EP1151402A1 - Method and device for controlling the handling and quality of a specific product - Google Patents

Method and device for controlling the handling and quality of a specific product

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Publication number
EP1151402A1
EP1151402A1 EP00901417A EP00901417A EP1151402A1 EP 1151402 A1 EP1151402 A1 EP 1151402A1 EP 00901417 A EP00901417 A EP 00901417A EP 00901417 A EP00901417 A EP 00901417A EP 1151402 A1 EP1151402 A1 EP 1151402A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
data
product
installation
identification
distribution
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00901417A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Luc Goeman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP00901417A priority Critical patent/EP1151402A1/en
Publication of EP1151402A1 publication Critical patent/EP1151402A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for controlling the handling, such as the distribution and use, of a given product, of the quality of this product and / or of the working conditions of an installation implementing this product.
  • One of the main aims of the invention is to make profitable an investment made by a manufacturer or a supplier for the sale of a given product to a user or distributor of the given product. It is more particularly a question of ensuring the return on the correct investment corresponding to the contract concluded between the supplier of a given product and a third party, with whom or for whom the investment was made for the use, the distribution. or the sale of this product.
  • this process can find its application in extremely varied fields, such as the distribution, in drinking places, of drinks conditioned in containers, the use of a determined product for the treatment of an object or a material of very diverse nature, such as, for example, in washing machines in which it is necessary to introduce a detergent, the automatic distribution of packaged food, etc.
  • the manufacturer or supplier of the beverage invests in the distribution facility in exchange for a exclusivity on the delivery of the drink.
  • the agreement thus concluded between the beverage supplier and the operator of the beverage outlet is not always respected by the latter, so that in this case the investment made by the supplier decreases in favor of other suppliers who did not have to bear the cost of the installation.
  • the present invention allows effective control of the quality of the beverages by monitoring their origin, identifying the expiration dates as well as checking the cleaning of the pipes of the installation of distribution, which can go as far as blocking them if hygiene conditions are not respected.
  • control method consists in providing, in an inviolable manner, on the product in question or on the packaging thereof and / or on the installation using this product, means of identification and / or quality control, such as an electronic key, containing various information and to subject these means to the detection of at least some of this information, the information thus detected being then compared with data from reference, possibly stored in a control device and, when the detected information is in agreement with the reference data, the above product and / or installation are put into service, otherwise this putting into service is blocked.
  • means of identification which, by means of a special code, can be supplemented and / or modified by detectable data introduced by the manufacturer, by the distributor and / or by the user of said product and possibly by any intermediary in the chain of manipulation between the manufacture and the use or distribution of the product concerned.
  • an electronic identification key is provided on each of these containers containing information concerning the manufacturer, distributor, type of drink, volume of drink contained in the container and / or tracking information, such as manufacturing, packaging and expiration dates, this information being detected and compared with data stored in a recording device and when this detected information is in agreement with the stored data, the distribution installation is put into service. Otherwise, this commissioning is blocked.
  • the invention also relates to a control device for the implementation of the above method, in particular for the distribution of specific products, such as drinks, motor fuel, etc.
  • This device is characterized by the fact that it comprises, on the one hand, means for identifying these products and, on the other hand, means for detecting data contained in these identification means, the latter cooperating with organs allowing the distribution or the use of said products when these data are in agreement with the data stored in the detection means.
  • FIG. 1 very schematically represents a particular embodiment of a control device, according to the invention, which is placed on the pipes of a distribution system for drinks packaged in containers.
  • the reference figures refer to the description given below.
  • the invention relates to a process for the control (a) of handling, such as the distribution and the use of a product which can be of very varied nature and can be presented to both solid, liquid or gaseous state, in bulk or in a packaged state, (b) the quality of this product and / or (c) the working conditions of an installation using this product.
  • This process is characterized by the fact that provision is made, in an inviolable manner, for the above-mentioned product or for the packaging thereof and / or for the installation using this product, means of identification and / or quality control, in particular an electronic key, containing various information, and that these means are subjected to a detection of at least some of this information or data stored in the latter, this data or information thus detected then being compared with reference data which can possibly be stored in a recording device and, when the detected data are in agreement with the stored data, the aforementioned product and / or installation are put into service, while, in the case otherwise, this commissioning is blocked.
