Method and apparatus for pump control

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location. The pump may be operated in a calibration period, and based on performance characteristics for the pump, an operation index may be assigned to the pump. The operation index may be used to control subsequent operation of the pump. For example, the operation index may be used to identify an operation time for the pump to deliver a predetermined volume of liquid. Performance characteristics used to determine the operation index may include a voltage supplied to the pump and/or a volume flow rate of the pump.

1 . A method for calibrating the operation of a pump used in a beverage forming machine, comprising: 
 providing a beverage forming machine including at least one pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location;    operating the pump for calibration purposes;    measuring a performance characteristic of the pump during operation; and    assigning an operation index to the pump based on the performance characteristic, the operation index being usable to control subsequent operation of the pump.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of measuring a performance characteristic includes determining at least one power supply characteristic of power supplied to the pump to cause the pump to operate for calibration purposes.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one power supply characteristic includes an integrated voltage supplied to the pump during operation of the pump.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of measuring a performance characteristic includes determining a volume flow rate for the pump during operation for calibration purposes.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performance characteristic includes an integrated voltage supplied to the pump and a total volume provided by the pump during operation of the pump for calibration purposes.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 determining an operation time for the pump to deliver a desired volume of liquid based on the operation index; and    causing the pump to operate for the operation time.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 determining a power supply characteristic of power supplied to the pump to cause the pump to operate during the operation time; and    wherein the step of determining an operation time comprises determining the operation time based on the operation index and the power supply characteristic of power supplied during the operation time.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining an operation time for the pump to deliver a desired volume of liquid based on the operation index; and    causing the pump to operate for the operation time.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 determining a power supply characteristic of power supplied to the pump to cause the pump to operate during the operation time; and    wherein the step of determining an operation time comprises determining the operation time based on the operation index and the power supply characteristic of power supplied to the pump during the operation time.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 using the operation index to identify within a lookup table a pump operation time to cause the pump to deliver a predetermined volume;    wherein the step of determining a power supply characteristic comprises determining a value representing an integrated voltage applied to the pump; and    the step of causing the pump to operate comprises stopping operation of the pump when the value equals the pump operation time.    
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling the operation of a pump used in a beverage forming machine, comprising: 
 providing a beverage forming machine including at least one pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location;    determining a power supply characteristic of power supplied to the pump to cause the pump to operate to deliver a predetermined volume of liquid;    determining an operation time for the pump based on the power supply characteristic to deliver the predetermined volume of liquid; and    operating the pump according to the determined operation time.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of determining the operation time comprises determining the operation time based on an operation index for the pump.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the power supply characteristic includes a voltage supplied to the pump during the operation time.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 operating the pump for calibration purposes;    measuring a performance characteristic of the pump during operation for calibration purposes; and    assigning the operation index to the pump based on the performance characteristic.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the performance characteristic includes a total volume delivered by the pump.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of assigning an operation index comprises assigning the operation index based on a power supply characteristic of power supplied to the pump during operation of the pump for calibration purposes.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 using the operation index to identify within a lookup table a pump operation time to cause the pump to deliver a predetermined volume.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 determining a value representing an integrated voltage applied to the pump during the operation time; and    stopping operation of the pump when the value equals the pump operation time.    
     
     
         19 . A beverage forming system comprising: 
 a beverage forming apparatus adapted to form a beverage at least in part from a liquid, the beverage forming apparatus including a pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location; and    a controller adapted to control the pump to operate for an operation time to deliver a predetermined volume of liquid from the first location to the second location, the controller determining the operation time for the pump based on voltage supplied to the pump during the operation time, and/or based on an operation index that represents an ability of the pump to provide a volume for given voltage supplied to the pump.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is adapted to cause the pump to operate during a calibration period, the controller determining a calibration time taken for the pump to deliver a measured volume of liquid during the calibration period and determining the operation index based on the calibration time.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is adapted to determine a value representing an integrated voltage provided to the pump during the calibration period, and determines the operation index based on the value.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller determines the operation time based on the operation index and voltage supplied to the pump during the operation time.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is adapted to use a lookup table to determine the operation time.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the beverage forming apparatus includes a storage tank and a metering tank, and wherein the pump provides a predetermined volume of water from the storage tank to the metering tank.  
     
     
         25 . A beverage forming system comprising: 
 a beverage forming apparatus adapted to form a beverage at least in part from a liquid, the beverage forming apparatus including a pump adapted to cause liquid to flow from a first location to a second location; and    a controller adapted to control the pump to operate based on an operation index to deliver a predetermined volume of liquid from the first location to the second location, the controller adapted to cause the pump to operate during a calibration period, the controller determining the operation index based on a performance characteristic of the pump during the calibration period, the operation index being usable to control subsequent operation of the pump.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the performance characteristic includes a calibration time taken for the pump to deliver a measured volume of liquid during the calibration period.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the performance characteristic includes a calibration voltage provided to the pump during the calibration period, the calibration voltage representing an integrated voltage provided to the pump during the calibration period.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is adapted to determine an operation time to operate the pump to deliver a predetermined volume from the first location to the second location, the controller being adapted to determine the operation time based on the operation index.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is adapted to use a lookup table to determine the operation time.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is adapted to determine a value representing an integrated voltage applied to the pump during the operation time, and is adapted to stop operation of the pump when the value equals the operation time.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein a volume of liquid delivered by the pump during the calibration period is different from the predetermined volume of liquid delivered by the pump during subsequent operation of the pump.