Adaptive beater and scraper speed control for frozen product dispensers

摘要

A controller for a drive motor for a scraper of a frozen product dispenser operates the drive motor to rotate the scraper at selected ones of a plurality of different speeds within a freeze barrel of the dispenser, in accordance with the values of sensed operating parameters of the dispenser. The arrangement provides for rotation of the scraper at speeds appropriate for, but no greater than required for, the then existent operating condition of the dispenser.

主权项

1. A frozen product dispenser, comprising:
a freeze barrel; means for delivering liquid product to said freeze barrel; a refrigeration system operable in a chilling cycle to freeze product in said freeze barrel and in a defrost cycle to defrost product in said freeze barrel; a scraper in said freeze barrel; means for rotating said scraper in said freeze barrel; means for sensing values of at least two different operating parameters of said refrigeration system; and an adaptive control responsive to the sensed values of the at least two different operating parameters of said refrigeration system for controlling said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at at least two different greater than zero fixed speeds; wherein: said refrigeration system has a compressor that is cycled on and off in operation of said refrigeration system; the product is a beverage product; said means for delivering liquid product to said freeze barrel comprises means for delivering to said freeze barrel a beverage syrup from a source of beverage syrup and a diluent for the syrup from a source of diluent; and including means for carbonating the beverage product with carbonating gas from a source of carbonating gas; wherein said adaptive control is responsive to: a first one of said operating parameters comprising said refrigeration system operating in a defrost cycle to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a first speed; a second one of said operating parameters comprising said compressor being on, except during a defrost cycle of said refrigeration system, to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a second speed; a third one of said operating parameters comprising said compressor being off, except upon occurrence of exhaustion of a source of anyone of the syrup, diluent and carbonating gas, to operate said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a third speed; and a fourth one of said operating parameters comprising the exhaustion of a source of anyone of the syrup, diluent and carbonating gas to control said means for rotating to rotate said scraper in said freeze barrel at a fourth speed.