the backpressure regulator 136.
6 to the fluid outlet 1368. In this exemplary embodiment, the cracking pressure is about 7-9 psi. Cracking pressure is adjusted to pump 1364. Therefore, in various embodiments, the pump may be different from those described above, and other embodiments of back pressure regulators may be used in some of these embodiments.

Still referring to FIG. 48, the outlet piping assembly 1300 is configured to, for example, pipe feedstock from a respective product module assembly (e.g., product module assembly 250d).
pump assemblies 270a, 270b, 270c for supplying control system 20;
270d may be configured to releasably engage. Outlet piping assembly 130
0, for example, to fluidically couple the pump assemblies 270a, 270b, 270c, 270d to the plumbing/control subsystem 20 via fluid lines 1310, 1312, 1314, 1316, respectively. 270d
A plurality of tubing fitments (eg, fitments 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308) may be included that are configured to be fluidly coupled to.

Releasable engagement between outlet tubing assembly 1300 and product module assembly 250d may be performed, for example, via a camming assembly that facilitates engagement and release of outlet tubing assembly 1300 and product module assembly 250d. For example, the camming assembly includes a handle 131 rotatably coupled to fitment support means 1320.
8 and cam function members 1322 and 1324. Cam function member 1322,1
324 may be engageable with a cooperating feature (not shown) of product module assembly 250d. Referring to FIG. 47C, rotational movement of handle 1318 in the direction of the arrow releases outlet tubing assembly 1300 from product module assembly 250d, such that outlet tubing assembly 1300 can be lifted and removed from module assembly 250d. can.

With particular reference to FIGS. 47D and 47E, product module assembly 250d may also be releasably engageable with micro-ingredient shelf 1200, e.g., thereby removing/attaching product module assembly 250 from micro-ingredient shelf 1200. It becomes easier. For example, as shown, product module assembly 250d may include a release handle 1350, which may be pivotally connected to product module assembly 250d, for example. Release handle 1350 may include, for example, locking ears 1352, 1354 (eg, most clearly depicted in FIGS. 47A and 47D). The locking ears 1352, 1354 may engage cooperating functional members of the microingredient shelf 1200, for example, thereby allowing the product module assembly 250d to
00 and is held in engagement. As shown in FIG. 47E, the release handle 1350 can be pivoted up in the direction of the arrow to disengage the locking ears 1352, 1354 from the cooperating functional member of the microingredient shelf 1200. When you get out of there,
Product module assembly 250d may be lifted from microingredient shelf 1200.

One or more sensors may be associated with handle 1318 and/or release handle 1350. One or more sensors may provide an output indicative of the locked position of handle 1318 and/or release hand 1350. For example, one or more sensors may indicate whether handle 1318 and/or release handle 1350 are in an engaged or disengaged position. Product module assembly 250d may be electrically and/or fluidly isolated from plumbing/control subsystem 20 based, at least in part, on the output of one or more sensors. Exemplary sensors may include, for example, cooperating RFID tags and readers, contact switches, magnetic position sensors, or the like.

As mentioned above, and referring again to FIG. 47E, a flow sensor 308 may be used to detect the flow of the micro-ingredient (in this example) through pump assembly 272 (see FIGS. 5A-5H). As mentioned above, flow sensor 308 may be configured as a capacitive flow sensor (see FIGS. 5A-5F) and is shown as flow sensor 1356 in FIG. 47E. Additionally, as discussed above, flow sensor 308 may be configured as a transducer-based, pistonless flow sensor (see FIG. 5G), shown as flow sensor 1358 in FIG. 47E. Additionally, as discussed above, flow sensor 308 may be configured as a transducer-based, piston-enhanced flow sensor (see FIG. 5H), shown as flow sensor 1359 in FIG. 47E.

As described above, transducer assembly 328 (see FIGS. 5G-5H) includes a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT), a needle/magnetic cartridge assembly, a magnetic coil assembly,
May include Hall effect sensor assemblies, piezoelectric buzzer elements, piezoelectric sheet elements, audio speaker assemblies, accelerometer assemblies, microphone assemblies, light displacement assemblies.

Additionally, while the above example of flow sensor 308 is for illustrative purposes, other configurations are possible;
They are not intended to be exhaustive, as they are considered to be within the scope of this application. For example, although transducer assembly 328 is shown positioned outside of diaphragm assembly 314 (see FIGS. 5G-5H), it may also be positioned within cavity 318 (see FIGS. 5G-5H).

See also FIGS. 49A, 49B, and 49C, an exemplary configuration of a non-nutritive sweetener supply 1206. The non-nutritive sweetener supply 1206 may generally include a housing 1400 configured to receive a non-nutritive sweetener container 1402. Non-nutritive sweetener container 1402 may include, for example, a bag-in-box configuration (e.g., a flexible bag containing a non-nutritive sweetener is disposed within a generally rigid protective housing). . The supply section 1206 supplies the joint 1
404 (eg, these may be associated with pivotable walls 1406), which may be fluidly coupled to a fitment associated with non-nutritive sweetener container 1402. The configuration and nature of fitting 1404 may vary depending on the cooperating fitment associated with non-nutritive sweetener container 1402.

Referring also to FIG. 49C, supply 1206 may include one or more pump assemblies (eg, pump assemblies 270e, 270f, 270g, 270h).
One or more pump assemblies 270e, 270f, 270g, 270g may be configured similarly to the product module assemblies described above (eg, product module assembly 250). Fitting 1404 may be fluidly coupled to fitting 1404 via piping assembly 1408. Piping assembly 1408 may generally include an inlet 1410, which may be configured to be fluidly coupled to fitting 1404. Manifold 1412 may distribute the non-nutritive sweetener received at inlet 1410 to one or more distribution tubes (eg, distribution tubes 1414, 1416, 1418, 1420). Dispense tubes 1414, 1416, 1418, 1420 are connected to respective pump assemblies 270e.
, 270f, 270g, 270g, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 50, piping assembly 1408 may include an air sensor 1450 in this exemplary embodiment. Piping assembly 1408 may therefore include a mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of air. In some embodiments, if the fluid entering from fluid inlet 1410 contains air, air sensor 1450 detects the air and, in some embodiments, provides a signal to stop dispensing from the bulk microingredient. may be sent. This feature is desirable in many dispensing systems, especially those where incorrect amounts of bulk microingredients can compromise the quality of the dispensed product and/or become dangerous. Therefore, the tubing assembly 1408 including the air sensor ensures that no air is expelled and is a safety feature in embodiments where medical products are expelled, for example. In other products, this embodiment of piping assembly 1408 is part of a functional component for quality assurance.

Although various electrical components, mechanical components, electromechanical components, and software processes are described above as being utilized within a processing system for dispensing a beverage, this is by way of example only. However, other configurations are possible and are not intended to be a limitation of the present application. For example, the processing system described above may be utilized for processing/dispensing other consumable products (eg, ice cream or alcoholic beverages). In addition to this, the system described above may be used in areas other than the food industry. For example, the systems described above can be used to store vitamins, pharmaceuticals, medical products, cleaning products, lubricants, paint/dye products, and other non-consumable liquids/
Can be used for semi-liquid/particulate solids or any fluid.

As previously discussed, various electrical components, mechanical components, electromechanical components, and software processes of processing system 10 in general (and specifically FSM process 122,
The virtual machine process 124, virtual manifold process 126) may be used in any machine where it is desired to make products on demand from one or more substrates (also referred to as "ingredients").

In various embodiments, products may be made according to recipes programmed into the processor. As mentioned above, recipes can be updated, imported, or modified with permission. Recipes may be requested by the user or may be pre-programmed to be prepared according to a schedule. A recipe may include any number of substrates or ingredients, and the resulting product may include any number of substrates or ingredients in any desired concentration.

The substrate used can be any fluid at any concentration, or any powder or solid that can be reduced either while the machine is making the product or before the machine is making the product. (i.e., a "batch" of reduced powder or solid is prepared at a specific point during preparation, either by metering to make additional product or by dispensing the "batch" solution as product). good). In various embodiments, two or more substrates may themselves be mixed within one manifold and then metered into other manifolds and mixed with other substrates.

Therefore, in various embodiments, on demand or at a desired time before actually being called for, the first manifold of solution is combined with at least one first substrate according to a recipe.
may be made by metering and feeding two additional substances into the manifold. In some embodiments, one of the substrates may be reduced, ie, the substrate may be a powder/solid, and a specific amount thereof is added to the mixing manifold. Liquid substrates may also be added to the same mixing manifold, and powdered substrates may be reduced in the liquid to the desired concentration. The contents within this manifold may then be fed or dispensed, for example, to another manifold.

In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be used in connection with on-demand mixing dialysate for use in peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis according to a recipe/formulation. . As is known in the art, the composition of the dialysate includes the following: bicarbonate, sodium, calcium, potassium, chloride, dextrose, lactate, acetic acid, acetate,
One or more of magnesium, glucose, and hydrochloric acid may be included, but are not limited to these.

The dialysate may be used to draw waste molecules (e.g., urea, creatinine, ions such as potassium, phosphate, etc.) and water from the blood into the dialysate through osmosis; Solutions are well known to those skilled in the art.

