초록 ▼

A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-syrup condition in association with a machine for dispensing a beverage and in which the beverage is constituted of a syrup concentrate and water. The sensor comprises a housing having a through passage and a transverse hole which receives a cap for supportin

A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-syrup condition in association with a machine for dispensing a beverage and in which the beverage is constituted of a syrup concentrate and water. The sensor comprises a housing having a through passage and a transverse hole which receives a cap for supporting a probe that extends partially into the through passage. The probe is preferably disposed vertically and operates on a gravity principle so that when the syrup is depleted, a gap forms and the syrup liquid essentially breaks away from the probe causing a high resistance indication that is detected.

대표청구항 ▼

A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-syrup condition in a dispensing machine having a storage reservoir for the syrup and fluid lines coupling from the storage reservoir to the beverage tank of the dispenser, said sensor apparatus disposed in said fluid line and comprising; a housing having a th

A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-syrup condition in a dispensing machine having a storage reservoir for the syrup and fluid lines coupling from the storage reservoir to the beverage tank of the dispenser, said sensor apparatus disposed in said fluid line and comprising; a housing having a through passage from one side to the other thereof, said passage intercoupling with said fluid line, means defining a hole in said housing, a probe, a means supporting said probe in said hole extending at least in part into said through passage and disposed substantially transversely to said through passage, a gap being defined between said probe and a wall of said through passage whereby syrup breaks from the probe providing a gap between the probe and syrup, said probe being disposed substantially vertically so that the syrup may break therefrom by gravity, said probe having an end the extremity of which extends partially into said through passage, means for securing a conductor to the probe, a circuit means and means connecting said circuit means to at least said probe, said circuit means adapted to sense the conductivity at the probe between the probe and syrup, said housing having means defining a same compartment disposed about said probe and over said through passage, pump means connected to said fluid line downstream of said housing to maintain at least a partial vacuum in said small compartment about said probe, said circuit means further comprising means for sensing an increase in resistance at the probe gap. A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-syrup condition in a fluid line coupling a storage reservoir to a beverage tank in a dispensing machine, said sensor apparatus comprising a housing having a through passage from one side to the other thereof for intercoupling with the fluid line, and circuit means responsive to the conductivity of syrup in the sensor characterized by an electrically conductive probe, means supporting the probe in a hole in the housing so as to extend at least in part into said through passage and disposed transversely thereto, a gap being defined between a wall of said through passage and the end of said probe, said probe being so arranged that when disposed substantially vertically the syrup may break therefrom by gravity, and means coupling said circuit means to the probe to sense syrup conductivity, said probe having a pointed end, said means for supporting the probe comprising a cap disposed in the hole, the depth of said hole being greater than the length that the cap extends into the hole so as to form between the cap and the through passage a compartment having a liquid vacant space, said probe having a pointed end with the pointed end being disposed in the through passages and a portion of the pointed end extending into said compartment thereabove.