  • the control device comprises a control box 1, which is placed in series on the beer supply pipes 2 of a conventional beer distribution installation. One end of each of these pipes 2 is removably connected to a keg 3 containing a well-defined type of beer, the other end leading to a beer pump 4 placed on the counter of a consumption room.
  • This box 1 contains, for each of the pipes 2, a solenoid valve 5, which makes it possible to block or open the passage of the beer from a determined keg to the corresponding beer pump 4 as well as a flow meter 6 making it possible to determine the volume of beer delivered by the pump in question.
  • the control box 1 preferably also contains the mechanical and electrical parts necessary for controlling the cleaning of the pipes 2.
  • a water inlet pipe 7 is connected to each of the pipes 2 by means of two-way solenoid valves 8.
  • These valves 8 make it possible to connect, during the cleaning of the pipes 2, the supply pipe d 7 water on these pipes and at the same time shut off the arrival of beer.
  • the valves 8 are therefore in the cleaning position. In the other position, the water supply is cut off by the valves 8 and the beer pump 4 is connected by the pipe 2 to the corresponding barrel 3.
  • a safety valve 17 is advantageously also provided on the supply pipe. 7 cleaning water.
  • the control box 1 additionally includes all the electronic part for monitoring and controlling the position of the valves 5 and 8 as well as for recording the volume of beer passing through the flow meter 6, together with a electronic key reader 10, an LCD screen 11, an infrared reader 12, a buzzer 13 and a button 16 for commissioning the control unit.
  • An electronic identification key 14 comprising for example a "Touch IO” tablet from the firm “Dallas”, and containing various information entered, is sealed on each keg 3.
  • This key 14 contains information concerning the brewer, the supplier, the type of beer and the volume of beer in the keg.
  • This key also contains tracking information, such as the dates of manufacture, placing in barrels and expiration, as well as batch numbers through which the references of suppliers and distributors through which the barrel passed successively and the references of establishment in which the barrel was drilled, the date on which this took place, etc.
  • the information contained in the key 14 is automatically read by the key reader 10 provided on the control box, by means of a probe 10 ', which is placed on the key 14 of the barrel pierced. This information is then compared with the data stored in the electronic parts of the control unit 1 and if this information is in accordance with this stored data, the volume units contained in the key 14 are erased and memorized in the electronic part of the control unit. 1. The distribution of the contents of the drum concerned is then authorized for the volume indicated in the key, volume which had been programmed in conjunction with other quality control information, etc., indicated above when the barrel in question was filled.
  • the corresponding solenoid valve 5 closes and the installation is blocked until the drilling of a new barrel and the transfer of information from the key 14, provided on this new barrel, to the aforementioned electronic part of the control box 1 via the electronic key reader 10, as indicated above. It is possible to temporarily disconnect a barrel from a supply pipe 2. In this case, the volume units remaining to be distributed are reintroduced into the electronic key 14 of this barrel so that they can be reused later.
  • the identification information for this keg is stored in a memory provided in the electronic part of the control box. 1. This information can be read using a reading terminal, not shown, and thus allows additional control and possible monitoring of the drums.
  • the electronic part of the control device it is possible to manage the cleaning of the pipes 2 of the distribution installation, for example by checking the cleaning frequency and the volume of water sent into the pipe. According to the invention, it is also possible to integrate an automatic water filling system in the pipes during the periods of inactivity of the distribution installation.
  • a sensor can be inserted on the distribution line to distinguish the water from cleaning of the drink normally dispensed by the installation.
  • the operation of this sensor can for example be based on an optical principle or an electrical conductivity.
  • control lamp 15 can be arranged near each beer pump 4 so as to display the commissioning of this pump.
  • security means also known per se, can be provided to avoid any hacking, fraud or breach of the control method according to the invention, somewhat in the same way as in a conventional monitoring and alarm installation.
  • the box can be closed by a key and a control system could be provided which records the date and time of opening of this box, even if the box is out of service.
  • control device could, for example, be provided on motor vehicles to control the nature of the fuel used for the case where a contract has been concluded between the owner of the vehicle and the supplier of the fuel, who would take for example charges certain costs relating to the vehicle in question.
  • such a control device could be provided on an automatic distributor of food products, for example waffles, to ascertain the origin of the waffles introduced into the distributor.
  • silos can also be bulk solid products intended to be stored in silos, for example flour at a baker's, feedstuffs, fertilizers, granules of plastics, raw materials for the manufacture of a specific product, etc., for which the supplier has made the investment in silos.
  • such a control device could be provided on a washing machine to ensure that a washing powder of a determined origin is always used, or on a coffee machine.
  • the method according to the invention can be limited only to the control of the handling of a given product, to the control of the quality of a given product or to the control of the operating conditions of an installation using uses a specific product, or a combination of two or three of these types of control.

