Patent ID: 6600969
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: B67D,G07F

Abstract:
A method of dispensing a beverage from a beverage dispenser, comprising:providing a beverage dispenser, comprising: a dispensing valve, a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve, and an electronic control system, comprising: a microcontroller for controlling the valve interface, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve, and a program memory including a dispense state machine for controlling the microcontroller, wherein the dispense state machine includes a detect dispense state, a dispense state, a dispense over state, and a stop dispense state; calling the dispense state machine to assume control of the microcontroller; detecting in the detect dispense state whether a dispense has been requested; relinquishing control of the microcontroller when a dispense has not been requested; changing the dispense state machine from the detect dispense state to the dispense state upon the request of a dispense; relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the dispense state machine from the detect dispense state to the dispense state; activating in the dispense state the valve interface to deliver a beverage from the dispensing valve; changing the dispense state machine from the dispense state to the dispense over state upon the activation of the valve interface; relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the dispense state machine from the dispense state to the dispense over state; monitoring in the dispense over state when the valve interface requires deactivation; relinquishing control of the microcontroller as long as the valve interface does not require deactivation; changing the dispense state machine from the dispense over state to the stop dispense state when the valve interface requires deactivation; relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the dispense state machine from the dispense over state to the stop dispense state; deactivating in the stop dispense state the valve interface to stop delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve; changing the dispense state machine from the stop dispense state to the detect dispense state upon the deactivation of the valve interface; and relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the stop dispense state to the detect dispense state.