For example, dialysate typically contains various ions, such as potassium and calcium, at similar levels to their natural concentrations in healthy blood. In some cases, the dialysate may contain sodium bicarbonate, which is usually at a slightly higher concentration than that found in normal blood. Generally, dialysate is made by combining water from a water supply source (e.g., reverse osmosis, or "RO" water) with one or more raw materials, e.g., "acids" (including acetic acid, dextrose, NaCl, CaCl, KCl).
, MgCl, etc.), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)
and/or by mixing with sodium chloride (NaCl). Preparation of dialysate fluids, including the use of appropriate salinity, osmolarity, pH, etc., is well known to those skilled in the art. As discussed in more detail below, the dialysate need not be prepared on demand in real time. For example, dialysate can be made at the same time as or before dialysis and stored in a dialysate storage container or otherwise.

In some embodiments, one or more substrates, such as bicarbonate, may be stored in powdered form. For purposes of explanation and illustration only, the powder substrate is referred to as "bicarbonate" in this example.
However, in other embodiments, in addition to or in place of the bicarbonate, any substrate/ingredient may be stored in the machine in powder form or other solid form, and the present invention regarding reduction of the substrate may be used. The processes described in the specification may be used. The bicarbonate may be stored in a "single use" container, which may be dumped entirely into a manifold, for example. In some embodiments, a large amount of bicarbonate may be stored in a container from which specific amounts of bicarbonate may be metered and delivered to the manifold. In some embodiments, the entire amount of bicarbonate may be placed entirely into the manifold, ie, the bulk dialysate may be mixed.

The solution in the first manifold may be mixed with one or more additional substrates/ingredients in a second manifold. In addition, in some embodiments, one or more sensors (e.g., one or more conductive sensors) are used to test the mixed solution in the first manifold. The arrangement may be such that it is confirmed that a certain stage concentration has been reached. In some embodiments, data from one or more sensors may be used in a feedback control loop to correct errors in the solution. For example, additional bicarbonate or RO may be added to the manifold if sensor data indicates that the concentration of the bicarbonate solution is higher or lower than the desired concentration.

In some recipes in some embodiments, one or more feedstocks may be reduced in a manifold and then mixed with one or more feedstocks in another manifold, and these feedstocks may also be reduced. Moreover, it does not matter whether it is a reduced powder/solid or a liquid.

Therefore, the systems and methods described herein provide a means for accurately producing or composing dialysate or other solutions on demand, including other solutions used in medical therapy. May be provided. In some embodiments, the system may be incorporated into a dialysis machine, such as U.S. Pat. , 246,826 specification (agent reference number F6
No. 5), US patent application Ser. No. 12/072,908, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In other embodiments, the system can be incorporated into any machine where it may be desirable to mix products on demand.

Water can make up the largest volume of dialysate, causing high cost, space, and time in transporting bagged dialysate. The processing system 10 described above allows dialysate to be prepared within the dialysis machine or in a stand-alone dispensing machine (e.g., installed in the patient's home), thereby facilitating the shipping and storage of large quantities of bagged dialysate. There is no need to do so. Such a processing system 10 as described above may enable a user or provider to enter a desired prescription, and the system as described above may be processed on demand using the systems and methods described herein. At the scene (
Examples include, but are not limited to, medical centers, pharmacies, or patients' homes)
Desired prescription drugs can be made. Thus, the systems and methods described herein reduce transportation costs as only the substrate/ingredients need be shipped/delivered.

In addition to the various embodiments of flow control described and described above, and with reference to FIGS. Various other embodiments of valves are shown.

Referring collectively to FIGS. 56-59, the exemplary embodiment of the flow control module 3000 of this embodiment includes a fluid inlet 3001, a piston case 3012, and a first opening 300.
2, a piston 3004, a piston spring 3006, and a cylinder 3 around the piston.
005 and a second opening 3022. piston spring 3006
biases piston 3004 to the closed position, as shown in FIG. Flow control module 3000 also includes a solenoid 3008, which includes a solenoid case 3010 and an armature 3014. The downstream binary valve 3016 is actuated by a plunger 3018, which is biased to an open position by a plunger spring 3020.

Piston 3004, cylinder 3005, piston spring 3006, and piston case 3012 may be made of any material, which in some embodiments is selected based on the fluid intended to flow through the flow control module. You can. In the exemplary embodiment, piston 3004 and cylinder 3005 are made of alumina ceramic, although in other embodiments these components may be made of other ceramics or stainless steel. In various embodiments, these components may be made of any desired material and may be selected depending on the fluid. In this exemplary embodiment, piston spring 3006 is made of stainless steel, although in various embodiments piston spring 3006 may be made of ceramic or other materials. In this exemplary embodiment, piston case 3012 is made of plastic. However, in other embodiments, the various components may be made of stainless steel or other dimensionally stable, corrosion-resistant materials. While this exemplary embodiment includes a binary valve, as shown in FIGS. 56-59, other embodiments include a flow control module 3.
000 may not include a binary valve. In such an embodiment, the cylinder 3005 and piston 3004, which in this exemplary embodiment are made of alumina ceramic as described above, may be match ground to have a clearance fit and may be The gaps between the two components may be made very tight, resulting in a close clearance fit.

The solenoid 3008 in this embodiment is a constant force solenoid 3008. In this exemplary embodiment, a constant force solenoid 3008 shown in FIGS. 56-59 may be used. Solenoid 3008 includes a solenoid case 3010, which in this exemplary embodiment is made of 416 stainless steel. In this exemplary embodiment, constant force solenoid 3008 includes spikes. In this embodiment, the force is approximately constant or varies only slightly with respect to position as the armature 3014 approaches the spike. Constant force solenoid 3008
applies a magnetic force to armature 3014, which in this exemplary embodiment is made of 416 stainless steel. In some embodiments, armature 3014 and/or solenoid case 3012 may be made of ferritic stainless steel or other magnetic stainless steel or other material with desired magnetic properties. Armature 3014 is connected to piston 3004. Therefore, the constant force solenoid 3008
A force is provided to linearly move the piston 3004 from a closed position (shown in FIGS. 56 and 57) to an open position (shown in FIGS. 58 and 59) with respect to the second opening 3022. Therefore, solenoid 3008 actuates piston 3004 and the current applied to control constant force solenoid 3008 is proportional to the force applied to armature 3014.

The size of the first opening 3002 may be selected such that the maximum pressure drop of the system is not exceeded and the pressure in the first opening 3002 is sufficient to move the piston 3004. In this exemplary embodiment, first opening 3002 is approximately 0.180 inches. However, in various embodiments, the diameter may be larger or smaller depending on the desired flow rate and pressure drop. Additionally, by obtaining the maximum pressure drop at a particular flow rate, the overall amount that piston 3004 moves to maintain the desired flow rate is minimized.

Constant force solenoid 3008 and piston spring 3006 generate a substantially constant force throughout the movement of piston 3004. Piston spring 3006 acts on piston 3004 in the same direction as fluid flows. A pressure drop occurs as fluid enters the first opening 3002. A constant force solenoid 3008 (also referred to as a "solenoid") is connected to armature 301.
4 to counteract the pressure of the fluid.

Referring now to FIG. 56, flow control module 3000 is shown in a closed position, with no fluid flowing. In the closed position, solenoid 3008 is de-energized. A piston spring 3006 biases the piston 3004 to the closed position, i.e., (30 in FIGS. 58-59)
The second opening (shown as 22) is completely closed. This is advantageous for many reasons, including, but not limited to, a fail-safe flow switch in the event of a loss of power to the flow control module. Therefore, solenoid 3008
If power is not available to energize, the piston 3004 is in a "normally closed" state.

Referring also to FIGS. 57-59, energy or current applied to solenoid 3008 controls movement of armature 3014 and piston 3004. Further movement of the piston 3004 towards the fluid inlet 3001 thereby opens the second opening 3022. Therefore, the current applied to solenoid 3008 may be proportional to the force applied to armature 3014, and the current applied to solenoid 3008 may be varied to obtain a desired flow rate. In an exemplary embodiment of this embodiment of the flow control module, the flow rate corresponds to a current applied to the solenoid 3008, such that as the current is applied, a greater force is applied to the piston 3004.

In order to maintain a constant force profile for the solenoid 3008, it may be desirable to maintain the travel distance of the armature 3014 within a generally predetermined range. As mentioned above, solenoid 3
The 008 spikes help maintain a substantially constant force during armature 3014 movement. This is desirable in some embodiments when the second opening 3022 is opened, and by maintaining a substantially constant force, the flow rate remains substantially constant.

As the force from solenoid 3008 increases, in this exemplary embodiment, the force from solenoid 3008 moves piston 3004 linearly toward fluid inlet 3001, causing flow through second opening 3022. This reduces fluid pressure within the flow control module. Therefore, the first opening 3002 (coupled to the piston 3004), along with the second opening 3022, functions as a flow meter and variable line impedance, indicating the pressure at the first opening 3002 (indicating the flow rate). The drop remains constant as the cross-sectional area of the second opening 3022 changes. The flow rate, i.e. the pressure difference at the first opening 3002, is
The amount of movement of 04, that is, the variable line impedance of the flow path is determined.