Abstract

A method and device for controlling the handling of a specific product, the quality of said product and/or the operating conditions of an installation that performs the inventive method, comprising identification and/or quality control means (10) and means (10) for detecting data contained in said identification and/or quality control means (10), whereby the latter cooperate with elements (5,6, 8) that enable said products to be distributed and used when the data matches data that is stored in the detection means (14). The elements become locked if the data does not match.

Description

"Procédé et dispositif de contrôle de la manutention d'un produit déterminé et de la qualité de ce produit" "Method and device for controlling the handling of a given product and the quality of this product"
La présente invention est relative à un procédé de contrôle de la manutention, tel que la distribution et l'utilisation, d'un produit déterminé, de la qualité de ce produit et/ou des conditions de travail d'une installation mettant en oeuvre ce produit.The present invention relates to a method for controlling the handling, such as the distribution and use, of a given product, of the quality of this product and / or of the working conditions of an installation implementing this product.
Un des buts principaux de l'invention est de rentabiliser un investissement réalisé par un fabricant ou un fournisseur pour la vente d'un produit déterminé chez un utilisateur ou distributeur du produit déterminé. Il s'agit plus particulièrement d'assurer le retour sur l'investissement correct correspondant au contrat passé entre le fournisseur d'un produit déterminé et un tiers, chez qui ou pour qui l'investissement a été fait pour l'utilisation, la distribution ou la vente de ce produit. Ainsi, ce procédé peut trouver son application dans des domaines extrêmement variés, tels que la distribution, dans des débits de boissons, de boissons conditionnées dans des conteneurs, l'utilisation d'un produit déterminé pour le traitement d'un objet ou d'une matière de nature très diverses, comme, par exemple, dans des machines à laver dans lesquelles il y a lieu d'introduire un détergent, la distribution automatique d'aliments conditionnés, etc.One of the main aims of the invention is to make profitable an investment made by a manufacturer or a supplier for the sale of a given product to a user or distributor of the given product. It is more particularly a question of ensuring the return on the correct investment corresponding to the contract concluded between the supplier of a given product and a third party, with whom or for whom the investment was made for the use, the distribution. or the sale of this product. Thus, this process can find its application in extremely varied fields, such as the distribution, in drinking places, of drinks conditioned in containers, the use of a determined product for the treatment of an object or a material of very diverse nature, such as, for example, in washing machines in which it is necessary to introduce a detergent, the automatic distribution of packaged food, etc.
Plus particulièrement, dans le cas de débits de boissons équipés d'une installation de distribution de boissons en fûts, généralement le fabricant ou le fournisseur de la boisson fait l'investissement de l'installation de distribution en échange d'une exclusivité sur la livraison de la boisson. Toutefois, la convention ainsi conclue entre le fournisseur de boisson et l'exploitant du débit de boissons n'est pas toujours respectée par ce dernier, de sorte que dans ce cas l'investissement réalisé par le fournisseur diminue au profit d'autres fournisseurs qui n'ont pas eu à supporter le coût de l'installation.More particularly, in the case of drinking establishments equipped with a facility for distributing beverages in kegs, generally the manufacturer or supplier of the beverage invests in the distribution facility in exchange for a exclusivity on the delivery of the drink. However, the agreement thus concluded between the beverage supplier and the operator of the beverage outlet is not always respected by the latter, so that in this case the investment made by the supplier decreases in favor of other suppliers who did not have to bear the cost of the installation.
Par ailleurs, actuellement, il n'est pas possible de contrôler efficacement l'entretien de l'installation du point de vue du nettoyage des circuits de cette dernière, le respect des dates de péremption des boissons distribuées, etc.Furthermore, at present, it is not possible to effectively control the maintenance of the installation from the point of view of cleaning the circuits of the latter, compliance with the expiration dates of the beverages dispensed, etc.
Par exemple dans le cas de la distribution de boissons, la présente invention permet un contrôle efficace de la qualité des boissons par le suivi de leur provenance, l'identification des dates de péremption ainsi que la vérification du nettoyage des tuyaux de l'installation de distribution, pouvant aller jusqu'au blocage de ceux-ci si les conditions d'hygiène ne sont pas respectées.For example in the case of the distribution of beverages, the present invention allows effective control of the quality of the beverages by monitoring their origin, identifying the expiration dates as well as checking the cleaning of the pipes of the installation of distribution, which can go as far as blocking them if hygiene conditions are not respected.
A cet effet, le procédé de contrôle suivant l'invention consiste à prévoir, d'une manière inviolable, sur le produit en cause ou sur l'emballage de celui-ci et/ou sur l'installation mettant en oeuvre ce produit, des moyens d'identification et/ou de contrôle de qualité, tels qu'une clef électronique, contenant diverses informations et à soumettre ces moyens à une détection d'au moins certaines de ces informations, les informations ainsi détectées étant alors comparées avec des données de référence, stockées éventuellement dans un appareil de contrôle et, lorsque les informations détectées sont en concordance avec les données de référence, le produit et/ou l'installation susdits sont mis en service, dans le cas contraire cette mise en service étant bloquée.To this end, the control method according to the invention consists in providing, in an inviolable manner, on the product in question or on the packaging thereof and / or on the installation using this product, means of identification and / or quality control, such as an electronic key, containing various information and to subject these means to the detection of at least some of this information, the information thus detected being then compared with data from reference, possibly stored in a control device and, when the detected information is in agreement with the reference data, the above product and / or installation are put into service, otherwise this putting into service is blocked.
