초록 ▼

Disclosed is a method of automatically sensing and controlling beverage quality for soft drinks from a fountain dispenser, for example, comprising the steps of supplying a first fluid, such as water or carbonated water, wherein the flow of the first fluid is controlled by a first valve, supplying a

Disclosed is a method of automatically sensing and controlling beverage quality for soft drinks from a fountain dispenser, for example, comprising the steps of supplying a first fluid, such as water or carbonated water, wherein the flow of the first fluid is controlled by a first valve, supplying a second fluid, mixing the first fluid and the second fluid, passing a sample of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid onto a sensing surface of a fixed optic sensor, measuring one or more properties of the sample, such as, for example, refractive index, temperature, and pressure, controlling the first valve based on the one or more properties, and dispensing the mixture. The first valve may be proportionally enlarged and reduced or it may selectively opened and closed pursuant to a desired duty cycle. The present invention further comprises a system for automatically sensing and controlling beverage quality, comprising a controller means, a first valve electrically coupled to the controller means for controlling supply of a first fluid, a second valve electrically coupled to the controller means for controlling supply of a second fluid, and a fixed optic sensor electrically coupled to the controller means.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of automatically sensing and controlling beverage quality, comprising the steps of:supplying a first beverage fluid, wherein the flow of said first beverage fluid is controlled by a first valve; supplying a second beverage fluid; mixing said first beverage fluid and said second beverage

1. A method of automatically sensing and controlling beverage quality, comprising the steps of:supplying a first beverage fluid, wherein the flow of said first beverage fluid is controlled by a first valve; supplying a second beverage fluid; mixing said first beverage fluid and said second beverage fluid; passing a sample of the mixture of said first beverage fluid and said second beverage fluid onto a sensing surface of a fixed optic sensor; measuring one or more properties of said sample; controlling said first valve based on said one or more properties to maintain a precise and predetermined fixed ratio of the beverage fluids as the one or more properties change; and dispensing said mixture.