Soft-serve freezer control

Abstract

A soft-serve freezer operates in a first mode, with both the auger and compressor operating, and a second energy saving mode in which only the refrigeration compressor operates. The control circuit monitors the power level to the auger to control the consistency of the mix. When the mix achieves a selected consistency, the auger discontinues its mixing function. Signal lights are provided to indicate when it is necessary to actuate the auger to obtain the desired consistency prior to dispensing the product and indicate that the mix has achieved the desired consistency.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a soft-serve freezer including a freezing chamber with a spigot, a mixing element, a first motor for said mixing element and a refrigeration system including a second motor for a compressor in said refrigerator system, the improvement comprising control circuit means for said first and second motors, said control circuit means including electric power sensing means associated with said first motor, said control circuit means providing an operational sequence with first and second modes in which said mixing element and said refrigeration system are operating concurrently in a first mode until said power sensing means senses a predetermined power input to said first motor corresponding to a preselected consistency, whereupon said circuit is switched to said second mode wherein said second motor is switched on and off at a selected frequency and said circuit including manually operable mode changing means to change to said first mode with said first motor driving said mixing element in contemplation of the dispensing of product from said spigot and said circuit remaining in said second mode until said manually operable means are actuated. 
     
     
       2. In a soft-serve freezer including a freezing chamber with a spigot, a mixing element, a first motor for said mixing element and a refrigeration system including a second motor for a compressor in said refrigerator system, the improvement comprising control circuit means for said first and second motors, said control circuit means including electric power sensing means associated with said first motor, said control circuit means providing an operational sequence with first and second modes in which said mixing element and said refrigeration system are operating concurrently in a first mode until said power sensing means senses a predetermined power input to said first motor corresponding to a pre-selected consistency, whereupon said circuit is switched to said second mode wherein said second motor is switched on and off at a selected frequency and said circuit including manually operable mode changing means to change to said first mode with said first motor driving said mixing element in contemplation of the dispensing of product from said spigot and said circuit remaining in said second mode until said manually operable means are actuated, and visual indicator means in said control circuit means indicating that the desired consistency is not available for dispensing after the freezer has been in the second mode for a pre-selected number of cycles and that the freezer should be switched to said first mode. 
     
     
       3. In a soft-serve freezer including a freezing chamber with a spigot, a mixing element, a first motor for said mixing element and a refrigeration system including a second motor for a compressor in said refrigerator system, the improvement comprising control circuit means for said first and second motors, said control circuit means including electric power sensing means associated with said first motor, said control circuit means providing an operational sequence with first and second modes in which said mixing element and said refrigeration system are operating concurrently in a first mode until said power sensing means senses a predetermined power input to said first motor corresponding to a pre-selected consistency, whereupon said circuit is switched to said second mode wherein said second motor is switched on and off at a selected frequency and said circuit including manually operable mode changing means to change to said first mode with said first motor driving said mixing element in contemplation of the dispensing of product from said spigot and said circuit remaining in said second mode until said manually operable means are actuated, an ambient temperature sensing means in said control circuit means and wherein the duration of off periods for said second motor during the second mode are determined by ambient temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means, and   timer means in said control circuit means whereby the duration of the on periods for said second motor during the second mode are determined.   
     
     
       4. In a soft-serve freezer including a freezing chamber with a spigot, a mixing element, a first motor for said mixing element and a refrigeration system including a second motor for a compressor in said refrigerator system, the improvement comprising control circuit means for said first and second motors, said control circuit means including electric power sensing means associated with said first motor, said control circuit means providing an operation sequence with first and second modes in which said mixing element and said refrigeration system are operating concurrently in a first mode until said power sensing means senses a predetermined power input to said first motor corresponding to a pre-selected consistency, whereupon said circuit is switched to said second mode wherein said second motor is switched on and off at a selected frequency and said circuit including manually operable mode changing means to change to said first mode with said first motor driving said mixing element in contemplation of the dispensing of product from said spigot and said circuit remaining in said second mode until said manually operable means are actuated, said control circuit means including first and second light indicators with said first light indicator indicating that the product does not have the desired consistency for serving and said second light indicator indicating that the power input level to the auger has achieved a pre-selected level and that said product has achieved the selected consistency and wherein said second light turns off after a pre-selected time interval during the second mode to indicate that the freezer should be switched to said first mode to activate the mixing element prior to dispensing product. 
     
     
       5. In combination with a soft-serve freezer including a cylinder and refrigeration coils for freezing a consummable mixture in the cylinder, spigot means for dispensing frozen mixture from the cylinder, an auger in the cylinder for agitating the mixture, an auger drive motor coupled to the auger, a refrigeration compressor for supplying refrigerant to said coils and a refrigerator motor for driving the compressor, and an improved control circuit means for the freezer said control circuit means comprising: sensing means for sensing the electric power input level to said auger motor to thereby provide an indication of the viscosity of the mixture,   means for responding to said sensing means to cause said control means to deenergize said auger and compressor motors when a predetermined power load has been sensed,   first and second electric light sources and switching means for selectively turning said light sources on and off, said switching means being operative to keep said first light source turned on during the time said motors are energized and bring the mix to the desired consistency and to turn off said first light source when said predetermined power input to said auger motor is attained and then to turn on said second light source to indicate that the desired consistency has been attained and said mixture is ready to serve.   
     