Avantageusement, l'on fait usage de moyens d'identification qui, moyennant un code spécial, peuvent être complétés et/ou modifiés par des données détectables introduites par le fabricant, par le distributeur et/ou par l'utilisateur dudit produit et éventuellement par tout intermédiaire dans la chaîne de manipulation entre la fabrication et l'utilisation ou la distribution du produit concerné. Suivant une forme de réalisation particulière de l'invention, dans le cas de débits de boissons disposant d'une installation de distribution de boissons conditionnées dans des conteneurs, on prévoit sur chacun de ces conteneurs une clef électronique d'identification contenant des informations concernant le fabricant, le distributeur, le type de boisson, le volume de la boisson contenu dans le conteneur et/ou les informations de suivi, telles que dates de fabrication, de mise en conditionnement et de péremption, ces informations étant détectées et comparées avec des données stockées dans un appareil de contrôle et lorsque ces informations détectées sont en concordance avec les données stockées, l'installation de distribution est mise en service. Dans le cas contraire, cette mise en service est bloquée.Advantageously, use is made of means of identification which, by means of a special code, can be supplemented and / or modified by detectable data introduced by the manufacturer, by the distributor and / or by the user of said product and possibly by any intermediary in the chain of manipulation between the manufacture and the use or distribution of the product concerned. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, in the case of drinking establishments having a distribution facility for drinks packaged in containers, an electronic identification key is provided on each of these containers containing information concerning the manufacturer, distributor, type of drink, volume of drink contained in the container and / or tracking information, such as manufacturing, packaging and expiration dates, this information being detected and compared with data stored in a recording device and when this detected information is in agreement with the stored data, the distribution installation is put into service. Otherwise, this commissioning is blocked.
L'invention concerne également un dispositif de contrôle pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé précité, notamment pour la distribution de produits déterminés, tels que boissons, carburant pour automobile, etc.The invention also relates to a control device for the implementation of the above method, in particular for the distribution of specific products, such as drinks, motor fuel, etc.
Ce dispositif est caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend, d'une part, des moyens d'identification de ces produits et, d'autre part, des moyens de détection de données contenues dans ces moyens d'identification, ces derniers coopérant avec des organes permettant la distribution ou l'utilisation desdits produits lorsque ces données sont en concordance avec les données stockées dans les moyens de détection.This device is characterized by the fact that it comprises, on the one hand, means for identifying these products and, on the other hand, means for detecting data contained in these identification means, the latter cooperating with organs allowing the distribution or the use of said products when these data are in agreement with the data stored in the detection means.
D'autres détails et particularités de l'invention ressortiront de la description donnée ci-après, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, d'une forme de réalisation particulière de l'invention avec référence à la figure annexée.Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below, by way of nonlimiting example, of a particular embodiment of the invention with reference to the appended figure.
Cette figure représente très schématiquement une forme de réalisation particulière d'un dispositif de contrôle, suivant l'invention, qui est placé sur les tuyaux d'une installation de distribution de boissons conditionnées dans des conteneurs. Dans cette figure, les chiffres de référence se rapportent à la description donnée ci-après.This figure very schematically represents a particular embodiment of a control device, according to the invention, which is placed on the pipes of a distribution system for drinks packaged in containers. In this figure, the reference figures refer to the description given below.
D'une façon générale, l'invention est relative à un procédé pour le contrôle (a) de la manutention, telle que la distribution et l'utilisation d'un produit qui peut être de nature très variée et se présenter aussi bien à l'état solide, liquide ou gazeux, en vrac ou à l'état empaqueté, (b) de la qualité de ce produit et/ou (c) des conditions de travail d'une installation mettant en oeuvre ce produit.In general, the invention relates to a process for the control (a) of handling, such as the distribution and the use of a product which can be of very varied nature and can be presented to both solid, liquid or gaseous state, in bulk or in a packaged state, (b) the quality of this product and / or (c) the working conditions of an installation using this product.
Ce procédé se caractérise par le fait que l'on prévoit, d'une manière inviolable, sur le produit susdit ou sur l'emballage de celui-ci et/ou sur l'installation mettant en oeuvre ce produit des moyens d'identification et/ou de contrôle de qualité, notamment une clef électronique, contenant diverses informations, et que l'on soumet ces moyens à une détection d'au moins certaines de ces informations ou données stockées dans ces derniers, ces données ou informations ainsi détectées étant alors comparées à des données de référence qui peuvent éventuellement être stockées dans un appareil de contrôle et, lorsque les données détectées sont en concordance avec les données stockées, le produit et/ou l'installation susdits sont mis en service, tandis que, dans le cas contraire, cette mise en service est bloquée.This process is characterized by the fact that provision is made, in an inviolable manner, for the above-mentioned product or for the packaging thereof and / or for the installation using this product, means of identification and / or quality control, in particular an electronic key, containing various information, and that these means are subjected to a detection of at least some of this information or data stored in the latter, this data or information thus detected then being compared with reference data which can possibly be stored in a recording device and, when the detected data are in agreement with the stored data, the aforementioned product and / or installation are put into service, while, in the case otherwise, this commissioning is blocked.
