US-12617665-B2 - Adapter for beverage dispenser

US12617665B2US 12617665 B2US12617665 B2US 12617665B2US-12617665-B2

Abstract

The adapter of the present disclosure includes a circuit board with a processor and a switch thereon and a reader or transceiver connected to the board. With the adapter, a technician can retrofit an existing beverage machine to upgrade the dispensing and payment systems associated therewith. Existing beverage machines include a locking circuit that is key-enabled. This circuit allows an owner or technician to selectively allow and prevent beverage and/or ice from being dispensed. A technician can install the adapter of the present disclosure into the existing locking circuit. The board and transceiver of the adapter will detect when a user is authorized to obtain beverages, and close the circuit to enable this. To dispense beverage and/or ice, a user will present a valid credential to the board and transceiver. When no authorized user provides a valid credential, no beverage can be dispensed. The adapter can use a number of communication technologies to determine authorization. The adapter of the present disclosure can also include or work in conjunction with a mobile app on a user's device, that can check with a server to ensure that the user has paid for the beverage. A method of operating a beverage dispensing machine and retrofitting a beverage dispensing machine is also provided.

Inventors

James Wallace BROWN
Roger Boydstun

Assignees

WELBILT FOODSERVICE COMPANIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240118

Claims (19)

1 . A beverage dispensing machine, comprising: a powered line; a neutral line; a valve connected to each of the powered line and the neutral line; a beverage dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the valve; a circuit board, wherein the circuit board comprises a switch and a processor thereon, and a reader connected thereto, and wherein the powered line is connected to the circuit board at a first point, and the neutral line is connected to the circuit board at a second point; an electrical circuit comprising the valve, the powered line, the neutral line, the circuit board, and the switch; and a splash panel, wherein the beverage dispensing nozzle is on a first side of the splash panel, and the circuit board with the switch and processor thereon is connected to a second side of the splash panel that is opposite the first side, wherein the reader is configured to read a credential provided by a user, wherein the processor is configured to receive the credential from the reader and compare the credential to a set of approved credentials, wherein if the credential matches one of the approved credentials, the processor is configured to set the switch to a closed position, thereby closing the electrical circuit and allowing beverage to flow through the valve and the beverage dispensing nozzle, and wherein if the credential does not match one of the approved credentials or no credential is presented to the reader, the processor is configured to set the switch to an open position, thereby opening the electrical circuit and not allowing beverage to flow through the valve and the beverage dispensing nozzle.
2 . The beverage dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the reader is enabled with a technology selected from the group consisting of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optical readers, and any combinations thereof.
3 . The beverage dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the reader is an optical reader.
4 . The beverage dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the reader is configured to read one- or two-dimensional codes, and the credential is a one- or two-dimensional code.
5 . The beverage dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the reader is removably connected to the circuit board.
6 . A method of operating a beverage dispensing machine, the machine comprising: a powered line; a neutral line; a valve connected to each of the powered line and the neutral line; a beverage dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the valve; a circuit board, wherein the circuit board comprises a switch and a processor thereon, and a reader connected thereto, and wherein the powered line is connected to the circuit board at a first point, and the neutral line is connected to the circuit board at a second point; an electrical circuit comprising the valve, the powered line, the neutral line, the circuit board, and the switch; and a splash panel, wherein the beverage dispensing nozzle is on the first side of the splash panel, and the circuit board with the switch and processor thereon is connected to a second side of the splash panel that is opposite the first side, the method comprising the steps of: presenting a credential to the reader; communicating the credential from the reader to the processor; comparing the credential to a to a set of approved credentials; if the credential matches one of the approved credentials, setting set the switch to a closed position, thereby closing the electrical circuit and allowing beverage to flow through the valve and the beverage dispensing nozzle; and if the credential does not match one of the approved credentials, setting the switch to an open position, thereby opening the electrical circuit and not allowing beverage to flow through the valve and the beverage dispensing nozzle.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the reader is enabled with a technology selected from the group consisting of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optical readers, and any combinations thereof.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the reader is an optical reader.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the reader is configured to read one- or two-dimensional codes, and the credential is a one- or two-dimensional code.
10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the setting of the switch to a closed position comprises setting the switch to a closed position for a set period of time.
11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the setting of the switch to a closed position comprises setting the switch to a closed position for a set period of time of from five to ten seconds, and the method further comprises the step of: setting the switch to the open position after the set period of time has elapsed.
12 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the beverage dispensing machine has a one- or two-dimensional code displayed thereon, and the method further comprises the steps of, before the presenting a credential step: scanning the with a user device; obtaining a token with the user device from a website, wherein the token is the credential presented to the reader.
13 . The method of claim 6 , the method further comprising the step of, before the comparing step: adding additional data to the credential with the processor after the communicating step.
