DE2435161A1 - FACILITY FOR THE REGISTERED DISTRIBUTION OF BEVERAGES AND / OR GOODS - Google Patents

Description

DR. BE ft GDI Pl.-I MG. S ι APF DiPL.-lNG. SCHWADS OH. OR. 3AKQMAiR

PATEHTANWALi =
8 MONKS CO. MAUERK IRCHERSTR. 45 2435161

Attorney's file 23 275 July 22, 1974

Robert Eggler, Seefeldstrasse 167, CH-8008 Zurich

Device for the registered delivery of beverages and / or goods

The invention relates to a device for the registered delivery of beverages and / or goods to the staff of restaurants or the like, with at least one dispensing device, which by reference keys controllable means for dispensing of the individual types of goods.

A drinks machine has already become known in which the staff uses an individual key switch and actuation effect the dispensing of drink portions from beverage buttons can. The drink price is registered in a counter so that the relevant Operator to be charged amount can be determined. This well-known drinks machine registered by means of other Counters at the same time also the portion dispensing of the various types of beverages, so that the total of the dispensed drink portions can be determined at any time (CH-PS 514 204). This drinks machine has, among other things, the disadvantage that a simultaneous Removal of two or more different types of drinks is not possible. A new beverage can also be dispensed can only be initiated when the counting process for a beverage in progress has been completed.

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Since in restaurants usually not only drinks from vending machines are served, a cash register is practically always necessary, which is usually operated by the same staff becomes like the drinks machine. When billing the restaurateur with the staff, the details of the Cash register as well as the details of the drinks machine are taken into account. This makes the billing proportionate complicated.

Another unpleasant effect is that the well-known drinks machine no receipts, in particular no receipts or so-called "guest checks", which is particularly important from customers is often perceived as disadvantageous. It is possible to use the cash register in addition to the drinks machine To use the creation of vouchers or "guest checks" for customers. However, this can easily lead to a mess in the Operation at the buffet. So it can happen that a waiter or a waitress completely forgets to type in the cash register or only thinks about it when she has already had the drink at the drinks machine. If she then tries to catch up on typing, it will be special during an operation with a lot of staff the operation of the cash register disrupted. It can also happen that the waiter who has already procured the drinks: has emptied them, if the person concerned wants to catch up on typing in the cash register.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for registered Delivery of beverages and / or goods to the staff of restaurants or the like, which by the service the cash register can be controlled.

According to the invention, this is achieved by a cash register with registration keys or the like for entering the data to be registered about the person who purchases the goods, the type of the goods to be purchased, the quantity of goods and, if applicable, the goods

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prices> a pulse generator that can be operated by the cash register and that emits a number of pulses corresponding to the quantity of goods j each one registration quantity counter coupled to the pulse generator for each type of goods ) each one reference quantity counter connected to a contact of the corresponding reference key for each type of goods ', one comparison device each, which is connected to the corresponding registration quantity counter and to the corresponding reference quantity counter and, if the two counters match, supplies a blocking signal and a blocking device connected to the blocking signal output of the comparison device, which blocks the means for dispensing goods when a blocking signal is present.

This has the advantage that the cash register already present in the restaurant only requires a few minor changes required to control the means for dispensing the individual types of goods, d. H. especially the drinks. This results in great cost savings on the one hand, in that complicated, expensive and also fault-prone control means are saved can be. On the other hand, it is possible to include all sales, i.e. the delivery of beverages and the delivery of Food and the like, which is not possible via a drinks machine ', at a central point, namely the cash register, capture. This makes billing the restaurateur with the staff much easier. Also arises inevitably at the buffet an orderly operational process in which the goods to be purchased always have to be registered on the cash register. In addition, a receipt in the form of a receipt or a "guest check" can be delivered in any case.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be explained with reference to the drawing.

The device for the registered dispensing of beverages and / or goods makes of a commercial cash register

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Use that has mechanical counters or registers in the present embodiment. The invention can however, it can also be implemented with an electronic cash register in an analogous manner.

The cash register essentially has a keyboard for entering the data on the price of the goods, but also Keys are provided that indicate the number of goods required, the type of goods, e.g. B. coffee, tea, liqueur, mineral water, etc. describe. Furthermore, so-called service buttons are also provided, which are expediently designed as socket wrenches so that each employee can only register on his own service. By pressing the service button, the entered data.

It is also possible to design the cash register so that when you press the button for coffee, tea, etc., the price is displayed directly is entered from a control device into the cash register. These are advantageously housed in a lockable box Control device allows the host to set the price for the individual goods by means of rotary switches or the like. With such a configuration of the cash register, the price of the goods automatically when the goods key is pressed enters into the cash register, there is of course no need to enter the price of goods separately for drinks sold by a connected drinks machine.