Afin de permettre d'illustrer d'une manière concrète l'objet de la présente invention, ci-après est donné un exemple de réalisation du procédé suivant l'invention appliqué sur une installation de distribution de bière contenue dans des fûts. La figure schématique annexée se rapporte à cet exemple précis.In order to make it possible to illustrate in a concrete manner the object of the present invention, below is given an example of embodiment of the method according to the invention applied to an installation for distributing beer contained in kegs. The attached schematic figure relates to this specific example.
Dans cette forme de réalisation, le dispositif de contrôle suivant l'invention comprend un boîtier de contrôle 1 , qui est placé en série sur les tuyaux d'amenée de la bière 2 d'une installation classique de distribution de bière. Une des extrémités de chacun de ces tuyaux 2 est raccordée de manière amovible à un fût 3 contenant un type bien déterminé de bière, l'autre extrémité aboutissant à une pompe à bière 4 placée sur le comptoir d'un local de consommation. Ce boîtier 1 contient, pour chacun des tuyaux 2, une électrovanne 5, qui permet de bloquer ou d'ouvrir le passage de la bière à partir d'un fût déterminé vers la pompe à bière 4 correspondante ainsi qu'un débitmètre 6 permettant de déterminer le volume de bière délivré par la pompe considérée. Par ailleurs, le boîtier de contrôle 1 contient de préférence également les parties mécaniques et électriques nécessaires au contrôle du nettoyage des tuyaux 2.In this embodiment, the control device according to the invention comprises a control box 1, which is placed in series on the beer supply pipes 2 of a conventional beer distribution installation. One end of each of these pipes 2 is removably connected to a keg 3 containing a well-defined type of beer, the other end leading to a beer pump 4 placed on the counter of a consumption room. This box 1 contains, for each of the pipes 2, a solenoid valve 5, which makes it possible to block or open the passage of the beer from a determined keg to the corresponding beer pump 4 as well as a flow meter 6 making it possible to determine the volume of beer delivered by the pump in question. Furthermore, the control box 1 preferably also contains the mechanical and electrical parts necessary for controlling the cleaning of the pipes 2.
Ainsi, une conduite d'arrivée d'eau 7 est branchée sur chacun des tuyaux 2 par l'intermédiaire d'électrovannes à deux voies 8. Ces vannes 8 permettent de brancher, lors du nettoyage des tuyaux 2, la conduite d'amenée d'eau 7 sur ces tuyaux et de couper en même temps l'arrivée de la bière. La figure montre schématiquement, en traits pleins, le raccordement 9 de la conduite d'amenée d'eau 7 aux tuyaux d'amenée de la bière 2 pendant que le raccordement 9', montré en traits interrompus, au fût 3 a été interrompu. Les vannes 8 sont donc dans la position de nettoyage. Dans l'autre position, l'arrivée d'eau est coupée par les vannes 8 et la pompe à bière 4 est raccordée par le tuyau 2 au fût correspondant 3. Une vanne de sécurité 17 est avantageusement également prévue sur la conduite d'amenée 7 de l'eau de nettoyage. Le boîtier de contrôle 1 comprend, en plus, toute la partie électronique pour le contrôle et la commande de la position des vannes 5 et 8 ainsi que pour l'enregistrement du volume de bière passant par le débitmètre 6, en même temps qu'un lecteur de clef électronique 10, un écran LCD 11 , un lecteur infrarouge 12, un ronfleur 13 et un bouton 16 de mise en service du boîtier de contrôle.Thus, a water inlet pipe 7 is connected to each of the pipes 2 by means of two-way solenoid valves 8. These valves 8 make it possible to connect, during the cleaning of the pipes 2, the supply pipe d 7 water on these pipes and at the same time shut off the arrival of beer. The figure schematically shows, in solid lines, the connection 9 of the water supply pipe 7 to the beer supply pipes 2 while the connection 9 ', shown in broken lines, to the keg 3 has been interrupted. The valves 8 are therefore in the cleaning position. In the other position, the water supply is cut off by the valves 8 and the beer pump 4 is connected by the pipe 2 to the corresponding barrel 3. A safety valve 17 is advantageously also provided on the supply pipe. 7 cleaning water. The control box 1 additionally includes all the electronic part for monitoring and controlling the position of the valves 5 and 8 as well as for recording the volume of beer passing through the flow meter 6, together with a electronic key reader 10, an LCD screen 11, an infrared reader 12, a buzzer 13 and a button 16 for commissioning the control unit.
Etant donné que cette partie électronique peut être constituée d'éléments connus en soi, il n'a pas été jugé utile de les décrire plus en détail. Une clef électronique d'identification 14, comprenant par exemple une pastille "Touch IO" de la firme "Dallas", et contenant diverses informations encriptées,est scellée sur chaque fût 3. Cette clef 14 contient des informations concernant le brasseur, le fournisseur, le type de bière et le volume de bière contenu dans le fût. Cette clef contient également des informations de suivi, telles que les dates de fabrication, de mise en fût et de péremption, de même que des numéros de lot par lesquels les références des fournisseurs et distributeurs par lesquels le fût est passé successivement et les références des établissement dans lesquels le fût a été mise en perce, la date à laquelle ceci a eu lieu, etc.Since this electronic part can consist of elements known per se, it was not considered useful to describe them in more detail. An electronic identification key 14, comprising for example a "Touch IO" tablet from the firm "Dallas", and containing various information entered, is sealed on each keg 3. This key 14 contains information concerning the brewer, the supplier, the type of beer and the volume of beer in the keg. This key also contains tracking information, such as the dates of manufacture, placing in barrels and expiration, as well as batch numbers through which the references of suppliers and distributors through which the barrel passed successively and the references of establishment in which the barrel was drilled, the date on which this took place, etc.
Lorsqu'un fût est mis en perce, les informations contenues dans la clef 14 sont automatiquement lues par le lecteur de clef 10 prévu sur le boîtier de contrôle, au moyen d'une sonde 10', que l'on place sur la clef 14 du fût mis en perce. Ces informations sont alors comparées aux données stockées dans les parties électroniques du boîtier de contrôle 1 et si ces informations sont en concordance avec ces données stockées, les unités de volume contenues dans la clef 14 sont effacées et mémorisées dans la partie électronique du boîtier de contrôle 1. La distribution du contenu du fût concerné est alors autorisée pour le volume indiqué dans la clef, volume qui avait été programmé conjointement à d'autres informations de contrôle de qualité, etc., indiqués ci-dessus au moment du remplissage du fût en cause.When a barrel is pierced, the information contained in the key 14 is automatically read by the key reader 10 provided on the control box, by means of a probe 10 ', which is placed on the key 14 of the barrel pierced. This information is then compared with the data stored in the electronic parts of the control unit 1 and if this information is in accordance with this stored data, the volume units contained in the key 14 are erased and memorized in the electronic part of the control unit. 1. The distribution of the contents of the drum concerned is then authorized for the volume indicated in the key, volume which had been programmed in conjunction with other quality control information, etc., indicated above when the barrel in question was filled.