14 . A method of retrofitting a beverage dispensing machine, the machine comprising: a powered line; a neutral line; a valve connected to each of the powered line and the neutral line; a beverage dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the valve; and a keyport, wherein each of the powered line and the neutral line are connected to the keyport, wherein the keyport has a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the powered line, the neutral line, the valve, and the beverage dispensing nozzle complete a first circuit, and in the second position, the first circuit is disrupted, the method comprising the steps of: disconnecting each of the powered line and the neutral line from the keyport; connecting the powered line to a circuit board at a first point; connecting the neutral line to the circuit board at a second point, wherein the circuit board has a switch thereon and a reader connected thereto; and forming a second circuit comprising the valve, the powered line, the neutral line, the circuit board, and the switch, wherein the reader is configured to read a credential provided by a user, wherein the processor is configured to receive the credential from the reader and compare the credential to a set of approved credentials, wherein if the credential matches one of the approved credentials, the processor is configured to set the switch to a closed position, thereby closing the second circuit and allowing beverage to flow through the valve and the beverage dispensing nozzle, and wherein if the credential does not match one of the approved credentials or no credential is presented to the reader, the processor is configured to set the switch to an open position, thereby opening the second circuit and not allowing beverage to flow through the valve and the beverage dispensing nozzle.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the beverage dispending machine further comprises a splash panel, wherein the beverage dispensing nozzle is on a first side of the splash panel, and the circuit board is connected to a second side of the splash panel that is opposite the first side.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the reader is enabled with a technology selected from the group consisting of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optical readers, and any combinations thereof.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the reader is an optical reader.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the reader is configured to read one- or two-dimensional codes, and the credential is a one- or two-dimensional code.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the reader is removably connected to the circuit board.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/439,629, filed on Jan. 18, 2023, which is herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to an adapter for and method of retrofitting beverage dispensers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an adapter including a switch that prevents a beverage from being dispensed unless a customer presents a credential that actuates the switch, allowing for the beverage to be dispensed. 2. Discussion of the Related Art Beverage machines are used in restaurants, fast food establishments, convenience stores, and other businesses. They allow a customer to place a cup under a spout to receive a beverage. Typically, the customer will push the cup against a lever or switch, and the beverage machine will allow for a beverage to be dispensed into the cup. The beverage is typically a mixture of fluids, such as water, carbonated water, and/or flavor syrups. These beverage machines may commonly be known as “carbonated soft drink”, or CSD machines. Most of the existing beverage machines use disposable paper or plastic cups. There is an increasing desire to do away with disposable cups and move toward dispensers that work with reusable cups. Further, the business owners where beverage machines are used increasingly want a system of flexible payment, such as eliminating the need for a cash register transaction. However, there are thousands of beverage machines in the field that do not have the ability to be modernized in this way. Owners would therefore have to replace these machines entirely. The present disclosure addresses these issues. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure provides an adapter or assembly that allows existing, conventional beverage machines to be adapted for more desirable qualities. Beverage machines have a feature that may be known as a “key switch”. As discussed in greater detail below, the key switch includes a key port that is typically on an external side of the beverage machine, wiring that is in communication with the valves in the machine that allow the beverage to be dispensed, and a switch. The key port allows a technician or owner to insert a key and selectively activate and disrupt the circuit that allows for the beverage to be dispensed. When the key port is in a first position, the circuit is closed and a customer can fill a cup. When the key is in the second position, the circuit is broken, the electrical signal to the valves that dispense the beverage is disrupted, and the machine does not allow for beverages to be dispensed. The adapter of the present disclosure takes advantage of this feature of current beverage machines and provides a cost-effective way to retrofit the beverage machine for more advanced features. The adapter accesses the existing key switch circuit on beverage machines. The adapter comprises a circuit board, a processor with a program stored thereon, a splash panel, a transceiver or reader (hereinafter “reader” to distinguish from whatever credential the user provides, discussed below) on or in communication with the circuit board, and terminals to connect to the key switch of the machine. The reader can pair with a credential provided by a customer. The reader can detect a valid credential, thus activating the valves for a period of time to allow the paid customer to dispense ice and beverage. If no credential is presented to the reader (for example if a customer attempted to fill a plastic or paper cup), no beverage and/or ice can be dispensed. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a beverage dispensing machine, comprising: a powered line; a neutral line; a valve connected to each of the powered line and the neutral line; a beverage dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the valve; a circuit board, wherein the powered line is connected to the circuit board at a first point, and the neutral line is connected to the circuit board at a second point; a switch on the circuit board; a reader connected to the circuit board; an electrical circuit comprising the valve, the powered line, the neutral line, the circuit board, and the switch; and a processor on the circuit board. The reader is configured to read a credential provided by a user. The processor is configured to receive the credential from the reader and compare the credential to a set of approved credentials. If the credential matches one of the approved credentials, the processor is configured to set the switch to a closed position, thereby closing the electrical circuit and allowing beverage to flow through the valve and the beverage dispensing nozzle. If the credential does not match one of the approved credentials or no credential is presented to the reader, the processor is configured to set the switch to an open position, thereby opening the