58-59, in this exemplary embodiment, the variable line impedance includes at least one second aperture 3022. Referring now to FIGS. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 58-59, second opening 3022 includes a plurality of holes. Embodiments that include multiple holes allow structural integrity to be maintained thereby minimizing piston travel while the overall size of the second opening provides the desired flow rate at maximum pressure drop. may be desirable because it is sufficient for

56-59, in this exemplary embodiment, the piston 3004 includes at least one radial groove 3024 to equalize the pressure that may be introduced by the blow-through during operation. In this exemplary embodiment, piston 3004 includes two radial grooves 3024. In other embodiments, piston 3004 may include three or more radial grooves. At least one radial groove 3024 provides a means of both equalizing the pressure due to blow-by and therefore centering the piston 3004 within the cylinder 3005, which may reduce blow-by. The centering of piston 3004 also provides a fluid bearing effect between cylinder 3005 and piston 3004, thus reducing friction. In some embodiments, other means to reduce friction may be used, including coating the piston 3004 to reduce friction and/or incorporating the use of ball bearings. Including, but not limited to: Available coatings include diamond-like coating (DLC)
and titanium nitride, but are not limited to these. Reduced friction is beneficial to lower system hysteresis and therefore flow control errors within the system.

In this exemplary embodiment, for a variable line impedance device, a current and current application method may be determined to obtain a certain flow rate. Various current application modes include, but are not limited to, current dithering, sinusoidal dithering, current dithering schemes, or the use of various pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques. Using current control,
Different flow rates and different flow types may be generated, such as triangular or pulsed or smooth flow rates. For example, sinusoidal dithering may be utilized to reduce hysteresis and friction between cylinder 3005 and piston 3004. Therefore, a predetermined schedule may be developed and used for a certain desired flow rate.

Referring now to FIG. 64, one example of a solenoid control method that can be applied to the variable line impedance devices shown in FIGS. 56-63 is shown. This control method shows a dithering function that applies smaller amplitude dithering at low flow rates and applies larger amplitude dithering as the flow rate increases. The dithering can be specified either as a step function, where the dithering can increase at a predetermined threshold, or as a ramp function, where the dithering can remain constant above a predetermined threshold. FIG. 64 shows an example of a dithering ramp function.
Both the dithering frequency and dithering amplitude may vary with the current command. In these embodiments, the dithering function may be replaced by a lookup table specifying the optimal dithering feature or other dithering scheme for any desired flow rate.

The upstream fluid pressure may increase or decrease. However, variable line impedance compensates for pressure changes and maintains a constant desired flow rate by using constant force solenoids and springs and plungers. Therefore, variable line impedance maintains a constant flow rate even as pressure changes. For example, as the inlet pressure increases, the pressure drop across the first opening 3002 causes the piston 3004 to move toward the fluid outlet 3036 because the system includes a first opening 3002 of constant size; The degree of opening of the second opening 3022 is "turned down." This is accomplished through linear movement of piston 3004 toward fluid outlet 3036.

Conversely, when the inlet pressure decreases, since the size of the first opening 3002 of the system is constant, the pressure drop at the first opening 3002 causes the piston 3004 to move toward the second opening 3.
022 aperture, thus keeping the flow rate constant. This is achieved through linear movement of piston 3004 towards fluid inlet 3001.

This exemplary embodiment also includes a binary valve. Although shown in this exemplary embodiment, in some embodiments a binary valve may not be used, in which case the tolerance between the piston and the second opening may be such that the piston is Such is the extent that it functions as a binary valve for the second opening. Referring now to FIGS. 56-59, the binary valve in this exemplary embodiment is downstream of the second opening 3022. In this exemplary embodiment, the binary valve is a pilot diaphragm 3016 actuated by a plunger 3018. In this exemplary embodiment, diaphragm 3016
is a dissimilar integrally molded metal disc, but in other embodiments, the diaphragm 3016
may be made of any material suitable for the fluid flowing through the valve, including metal,
It may include, but is not limited to, elastomers and/or urethanes or any type of plastic or other material suitable for the desired function. It should be noted that although the drawings show the membrane seated in the open position, in reality the membrane is unseated. Plunger 3018 is actuated directly by piston 3004, and in its rest position, plunger spring 3020 biases plunger 3018 to the open position. When the piston 3004 returns to the closed position, the force generated by the piston spring 3006 increases, causing the plunger spring 3020 to bias and actuate the plunger 3018 to the closed position of the binary valve. Therefore, in this exemplary embodiment, the solenoid is connected to the piston 300
4 and the plunger 3018 and therefore the second opening 3
022 and fluid flow through the binary valve.

56-59, piston 30 with respect to increasing force from solenoid 3008.
04 incremental movement can be seen. Referring to Figure 56, both the binary valve and the second opening (not shown) are closed. Referring to FIG. 57, a current is applied to the solenoid and the piston 3004 moves slightly while the binary valve is moved by the plunger spring 3004.
It opens by the bias of 020. In FIG. 58, solenoid 3008 is further applied with current, causing piston 3004 to move further toward first opening 3002 and moving toward second opening 3022.
is slightly open. Referring now to FIG. 59, the current from the solenoid 3008 has increased to move the piston 3004 further toward the fluid inlet 3001 (or further into the solenoid 3008 in this embodiment) and the second Opening 3022 is fully open.

The embodiments described above with respect to FIGS. 56-59 may additionally include one or more sensors, including one or more of the following: a piston position sensor and/or a flow sensor. may include, but is not limited to. One or more sensors may be used to ensure fluid flow when solenoid 3008 is energized. For example, a piston position sensor may detect whether the piston is moving. The flow sensor may detect whether the piston is moving or not.

60-61, in various embodiments, the flow control module 30
00 may include one or more sensors. Referring to FIG. 60, flow control module 3000 is shown having an anemometer 3026. In one embodiment, one or more thermistors are placed near the thin wall in contact with the fluid flow path. A thermistor may dissipate a known amount of force, for example 1 watt, and therefore a predictable temperature rise is expected for either a stationary or flowing fluid. Anemometers may be used as fluid flow sensors because there is less temperature rise when fluid is flowing. In some embodiments, the anemometer can also be used to measure the temperature of a fluid, whether or not the sensor is otherwise detecting the presence of fluid flow.

Referring now to FIG. 61, flow control module 3000 is shown having paddle wheels 3028. A partially cutaway view of paddle wheel sensor 3030 is shown in FIG. Paddle wheel sensor 3030 includes a paddle wheel 3028 in a fluid flow path, an infrared (IR) emitter 3032, and an IR receiver 3034. Paddle wheel sensor 3030 is a metering device and may be used to calculate and/or verify flow rate. Paddle wheel sensor 3030 may be used in some embodiments to simply detect whether fluid is flowing. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 62, when IR diode 3032 emits light and fluid flows, paddle wheel 3028 rotates to block the beam from IR diode 3032, which is detected by IR receiver 3034. The cutoff rate of the IR beam may be used to calculate the flow rate.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 56-59, the flow control module 3
Multiple sensors within 000 may be used. In these embodiments, both anemometer and paddle wheel sensors are shown. Other embodiments use either a paddle wheel (FIG. 61) or an anemometer (FIG. 60) sensor. However, in various other embodiments, one or more sensors may be used to sense, calculate, or detect various conditions of the flow control module 3000. For example, but not limited to, in some embodiments, a Hall effect sensor is added to the magnetic circuit of the solenoid 3010,
Magnetic flux may also be detected.

In some embodiments, the inductance of the coil of solenoid 3008 may be calculated to determine the position of piston 3004. Solenoid 300 of this exemplary embodiment
8, the reluctance changes as the armature 3014 moves. Inductance may be measured or calculated from reluctance, and therefore the position of piston 3004 may be calculated based on the calculated inductance. In some embodiments, inductance may be used to control movement of piston 3004 through armature 3014.

Referring now to FIG. 63, one embodiment of a flow control module 3000 is shown. This embodiment of flow control module 3000 can be used in any of the various embodiments of dispensing systems described herein. Additionally, variable flow impedance mechanisms may be used in place of the various variable flow impedance embodiments described above. Additionally, in various embodiments, flow control module 3000 may be used with downstream or upstream flow meters.

Referring to FIG. 65, fluid flow paths within one embodiment of flow control module 3000 are shown. In this embodiment, the flow control module 3000 is connected to the paddle wheel 302.
8 sensor and an anemometer 3026. However, as previously discussed, some embodiments of flow control module 3000 may include more or fewer sensors than shown in FIG. 65.

In some embodiments, the pump assemblies 270, 272, 27 shown in FIG.
One or more of 4,276 may be a solenoid piston pump assembly, which is driven by electrical circuitry and logic that allows flow monitoring. An example of an embodiment of a solenoid pump 270 and drive circuit is shown in FIG. 66, where the pump 270 is energized by passing current through the coil 3214. The resulting magnetic flux may drive the solenoid slug or piston 3216 to the left and may compress the retraction spring 3210. Discharged fluid can flow through piston 3216 and check valve 3218 as piston 3218 moves to the left. When coil 3214 no longer applies enough magnetic flux to keep the spring compressed, spring 3210 can move piston 3216 back to the right. When the piston 3216 moves back to the right, the check valve 3218 closes and allows fluid to be forced out of the pump. In some embodiments, Italian Pavia
a) ULKA Costruzioni Elettromeccaniche S.
p. Pumps available from A may be used.

A solenoid piston pump may move a volume of fluid from left to right each time the piston compresses the spring to the left in FIG. 66 and returns to its original position on the right. Solenoid piston pumps can be energized by a number of drive circuits known in the art. Various current application modes include, but are not limited to, current dithering, sinusoidal dithering, current dithering schemes, and/or the use of various pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques.