It is also possible to provide multiplication keys on the cash register, so that when ordering, for example five coffees is enough, the multiplication key "5" and Press the "Coffee" button (if necessary, the price must also be entered, if this is not done automatically by pressing the Goods key is entered by a control device), whereupon the actuation of the service key triggers the fivefold registration of the amount for the coffee. In the case of a mechanical

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F *

niche cash register then corresponds to the number of machine revolutions the desired quantity of goods. It is thus possible to provide a cam on the machine shaft that periodically actuates a contact that is connected to a power source and acts as a pulse generator, one of the registered Quantity of goods emits corresponding number of pulses.

The pulse generator just described is provided with the reference number 1 in the drawing. In series with this pulse generator is a service button contact 3, the z. B. actuated by pressing the service button 2, which is advantageously designed as a socket wrench can be. Additional service button contacts that can be actuated by other service buttons can be used in parallel with the contact 3 be arranged.

If a cash register has different keys for entering data about the type of goods to be purchased, it must also have at least as many counters, so for example a counter for coffee, a counter for tea, etc. Each after which type of goods has been selected by pressing the corresponding key, the entered (or with automatic Price indication from a control device, when the goods button is pressed, the goods price on the counter for coffee is determined or transferred to the counter for tea, etc.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention sees now the installation of at least three commutators 5, 7 and 9, in front of the corresponding to the goods key, the DM key and the ten key be operated. While only a single commutator 5 is provided, the other commutators are 7, 9 as many times as the diagram for units 15, 15 ' etc. provides, d. H. as many commutators 7, 9 as types of goods must be delivered by the device.

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-e- 2U5161

For every DM and every decimal commutator 7 or 9, there is a corresponding DM or decimal rotary switch 11 or 13, These rotary switches 11, 13 are used to set the price for the goods in question. For example, should a coffee DM 12.0, the innkeeper will charge the DM rotary switch 11 set to "1" and rotary switch 13 to "2".

As indicated in the drawing, the segments of the respective commutator and the switching contacts of the corresponding one Rotary switch connected to each other. With the mentioned price setting of DM 1.20 using the rotary switches 11, 13 therefore a closed circuit is created when the commutator 7 'on the segment "1", the rotary switch arm 11' on the Segment "1", the commutator arm 9 'is on segment "2" and the rotary switch 13' is on segment "2".

The unit 15 consists of the commutators 7, 9 and the rotary switches 11, 13, both of which are regarded as counters can, thus represents nothing more than a comparison device that, when an input pulse is applied, a Emits an output pulse when both counters have the same status. The unit 15 could therefore also, for example be replaced by an electronic device consisting of two counters and a comparison circuit.

It should be noted that the unit 15 is the commutator 5 is connected upstream, via which the unit 15 a pulse is only transmitted when the selector arm 5 'on the corresponding segment connected to the unit 15. The other segments of the commutator commutator are with corresponding other units 15 'etc. connected, which are constructed in the same way as the unit 15, but for a different type of goods, e.g. B. serve for tea, liqueurs, etc.

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If the scheme provides units 15, 15 ', this does not mean that all parts of such a unit also must be arranged together in one place. Rather, it is possible to use the rotary switch 11, 13 which is determining of the price are used to arrange the other control parts in a control box outside the cash register may contain. In this way it is possible to use the precious space on the buffet for other purposes. the Connection of the control box with the cash register and the beverage or goods dispensing device can be done by electrical Cables.

The present dispensing device is also actuated the beverage dispensing as in known devices via a push button 21, which with its contact 21 ″ via a Time element 23 controls the winding 25 of a solenoid valve 27. The time element 2 3 is adjustable to adjust the dosage of the beverage to be able to adjust. The longer the time element 23 sends a signal to the winding 25, the longer it remains the valve 27 opens, and the more drink is dispensed.

A registration quantity counter 31 is provided which shows the number of portions registered by the operation of the cash register counts. In contrast, a reference quantity counter 32 counts the portions drawn by actuation of the reference key 21. Of the Registration quantity counter 31 and the reference quantity counter 32 are on a comparison device 34 is connected, which determines when the number of beverages registered compared to the number of beverages drawn Drinks equivalent. If such a match is found, the comparison device 34 outputs a signal which actuates a locking member 33 in order to prevent the delivery of further portions when the reference key 21 is pressed. Another locking member 35 is also used by the comparison unit

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Direction 34 actuated in order to prevent the switching of the reference quantity counter 32 by pressing the button 21 again. That Locking member 35 has a further locking input which is connected to the output of the timing element 23 to during the To prevent beverage dispensing from further switching of the reference quantity counter 32 by means of the reference key 21.

