Method and apparatus for controlling agitation of a cooling fluid bath for a drink dispenser

摘要

A drink dispenser includes a housing defining a chamber that contains a cooling fluid therein. A refrigeration unit is disposed within the housing. The refrigeration unit includes an evaporator coil extending into the cooling fluid such that a frozen cooling fluid bank forms about the evaporator coil. An agitator is disposed within the housing. The agitator extends into the cooling fluid for circulating the cooling fluid about the frozen cooling fluid bank. Dispensing valves mounted onto the housing dispense drinks from the drink dispenser. An electronic control system is disposed within the housing. The electronic control system is coupled with the agitator such that the electronic control system cycles the agitator between an agitator on period and an agitator off period. Cycling the agitator between an agitator on period and an agitator off period promotes stable growth of the frozen cooling fluid bank.

主权项

1. A method for controlling agitation of a cooling fluid bath in a drink dispenser, comprising the steps of:
coupling an electrical input of an electronic control system with a power source to distribute power throughout the drink dispenser; during an activation step, simultaneously activating an agitator and activating an agitator ON timer using the electronic control system; when the agitator ON timer expires initiating a deactivation step; during said deactivation step, simultaneously deactivating the agitator and activating an agitator OFF timer using the electronic control system; when the agitator OFF timer expires initiating the activation step; and cycling the agitator using the electronic control system between the activation step and deactivation step for the entire duration the electrical input of the electronic control system remains coupled with the power source.