Some embodiments include where the drive circuit is connected to a power source by a circuit that can generate a variable current in the coil 3214 and measure the current flow through the solenoid.
The circuit may also measure other parameters to indirectly measure the amount of current, including one or more of the following: the voltage of the solenoid coil and/or the duty cycle of the periodic current flow. Although a plurality may be included, the number is not limited to these. In some embodiments, multiple solenoid pumps may be connected to a power source via a PWM controller 3203 and a current sensor 3207, as shown in FIG. 66. However, in some embodiments, one solenoid pump
3 and a current sensor 3207. PWM controller 3203
may operate at a higher frequency to control the voltage applied to the coil, superimposed on a lower frequency to control the cycling of the pump. In some embodiments, P
WM controller 3203 may energize the pump at a frequency optimized for pump operation, referred to herein as the "optimal pump frequency." The optimal pump frequency may, in some embodiments, be determined by one or more variables including, but not limited to, the stiffness of the spring 3210, the mass of the piston 3216, and/or the viscosity of the fluid. In some embodiments, the pump frequency may be about 20Hz.
However, in other embodiments, the pump frequency may be higher or lower than 20Hz. The PWM controller 3203 may control the voltage while energizing the pump by cycling at a high frequency over a range of duty cycles. In some embodiments, the PWM controller 3203 may cycle at 10 kHz while energizing the pump coil. In some embodiments, the method of generating the drive signal described above is described in U.S. Pat. (Agent reference number F45), “SYSTEM
AND METHOD FOR GENERATION A DRIVE SIGNA
No. 11/851,344 entitled ``L'', which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the PWM controller 3203 may vary the voltage while the pump is energized. In some embodiments, PWM controller 320
3 may keep the voltage constant while the pump is energized. In some embodiments, PW
The M-controller 3203 may initially increase the voltage to the desired level, hold the voltage constant while the pump is energized, and then decrease the voltage to zero at the desired rate. In some embodiments, reducing the voltage to zero may minimize noise to the drive circuits of other pumps sharing a common power supply.

In some embodiments, the duty cycle may be fixed to provide a constant voltage, or in some embodiments, the duty cycle may be varied while the pump is energized to provide a time-variable voltage. You may. In some embodiments, PWM controller 3203 and current sensor 3207 may be coupled to control logic subsystem 14. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may control the flow rate of fluid through the pump by commanding the pump duty cycle. Control logic subsystem 14 may vary the voltage applied to the pump by varying the high frequency duty cycle. Control logic subsystem 14 may monitor and record the current through the pump. Control logic subsystem 14 may vary the high frequency duty cycle of PWM controller 3203 to control the current measured by current sensor 3207. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may monitor current sensor signals to identify abnormal flow conditions.

One embodiment of a PWM controller and current sensor is shown schematically in FIG. 67.
This embodiment is one embodiment; in various other embodiments, the arrangement of the PWM controller and current sensor may be different. Q5 is a transistor for performing PWM on the current to the solenoid. R54 is a high side current sensing resistor used by the U11 current sensing/differential amplifier and outputs the signal CURRENT1. Connectors J12 and J13 are the electrical interface to the solenoid. F3 is a fuse for destructive fault isolation.
D10 is for buffering the energy stored in the solenoid inductance. The power supply supplies 28.5V DC power. However, in some embodiments the diagrams may be different.

In some embodiments, the flow rate through solenoid pump 270 may be monitored by measuring current flow through solenoid coil 3214. The coil is an inductor-resistor element, which allows the current flow to increase after voltage is applied. The position of piston 3216 with respect to coil 3214 affects the inductance of the coil and therefore the waveform of the current rise.

A "functional pump stroke" is defined herein, for a given pump, as a pump stroke that displaces an amount of fluid from the pump that is a substantial portion of its rated displacement per stroke. A functional pump stroke may also be defined as not exceeding the design temperature or current limits for coil 3214. An example of a functional pump stroke is shown in Figure 68A. The current through the solenoid coil is plotted as line 3310, which starts at zero and rises to a steady state value. Line 3325 plots the second derivative of the current through the solenoid. The timing and magnitude of the second derivative peak 3325 can be indicative of the timing and velocity of the piston. Current measurements can indicate a number of anomalies, including one of the following: air or vacuum conditions within the pump, clogged or blocked lines, overheating of the coil, and/or abnormal coil current. Including, but not limited to, or more than one.

In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 determines whether one or more microingredient product containers, such as product containers 254, 256, 258 shown in FIG. It may be determined by monitoring the signal from the current sensor 3207. Although product containers 254, 256, 258 are used herein as an example of one embodiment, in various other embodiments the number of product containers may be different. A condition in which a product container 254, 256, 258 is empty or a line upstream of valve 270 is blocked is referred to herein as a "sold-out condition."

The microingredient product container 254, 256, 258 may include an RFID tag, on which a value representing the amount of liquid remaining in the product container 254, 256, 258 is stored.
This value is referred to herein as a "remaining amount display", and the unit is milliliter (mL). The remaining amount display is set to a full value when the product containers 254, 256, and 258 are full. In use, the value of the remaining capacity indicator may be periodically updated by the control logic subsystem 14.

In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may determine that a sold-out condition (of the product container) exists based in part on the output of current sensor 3207. In some embodiments, the control logic subsystem 14 controls the microingredient product container 2.
The existence of a sold-out state in 54, 256, and 258 may be determined based on the value of the remaining amount display of the container. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 inputs the sold-out condition to inputs including, but not limited to, one or more of the following: current sensor output, remaining level indicator value, and/or injection status. The determination may be made based on.
The output of current sensor 3207 during each pump stroke may be processed by control logic subsystem 14 to determine whether the stroke was a functional stroke, a sell-out stroke, or a non-functional stroke. Functional strokes are defined above, and sold-out strokes and non-functional strokes are discussed in more detail below.

In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 determines that a sold-out condition exists when a certain number/threshold of consecutive sold-out strokes occur. The threshold number of consecutive sold-out strokes varies depending on the remaining amount display value and the injection state. For example, in some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may cause the pump to exceed a threshold number of consecutive sold-out strokes, such as 60 consecutive sold-out strokes, when the remaining volume indication exceeds a threshold volume, e.g., 60 mL. A sold-out condition may be declared when a sold-out condition occurs; however, these values are merely examples, and these values may be different in various other embodiments. The sensitivity of the sell-out algorithm is reduced in some embodiments because the level indicator indicates a substantial amount of fluid remaining in the container. If the remaining volume indication falls below a threshold volume, which may be, for example, 60 mL in some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14:
There has been a threshold number of consecutive sell-out strokes, e.g., 3 consecutive sell-out strokes, or the system determines that a threshold number of consecutive sell-out strokes has been reached and the strokes made toward the container 30 during the current injection are , for example, when the 12th time, a sold out state may be declared. In some embodiments, the remaining capacity indication is a threshold volume, e.g.
If less than 0 mL and fewer than 12 strokes were made during the current injection, for example, control logic subsystem 14 may declare a sold-out condition after 20 consecutive sold-out strokes, for example. In some embodiments, the number of sellout strokes may be saved for each injection. The sold-out stroke counter may be reset to zero whenever a functional stroke is restored. Criteria for non-functional strokes are discussed below and include criteria for occlusion strokes, temperature errors, and current errors.

In various embodiments, multiple pumps may pump fluid from a common source to achieve a desired flow rate. The common source may include any fluid, including, but not limited to, non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). Control logic subsystem 14 may declare a sold-out condition, for example, when any one pump has a certain number of consecutive sold-out strokes. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 declares a sold-out condition when there are 20 consecutive sold-out strokes for any one of the pumps. However, in various other embodiments, the number of consecutive sold-out strokes indicating a sold-out condition may be different.

In some embodiments, the sell-out stroke may be detected by the control logic subsystem 14 by an algorithm that measures the peak amplitude and timing of the peak amplitude of the second derivative of the current. Referring to FIG. 68B, current 3 for a sell-out stroke
An exemplary graph of 350 and its second derivative 3360 is shown. The peak of the second derivative of current with respect to time 3360 at 3365 is higher and earlier than the peak 3325 of the normal pumping waveform shown in FIG. 68A.

と定義され、ｄ^２Ｉ／ｄｔ^２ _ｍａｘは電流の二次微分値の最大値であり、ｔ_ｍａｘは電流
フローの開始からｄ^２Ｉ／ｄｔ^２ _ｍａｘまでの時間であり、ｆｔは定数である。売切れス
トロークのＳＯ閾値は経験的に決定されてもよい。定数ｆｔは、各ソレノイドポンプにつ
いて校正されてもよい。定数ｆｔは９．５ミリ秒と等しくてもよい。 The sell-out stroke may be defined as the value of SO higher than a threshold, where SO is:

where d ² I/dt ² _max is the maximum value of the second derivative of the current, t _max is the time from the start of current flow to d ² I/dt ² _max , and ft is a constant . The sold-out stroke SO threshold may be determined empirically. The constant ft may be calibrated for each solenoid pump. The constant ft may be equal to 9.5 milliseconds.

式中、

は電流の二次微分値のピーク値であり、ｔ_ｍａｘは電圧がソレノイドポンプに印加された
後の時間ステップの数である。ｆｔの数値は、各ソレノイドポンプについて校正されても
、または９５に設定されてもよい。ＳＯ閾値はこの計算では３２７６８０である。 In some embodiments, the SO value may be calculated from the raw AD measurements and the number of time steps.