Lorsque le volume autorisé a été distribué, l'électrovanne correspondante 5 se ferme et l'installation est bloquée jusqu'à la mise en perce d'un nouveau fût et le transfert d'informations de la clef 14, prévue sur ce nouveau fût, vers la partie électronique précitée du boîtier de contrôle 1 par l'intermédiaire du lecteur de clef électronique 10, comme indiqué ci-dessus. II est possible de déconnecter temporairement un fût d'un tuyau d'amenée 2. Dans ce cas, les unités de volume restant à distribuer sont réintroduites dans la clef électronique 14 de ce fût afin de pouvoir être réutilisées ultérieurement.When the authorized volume has been distributed, the corresponding solenoid valve 5 closes and the installation is blocked until the drilling of a new barrel and the transfer of information from the key 14, provided on this new barrel, to the aforementioned electronic part of the control box 1 via the electronic key reader 10, as indicated above. It is possible to temporarily disconnect a barrel from a supply pipe 2. In this case, the volume units remaining to be distributed are reintroduced into the electronic key 14 of this barrel so that they can be reused later.
Chaque fois qu'un fût est connecté à un tuyau d'amenée 2 vers la pompe à bière 4 ou est déconnecté de ce tuyau, les informations d'identification de ce fût sont mémorisées dans une mémoire prévue dans la partie électronique du boîtier de contrôle 1. Ces informations peuvent être lues à l'aide d'un terminal de lecture, non représenté, et permettent ainsi un contrôle supplémentaire et un suivi éventuel des fûts.Each time a keg is connected to or disconnected from a pipe 2 to the beer pump 4, the identification information for this keg is stored in a memory provided in the electronic part of the control box. 1. This information can be read using a reading terminal, not shown, and thus allows additional control and possible monitoring of the drums.
Toujours grâce à la partie électronique du dispositif de contrôle suivant l'invention, il est possible de gérer le nettoyage des tuyaux 2 de l'installation de distribution par exemple par une vérification de la fréquence de nettoyage et du volume d'eau envoyé dans les tuyau. Suivant l'invention, il est également possible d'intégrer un système de remplissage automatique d'eau dans les conduites pendant les périodes d'inactivité de l'installation de distribution.Still thanks to the electronic part of the control device according to the invention, it is possible to manage the cleaning of the pipes 2 of the distribution installation, for example by checking the cleaning frequency and the volume of water sent into the pipe. According to the invention, it is also possible to integrate an automatic water filling system in the pipes during the periods of inactivity of the distribution installation.
Un capteur, non représenté sur la figure, peut être inséré sur la ligne de distribution pour permettre de distinguer l'eau de nettoyage de la boisson normalement distribuée par l'installation. Le fonctionnement de ce capteur peut par exemple être basé sur un principe optique ou de conductivité électrique.A sensor, not shown in the figure, can be inserted on the distribution line to distinguish the water from cleaning of the drink normally dispensed by the installation. The operation of this sensor can for example be based on an optical principle or an electrical conductivity.
Par ailleurs, une lampe témoin 15 peut être agencée auprès de chaque pompe à bière 4 de manière à visualiser la mise en service de Gette pompe.Furthermore, a control lamp 15 can be arranged near each beer pump 4 so as to display the commissioning of this pump.
Enfin, des moyens de sécurité, également connus en soi, peuvent être prévus pour éviter tout piratage, fraude ou infraction au procédé de contrôle, suivant l'invention, quelque peu de la même façon que dans une installation de surveillance et d'alarme conventionnelle. Ainsi, le boîtier peut être fermé par une clef et un système de contrôle pourrait être prévu qui enregistre la date et l'heure d'ouverture de ce boîtier, même si le boîtier est hors service.Finally, security means, also known per se, can be provided to avoid any hacking, fraud or breach of the control method according to the invention, somewhat in the same way as in a conventional monitoring and alarm installation. . Thus, the box can be closed by a key and a control system could be provided which records the date and time of opening of this box, even if the box is out of service.
Il est bien entendu que l'invention n'est pas limitée à la forme de réalisation particulière décrite ci-avant et représentée à la figure annexée, mais que bien des variantes peuvent être envisagées sans sortir du cadre de la présente invention.It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described above and shown in the attached figure, but that many variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Ainsi, un tel dispositif de contrôle pourrait, par exemple, être prévu sur des véhicules automobiles pour contrôler la nature du carburant utilisé pour le cas où un contrat a été conclu entre le propriétaire du véhicule et le fournisseur du carburant, qui prendrait par exemple en charge certains frais relatifs au véhicule considéré.Thus, such a control device could, for example, be provided on motor vehicles to control the nature of the fuel used for the case where a contract has been concluded between the owner of the vehicle and the supplier of the fuel, who would take for example charges certain costs relating to the vehicle in question.
Dans une autre application, un tel dispositif de contrôle pourrait être prévu sur un distributeur automatique de produits alimentaires, par exemple de gaufres, pour s'assurer de l'origine des gaufres introduites dans le distributeur.In another application, such a control device could be provided on an automatic distributor of food products, for example waffles, to ascertain the origin of the waffles introduced into the distributor.
Il peut également s'agir de produits solides en vrac destinés à être stockés dans des silos, par exemple de la farine chez un boulanger, des aliments pour bétail, des engrais, des granules de matières plastiques, des matières premières pour la fabrication d'un produit déterminé, etc., pour lesquels le fournisseur a fait l'investissement des silos.It can also be bulk solid products intended to be stored in silos, for example flour at a baker's, feedstuffs, fertilizers, granules of plastics, raw materials for the manufacture of a specific product, etc., for which the supplier has made the investment in silos.
