Importance

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Abstract

A control system and method are provided for controlling the timing of a dispenser including a valve which moves alternately between a product-loading position and a product-dispensing position in a repeated cycle. The dispenser also includes a mechanism for dispensing a product from the dispenser after each time the valve moves to its product-dispensing position. The control system includes a detector which detects the time of which the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and a mechanism for generating a control signal at a predetermined time to actuate the dispensing mechanism when the valve reaches its product-dispensing position. The control system also includes a sensor for sensing the time that the dispensing mechanism actually begins dispensing product. The control system further determines the time difference between the time the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing mechanism actually begins dispensing the product. The control system adjusts the predetermined time that the control signal is generated to actuate the dispensing mechanism for the next cycle of the valve by an amount based on the time difference between the time the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing mechanism actually begins dispensing product to maintain the time difference within a predetrmined time range.

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First Claim