During the ceremony,

is the peak value of the second derivative of the current, and t _max is the number of time steps after voltage is applied to the solenoid pump. The ft value may be calibrated for each solenoid pump or set to 95. The SO threshold is 327,680 in this calculation.

二次微分値は、アルファベータフィルタでフィルタ処理されてもよく、α＝０．８５、β
＝０．１５である。

電流の二次微分値の決定は一例として説明されており、当業界で知られている多数の代替
的な方法で計算されてもよい。 In some embodiments, the second derivative of the current may be calculated by first filtering the current signal with an alpha beta filter.
I _i =αI _i−1 +βC _i
α=0.9 [Formula 3]
β=0.1
where I _i-1 is the current calculated in the previous step and C _i is the current read from AD (in AD counts), where one count is 1.22 mA. The first and second derivatives of current with respect to time may be calculated as follows.

The second derivative may be filtered with an alpha beta filter, α=0.85, β
=0.15.

The determination of the second derivative of the current is described as an example and may be calculated in a number of alternative ways known in the art.

In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may determine that a line supplying fluid to container 30 of FIG. 1 is clogged or obstructed based on a signal from current sensor 3207. Referring to FIG. 68C, an exemplary graph of current 3370 and its second derivative 3380 for an occlusion stroke is shown. The value of the second derivative 3382 at 5 ms, or 50 time steps, may be significantly higher than the second derivative of the current for the functional pump stroke 3322 of FIG. 68A. Referring to FIG. 68D, an exemplary graph of the second derivative of current for pump stroke 3320 and occlusion stroke 3380 is shown. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may determine that an occlusion condition exists if, for a certain time, the second derivative of the current is greater than an occlusion threshold. The specified time and threshold may be determined empirically. Specified times and thresholds may be determined for each pump.

式中、

は電圧がソレノイドポンプに印加されてから５ｍｓ後の電流の二次微分値であり、Ｒはコ
イルの抵抗であり、ＡとＢは実験定数である。いくつかの実施形態において、抵抗Ｒは、
ピストンのストロークの終了ときに最大電流が流れている間に測定されてもよく、これは
電圧がポンプに最初に印加されてから、たとえば１４．０ｍｓ後に発生する。抵抗は、印
加された電圧と測定された電流から計算されてもよい。印加された電圧は、電源３２０９
の電圧にＰＷＭデューティサイクルを乗じることによって計算されてもよい。電源電圧は
、仮定の値であってもよく、または測定されてもよい。電流は、電流センサ３２０７によ
って測定されてもよい。 In some embodiments, the value at occlusion OCC may be calculated by the following equation.

During the ceremony,

is the second derivative of the current 5 ms after the voltage is applied to the solenoid pump, R is the resistance of the coil, and A and B are experimental constants. In some embodiments, the resistance R is
It may be measured during maximum current flow at the end of the piston stroke, which occurs, for example, 14.0 ms after voltage is first applied to the pump. Resistance may be calculated from the applied voltage and measured current. The applied voltage is the power supply 3209
may be calculated by multiplying the voltage by the PWM duty cycle. The power supply voltage may be an assumed value or may be measured. Current may be measured by current sensor 3207.

この式の閉塞閾値は－２３０４であってもよい。あるいは、閉塞閾値は機能的ポンプスト
ロークに関するＯＣＣ値より２０４８高い数値に設定されてもよい。正常時のポンプスト
ロークのＯＣＣ値は、製造試験ときに決定され、その数値は各ポンプについて記録されて
もよい。したがって、ＯＣＣ値は各種の実施形態において異なっていてもよい。 In some embodiments, the OCC value may be calculated from the raw AD measurements and the number of time steps as follows.

The occlusion threshold in this equation may be -2304. Alternatively, the occlusion threshold may be set to 2048 higher than the OCC value for a functional pump stroke. The normal pump stroke OCC value may be determined during manufacturing testing and the value recorded for each pump. Therefore, OCC values may be different in various embodiments.

式中、ＰＷＭ＿Ｖａｌｕｅは２００～２０００（２７．３６ボルト～１７．１ボルト）の
間で変化してもよい。Ｉ_ｍａｘはバルブが通電中である時の最高電流である。 The resistance is calculated as follows.

where PWM_Value may vary between 200 and 2000 (27.36 volts and 17.1 volts). I _max is the maximum current when the valve is energized.

いくつかの実施形態において、温度係数０．４％／℃のコイルには銅線が使用されてもよ
く、コイルの抵抗は２０℃で７オームである。

式中、温度はコイルの温度であり、単位は度Ｃであり、抵抗は上述のように計算され、単
位はオームである。制御論理サブシステム１４は、上述のようにコイルの抵抗から計算さ
れる温度測定値が最大許容値を超えたときに、温度エラーを宣言してもよい。いくつかの
実施形態において、コイル温度の最大許容温度は１２０度Ｃであってもよい。しかしなが
ら、他の各種の実施形態において、コイル温度の最大許容温度は１２０度Ｃより低くても
、または高くてもよい。 Coil temperature may be measured from the output of the current sensor. The coil temperature may be calculated from the known temperature coefficient of the material of the coil wire and the resistance at the known temperature.

In some embodiments, copper wire may be used for the coil with a temperature coefficient of 0.4%/°C, and the resistance of the coil is 7 ohms at 20°C.

where temperature is the temperature of the coil in degrees C and resistance is calculated as above and is in ohms. Control logic subsystem 14 may declare a temperature error when a temperature measurement calculated from the resistance of the coil exceeds a maximum allowable value as described above. In some embodiments, the maximum allowable coil temperature may be 120 degrees Celsius. However, in various other embodiments, the maximum allowable coil temperature may be lower or higher than 120 degrees Celsius.

いくつかの実施形態において、制御論理サブシステム１４は、測定された最大電流Ｉ_Ｍａ
ｘを各ストロークに関する標的電流Ｉ_{Ｔａｒｇｅｔ}と比較してもよい。いくつかの実施形
態において、制御論理サブシステム１４は、電流差の絶対値［（Ｉ_Ｍａｘ－Ｉ_{Ｔａｒｇｅ
ｔ}）の絶対値］がある電流エラー閾値を超えたときに、電流エラーを宣言してもよい。い
くつかの実施形態において、電流エラー閾値は１．２２Ａであってもよいが、他の各種の
実施形態において、最大電流エラー閾値は１．２２Ａより低くても、または高くてもよい
。 In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may control the current by adjusting the PWM commands sent to PWM controller 3203 based on the output of current sensor 3207. In some embodiments, the PWM command value is between 200 and
2000 (27.36 to 17.1 volts, respectively). However, in various other embodiments, the value of the PWM command may not be limited, and in some embodiments where the value of the PWM command is limited, the value is greater than the example ranges recited herein. It can be more or less. The current may be controlled to a maximum value I _Max through the following equation:

In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 determines the maximum measured current I _Ma
x may be compared to a target current I _Target for each stroke. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 determines the absolute value of the current difference [(I _Max −I _Targe
A current error may be declared when the absolute value of _t ) exceeds a certain current error threshold. In some embodiments, the current error threshold may be 1.22A, although in various other embodiments the maximum current error threshold may be lower or higher than 1.22A.

In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may determine that pump 270 is unable to deliver fluid. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may monitor the number of consecutive occlusion strokes based on the occlusion threshold described above. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may monitor the number of times a coil temperature error occurs. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may monitor the number of occurrences of current errors. Logic subsystem 14 may determine that pump 270 is unable to deliver fluid when a sufficient number of consecutive non-functional strokes occur. Non-functional strokes may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: obstructed strokes, overheating, and/or current errors. In some embodiments, control logic subsystem 14 may declare that the pump is unable to deliver fluid when, for example, three non-functional strokes occur in succession. The count of non-functional strokes may return to zero immediately after the occurrence of a functional stroke in some embodiments. However, in various other embodiments, the number of non-functional strokes required for the pump to declare that it is unable to deliver fluid may be less than or greater than three.

Noise Detection In addition to the sell-out calculations and methods described above, in some embodiments, sell-outs may also be determined by analyzing the standard deviation of sell-out values to detect noise. This may be desirable for many reasons, including, but not limited to, being able to detect sell-out conditions earlier. In this way, a sold-out condition may be determined by measuring the variation in the current signal/sold-out value. In some embodiments, a sold-out condition may be determined by detecting noise.

Referring to FIG. 74, this data shows results representing sell-out values. In this example,
This product was not found to be sold out until the end of the dataset. However, during this time and before the product was found to be sold out, the product was underdelivered causing noise in the sold out value.

In some embodiments, the method of determining a sold-out condition may include analyzing noise in the sold-out value. In some embodiments, standard deviation may be used to detect noise. The standard deviation is shown below.

The standard deviation formula may be simplified to make it more efficient to use by removing constants and eliminating square roots and multiplications. In some embodiments, reduced expressions may be used. The resulting formula is an approximation of the standard deviation, at least in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio of the sold-out data, and relies only on addition, division, and shift operations.

Referring now to FIG. 75, an estimate of the standard deviation is shown compared to the sell-out value. As shown, the above calculation measures the difference between normal pump operation and noisy conditions. In various embodiments, a predetermined, pre-programmed threshold may be set to indicate a noise condition. In various embodiments, the standard deviation/approximate standard deviation threshold is preset to 10/
May be pre-programmed. However, in other embodiments, the threshold may be greater than or less than ten.