Dans une autre application encore, un tel dispositif de contrôle pourrait être prévu sur une machine à laver pour s'assurer qu'une poudre à laver d'une origine déterminée soit toujours utilisée, ou sur une machine à café.In yet another application, such a control device could be provided on a washing machine to ensure that a washing powder of a determined origin is always used, or on a coffee machine.
Enfin, dans certains cas, le procédé suivant l'invention peut être limité uniquement au contrôle de la manipulation d'un produit déterminé, au contrôle de la qualité d'un produit détermine ou au contrôle des conditions de fonctionnement d'une installation mettant en oeuvre un produit déterminé, ou encore à la combinaison de deux ou trois de ces types de contrôle. Finally, in certain cases, the method according to the invention can be limited only to the control of the handling of a given product, to the control of the quality of a given product or to the control of the operating conditions of an installation using uses a specific product, or a combination of two or three of these types of control.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé de contrôle de la manutention, telle que la distribution et l'utilisation, d'un produit déterminé (3), de la qualité de ce produit et/ou des conditions de travail d'une installation mettant en oeuvre ce produit, caractérisé en ce que l'on prévoit, d'une manière inviolable, sur le produit susdit ou sur l'emballage de celui-ci et/ou sur l'installation mettant en oeuvre ce produit, des moyens d'identification et/ou de contrôle de qualité (14), telle qu'une clef électronique contenant diverses informations encryptees et en ce que l'on soumet ces moyens à une détection d'au moins certaines des données stockées dans ces derniers, ces données détectées étant alors comparées avec des données de référence stockées éventuellement dans un appareil de contrôle et, lorsque les données détectées sont en concordance avec les données stockées, le produit et/ou l'installation susdits sont mis en service, dans le cas contraire cette mise en service est bloquée.1. Process for controlling the handling, such as the distribution and use, of a given product (3), of the quality of this product and / or of the working conditions of an installation using this product, characterized in that there is provided, in an inviolable manner, on the aforementioned product or on the packaging thereof and / or on the installation using this product, means of identification and / or quality control (14), such as an electronic key containing various encrypted information and in that these means are subjected to a detection of at least some of the data stored in the latter, these detected data then being compared with reference data possibly stored in a recording device and, when the detected data are in agreement with the stored data, the above-mentioned product and / or installation are put into service, otherwise this putting into service is blocked e.
2. Procédé suivant la revendication 1 , caractérisé en ce que l'on fait usage de moyens d'identification (10) qui, moyennant un code spécial, peuvent être complétées et/ou modifiées par des données détectables introduites par le fabricant, par le distributeur et/ou par l'utilisateur dudit produit et, éventuellement, par tout intermédiaire dans la chaîne de manipulation entre le fabricant et l'utilisateur ou distributeur.2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that use is made of identification means (10) which, by means of a special code, can be supplemented and / or modified by detectable data introduced by the manufacturer, by the distributor and / or by the user of said product and, possibly, by any intermediary in the chain of manipulation between the manufacturer and the user or distributor.
3. Procédé suivant l'une ou l'autre des revendications 1 et3. Method according to either of Claims 1 and
2, caractérisé en ce que l'on fait usage de moyens de détection comprenant des données pouvant être stockées dans l'installation pour la mise en oeuvre du produit précité.2, characterized in that use is made of detection means comprising data that can be stored in the installation for the implementation of the aforementioned product.
4. Procédé suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to
3, caractérisé en ce que, appliqué dans des débits de boissons équipés d'une installation de distribution de boissons conditionnées dans des conteneurs, on prévoit sur chacun de ces conteneurs une clef électronique d'identification contenant des information concernant le fabricant, le distributeur, le type de boisson, le volume de la boisson contenu dans le conteneur et/ou des informations de suivi, telles que date de fabrication, de mise en conditionnement et de péremption.3, characterized in that, applied in drinking places equipped with a distribution system for drinks packaged in containers, an electronic identification key is provided on each of these containers containing information concerning the manufacturer, the distributor, the type of drink, the volume of the drink contained in the container and / or tracking information, such as date manufacturing, packaging and expiration.
5. Dispositif de contrôle pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, notamment pour la distribution de produits déterminés, tels que boissons, carburant pour automobiles, etc., caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend, d'une part, des moyens d'identification (14) de ces produits (3) et, d'autre part, des moyens de détection (10) de données contenues dans ces moyens d'identification (14), ces derniers coopérant avec des organes (5, 6, 8) permettant la distribution ou l'utilisation desdits produits lorsque ces données sont en concordance avec des données stockées dans les moyens de détection (14). 5. Control device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in particular for the distribution of specific products, such as drinks, motor fuel, etc., characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, means of identification (14) of these products (3) and, on the other hand, means of detection (10) of data contained in these means of identification (14), the latter cooperating with organs (5, 6, 8) allowing the distribution or the use of said products when these data are in concordance with data stored in the detection means (14).
EP00901417A 1999-01-22 2000-01-24 Method and device for controlling the handling and quality of a specific product Withdrawn EP1151402A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00901417A EP1151402A1 (en) 1999-01-22 2000-01-24 Method and device for controlling the handling and quality of a specific product

