Adaptive beater and scraper speed control for frozen product dispensers

Abstract

A controller for a drive motor for a scraper of a frozen product dispenser operates the drive motor to rotate the scraper at selected ones of a plurality of different speeds within a freeze barrel of the dispenser, in accordance with the values of sensed operating parameters of the dispenser. The arrangement provides for rotation of the scraper at speeds appropriate for, but no greater than required for, the then existent operating condition of the dispenser.

1 . A frozen product dispenser, comprising:
 a freeze barrel;   means for delivering liquid product to said freeze barrel;   a refrigeration system operable in a chilling cycle to freeze product in said freeze barrel and in a defrost cycle to defrost product in said freeze barrel;   a scraper in said freeze barrel;   means for rotating said scraper in said freeze barrel;   means for sensing the values of a plurality of different operating parameters of said frozen product dispenser; and   an adaptive control responsive to the sensed values of the operating parameters of said frozen product dispenser for controlling said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a selected one of at least two different speeds.   
   
   
       2 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein said adaptive control is responsive to:
 said refrigeration system operating in a chilling cycle to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a first speed, and   said refrigeration system operating in a defrost cycle to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a second and different speed.   
   
   
       3 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein said refrigeration system has a compressor that is cycled on and off in operation of said refrigeration system, and wherein individual ones of said plurality of sensed operating parameters of said product dispenser comprise at least two of the compressor being on, the compressor being off, and exhaustion of a supply of liquid product for delivery to said freeze barrel. 
   
   
       4 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said refrigeration system has a compressor that is cycled on and off in operation of said refrigeration system;   the product is a beverage product;   said means for delivering liquid product to said freeze barrel comprises means for delivering to said freeze barrel a beverage syrup from a source of beverage syrup and a diluent for the syrup from a source of diluent; and   including means for carbonating the beverage product with carbonating gas from a source of carbonating gas.   
   
   
       5 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 4 , wherein said adaptive control is responsive to:
 said refrigeration system operating in a defrost cycle to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a first and relatively high speed;   said compressor being on, except during a defrost cycle of said refrigeration system, to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a second and relatively high speed;   said compressor being off, except upon occurrence of exhaustion of a source of any one of the syrup, diluent and carbonating gas, to operate said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a third and relatively low speed; and   exhaustion of a source of any one of the syrup, diluent and carbonating gas to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a fourth and relatively low speed.   
   
   
       6 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said first relatively high speed is at least equal to said second relatively high speed; and   said third relatively low speed is greater than said fourth relatively low speed.   
   
   
       7 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 5 , wherein said fourth relatively low speed is zero. 
   
   
       8 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 5 , wherein said first relatively high speed is greater than said second relatively high speed. 
   
   
       9 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein said adaptive control responsive to the sensed parameter values to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at selected ones of a plurality of different speeds that are in accordance with the then sensed values of the parameters of said frozen product dispenser, but at no faster a speed than is required for the then sensed values. 
   
   
       10 . A method of operating a frozen product dispenser, said method comprising the steps of:
 delivering liquid product to a freeze barrel of the dispenser;   operating a refrigeration system in a chilling cycle to freeze product in the freeze barrel and in a defrost cycle to defrost product in the freeze barrel;   sensing the values of a plurality of different operating parameters of the frozen product dispenser;   rotating a scraper in the freeze barrel; and   adaptively controlling, in response to the sensed values of the parameters, operation of said rotating step to rotate the scraper in the freeze barrel at a selected one of at least two different speeds.   
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein said adaptively controlling step is responsive to:
 the refrigeration system operating in a chilling cycle to control said rotating step to rotate the scraper in the freeze barrel at a first speed, and   the refrigeration system operating in a defrost cycle to control said rotating step to rotate the scraper in the freeze barrel at a second and different speed.   
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the refrigeration system has a compressor that is cycled on and off in operation of the refrigeration system, and wherein the sensed operating parameters include at least two of the compressor being on, the compressor being off, and exhaustion of a supply of liquid product for delivery to the freeze barrel. 
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the refrigeration system has a compressor that is cycled on and off in operation of the refrigeration system,   the product is a beverage product,   said delivering step comprises the steps of delivering to the freeze barrel a beverage syrup from a source of beverage syrup and a diluent for the syrup from a source of diluent; and   including the step of carbonating the beverage product with carbonating gas from a source of carbonating gas.   
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 13 , wherein said adaptive controlling step is responsive to:
 the refrigeration system operating in a defrost cycle to control said rotating step to rotate the scraper in the freeze barrel at a first and relatively high speed;   the compressor being on, except during a defrost cycle of the refrigeration system, to control said rotating step to rotate the scraper in the freeze barrel at a second and relatively high speed;   the compressor being off, except upon occurrence of exhaustion of a source of any one of the syrup, diluent and carbonating gas, to control said rotating step to rotate the scraper in the freeze barrel at a third and relatively low speed; and   exhaustion of a source of any one of the syrup, diluent and carbonating gas to control said rotating step to rotate the scraper in the freeze barrel at a fourth and relatively low speed.   
   
   
       15 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first relatively high speed is at least equal to the second relatively high speed; and   the third relatively low speed is greater than the fourth relatively low speed.   
   
   
       16 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the fourth relatively low speed is zero. 
   
   
       17 . A frozen product dispenser as in  claim 14 , wherein the first relatively high speed is greater than the second relatively high speed. 
   
   
       18 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein said adaptively controlling step is responsive to the sensed parameter values to control said rotating step to rotate the scraper in the freeze barrel at selected ones of a plurality of different speeds that are in accordance with the then sensed values of the parameters, but at no faster a speed than is required for the then sensed values.