In some embodiments, the standard deviation method for determining sell-out may be pre-programmed to not operate when the remaining quantity indicator exceeds a threshold amount, which in some embodiments may be 60 mL, but in other embodiments this threshold is 60 mL.
It may be more or less than mL.

In some embodiments, Equation 15 shown below may be used, where x is the sell-out value as calculated above.

In some embodiments, the system determines that for a given pulse, the sell-out value is a predetermined/
The product is determined to be sold out (and in some embodiments, the system When it is determined that the product is sold out for a certain pulse,
The system can advance the counter (as described above). For each of these conditions,
In some embodiments, a counter is incremented. In some embodiments, the product container is sold out when the counter reaches a predetermined/preset threshold.

In some embodiments, a remaining power display scheme is used. In some embodiments, the RFID tag assembly indicates the volume of product within the product container. In some embodiments, each time product is dispensed from the product container, the RFID tag assembly is updated with the updated volume by subtracting the dispensed volume from the volume of remaining quantity indicator. In some embodiments, when the remaining level indication reaches a preset/predetermined threshold (e.g., in some embodiments, this preset/predetermined threshold may be -15ml) , the system may determine that the product container is sold out even if the above sold-out method does not determine that the product container is sold out. In some embodiments, the system may desensitize the sell-out and/or standard deviation formulas when the remaining capacity indication reaches a preset/predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, this threshold may be 60.

In some embodiments, product module assemblies 250d, 250e, 250
Each of f may include a respective plurality of pump assemblies. For example, Figure 69
See also A, 69B, 69D, 69E, 69F, product module assembly 2 of FIG.
50d, 250e, 250f generally include pump assemblies 4270a, 4270b, 42
70d and 4270e. Pump assembly 4270a, 4270b, 4
Each one of 270c, 4270d includes, for example, a slot assembly 260, 262 for dispensing ingredients contained within a respective product container (e.g., product container 256).
, 264, 266. For example, pump assembly 42
Each of 70a, 4270b, 4270c, 4270d may include a respective fluid connection stem (e.g., fluid connection stem 1250, 1252, 1254, 1256), such as a cooperating fitment (e.g., Fitment function members 1158a, 1158b) shown at 43B and 44 may be fluidly coupled to a product container (eg, product container 256).

Referring to FIG. 69E, a cross-sectional view of pump module assembly 250d is shown. Assembly 250d includes a fluid inlet 4360, shown in cross-section of the fitment. The fitment engages the female part (shown as 1158a in FIG. 43B) of the product container (not shown and shown as 256 in FIG. 43B, among other views). Fluid from the product container enters pump assembly 2 at fluid inlet 4360.
Enter 50d. Fluid flows through pump 4364, past back pressure regulator 4366, and to fluid outlet 4368. As shown herein, pump module assembly 2
The fluid flow path in 50d allows air to flow through assembly 250d without being trapped within the assembly. Fluid inlet 4360 is on a lower plane than fluid outlet 4368. In addition, fluid travels longitudinally from the plane of the inlet and pump 4368 through the back pressure regulator 4366 to the plane of the outlet 4368. Therefore, this configuration allows fluid to flow continuously upwards, thereby allowing air to flow through the system without being trapped. Therefore, the design of pump module assembly 250d is a self-priming, self-purging positive displacement fluid delivery system.

69E and 69F, back pressure regulator 4366 may be any back pressure regulator, but one embodiment of back pressure regulator 4366 is shown for dispensing small volumes. Backpressure regulator 4366 includes a diaphragm 4367 that includes a "volcano" feature and a molded O-ring around its outer diameter. The O-ring creates a seal. Piston 4365 is connected to diaphragm 4367. A spring 4366 around the piston 4365 biases the piston and diaphragm to the closed position. In this embodiment, the spring is seated on the outer sleeve 4369. When the fluid pressure matches or exceeds the cracking pressure of the piston/spring assembly, fluid passes through back pressure regulator 4366 to fluid outlet 4368. In some embodiments, the cracking pressure is about 7-9 psi. Cracking pressure may be adjusted to pump 4364. In some embodiments, cracking pressure may be adjusted by changing the position of outer sleeve 4369. Outer sleeve 4369 may be threaded into outer wall 4370. Connect the outer sleeve 4329 to the outer wall 4370
By rotating with respect to the spring 4368, the preload on the spring 4368 and therefore the cracking pressure can be changed. Adjustable regulators are cheaper to manufacture than regulators with precisely fixed backpressure. The adjustable regulator may then be adjusted and adjusted for each pump during manufacturing and check testing. In various embodiments, the pump may be different from those described above, and other embodiments of back pressure regulators may be used in some of these embodiments.

Releasable engagement between outlet tubing assembly 4300 and product module assembly 250d may be performed, for example, via a camming assembly that facilitates engagement and release of outlet tubing assembly 4300 and product module assembly 250d. For example, the camming assembly includes a handle 431 rotatably coupled to fitment support means 4320.
8 and cam function members 4322 and 4324. Cam function member 4322, 4
324 may be engageable with a cooperating functional member (not shown) of product module assembly 250d. Referring to FIG. 69C, rotational movement of handle 4318 in the direction of the arrow causes outlet piping assembly 4300 to
0d, for example, the outlet piping assembly 4300 to the product module assembly 250.
It can be lifted from d and removed from there.

With particular reference to FIGS. 69D and 69E, product module assembly 250d may also be releasably engaged with microingredient shelf 1200, e.g., thereby allowing product module assembly 250d to be removed/attached from microingredient shelf 1200. becomes easier. For example, as shown, product module assembly 250d has release handle 4
350, which may, for example, be pivotally connected to product module assembly 250d. Release handle 4350 may include locking ears 4352, 435, for example.
4 (eg, most clearly depicted in FIGS. 69A and 69D). Locking ears 4352, 4354 may engage cooperating functional members of microingredient shelf 1200, such as by retaining product module assembly 250d in engagement with microingredient shelf 1200. Ru. As shown in FIG. 69E, the release handle 4350 can be pivoted up in the direction of the arrow to release the locking ears 4352, 435.
4 may be removed from the functional member of the micro raw material shelf 1200 that cooperates with it. When it comes off,
Product module assembly 250d may be lifted from microingredient shelf 1200.

One or more sensors may be associated with one or more handles 4318 and/or release handles 4350. One or more sensors are connected to the handle 431
8 and/or an output indicating the locked position of the release handle 4350. For example, the output of one or more sensors may indicate whether handle 4318 and/or release handle 4350 are in an engaged or disengaged position. At least in part, the product module assembly 250
d may be electrically and/or fluidically isolated from the plumbing/control subsystem 20. Exemplary sensors may include, for example, cooperating RFID tags and readers, contact switches, magnetic position sensors, or the like.

Flow rate may be monitored by measuring current flow through solenoid piston pump 4364, as described above. One or more constants used to interpret current flow measurements may be calibrated for individual pumps in product module assembly 250d. These calibration constants may be determined during check tests that are part of the manufacturing process.
The calibration constants may be stored in an e-prom connected to the electronic board via a removable plug. Referring to FIGS. 69C, 69D, and 69E, the e-prom may be attached to a plug 4380, which is connected to the pump electronics board 4386 after assembly. e-pro
m-plug 4380 is connected to a USB mount 4387 on electronic board 4386 to ensure proper mechanical attachment. The e-prom plug 4380 may seal the interior of the electronics case port 4282 to prevent liquid from coming into contact with the electronics.
The e-prom 4380 is attached to the mount 43 on the case of the product module assembly 250d.
84 via a lanyard. The e-prom plug 4380 can remain attached to the pump assembly 4390 when the electronic board 4386 is replaced. Using a separate e-prom advantageously allows the electronics to be separated from the plug 4380 that fits a particular pump assembly 4390 and the electronic board that can be used with any pump assembly. The electronic board 4386 and pump assembly 4390 may include functional components to facilitate quick disassembly and reassembly, including electrical contact clips 4392, slots 4393, threaded retention means 4394; Not limited to these.

In some embodiments, processing system 10 may include an external communication module 4500, one embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 70A, which allows maintenance personnel and/or consumers to, for example, but not limited to the following: RFI
One or more of D-tags and/or barcodes and/or other formats may be used to communicate with processing system 10. In some embodiments, external communication module 4500 may incorporate the RFID access antenna assembly 900 described above. External communications module 4500 may include a number of devices capable of transmitting and receiving communications, including: wireless antenna 4530; optical barcode reader 45;
10, Bluetooth antennas, cameras and/or other short range communication hardware. Processing system 10 can utilize information obtained by external communication module 4500 to facilitate repair and maintenance through a number of actions, including, for example, locking a maintenance door. one or more of the following: deactivating, informing maintenance personnel of the error, required maintenance work, malfunctioning equipment, required parts, and/or identifying containers that may need replacement. Including, but not limited to: External communication module 4500 may provide the consumer/user with one or more options for operation of processing system 10, including: coupon redemption and/or individual services. Services include, but are not limited to, the provision of one or more of the following: personalization of beverages and/or receipt of payments and/or tracking of usage and/or awarding of prizes. including, but not limited to, one or more of: In some embodiments, external communication module 4500 may communicate with control logic subsystem 14 and receive power via a wire connection at connector 4552. External communication module 4500 may communicate with control logic subsystem 14 via wireless communications.

