초록 ▼

The flow rate of fluid components, typically water and syrup, is sensed by a flowmeter that is substantially insensitive to variations in fluid pressure and/or viscosity. A feedback circuit which may be either analog or digital permits the regulation of fluid flows to be in a precisely prescribed re

The flow rate of fluid components, typically water and syrup, is sensed by a flowmeter that is substantially insensitive to variations in fluid pressure and/or viscosity. A feedback circuit which may be either analog or digital permits the regulation of fluid flows to be in a precisely prescribed relative proportion. This proportion may be changed by varying the amplification gain of the feedback circuit in the analog configurations, or by programming a new ratio quantity in the digital configuration of the control circuit. The digital control circuit integrates the total fluid flow, and maintains historical records of the total fluid volume and portions dispensed. The dispensed volume of any particular portion may be predetermined by manually demarking the time interval over which such volume is flowed. The historical records of dispensing activity are securely stored and may be inspected in order to compare such activity to receipts derived from sale of the dispensed beverage only by an authorized interrogation device.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus operative with a first fluid source means for supplying a first flow of a first fluid, the first fluid undergoing changes in viscosity, and with a second fluid source means for supplying a second flow of a second fluid, for dispensing the first fluid and the second fluid in a prescribed

An apparatus operative with a first fluid source means for supplying a first flow of a first fluid, the first fluid undergoing changes in viscosity, and with a second fluid source means for supplying a second flow of a second fluid, for dispensing the first fluid and the second fluid in a prescribed relative proportion, the apparatus comprising: a dispenser means, flow connected for receiving the first and the second fluid flows maintained in the prescribed relative proportion, for mixing together and dispensing both the first and the second fluids in the prescribed relative proportion; first conduit means for channeling the first flow of the first fluid between the first fluid source means and the dispenser means; second conduit means for channeling the second flow of the second fluid between the second fluid source means and the dispenser means; a first flow rate sensor means, flow connected in the first conduit means between the first fluid source means and the dispenser means, for producing a first sensor signal representative of the flow rate of the first fluid responsive to sensing the first flow of the first fluid, the producing being with substantial insensitivity to changes in the viscosity of the first fluid; a second flow rate sensor means, flow connected in the second conduit means between the second fluid source means and the dispenser means, for producing a second sensor signal representative of the flow rate of the second fluid responsive to sensing the second flow of the second fluid; a control means, receiving the first sensor signal from the first flow rate sensor means and the second sensor signal from the second flow rate sensor means, for producing a control signal; a flow control means, flow connected in one of the first conduit means and the second conduit means and receiving the control signal from the control means, for regulating fluid flow in that conduit means in which it is flow connected in accordance with the control signal, the regulation being so that the first flow of the first fluid in the first conduit means and the second flow of the second fluid in the second conduit means are in the prescribed relative proportion.