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99200200A EP1022671A1 (en) 1999-01-22 1999-01-22 Method and device for controling the handling of a specific product and the quality of the product
EP99200200 1999-01-22
PCT/BE2000/000008 WO2000043922A1 (en) 1999-01-22 2000-01-24 Method and device for controlling the handling and quality of a specific product
EP00901417A EP1151402A1 (en) 1999-01-22 2000-01-24 Method and device for controlling the handling and quality of a specific product

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EP1151402A1 true EP1151402A1 (en) 2001-11-07

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EP99200200A Withdrawn EP1022671A1 (en) 1999-01-22 1999-01-22 Method and device for controling the handling of a specific product and the quality of the product
EP00901417A Withdrawn EP1151402A1 (en) 1999-01-22 2000-01-24 Method and device for controlling the handling and quality of a specific product

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EP99200200A Withdrawn EP1022671A1 (en) 1999-01-22 1999-01-22 Method and device for controling the handling of a specific product and the quality of the product

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AU (1) AU2271100A (en)
WO (1) WO2000043922A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2813970B1 (en) * 2000-09-08 2003-12-05 Ouest Electro Tech Oet METHOD FOR ASSISTING THE TRACEABILITY OF FOODS, DEVICE AND SYSTEM THEREOF

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4237536A (en) * 1978-10-12 1980-12-02 M.R.E. Enterprises, Inc. System for indicating and controlling dispensing of beverages
US4563739A (en) * 1983-07-18 1986-01-07 Impulse Computer Systems, Inc. Inventory and business management system which accounts for the contents of full and partially filled product containers
GB8724723D0 (en) * 1987-10-22 1987-11-25 Zengrange Ltd Data collection
DE3942009C2 (en) * 1989-12-20 1994-03-03 Deutsche Aerospace System for controlling and monitoring the distribution of goods
AU4303693A (en) * 1992-06-08 1994-01-04 Azbar Inc. Beverage dispensing system for a bar
DE19516696A1 (en) * 1995-05-06 1996-11-07 Hans Joachim Dipl Ing Eberhard Procedures to identify and control the delivery and return delivery of press products

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
See references of WO0043922A1 *

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AU2271100A (en) 2000-08-07
WO2000043922A1 (en) 2000-07-27

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