| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 222054000 | Temperature responsive or soluble controller | 19 |
| 20080230558 | DUAL HOPPER FROZEN FOOD DISPENSER AND METHODS - A food dispensing apparatus includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispense aperture, a hopper, an accumulator assembly, a weighing system, and a flap door. The hopper is positioned in the cabinet and configured to hold food articles. The accumulator assembly is positioned vertically below the first hopper and includes an accumulator bin and a door assembly. The accumulator door is positioned in the cabinet and arranged to receive food articles dispensed from the first hopper. The door assembly is configured to retain the food articles in the accumulator bin and is actuatable between an open position and a closed position. The weighing system is configured to determine an amount of food articles held in the accumulator bin. The flap door is positioned adjacent to the door assembly and is movable between a closed position substantially sealing closed the cabinet dispense aperture, and an open position. The flap door automatically closes upon actuation of the door assembly into the closed position. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20090145923 | INFERENTIAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM - A system manages the temperature of thermoplastic material by initiating a default heating cycle in response to a sensor failure. The system may thus continue to heat the thermoplastic material according to the default heating cycle until the sensor can be repaired or replaced. A system controller implements the default heating cycle using a stored profile. That is, the controller causes a heating element to generate heat according to a default heating profile retrieved from a memory. The profile may be determined using historical heating data, user input and/or a factory setting. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20100176149 | ASSEMBLY FOR DISPENSING BEVERAGE - An assembly for dispensing a beverage includes a collapsible beverage container having an outlet with a connecting element; a pressure chamber configured to accommodate the beverage container and including a lid; a heat transfer system operable on the pressure chamber; a pressure source operable to provide a predetermined pressure to the interior of the pressure chamber; and a dispensing line connectable with the outlet of the beverage container so as to extend from the outlet through an opening in the lid to a dispensing tap. The beverage is dispensed by providing the predetermined pressure to the interior of the pressure chamber and the beverage container therein. As the dispensing line is opened at the dispensing tap, the beverage container collapses in response to the applied pressure, forcing the beverage into the dispensing line and out the tap without being supplied with or being in contact with any gas. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20110036861 | LIQUID DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL - The present invention provides an on-demand liquid cooling/heating system, comprising: a liquid outlet for dispensing liquid to a user; a conduit system for flow communication between a liquid reservoir and the liquid outlet; a temperature control device disposed in the conduit system for controlling the temperature of liquid flowing therethrough, and comprising a thermoelectric temperature control device linked to an electric power source and to a control module for controlling the operation of the temperature control device; and a sensor for sensing liquid demand and for activating the temperature control module upon sensing a demand. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20120024892 | FUEL OR DEF DISPENSER HAVING FLUID TEMPERATURE CONDITIONING AND CONTROL SYSTEM - A fluid dispenser comprising a housing in which fluid flow control components are located and a fluid conduit completing a fluid flow path between a fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The fluid dispenser further comprises a control system, at least one controllable valve in and a fluid flow meter located along the fluid flow path. The fluid dispenser further comprises a fluid temperature conditioning subsystem located along the fluid flow path upstream of the flow meter. The control system is selectively operates the fluid temperature conditioning subsystem upon detection of a predetermined temperature. At least one controllable recirculation valve may also be provided, and the control system may selectively actuate the controllable recirculation valve such that the fluid flows back to the fluid storage tank. A method of measuring the flow rate of a fluid in the fluid dispenser is also disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20130146614 | Heatable Personal Lubricant Dispensor - A personal lubricant dispenser includes an enclosure, a pre-delivery chamber, one or more heating elements proximate to the pre-delivery chamber, an electrical connector disposed on an exterior of the enclosure and electrically connected to the heating elements, an inlet cavity disposed above the pre-delivery chamber, a piercing element attached to the inlet cavity, a inlet valve (normally closed) connecting the inlet cavity to the pre-delivery chamber, a inlet actuator disposed on the exterior of the enclosure and operably connected to the inlet valve to open the inlet valve, an outlet cavity disposed below the pre-delivery chamber, an outlet valve (normally closed) connecting the outlet cavity to the pre-delivery chamber, an outlet actuator disposed on the exterior of the enclosure and operably connected to the outlet valve to open the outlet valve, and a spout disposed on or within the exterior of the enclosure and connected to the outlet cavity. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20140014683 | HOT MELT DISPENSING UNIT AND METHOD WITH INTEGRATED FLOW CONTROL - A hot melt adhesive dispensing unit includes an adhesive supply for receiving solid or semi-solid hot melt adhesive material, an adhesive supply heater associated with the adhesive supply for melting the solid or semi-solid hot melt adhesive material into a liquid hot melt adhesive material, a manifold connected to the adhesive supply, a pump connected to the manifold for pumping the liquid hot melt adhesive from the adhesive supply into the manifold, a controller connected to the adhesive supply heater and the pump, and a user interface connected to the controller. The user interface is for providing information about and control over heating and pumping functions of the hot melt adhesive dispensing unit, and the controller controls the adhesive supply heater and the pump. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140166693 | INTEGRATED MATERIAL TRANSFER AND DISPENSING SYSTEM - An integrated material transfer and dispensing system for storing, transferring and dispensing materials, such as fluids and liquids, for example, liquid applied sound deadener (LASD). The system includes at least one vessel having a force transfer device. Each vessel may be removably enclosed in cabinet to form an automated station. Each vessel may be configured with a data logger, cleanout port, a sample valve at least one sight window and an access port for introducing a compound such as a biocide. Each vessel may be configured with instruments including sensors for measuring process variables, such as material volume, level, temperature, pressure and flow. The system may further include a metering device system and a robotic material dispenser system without a pump interface. The robotic system may further include a computer control system connected to flow and pressure sensors. The system may directly feed an applicator without an intervening pump. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140183220 | MULTI-BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE - An instant drink vending machine is described. The instant drink vending machine has a water supply system for obtaining mixed warm water with a temperature selected among a set of pre-determined temperatures comprised between an upper and a lower value corresponding to temperatures of hot water and cold water to be mixed, said system including thermostatic shape memory alloy devices. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140190990 | WATER DISPENSER - A Sabbath compliant water dispenser, which comprises a hot water chamber, a heating element that is positioned in the hot water chamber for heating a body of water which is retained within the hot water chamber and a tap, through which hot water is dispensable. The water dispenser is controlled by a controller which is operable in a Sabbath mode to command the heating element to maintain the body of water at an essentially constant temperature which is near to scalding temperature and to command introduction of unheated water into the hot water chamber, when a low water level condition is detected. This way, overheating of the heating element is prevented, while also preventing the introduced, water from being dispensed. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140203040 | Adhesive Melter Having Pump Mounted Into Heated Housing - A melter includes a heater unit for melting adhesive, a reservoir for receiving melted adhesive from the heater unit, and a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and located within a heated housing. The heated housing heats the pump during startup and regular operation of the adhesive melter, thereby reducing delays in operation caused by slow warming of adhesive within the pump. The heated housing may be a manifold in fluid communication with the reservoir and with fluid outlets in some embodiments, but the heated housing may also be a separate heat block. In either type of embodiment, the pump is configured to be inserted cartridge-style into the heated housing and held in position using a single locking fastener. Additional elements such as insulating external housings and mounting hooks may also be used to further encourage conductive heat transfer into the structure surrounding the pump. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140263429 | Spout With A Valve For Dispensing Liquor From A Bottle - A pour spout has a bottle adapter for insertion into a mouth of a bottle. A housing has a chamber into which a housing inlet and a housing outlet open with the housing inlet connected to the bottle adapter for receiving beverage from the bottle. A valve carriage is movable within the chamber and has a carriage inlet in fluid communication with a carriage outlet. A resilient first tube provides a first beverage passageway between the housing inlet and the carriage inlet. A resilient second tube provides a second beverage passageway between carriage outlet and the housing outlet. The first or second tube has a valve seat that is engaged and disengaged by a plunger on the valve carriage as the valve carriage moves within the chamber. A valve actuator moves the valve carriage in response to signal from a control circuit that receives a wireless command signal. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140263430 | POUR SPOUT DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE FOR DISPENSING LIQUID FROM A CONTAINER - A pour spout for dispensing a beverage from a bottle including a bottle adapter for attaching to a bottle to receive a beverage from the bottle, a housing having a chamber into which a housing inlet and a housing outlet open, the housing inlet connected to the bottle adapter for receiving the beverage, a valve carriage moveably received within the chamber and having a carriage passage, a resilient first tube providing a first passageway for beverage to flow from the housing inlet to the carriage passage, a resilient second tube providing a second passageway for beverage to flow from the carriage passage to the housing outlet, a valve operatively connected to the valve carriage to control flow of the beverage through the housing from the housing inlet to the housing outlet; and a valve actuator for moving the valve carriage within the chamber to operate the valve open or closed. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20150317863 | Dispenser of Ingredients For The Self-Preparation Of Food At A Sales Point - The invention relates to a dispenser of ingredients for the self-preparation of food at a sales point, such as “esquites” (grilled corn) and “frijoles charros” (cowboy beans), the dispenser including a container having an essentially conical geometry, an automatic heat control device, a level sensor, a filling pump and an endless screw with a cylindrical cover that allows the projection of a certain amount of solid ingredients and the reduction of the quantity of liquid with which the main solid ingredient is served. The dispenser also includes a driving unit that drives the endless screw, a supporting structure, a central computer with units for communication with the internet, and spouts for additional seasoning, ingredients and flavoring. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150321896 | BEER SERVER - A compact, inexpensive, and low-power-consumption beer server that controls beer temperature at nearly 0° C. and prevents the beer from freezing. The beer server includes a beer tank | 11-12-2015 |
| 20160016777 | WATER DISPENSER - A water dispenser includes: a heater for heating drinking water in a hot water tank; a circulation route through which drinking water is circulated by way of the hot water tank; a pump provided in the circulation route; and a control device. During sterilization operation, the control device carries out a heater control in which the heater is turned on and off when the temperature in the hot water tank falls below a lower limit, and increased to an upper limit, respectively, concurrently with an intermittent pump drive control in which the pump is deactivated while the temperature in the hot water tank is lower than the lower limit, and driven continuously for a predetermined period of time when the temperature in the hot water tank is increased to the lower limit by the heater control. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160045062 | LIQUID HEATING APPARATUS AND OPERATING METHODS - An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined volume of a warm liquid includes a heater, a pump and a temperature sensor sensitive to the temperature of the liquid upstream of the heater. A controller is arranged to receive upstream temperature data from the temperature sensor, calculate the amount of energy required to reach a desired final temperature, energize the heater for a calculated period of ON time, and dispense liquid for a calculated period of time that is at least partly contemporaneous with the calculated period of ON time. After the heater has been de-energized, the dispensed liquid removes residual heat so that the average temperature after dispensing the predetermined volume is the desired final temperature. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160052209 | HEATING CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A heating control apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The heating control apparatus includes a heating module, a temperature sensing module, a pulse width modulation circuit, and a comparator. Input terminals of the comparator are respectively coupled to the temperature sensing module and the pulse width modulation circuit, and an output terminal of the comparator is coupled to the heating module. In the control method, a heating temperature of the heating module is sensed by the temperature sensing module, so as to provide a temperature sensing signal. The comparator receives the temperature sensing signal and a pulse width modulation signal generated by the pulse width modulation circuit and compares the temperature sensing signal and the pulse width modulation signal to generate a comparing pulse width modulation signal, so as to control the heating temperature of the heating module by using the comparing pulse width modulation signal. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20180020710 | TASTE SUBSTANCE-SUPPLYING ARTICLE | 01-25-2018 |