     
       6. In combination with a soft-serve freezer including a cylinder and refrigeration coils for freezing a consummable mixture in the cylinder, spigot means for dispensing frozen mixture from the cylinder, an auger in the cylinder for agitating the mixture, an auger drive motor coupled to the auger, a refrigeration compressor for supplying refrigerant to said coils and a refrigerator motor for driving the compressor, and an improved controller for the freezer comprising: first control means for causing energization and deenergization of said auger motor,   second control means for causing energization and deenergization of said refrigerator motor,   a manually operable switch, said first and second control means responding to operation of said switch by energizing said auger motor and refrigerator motor for respectively agitating and cooling said mixture in the cylinder,   sensing means for sensing the electric power input level to said auger motor to thereby provide an indication of the viscosity of the mixture,   means for responding to said sensing means sensing a predetermined power level by causing said first and second control means to deenergize said auger and compressor motors,   two electric light sources and switching means for selectively turning said light sources on and off, said switching means being operative to keep one light source turned on during the time said motors are energized and to turn off said one light source when said predetermined power input to said auger motor is attained and then to turn on the other light source to indicate that said mixture is ready to serve,   timer means for providing timing cycles composed of a sequence of alternating first and second timing periods, the first period in the first cycle commencing when said motors become deenergized and periods of substantially similar duration being provided between each of the second time periods, said refrigerator motor control means responding to occurrence of said second time periods by energizing said refrigerator motor for the duration of said second time periods to thereby provide for cooling said mixture periodically without energizing the auger motor.   
     
     
       7. In combination with a soft-serve freezer including a cylinder and refrigeration coils for freezing a consummable mixture in the cylinder, spigot means for dispensing frozen mixture from the cylinder, an auger in the cylinder for agitating the mixture, an auger drive motor coupled to the auger, a refrigeration compressor for supplying refrigerant to said coils and a refrigerator motor for driving the compressor, and an improved controller for the freezer comprising: first control means for causing energization and deenergization of said refrigerator motor,   second control means for causing energization and deenergization of said refrigerator motor,   a manually operable switch, said first and second control means responding to operation of said switch by energizing said auger motor and refrigerator motor for respectively agitating and cooling said mixture in the cylinder,   sensing means for sensing the electric power input level to said auger motor to thereby provide an indication of the viscosity of the mixture,   means for responding to said sensing means sensing a predetermined power level by causing said first and second control means to deenergize said auger and compressor motors,   two electric light sources and switching means for selectively turning said light sources on and off, said switching means being operative to keep one light source turned on during the time said motors are energized and to turn off said one light source when said predetermined power input to said auger motor is attained and then to turn on the other light source to indicate that said mixture is ready to serve,   timer means for providing timing cycles composed of a sequence of alternating first and second timing periods, the first period in the first cycle commencing when said motors become deenergized and periods of substantially similar duration being provided between each of the second time periods, said refrigerator motor control means responding to occurrence of said second time periods by energizing said refrigerator motor for the duration of said second time periods to thereby provide for cooling said mixture periodically without energizing the auger motor, said controller including counter means responsive to a predetermined number of timing cycles having occurred by causing said light source switching means to turn off said first light source and turn on the other said second light source for the latter to indicate to the operator that said manually operable switch should be actuated to energize said compressor and auger motors to recondition said mixture for serving.   
     
     
       8. The controller according to claim 7 wherein said timer means comprises a first timer for providing said first time periods whose durations are inversely proportional to ambient temperature and a second timer for providing second time periods of a selected constant duration. 
     
     
       9. In a soft-serve freezer including a freezing chamber with a spigot, a mixing element, a first motor for said mixing element and a refrigeration system including a second motor for a compressor in said refrigeration system, the improvement comprising control circuit means for said first and second motors, said control circuit means including electric power sensing means associated with said first motor, said control circuit means providing an operational sequence with first and second modes in which said mixing element and said refrigeration system are operating concurrently in a first mode until said power sensing means senses a predetermined power input to said first motor corresponding to a pre-selected consistency, whereupon said circuit is switched to said second mode wherein said second motor is switched on and off at a selected frequency and said circuit including manually operable mode changing means to change to said first mode with said first motor driving said mixing element in contemplation of the dispensing of product from said spigot and said circuit remaining in said second mode until said manually operable means are actuated and first and second signal lights connected in said circuit with said first light indicating that the product is not at the selected consistency and that the freezer should be switched to said first mode and said second light indicating that the desired consistency has been attained and that the product is ready to be dispensed. 
     