In some embodiments, external communication module 4500 includes housing assembly 850
It may be attached near the front of the. In some embodiments, external communication module 4500 may be mounted within the structure of processing system 10 such that there are no obstructions to the exterior view of a barcode reader or other optical device. In some embodiments, an RFID antenna may also be mounted within 1 inch of the front of processing system 10.

In some embodiments, external communication module 4500 may include a barcode reader/decoder 4510. Barcode reader/decoder 4510 may read any optical code presented within its line of sight. In some embodiments, the optical code may be presented in a number of formats, including: as a printed document, and/or on an electronic device and/or on a smartphone and/or on a personal digital assistant and/or or as an image on the screen of a computer or other device capable of displaying the optical code.

In some embodiments, the RFID antenna reader may receive signals from various devices presented to processing system 10 by, for example, maintenance personnel and/or users/consumers. Examples of RFID devices that can be used include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: key fobs and/or plastic cards and/or paper cards.

One embodiment of an external communication module 4500 is shown in FIGS. 70A and 70B. In some embodiments, this module may be housed within case 4502. In some embodiments, case 4502 may be plastic;
In various other embodiments, the case may be made of different materials. In some embodiments, case 4502 may be open on one side to receive an RFID sensor near the outside of housing assembly 850. In some embodiments, the case 4502 may include one or more flanges 4504. Flange 4504 may be used to secure the module to the structure of processing system 10 or to the skin of housing assembly 850.

Many of the individual components of one embodiment include the external communication module 4 shown in FIG. 70B.
500 can be seen in the exploded view. In this embodiment, an RFID antenna assembly 4530 (FIG. 70) may include an antenna 4548, a resonator 4540, resonator spacers 4546, 4544, and an exit junction 4552. Barcode reader/decoder 4510 may be held by foam mount 4520. Foam mount 4520 may retain barcode reader/decoder 4510 within case 4502 while external communication module 4500 is mounted within processing system 10. Foam mount 4520 may be secured within external communication module 4500 by spacers 4522 passing through matching holes in foam mount 4520. RFI
D-antenna assembly 4530 and foam mount 4520 are fitted with one or more screws (and/or bolts and/or other attachments) that pass through the PCB of RFID antenna assembly 4530 and are threaded into bosses molded into case 4502. case 4 by mechanism)
It may be fixed to 502.

In some embodiments, external communication module 4500 may be mounted within the structure of upper door 4600, as shown in FIG. 71A. In some embodiments, external communication module 4500 may be secured to upper door 4600 with mechanical fasteners, including screws and/or rivets and/or flanges 4504.
including, but not limited to, one or more of snaps or other mechanical fastening means or the like. In some embodiments, upper door 4600 may be part of the internal structure of housing assembly 850. In some embodiments,
Upper door skin 4610 may be attached to upper door 4600.

In some embodiments, the alignment bracket 4630 is attached to the upper door skin 461.
It may be attached to 0. In some embodiments, alignment bracket 463
0 may align barcode reader/decoder 4510 with window 4620 in upper door skin 4610, as shown in FIGS. 71B and 71C. In some embodiments, the alignment bracket is aligned with the window 4620 and is coated with, for example, adhesive and/or double-sided tape and/or other materials that conform to the inside plastic skin of the upper door skin 4610. may be attached using one or more of the following non-mechanical attachment methods, including but not limited to: However, in some embodiments mechanical fastening means may be used. In some embodiments, the alignment bracket may be attached to the upper door skin 4610 with mechanical fastening means, including one or more of screws and/or rivets and/or snaps. However, it is not limited to these. In some embodiments, an alignment bracket 4630 may be attached to or displayed on the window 4620 and the upper door skin 4610 to ensure proper alignment of the alignment bracket 4630 and the window 4620. Alignment may be accomplished using a sticker (not shown) or other display means to assist in visual cues. In some embodiments, the visual landmarks include embossed and/or imprinted and/or adhesive text and/or symbols, and/or colored and/or
Alternatively, any other display means that can assist in proper alignment may be included, but is not limited to these.

In some embodiments, alignment bracket 4630 may be aligned with barcode reader/decoder 4510 separately from alignment with external communication module 4500. In some embodiments, the bracket, one embodiment of which is shown in detail in FIG. 72, has two side tabs 4632, an upper tab 4636, and a lower tab 4
634 to constrain the barcode reader/decoder 4510 in two directions (X and Y) and align it with the window 4620. However, in various other embodiments, the number and location of the tabs may be different. The flexible foam mount 4520 supports the barcode reader/decoder 4510 in two directions ( (X and Y) and rotation around the Z axis. In some embodiments, the foam mount 4520 may restrain the barcode reader/decoder so that the external communication module 4500 can be attached to the upper door. In some embodiments, the foam mount 4520 may also constrain the code reader/decoder 4510 such that the leading corner of the barcode reader/decoder contacts the tapered portions of the tabs 4631, 4634, 4636. good. In some embodiments, the barcode reader/decoder 4510 includes an alignment bracket 4630 and an RFID antenna PC.
By aligning the B4550, it may be constrained in the Z axis. In some embodiments, the upper door skin 4610 and the PCB 4550 provide a limited amount of elastic compliance to reduce the Z between the upper door skin 4610, the external communications module 4500, and the barcode reader/decoder 4510. It may also be possible to accommodate cumulative tolerances in direction.

In some embodiments, barcode reader/decoder 4510 may be retained within external communication module 4500 by a flexible bracket. flexible brackets are
Sufficient flexibility may be provided to allow the barcode reader/decoder 4510 to make the necessary linear movements and rotations for alignment with the alignment bracket. The flexible bracket may constrain the barcode reader/decoder within a limited range so that the module can be inserted into the upper door 4600. The flexible bracket 4520 may further constrain the barcode reader/decoder 4510 such that the leading corner of the barcode reader/decoder contacts the tapered portions of the tabs 4631, 4634, 4636 during the insertion process. .

In some embodiments, tabs 4632, 463 of alignment bracket 4630
4, 4636 may include an angled portion 4633 that guides the barcode reader/decoder 4510 into alignment with the window 46220. In some embodiments, each tab includes a straight section near the bottom 4631 that is perpendicular to the bottom and constrains movement of the barcode reader/decoder 4510 in the X and Y directions. In some embodiments, the distance between the straight portions of opposing tabs may be slightly larger than in barcode readers/decoders, which can be advantageous for many reasons, including ease of assembly and alignment. including, but not limited to, accuracy. In some embodiments, the tab may have a larger or smaller taper so that it can be installed into the opening of the upper door 4600.

As mentioned above, other examples of products that can be produced by processing system 10 include milk-based products (e.g., milkshakes, floats, malts, frappes), coffee-based products (e.g., coffee, cappuccino, espresso) , soda-based products (e.g., floats, fruit juices with soda), tea-based products (e.g., iced tea, sweet tea, hot tea), water-based products (e.g., spring water, flavored spring water, vitamins). solid-based products (e.g. trail mixes, granola-based products, mixed nuts, cereal products, cereal products), medical products (e.g. molten drugs, injectable drugs, ingestible drugs, dialysis fluids), alcohol-based products (e.g. mixed drinks, wine spritzers, soda-based alcoholic beverages, water-based alcoholic beverages), industrial products (e.g. solvents, paints, lubricants, dyes, etc.), health/beauty supplements (e.g., shampoos, cosmetics, soaps, hair conditioners, skin conditioners, topical ointments).

