The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 06, 2007
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2005
Timothy W. Bethuy, New Fairfield, CT (US);
Andrew D. Nelson, Appleton, WI (US);
Gary Blank, Neenah, WI (US);
Anthony V. Salsich, Appleton, WI (US);
Timothy W. Bethuy, New Fairfield, CT (US);
Andrew D. Nelson, Appleton, WI (US);
Gary Blank, Neenah, WI (US);
Anthony V. Salsich, Appleton, WI (US);
PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, NY (US);
Abstract
A beverage dispenser for filling a container preferably has a nozzle through which the beverage is discharged and a pivoting lever located underneath the nozzle that detects the placement of a container so as to regulate the actuation of the dispenser. A conductive probe is in line with the discharged beverage stream, the lever also being conductive. A signal generator generates a varying-over-time signal that is applied to the probe or lever. As a result of beverage overflowing the container, the beverage stream establishes a conductive path between the probe and lever. The signal through this conductive path is compared to the signal produced by the signal generator. If the signals are substantially identical for a select period of time, the dispensing system is considered to be in an overflow state, and beverage dispensing is terminated.