DE19949652C2 - Distribution system for beverages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a beverage distribution system, with a Central unit for the shot of portioned beverage quantities and a satellite unit for receiving shot Quantities of beverages.

Whether in bars and restaurants, at trade fairs and concerts or in adventure and amusement parks, drinks are offered everywhere consumed.

The organizers are recording the best sales, which are through exceptional equipment and offers from the crowd highlight.

US 5,678,617 A describes a stationary system, which is fixed in a bar is mounted. The glass to be filled must be firmly attached to one defined point on the bar. The drink is only about a very missed a short distance. Therefore, cannot be from one Central unit and a satellite unit are spoken.

DE 199 11 864 A1 describes an irrigation system. With this The invention solves the problem of interfering trailing cables avoid reducing the moving mass of the moving system and to achieve faster routes by reducing the volume and tank attached to a process carriage automatically during the Travel path is replenished. Here is one geometrical and temporal firmly defined relationship between the tap, piping and Given tank. It also fills the tank triggered automatically as soon as the carriage has a predefined one Has reached position.  

DE 196 27 360 C2 describes a device for machine-controlled Making a cocktail. In the described invention before all based on the mixing process of the different drinks.

The object of the invention is to provide a distribution system that it allows drinks to be served particularly quickly in a spectacular manner to transport the respective place of need.

This object is achieved in that the central unit at least has a barrel for the targeted firing of portioned Amounts of drinks and that the run according to direction and angle of attack adjustable, preferably adjustable by means of servomotors and that on a request unit is provided to the satellite, the one Has active connection to the central unit.

In the present invention, the central unit and satellite unit have a relatively large distance from each other.

With the system described in US 5,678,617 A a control of several satellites is not possible. According to the invention, this is the first achieved in that the central unit has at least one run for the targeted firing of positioned drinks and that the Run adjustable according to direction and angle of attack, preferably by means of Servomotors is adjustable.

Another significant difference between the present invention and the prior art is in that it is not hidden by the bartender at the bar, but by the guest even the shot of the beverage and thus the distribution process as such can be triggered. This is achieved in that the Satellite a request unit is provided, the one Has active connection to the central unit. Through the controls it is  even possible to choose different drinks from the satellite. In principle, even the system operator can omitted.

Advantageous embodiments of the distribution system are in claims 1 to 4 described.

A system is described that essentially consists of two units: the central unit, where the drink is dosed and is sent, and the satellite in which the drink is received and is distributed.

The essence of the idea is that the drink or its components are not transported to the satellites by pipelines or waiters or the like, but from the central unit on a ballistic trajectory flung through the air in portions without repackaging, there caught and z. B. is poured into glasses.

On the one hand, this type of distribution can be largely automated (and thus leads to a reduction in personnel costs), on the other hand it has never been - in connection with the beverage service there optical experience. It is obvious that this type Bar almost tempted to "jump one more".

Everything that flies freely through the air, be it a bird, a (paper) plane or even a ball, involuntarily draws attention to itself as soon as it comes into view of a viewer.

A comparable situation is solved by consumers on the satellites yourself by having a drink, e.g. B. at the push of a button. Of the Central unit, it is either "sent" all at once - or else,  e.g. B. with mixed drinks or with the addition of ice cubes, sequentially. This takes place, for example, by using pressure pumps or one of the Principle of an air gun-like facial expression in conjunction with a correspondingly inclined pipe-nozzle system.

The trajectory of the drink is essentially determined by the angle, Starting pressure and dosage determined. A - meaningfully funnel-shaped executed - collecting element on the satellite can so easily reproducible. So that it is z. B. also possible Realization of the distribution of beverages across walkways or with Light effects and / or sounds to underline what the effect should certainly reinforce.

The invention is described by way of example in a drawing with reference to a figure. The only Fig. 1 shows schematically in a side view a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1, 1 designates the central unit, accessible from the beverage from portioned quantities ballistic 2 on a dash-dot line shown trajectory 3 is a satellite station 4 as a target.

The central unit essentially consists of a metering device 5 , a launching device 6 , a target device 7 with barrel 8 and a computing unit 9 .

The computing and control unit 9 calculates both the target direction and controls the metering of portioned beverage quantities and their firing.

First, a quantity of beverage is removed from a beverage storage container 10 by a metering pump 11 after opening the solenoid valve 12 via a line 13 and conveyed in a metered amount into the firing container 14 .

In addition, the computing unit 9 calculates, depending on the distance and direction of the satellite unit 4 that has requested the drink via the requesting device 15 , the direction to be set and the height angle 32 of the barrel 8 to be set . Barrel 8 is rotated in its direction by computing unit 9 by means of servomotor 16 via pinion 17 and gear wheel 18 about its pivot axis 19 in such a way that barrel 8 points in the direction of receiving container 20 of satellite unit 4 .

In addition, the gearwheel 23 connected to the barrel 8 is pivoted about its axis of rotation 24 via the servomotor 21 and pinion 22 such that the barrel 8 points to the receiving container 20 at its height angle 32 , taking into account the ballistic trajectory of the portioned beverage quantity 2 .

After closing the valve 12 is a solenoid valve 25 which is connected via the pressure medium line 26 to a gas pressure vessel 27 in connection opened by the computation unit 9, so that in the launching container 14, a pressure builds up, the via located in the launching container 14 metered amount of beverage 28 pushes a dip line 29 through the barrel 8 such that the amount of beverage 28 on the ballistic trajectory 3 reaches its destination, the receiving container 20 .

The amount of beverage can then be removed from the receiving container 20 after opening the valve 30 and fill the glass 31 .

The active connections, signal and control lines from the Peripherals to the computing unit are in broken lines shown.  

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

1

Central unit

2nd

portioned beverage quantity

3rd

ballistic trajectory

4th

Satellite station

5

Dosing device

6

Launcher

7

Target device

8th

Run

9

Arithmetic unit

10th

Beverage storage container

11

Dosing pump

12th

magnetic valve

13

management

14

Launch container

15

Requirement unit

16

Servomotor

17th

pinion

18th

gear

19th

Swivel axis

20th

Receiving container

21

Servomotor

22

pinion

23

gear

24th

Axis of rotation

25th

magnetic valve

26

Pressure medium line

27

Gas pressure vessel

28

Amount of beverage

29

Dive line

30th

Valve

31

Glass

32

Elevation angle, angle of attack

Claims (4)

1. Distribution system for beverages, with a central unit for the shot of portioned beverage amounts and a satellite unit for receiving shot portions, characterized in that the central unit ( 1 ) has at least one barrel ( 8 ) for the directed shot of portioned beverage amounts ( 2 ) and that the barrel ( 8 ) can be adjusted according to the direction and angle of attack ( 32 ), preferably by means of servomotors ( 16 , 21 ), and that a request unit ( 15 ) is provided on the satellite ( 4 ) that provides an operative connection to the central unit ( 1 ) having. 2. Distribution system according to claim 1, characterized in that the central unit ( 1 ) has a metering device ( 5 ) for providing portioned beverage quantities ( 2 ). 3. Distribution system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central unit ( 1 ) has a computer ( 9 ) with control, the direction and angle of attack ( 32 ) depending on the satellite unit ( 4 ) to be supplied, automatically adjusts and the Shooting sequence controls. 4. Distribution system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central unit ( 1 ) has a launcher ( 6 ) for the automatic loading and firing of a portioned beverage quantity ( 2 ).