Method and system for measuring ingredients in a container of a beverage dispenser

Abstract

A system for measuring an ingredient in a container of a beverage dispenser includes a scale having a base with the container supported on the base. The ingredient has a recipe weight equal to a weight of a total amount of the ingredient that will be dispensed into the container and an in-flight weight that is equal to a weight of the ingredient that has left the dispenser but is not yet supported within the container so that it is detected by the scale. A dispenser controller subtracts the in-flight weight parameter from the recipe weight to calculate a target weight of ingredient within the beverage container, thereby controlling the activation or deactivation of the ingredient dispenser(s).

1 . A system for measuring an amount of an ingredient in a container of a beverage dispenser comprising:
 a weighing device comprising a base portion and weight measuring assembly, wherein said container is disposed on said base portion;   an ingredient dispenser that dispenses said ingredient into said container in an amount equal to a predetermined recipe weight; and   a dispenser controller which monitors an actual weight of said ingredient actually disposed within said container as detected by said weighing device, and determines if said actual weight meets or exceeds a predetermined target weight, so as to activate or deactivate said ingredient dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said target weight is determined by subtracting an in-flight weight of said ingredient from a recipe weight. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said recipe weight is equal to a total amount of said ingredient that is to be dispensed into the container per the selected recipe. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said in-flight weight is equal to a weight of the ingredient that has left said ingredient dispenser but has not yet been received by said container and is not measured by said weighing device as part of said target weight. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said weighing device is a scale. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion is connected to said weight measuring assembly, wherein said weight measuring assembly comprises a cantilever beam having a first end connected to said base portion and a second end, opposite said first end, connected to a strain gauge that measures a deflection of said cantilever beam to calculate said actual weight of said ingredient disposed within said container. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a bottom portion, a top portion and a wall disposed between said bottom portion and said top portion, wherein said top portion is open for receiving said ingredient. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a mixer that extends through an aperture in said bottom portion of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said mixer extends through an aperture in said base portion of said weighing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said dispenser controller prohibits said mixer from mixing during activation of said ingredient dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing a recipe weight equal to a weight of a total amount of an ingredient that will be dispensed into a container and an in-flight weight that is equal to a weight of said ingredient that has left an ingredient dispensing assembly but is not yet supported within said container so that it is detected by a scale; and   calculating a target weight that is equal to a difference of said recipe weight and said in-flight weight.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing said scale having a base with said container supported on said base and said ingredient dispensing assembly that dispenses said ingredient into said container. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising selecting a recipe for a beverage that includes said ingredient. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising detecting a detected weight of said container that is empty by said scale. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising detecting whether said detected weight is within a predetermined weight of an empty container limit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising recording said detected weight in a memory. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising activating said ingredient dispensing assembly dispensing said ingredient into said container, and detecting a dispensed weight of said container and said ingredient while said ingredient is being dispensed into said container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising determining if said dispensed weight minus said detected weight is greater than said target weight. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising deactivating said ingredient dispensing assembly to stop said dispense of said ingredient into said container if said dispensed weight minus said detected weight is greater than said target weight. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , determining whether said recipe includes another ingredient to be dispensed into said container. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising detecting a new value of a weight of said container with said ingredient therein after waiting a predetermined in-flight time delay after deactivating said ingredient dispensing assembly to stop said dispense of said ingredient into said container. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said dispensed weight is a plurality of dispensed weights taken over a predetermined period of time that are averaged to calculate an average sample weight. 
     
     
         23 . A method for preparing a beverage comprising:
 selecting a beverage recipe having at least one ingredient;   determining if a container for dispensing ingredient according to said recipe is empty;   if container is empty, then determining a target weight of said ingredient to be dispensed into said container according to said recipe as the difference between a recipe weight and in-flight weight of said ingredient;   energizing a pump or valve to dispense said ingredient into said container;   monitoring said target weight as said ingredient is dispensed into said container; and   de-energizing said pump or valve when said target weight of said ingredient is reached or exceeded.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising energizing said pump or valve to dispense a second ingredient into said container; monitoring said target weight for said second ingredient being dispensed into said container; and de-energizing said pump or valve when said target weight of said ingredient is reached or exceeded.