     
       10. In a soft-serve freezer including a freezing chamber with a spigot, a mixing element, a first motor for said mixing element and a refrigeration system including a second motor for a compressor in said refrigeration system, the improvement comprising control circuit means for said first and second motors, said control circuit means including electric power sensing means associated with said first motor, said control circuit means providing an operational sequence with first and second modes in which said mixing element and said refrigeration system are operating concurrently in a first mode until said power sensing means senses a predetermined power input to said first motor corresponding to a pre-selected consistency, whereupon said circuit is switched to said second mode wherein said second motor is switched on and off at a selected frequency and said circuit including manually operable mode changing means to change to said first mode with said first motor driving said mixing element in contemplation of the dispensing of product from said spigot and said circuit remaining in said second mode until said manually operable means are actuated and first and second signal lights connected in said circuit with said first light indicating that the product is not at the selected consistency and that the freezer should be switched to said first mode and said second light indicating that the desired consistency has been attained and that the product is ready to be dispensed, and means to reset said counter means upon actuation of said spigot means after said mixture is ready to serve. .Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  A soft-serve freezer including a freezing chamber with a spigot, a mixing element, a first motor for said mixing element and a refrigeration system including a second motor for a compressor in said refrigerator system, control circuit means for said first and second motors, said control circuit means including means for providing an operational sequence with first and second modes in which said mixing element and said refrigeration system are operating concurrently in said first mode, means for automatically switching said control circuit means into said second mode when a predetermined consistency of the product is attained, said second mode being a non-dispensing mode, timer means for switching said second motor on and off at a selected interval independently of said first motor in said second mode, adjustable means to control the length of time the compressor is on and temperature responsive means to control the time the compressor is off in said second mode, and means operable to change to said first mode for dispensing product and wherein said means operable to change to said first mode includes manually operable mode changing means to change to said first mode in which said first motor drives said mixing element in contemplation of the dispensing product from said spigot and said control circuit means remaining in said second mode until said manually operable means are actuated, and wherein said control circuit means includes ambient temperature sensing means and wherein the duration of off periods for said second motor during the second mode are determined by ambient temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means, and timer means in said control circuit means for determining the duration of the on periods for said second motor during the second mode. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A soft-serve freezer according to claim 11 wherein the means for automatically switching the control circuit means into said second mode when a predetermined consistency of the product is obtained includes electric power sensing means associated with said first motor and operable to sense a predetermined power input to said first motor corresponding to 
     
     
        said predetermined consistency. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13.  A soft-serve freezer according to claim 11 characterized by visual indicator means in said control circuit means indicating that the existing consistency is not the consistency desired for dispensing product after the freezer has been in the second mode for a pre-selected number of cycles and that the freezer should be switched to said first mode. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A soft-serve freezer according to claim 11 wherein the temperature responsive means includes ambient temperature sensing means in said control circuit means and timer means responsive to variations in ambient temperature by varying the duration of off periods for said second motor during the second mode ambient temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A soft-serve freezer according to claim 11 wherein the control circuit means includes first and second light indicators with said first light indicator indicating that the product does not have the desired consistency for serving and said second light indicator indicating that the power input level to the mixing element has achieved a pre-selected level and that said product has achieved the selected consistency and wherein said second light turns off after a pre-selected time interval during the second mode to indicate that the freezer should be switched to said first mode to activate the mixing element prior to dispensing product. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A soft-serve freezer according to claim 11 wherein said mode changing means in said circuit comprises a switch associated with a dispensing spigot which causes said first motor to be energized upon activation of said spigot. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A soft-serve freezer according to claim 12 wherein said control circuit means includes means responsive to said power sensing means to cause said control circuit means to de-energize said first and second motors when a predetermined load has been sensed, two electric light sources and switching means for selectively turning said light sources on and off, said switching means being operative to keep one light source turned on at least during said first mode in which said first and second motors are energized and to turn off said one light source when said predetermined power input to said first motor is sensed and then to turn on said other light source to indicate that the desired consistency is attained for dispensing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A soft-serve freezer according to claim 11 wherein said control circuit means includes timer means for providing during said second mode timing cycles composed of a sequence of alternating first and second timing periods, the first period in the first cycle commencing when said first and second motors are de-energized at the end of the first mode and periods of substantially similar duration being provided between each of the second time periods, said second motor being switched on for the duration of said second time periods to actuate said compressor independently of actuation of said mixing element. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A soft-serve freezer according to claim 17 wherein said control circuit means includes counter means responsive to a predetermined number of timing cycles to cause said light source switching means to turn on said one light source and to turn off said other light source to indicate to the operator that said manually operable switch should be actuated to change to said first mode. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A soft-serve freezer according to claim 18 wherein said control circuit means includes reset means operable to reset said counter means upon actuation of said spigot. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A soft-serve freezer according to any one of claims 17, 18 or 19 wherein said timer means comprises a first timer for providing said first timing periods whose durations are inversely proportional to ambient temperature and second timer for providing said second timing periods of a selected constant duration. .Iaddend.