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A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a pulse generator coupled to a pump that operates in discrete cycles. Each cycle includes a first part in which fluid is drawn into the pump through an inlet, and a second part in which fluid is expelled from the pump through an outlet. Each cycle results in a d

A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a pulse generator coupled to a pump that operates in discrete cycles. Each cycle includes a first part in which fluid is drawn into the pump through an inlet, and a second part in which fluid is expelled from the pump through an outlet. Each cycle results in a discrete, consistent volume of fluid being expelled. The pulse generator transmits discrete pulses to the pump, causing the pump to operate for a set number of cycles per pulse. The total number of cycles is a multiple of the number of pulses transmitted, so that the number of pulses determines the volume of fluid dispensed. Alternatively, the pump is driven through increments of the second part of the cycle, with the number of pulses supplied to the pump determining the proportion of the second part of the cycle completed, and therefore the volume of fluid dispensed.

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We claim: 1. A liquid dispensing apparatus for beverages, the apparatus comprising: a) a liquid reservoir for storing a liquid flavoring; b) a diaphragm pump, the diaphragm pump having: i. a housing with inner walls that define a pump chamber; ii. the housing having a fluid inlet in communication w

We claim: 1. A liquid dispensing apparatus for beverages, the apparatus comprising: a) a liquid reservoir for storing a liquid flavoring; b) a diaphragm pump, the diaphragm pump having: i. a housing with inner walls that define a pump chamber; ii. the housing having a fluid inlet in communication with the liquid reservoir and the pump chamber, and a fluid outlet in communication with the pump chamber and a dispensing outlet for dispensing the liquid flavoring; and iii. a flexible diaphragm movable within the pump chamber between a first position and a second position, wherein a predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is drawn into the pump chamber via the fluid inlet when the diaphragm moves from the first position to the second position, and the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is expelled from the pump chamber via the fluid outlet when the diaphragm moves from the second position to the first position; c) a pulse generator configured for generating discrete pulses, each discrete pulse causing the diaphragm pump to move through one discrete cycle; and d) a controller operatively coupled to the pulse generator for controlling the diaphragm pump, the controller being configured to: i. receive a user request for a particular beverage; ii. determine a number of discrete pulses to be generated based on at least one of: a signal relating to a volume of the liquid flavoring to be dispensed, at least one variable associated with the liquid flavoring, a preset parameter associated with the liquid flavoring, and an input associated with the user request; and iii. activate the pulse generator to generate the number of discrete pulses, each pulse of the pulse generator causing the flexible diaphragm pump to move through one discrete cycle and the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring to be drawn into the pump chamber and expelled from the pump chamber via the dispensing outlet. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cup sensor configured to detect the presence of a cup proximate the dispensing outlet and to generate the signal relating to the volume of liquid flavoring to be dispensed based on a size of the cup. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising at least one liquid sensor operably connected to the controller for sensing the at least one variable associated with the liquid flavoring and communicating a signal associated with the at least one variable to the controller to vary the number of discrete pulses to be generated. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor connected to the controller for sensing the at least one variable associated with the liquid flavoring and for communicating the signal relating to the volume of liquid flavoring to be dispensed to the controller based on the at least one variable. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor operably connected to the controller for sensing the at least one variable associated with the liquid flavoring and for communicating a signal associated with the at least one variable to the controller to vary the number of discrete pulses to be generated. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump chamber has a volume less than approximately 0.05 ml. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor operably coupled to the controller for sensing a receptacle for receiving the liquid flavoring and wherein the controller is operable to only dispense liquid flavoring when a receptacle is sensed. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor further senses a size of the receptacle and the predetermined amount of liquid flavoring is determined by the controller based on the size of said receptacle. 9. A liquid dispensing apparatus for beverages, the apparatus comprising: a) a liquid reservoir for storing a liquid flavoring; b) a diaphragm pump operable over discrete cycles, each discrete cycle comprising a first portion in which a predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is drawn into the diaphragm pump from the liquid reservoir, and a second portion in which the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is expelled from the pump through a dispensing outlet; c) a pulse generator configured for generating discrete pulses, each discrete pulse causing the diaphragm pump to move through one discrete cycle; and d) a controller having a timing circuit configured for generating electrical pulses, the timing circuit powered by a DC power source; e) the controller configured to: i. receive a user request for a particular beverage; ii. determine a number of discrete pulses to be generated based on at least one of: a signal relating to a volume of the liquid flavoring to be dispensed, at least one variable associated with the liquid flavoring, a preset parameter associated with the liquid flavoring, and an input associated with the user request; and iii. activate the pulse generator to generate the number of discrete pulses by selectively coupling and decoupling the pulse generator to the timing circuit, each pulse of the pulse generator causing the diaphragm pump to move through one discrete cycle such that the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is expelled from the diaphragm pump via the dispensing outlet. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is less than about 0.1 ml. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is less than about 0.05 ml. 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is on the order of about 0.01 ml. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a timing circuit operatively coupled to the controller for generating electrical pulses, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively couple and decouple the pulse generator to the timing circuit to generate the discrete pulses. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the timing circuit is powered by a DC power source. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse generator includes an AC power source, each discrete pulse is an electrical pulse supplied by the AC power source, and the controller is operable to selectively permit and prevent the transmission of electrical pulses between the AC power source and the pump to generate the discrete pulses. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump chamber has a volume on the order of about 0.01 ml. 17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the diaphragm pump comprises: a) a housing with inner walls that define a pump chamber, the housing defining a fluid inlet in communication with the liquid reservoir and the pump chamber, and the housing having a fluid outlet in communication with the pump chamber and the dispensing outlet for dispensing the liquid flavoring, and b) a flexible diaphragm movable within the pump chamber between a first position and a second position, wherein the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is drawn from the liquid reservoir into the pump chamber when the diaphragm moves from the first position to the second position, and the predetermined volume of liquid flavoring is expelled from the pump chamber when the diaphragm moves from the second position to the first position. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pump chamber has a volume less than about 0.01 ml.