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:
Mar. 04, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 23, 2004
Michael R Duck, Middle Sackville, CA;
Garth C. Illsley, Kentville, CA;
Charles Jollymore, Upper Sackville, CA;
Ian Maclean, Bridgewater, CA;
Kevin Stoneman, Lower Sackville, CA;
Dzung Tran, Hammonds Plains, CA;
Avery Wilson, Middle Sackville, CA;
Kim Kanigan, Stillwater Lake, CA;
Michael R Duck, Middle Sackville, CA;
Garth C. Illsley, Kentville, CA;
Charles Jollymore, Upper Sackville, CA;
Ian MacLean, Bridgewater, CA;
Kevin Stoneman, Lower Sackville, CA;
Dzung Tran, Hammonds Plains, CA;
Avery Wilson, Middle Sackville, CA;
Kim Kanigan, Stillwater Lake, CA;
A.C. Dispensing Equipment, Inc., Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, CA;
Abstract
A concentrated flavour dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a few millilitres and few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is in direct fluid communication with a respective storage tank, and a control panel having a programmable microprocessor mounted to the cabinet for receiving user selections and controlling each individual pump. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod for advancing a piston by any one of several predetermined distances to dispense a corresponding volume of fluid. The control panel receives a valid user selection for actuating one or more pumps to dispense the appropriate volume of a concentrated flavouring fluid. The microprocessor tracks the amount of fluid dispensed from each storage tank and alerts users and/or prevents further operation when reservoirs are close to empty to avoid null dispenses to customers. Various maintenance routines can be executed through the user interface, and dispense volumes and combination dispenses can be re-programmed manually or automatically.