초록 ▼

A multi-flavor valve capable of dispensing at least three flavors of beverages is provided. The valve includes a single-piece injection-molded valve body having at least three syrup flow paths and a water flow path. The valve also includes at least three syrup flow path solenoids for respectively op

A multi-flavor valve capable of dispensing at least three flavors of beverages is provided. The valve includes a single-piece injection-molded valve body having at least three syrup flow paths and a water flow path. The valve also includes at least three syrup flow path solenoids for respectively opening and closing the at least three syrup flow paths, and one water flow path solenoid for opening and closing the water flow path. The three syrup flow path solenoids are positioned in the corresponding syrup flow paths, and the water flow path solenoid is positioned in the water flow path, within the valve body. The valve also has at least three beverage flavor switches for selecting any one of the three beverage flavors for dispensation. The valve further includes an electronics module electrically connected to the solenoids and to the beverage flavor switches, the electronics module causing one of the syrup flow path solenoids to open the corresponding syrup flow path of the syrup corresponding to a selected flavor switch, and causing the water flow path solenoid to open the water flow path, thereby causing the multi-flavor valve to dispense the selected beverage flavor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for dispensing a beverage, comprising the steps of: opening a water flow path solenoid;causing, by the open water flow path solenoid, a water flow path to open;dispensing water from the water flow path for a first period of time, the amount of water dispensed from the water flow path bas

1. A method for dispensing a beverage, comprising the steps of: opening a water flow path solenoid;causing, by the open water flow path solenoid, a water flow path to open;dispensing water from the water flow path for a first period of time, the amount of water dispensed from the water flow path based in-part on a first cylinder orifice flow area, wherein an increase of fluid pressure of the water reduces the first cylinder orifice flow area;opening a syrup flow path solenoid corresponding to a beverage flavor;causing, by the open syrup flow path solenoid, a syrup flow path to open;dispensing the beverage flavor from the syrup flow path for a second period of time, the amount of beverage flavor dispensed from the syrup flow path based in-part on a second cylinder orifice flow area;closing the syrup flow path solenoid after the second period of time ends;causing, by the closed syrup flow path solenoid, the syrup flow path to close; andclosing the water flow path solenoid after the first period of time ends,wherein the water flow path solenoid and the syrup flow path solenoid are powered initially by a first amount of current to raise a plunger from a resting position and are powered subsequently by a second amount of current smaller than the first amount of current to keep the plunger in a raised position. 2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first period of time is longer than the second period of time. 3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of dispensing the water from the water flow path occurs prior to the step of dispensing the beverage flavor from the syrup flow path. 4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of closing the syrup flow path solenoid occurs before the step of closing the water flow path solenoid. 5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising: isolating the water flow path and the syrup flow path. 6. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of housing the water flow path solenoid, the water flow path, the syrup flow path solenoid, and the syrup flow path within a valve body having a nozzle. 7. The method recited in claim 6, further comprising the step of flushing the nozzle with the water after the syrup flow path has been closed. 8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of closing the water flow path solenoid occurs approximately 160 milliseconds after the step of closing the syrup flow path solenoid. 9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of opening the syrup flow path solenoid occurs approximately 160 milliseconds after the step of opening the water flow path solenoid. 10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of opening the water flow path solenoid, opening the syrup flow path solenoid, closing the syrup flow path solenoid, and closing the water flow path solenoid are controlled by an electronics module that is electronically connected to the water flow path solenoid and the syrup flow path solenoid. 11. A method for dispensing a selected beverage flavor from a multi-flavor valve, the multi-flavor valve having a water flow path solenoid and at least three syrup flow path solenoids, the method comprising the steps of: opening the water flow path solenoid to dispense water along a water flow path, the amount of the water dispensed from the water flow path based in-part on a first cylinder orifice flow area, wherein an increase of fluid pressure of the water reduces the first cylinder orifice flow area;opening one of the at least three syrup flow path solenoids corresponding to the selected beverage flavor for a predetermined time period to dispense the selected beverage flavor along a syrup flow path, the amount of the selected beverage flavor dispensed from the syrup flow path based in-part on a second cylinder orifice flow area;closing the one of the at least three syrup flow path solenoids after the selected beverage flavor has been dispensed; andclosing the water flow path solenoid after another predetermined period after the one of the at least three syrup flow path solenoids has been closed,wherein the water flow path solenoid and the at least three syrup flow path solenoids are powered initially by a first amount of current to raise a plunger from a resting position and are powered subsequently by a second amount of current smaller than the first amount of current to keep the plunger in a raised position. 12. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of opening the water flow path solenoid occurs prior to the step of opening one of the at least three syrup flow path solenoids. 13. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of closing the one of the at least three syrup flow path solenoids occurs before the step of closing the water flow path solenoid. 14. The method recited in claim 11, further comprising: isolating the water flow path and the syrup flow path. 15. The method recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of housing the water flow path solenoid, the water flow path, the at least three syrup flow path solenoids, and the syrup flow path within a valve body having a nozzle. 16. The method recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of flushing the nozzle with the water after the one of the at least three syrup flow path solenoids has been closed. 17. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of closing the water flow path solenoid occurs approximately 160 milliseconds after the step of closing the one of the at least three syrup flow path solenoids. 18. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the second amount of current comprises a pulsed current.