Beverage dispenser with serving time monitor

Abstract

A switch, mounted on a standard beverage tap, provides an electrical signal indicating when beverage is being dispensed into a serving container. The electrical signal is applied to a monitor which measures the period of time that the beverage flows from the tap. As beverage dispensing occurs, a series of steps are taken which determine from the time measurements whether the dispensing is proceeding into one container, is complete, is part of a continuous pour into several containers or has been completed with a subsequent single container pouring operation occurring. That determination is based on whether the period of time is within a range indicative of dispensing the beverage into a single serving container. When that determination is made a serving container count is incremented. The monitor also uses the measured time period to detect when the tap is opened for longer than the typical time required to fill a single beverage container. In response to that detection, a numerical estimate is made of how many serving containers were filled while the beverage tap was open and the numerical estimate is added to the serving container count. The measured time that the tap was open also is employed to calculate the quantity of beverage that has been dispensed.