A number of embodiments have been described. However, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Although the principles of the invention have been described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this description is illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention. In addition to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures and described in the text herein, other embodiments are also contemplated within the scope of the invention. Modifications and substitutions made by those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
A first aspect of the invention is a system for monitoring the flow condition of a fluid flowing from a product container through a solenoid pump, the system comprising:
at least one solenoid pump including a solenoid coil that, when energized, produces one stroke of the solenoid pump;
at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump, the at least one solenoid pump discharging fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke;
at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump;
at least one current sensor detecting current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the detected current flow;
a control logic subsystem for controlling the flow rate of fluid through the solenoid pump by instructing the PWM controller and monitoring the current flow through the solenoid pump by receiving the output from the current sensor; a control logic subsystem that uses measurements of the current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.
A second aspect of the invention provides the first method wherein the control logic subsystem uses at least a measurement of the current flow through the solenoid coil to determine that the at least one product container is in a sold-out condition. This is a system of aspects.
A third aspect of the invention is that the control logic subsystem uses the measurement of the current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is non-functional. 1 is a system of a first aspect;
A fourth aspect of the invention provides that the control logic subsystem uses the measurement of the current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is a sell-out stroke. This is a system with three aspects.
A fifth aspect of the invention is the system of the fourth aspect, wherein the control logic subsystem determines that the at least one product container is in a sold-out condition when a threshold number of consecutive sold-out strokes is reached. be.
A sixth aspect of the invention is the fifth aspect, wherein the at least one product container further comprises an RFID tag that stores a residual level indicator value representative of the amount of fluid remaining in the at least one product container. This is the system.
A seventh aspect of the invention is that the control logic subsystem determines that the at least one product container is in a sold-out state when a certain number of consecutive sold-out strokes are determined and the remaining quantity indication exceeds a threshold volume. This is the system of the sixth aspect, which determines that.
An eighth aspect of the invention is a method of monitoring the flow rate of fluid from a product container through a solenoid pump, the method comprising:
energizing a solenoid coil of the solenoid pump to generate one stroke of the solenoid pump;
discharging fluid from the product container through the solenoid pump during each stroke;
detecting current flow through the solenoid using a current sensor and generating an output of the detected current flow;
monitoring current through the solenoid pump using a control logic subsystem, the control logic subsystem receiving detected current flow from the current sensor;
determining whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional;
This is a method that includes
The ninth aspect of the invention further comprises the step of the control logic subsystem using at least the measurement of the current flow through the solenoid coil to determine that the at least one product container is in a sold-out condition. , the method of the eighth aspect.
A tenth aspect of the invention includes the step of the control logic subsystem using the measurement of the current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is non-functional. The method of the eighth aspect, further comprising:
An eleventh aspect of the invention includes the step of the control logic subsystem using the measurement of the current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is a sell-out stroke. The method of the tenth aspect, further comprising:
A twelfth aspect of the invention further comprises the step of the control logic subsystem determining that the at least one product container is in a sold-out condition when a threshold number of consecutive sold-out strokes is reached. This is a method of embodiments.
A thirteenth aspect of the invention provides for determining the amount of fluid remaining in the at least one product container using an RFID tag that stores a level indicator value representative of the amount of fluid remaining in the at least one product container. The method of the twelfth aspect, further comprising the step of measuring.
A fourteenth aspect of the invention is that the control logic subsystem determines that the product container is in a sold-out state when a certain number of consecutive sold-out strokes are determined and the remaining amount display exceeds a threshold volume. The method of the thirteenth aspect, further comprising the step.
A fifteenth aspect of the invention is a system for determining that a product container is sold out, comprising:
at least one solenoid pump including a solenoid coil that, when energized, generates one stroke of the pump;
at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump, the at least one solenoid pump discharging fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke;
at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump and control a voltage applied to the at least one solenoid pump;
at least one current sensor detecting current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the detected current flow;
a control logic subsystem for controlling the flow rate of fluid through the solenoid pump by instructing the PWM controller and monitoring current through the pump by receiving the output from the current sensor; a control logic subsystem that uses the measurement of the current flow through at least a solenoid coil to determine that the at least one product container is in a sold-out condition.
A sixteenth aspect of the invention is the fifteenth aspect, wherein the control logic subsystem determines whether a stroke of the at least one solenoid pump was a functional stroke based on the output of the current sensor. It is a system.
A seventeenth aspect of the invention is the system of the sixteenth aspect, wherein the control logic subsystem determines whether a stroke of the at least one solenoid pump was a sell-out stroke based on the output of the current sensor. It is.
An eighteenth aspect of the invention is the system of the seventeenth aspect, wherein the control logic subsystem determines that the at least one product container is in a sold-out condition when a threshold number of consecutive sold-out strokes is reached. be.
A nineteenth aspect of the invention is the eighteenth aspect, wherein the control logic subsystem determines whether a stroke of the at least one solenoid pump was a non-functional stroke based on the output of the current sensor. This is the system.
A twentieth aspect of the invention is that the at least one product container further comprises an RFID tag storing a level indicator value representative of the amount of fluid remaining in the at least one product container.
This is a system according to a nineteenth aspect.
A twenty-first aspect of the invention is that the control logic subsystem determines that the system is in a sold-out state when a certain number of consecutive sold-out strokes is determined and the remaining amount display exceeds a threshold volume. This is a system according to a twentieth aspect.
A twenty-second aspect of the invention is the system of the fifteenth aspect, wherein the control logic subsystem controls the current measured by the current sensor by varying a high frequency duty cycle of the PWM controller.
A twenty-third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the at least one solenoid pump includes the at least one solenoid pump.
16. The system of the fifteenth aspect, further comprising at least one power source connected via a PWM controller and the at least one current sensor.

Claims (18)

A beverage system that monitors flow conditions of a beverage fluid flowing from a micro-ingredient product container through a solenoid pump, the beverage system comprising:
at least one solenoid pump, the at least one solenoid pump including a solenoid coil that activates the solenoid pump when energized;
at least one microingredient product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump, the at least one solenoid pump dispensing beverage fluid from the at least one microingredient product container during operation of the solenoid pump; , at least one micro-ingredient product container;
at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump;
at least one current sensor that detects current flow through the solenoid coil and produces an output of the detected current flow;
controlling the flow rate of beverage fluid through the at least one solenoid pump by instructing the PWM controller and monitoring current flow through the at least one solenoid pump by receiving the output from the current sensor; a control logic subsystem for determining a pump condition using the detected current flow through the solenoid coil at a particular time, the pump condition determining a pump condition of the beverage system; a control logic subsystem selected from the group comprising a normal pump condition, an abnormal pump condition, or a sold-out condition in the at least one microingredient product container;
system containing. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic subsystem determines the abnormal pump condition using a second derivative of detected current flow through the solenoid coil. 3. The control logic subsystem uses the detected current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether a stroke of the at least one solenoid pump is a sell-out stroke. system. 2. The control logic subsystem uses the detected current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether a stroke of the at least one solenoid pump is a sell-out stroke. system. 10. The at least one microingredient product container further comprises an RFID tag that stores a level indicator value representative of the amount of beverage fluid remaining in the at least one microingredient product container. system described in. The control logic subsystem is configured to determine that the at least one microingredient product container is in a sold-out condition if a predetermined number of consecutive sold-out strokes are determined and the value of the remaining quantity indication exceeds a threshold value. 6. The system of claim 5. A method for making a beverage and monitoring the flow rate of a beverage fluid flowing from a microingredient product container through a solenoid pump, the method comprising:
energizing a solenoid coil of a solenoid pump to generate one stroke of the solenoid pump;
dispensing beverage fluid from the microingredient product container through the solenoid pump during each stroke;
detecting current flow through the solenoid coil using a current sensor and generating an output of the detected current flow;
monitoring the current flow through the solenoid pump using a control logic subsystem, the control logic subsystem receiving the detected current flow from the current sensor;
the control logic subsystem determining a standard deviation of the current flow;
the control logic subsystem analyzing the standard deviation of the current flow;
The detected current flow through the solenoid coil at a particular time is used to cause the solenoid pump to flow beverage fluid out of the solenoid pump at a predetermined rated flow rate per stroke of the solenoid pump. a step of determining whether or not there is a
the control logic subsystem using the detected current flow through at least the solenoid coil to determine a pump condition, the pump condition being a normal pump condition at the microingredient product container; , an abnormal pump condition, or a sold-out condition;
method including. The control logic subsystem further includes determining whether a stroke of the solenoid pump is at the abnormal pump condition using a second derivative of the detected current flow through the solenoid coil. 8. The method of claim 7, characterized in that: The control logic subsystem further includes determining whether a stroke of the solenoid pump is in the sold-out pump condition using a second derivative of the detected current flow through the solenoid coil. 9. The method of claim 8, characterized in that: The control logic subsystem further includes determining whether a stroke of the solenoid pump is in the sold-out pump condition using a second derivative of the detected current flow through the solenoid coil. 8. The method of claim 7, characterized in that: determining the amount of beverage fluid remaining in the micro-ingredient product container using an RFID tag that stores a level indicator value representative of the amount of beverage fluid remaining in the at least one micro-ingredient product container; 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: The control logic subsystem further comprises determining that the micro-ingredient product container is in a sold-out condition if a predetermined number of consecutive sold-out strokes are determined and the value of the remaining amount indicator exceeds a threshold value. 12. The system of claim 11. A beverage system that monitors flow conditions of a beverage fluid flowing from a micro-ingredient product container through a solenoid pump, the beverage system comprising:
at least one solenoid pump, the at least one solenoid pump including a solenoid coil that when energized causes one stroke of the at least one solenoid pump;
at least one micro-ingredient product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump, the at least one solenoid pump dispensing beverage fluid from the at least one micro-ingredient product container during each stroke; one micro-ingredient product container;
at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump and configured to control a voltage applied to the at least one solenoid pump;
at least one current sensor that detects current flow through the solenoid coil and produces an output of the detected current flow;
controlling the flow rate of beverage fluid through the at least one solenoid pump by instructing the PWM controller and monitoring current flow through the at least one solenoid pump by receiving the output from the current sensor; a control logic subsystem for a predetermined, determining whether the at least one solenoid pump is flowing beverage fluid out of the at least one solenoid pump at a rated flow rate for each at least one solenoid pump; determining a condition, the control logic subsystem determining whether a stroke of the at least one solenoid pump was selected from a group including a functional stroke, a non-functional stroke, or a sold-out stroke based on the output of the current sensor; a control logic subsystem that determines;
system containing. 14. The system of claim 13, further characterized in that the control logic subsystem determines the non-functional stroke using a second derivative of detected current flow through the solenoid coil. 15. The system of claim 14, further characterized in that the control logic subsystem determines the sell-out stroke using a second derivative of detected current flow through the solenoid coil. 14. The system of claim 13, further characterized in that the control logic subsystem determines the sell-out stroke using a second derivative of detected current flow through the solenoid coil. 14. The at least one microingredient product container further comprises an RFID tag that stores a level indicator value representative of the amount of beverage fluid remaining in the at least one microingredient product container. System described. The control logic subsystem further includes the step of determining that the system is in a sold-out state when a predetermined number of consecutive sold-out strokes is determined and the value of the remaining amount display exceeds a threshold value. 18. The system of claim 17.

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