The facility works as follows; The operator types the number of goods required, the type of goods, "e.g. coffee, the price, e.g. B. DM 1.20, and the service key 2 of the cash register. In the example given, the commutator is then the commutator 5 and the commutators 7, 9 in the position shown in the drawing. Since the innkeeper reduced the price to DM 1. 20 has set, the rotary switches 11 and 13 are also in the corresponding position.

By pressing the service button 2, the cash register has been put into operation and just before the end of the working cycle the cam switch 1 closes, so that a short pulse over the parts 5, 7, 11, 9, 13 to the registration quantity counter 31 is fed. With this impulse, the registration quantity counter is switched by one unit. If there are several registrations, z. B. because the multiplication key, which determines the number of goods, has been pressed, the cam switch closes 1 several times, with the registration quantity counter 31 being switched accordingly.

The goods can now be purchased. By pressing the reference key 21, the contact 21 'and then the contact 21' 'is switched. Since there is no pulse from the comparator 34 at the blocking element 35, the closing of the contact 21 'causes the switching of the reference quantity counter by one unit. Since there is also no signal from the comparator 34 at the blocking element 33, the closing of the contact 21 ″ causes the actuation of the timing element 23, which in turn controls the winding 25 of the valve 27 actuated and thus dispenses a portion of the beverage. By

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repeated pressing of the draw-off key 21 allows another portion to be removed. Further withdrawals' can take place until the value of the reference quantity counter 32 corresponds to the value of the registration quantity counter and thus the comparison device 34 responds to block the further actuation of the reference key 21 for dispensing beverages. One Drinks can only be dispensed again when the cash register is used again accordingly.

Various modifications of the device according to the invention are still possible. If z. B., as mentioned, the cash register is designed so that when you press the goods button coffee, tea, etc. from the innkeeper on a control device set price is automatically entered into the cash register, i.e. typing in the price of the goods is no longer necessary, the goods selection commutator 5 controlled by the goods key can be used directly, i. H. without interposition a unit 15, 15 'etc. with the corresponding registration quantity counter 31 connected.

Albeit by a pulse counter in the preferred embodiment 1 is the question, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that a z. B. mechanical device can be used could to switch the registration amount counter 31 according to the registered amount of goods. Finally is too conceivable to solve various other electrical or electronic functions mechanically, pneumatically or optically without that the idea of the invention is deviated from.

Finally, it should be noted that it is possible to provide a key switch 50 which allows z. B. to dispense beverages for private use without the registration ■ cash register must be operated. For this purpose it is sufficient to use the key switch 50 to send a pulse to the timing element 23 to transfer. The same impulse can also be given to a private

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counter 51 are supplied, which allows to control the number of private purchases.

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Claims (1)

Claims 1. Device for the registered dispensing of beverages and / or goods to the staff of restaurants or the like, with at least one dispensing device which contains means for dispensing the individual types of goods which can be controlled by reference keys, characterized by a cash register with registration keys or the like for entering the ones to be registered Data on the person purchasing the goods, the type of goods to be purchased, the amount of goods and, if applicable, the price of the goods *, a pulse generator (1) that can be activated by the cash register and that emits a number of pulses corresponding to the amount of goods, one each coupled to the pulse generator (1) Registration quantity counter (31) for each type of goods ", a ^{reference quantity counter (32) for each type of goods connected to a contact (21 1} ) of the corresponding reference key (21), as well as a comparison device (34) which is connected to the corresponding registration quantity counter (31) and is connected to the corresponding reference quantity counter (32) and if the two counters (31, 32) match, a blocking signal supplies, and a blocking device connected to the blocking signal output of the comparison device (34), which blocks the means (23, 25, 27) for the delivery of goods when a blocking signal is present. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a goods selection device controllable by the goods buttons (5), which is connected between the pulse generator (1) and the registration quantity counter (31) in such a way that that a pulse is sent to the registration quantity counter (31) for the selected type of goods. 509820/0294 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cash register has a goods price register (7, 9) for Storage of the data of the typed price of goods, an auxiliary register (11, 13) for the applicable price of goods and a comparison device that works with these registers contains, which allows the pulse generator (1) for the quantity of goods to graze effectively only if the data in both Registers (7, 9, 11, 13) match. 4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the goods price register consists of electrical commutators (7, 9) consists of the registers necessary for the normal functioning of the cash register on the drive shaft can be actuated, and that the auxiliary registers are decade switches (11, 13), and that the whole thing with the pulse generator (1) is connected in series so that an impulse only occurs if the commodity price register (7, 8) agrees with the auxiliary register (11, 13) the registration quantity counter (31) determined by the goods selection device (5) is output. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the various registers (79) 11, 13) and counters (31, 32) are at least in part electronic counters. July 9, 1974 CAR / hm E-50-1111 503320/0294