Monitoring pump speeds of peristaltic pumps

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring and calibrating pump speeds in a beverage dispensing system. A first signal associated with an electrical current supplied to a motor driving a pump may be received and a speed of the pump may be determined. A second signal may be determined based on the first signal and the speed of the pump. Electrical current may be supplied to the motor driving the pump based on the second signal. Additional feedback mechanisms and calibration processes may further reduce dispensing error associated with the pump, enhancing accuracy and reliability of the beverage dispensing system for consistent beverage preparation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . One or more computing devices, comprising one or more processors, configured to:
 receive a first signal associated with an electrical current supplied to a motor driving a pump;   determine a speed of the pump;   determine, based on the first signal and the speed of the pump, a second signal; and   supply, based on the second signal, the electrical current to the motor driving the pump.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         3 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to dispense, by the peristaltic pump, fluid into a mixing chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 1 , wherein determining the second signal comprises amplifying the first signal. 
     
     
         5 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 1 , wherein determining the second signal comprises filtering the first signal. 
     
     
         6 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to identify one or more events associated with the first signal. 
     
     
         7 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more events comprise positive slope zero crossings. 
     
     
         8 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more events comprise changes in current draw associated with roller compressions of the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 1 , wherein the speed of the pump is a rotational speed. 
     
     
         10 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 1 , wherein the speed of the pump is determined based on an occurrence of one or more events over a period of time. 
     
     
         11 . The one or more computing devices of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine, based on the first signal, a flow rate associated with the speed of the pump. 
     
     
         12 . A method performed by one or more computing devices, the method comprising:
 receiving a first signal associated with an electrical current supplied to a motor driving a pump;   determining a speed of the pump;   determining a second signal based on the first signal and the speed of the pump; and   supplying, based on the second signal, the electrical current to the motor driving the pump.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising dispensing, by the peristaltic pump, fluid into a mixing chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the second signal comprises amplifying the first signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the second signal comprises filtering the first signal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising identifying one or more events associated with the first signal. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory coupled with the one or more processors, the memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to effectuate operations comprising:
 receiving a first signal associated with an electrical current supplied to a motor driving a pump; 
 determining a speed of the pump; 
 determining a second signal based on the first signal and the speed of the pump; and 
 supplying, based on the second signal, the electrical current to the motor driving the pump. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein fluid is dispensed by the pump into a mixing chamber.