EP1979264B1

EP1979264B1 - An automatic home multi beer dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1979264B1
Application number: EP06840422A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dirk Daluwein; Thomas Herling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-03
Filing date: 2006-12-22
Publication date: 2012-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-22
Also published as: EP1979264A2; ES2390856T3; BE1016910A3; WO2007076584A2; WO2007076584A3

Abstract

The invention describes an apparatus which enables the automatic pour out of a glass of beer with a choice of several predetermined volumes and a tilt system which adapts fully automatically and continuously the position of the beer glass during the pour out process. The home multiple beers dispensing apparatus is provided with at least two beverage cartridges comprising an air pressure reservoir system and individual cooling means. The cartridges, in fact disposable or non-disposable recipients containing the beer, are preferable in metal and in the form of cylindrical shaped mini kegs.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention describes a dispensing apparatus with at least two cartridges to hold ready two different types of beer allowing the dispensing process of the selected beer thereby individually taking care about the varying individual requirements concerning the dispensing process as e.g. tilting angle, temperature, flow speed.
In particular the invention concerns an automatically functioning home multi beer dispensing apparatus. This home multi beer dispensing apparatus is addressing the problem that beer to reach his best quality level requires to adjust and control different parameter of the dispensing process according to the beer characteristics. Therefore the apparatus is equipped with a tilt system which based on these characteristics, to know the individual ideal consuming temperature as well as the specific yeast characteristics, automatically adapts dispensing speed and inclination angle of the beer glass during pour out to ensure a perfect beer head. The strength of the invention consists in the fact that the apparatus that contains several cartridges, each filled with a different beer individually adjusts the parameters to the selected type of beer. So as well every beer type is cooled to its individual ideal consuming temperature. The user is not involved into the dispensing process beside the initial selection. The cartridges designed for the apparatus, in fact a disposable or non-disposable recipient containing the beer, are preferable but not necessarily executed in metal and moulded in the form of cylindrical mini kegs.

Background of the invention

Actual beer tap installations for multiple beers as currently used in taverns, hotels and others operate manually, have a separate tap unit for each beer, and the beers are dispensed by means of the pressure created by the CO2 gas in the barrels, which are stored in a refrigerated space.
This means that the entire process is handled manually and depending on the experience of the bartender to dispense a beer properly to its characteristics. Other issue is that because of the limited available space for a home multi beer dispensing apparatus there is a strong need to substantially reduce the volume of such an apparatus and its necessary components, to know the different cartridges and an air pressure reservoir system that despite of its limited dimensions has to provide enough power to dispense the beer in a proper way.

Summary of the invention

The primary aim of the present invention concerns a process to enable the best possible beer quality optimizing the dispensing process to any kind of user with home multi beer dispensing apparatus, equipped with several cartridges, filled at choice with the same or different beers.
Second objective of the present invention concerns a home multi beer dispensing apparatus, which provides the consumer with the comfort of dispensing a beer of his choice by simply selecting for the chosen volume and product. The dispensing process is fully automatically executed.
Third objective of the present invention is to provide a home multi beer dispensing apparatus which always ensures a perfect beer head through an automatic positioning system that continuously adapts the position of the beer glass during pour out. This tilt system is linked with the digital IC of the apparatus that, based on the temperature and yeast characteristics of the beer in the respective cartridge, automatically determines the dispensing speed as well as the speed and angle of inclination of the tilt system.
Fourth objective of the present invention is the fact that the dispensing apparatus is GB 2 387 835 discloses a beer dispenser with a tiltable support for the vessel to be filled. The dispenser has stored a variety of pouring programs in order to control the built-up of froth in the vessel. provided with multiple cartridges, it is indispensable that each cartridge can be separately cooled to the individual temperature required for the beer with which the cartridge is filled, so that the beer can be preserved and drawn at the for the beer characteristic required temperature.
Fifth objective of the present invention is the fact that the volume of beer in each of the cartridge is measured which informs the consumer when a cartridge is emptied, by means of a visual signal that lights up on the respective control panel of the apparatus.
Sixth objective of the present invention is the fact that the consumer always has a choice of volume of beer to be drawn, simply by selecting the respective button.

Short description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a cartridge (1) containing a bag (5) whereby the cartridge is equipped with an air pressure inlet valve (3); a beverage outlet valve (4) whereby each cartridge is individually fixed and sealed (2) to the apparatus.
Figure 2 shows the cartridge as it is positioned in the apparatus whereby (6) shows the pressure which pushes the content (7) through the outlet valve (4)
Figure 3 shows the reservoir with compressed air (8); the pressure limiter (9); the tubing (10) by which the compressed air enters by means of an air pressure inlet valve the cartridge; the dispensing outlet tubing (11); the liquid outlet valve (4); the servo valve actuator (12); the pour out unit (13); the temperature sensor (14); the cooling system (15); the upside down cartridge (1); the IC (16); the actuator unit (17); the variable inclination means of the tilting system (18); the tilting system itself (19); the dispensing valve (20)
Figure 4 shows a cross section of the apparatus (21), provided from a metal plate with a clamp system (22) on which the glass is held (23).

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to an automatic functioning multi beer dispensing apparatus, equipped with an air pressure reservoir and provided with a tilt system which fully automatically adapts the speed and angle of inclination of the beer glass during pour out. All functions of the automatic beer dispensing apparatus are controlled by a digital IC, for example a microcontroller, which receives its commands through the activation of the push buttons on the electronic control panels of the apparatus, of which one is provided for each cartridge.
The home multi beer dispensing apparatus is equipped with at least two cartridges, preferably but not necessarily in cylindrical shaped metal (1) and provided with a bag (5) filled with the beer. Each cartridge is equipped with an air pressure inlet valve (3) system which ensures the dispensing of the beverage through the outlet valve (4). The bag is mounted to the cartridge's inner wall. Each cartridge, as said a disposable or non-disposable recipient containing the beer, is individually fixed and sealed (2) to the apparatus. The pressure system allows drawing a requested volume of beer by creating the necessary amount of pressurized air between the inner wall of the cartridge and the bag filled with beer. The inlet air valve (3) and the outlet fluid valve (4), through which the liquid is dispensed, are mounted on top of the upside down mounted cartridge through gas- and liquid-tight seals. In case of non sensitive beverages the gas pressure which can be either Nitrogen, CO₂ or pressurized air can be in direct contact with the product and the bag. The one-way air valve is by means of tubing (10) and a pressure switch in permanent connection with the pressure reservoir of the pressure system, which is mounted in the dispensing apparatus outside the cartridges. The reservoir is provided with sufficient pressurized air to deliver the necessary outlet pressure to the cartridge when the apparatus is dispensing beer. The pressure (6) is affecting the content of the cartridge through the upside down position and pushing the content (7) through the outlet valve (4) The overall pressure system consists of a pressure vessel and a pressure regulator connected directly to the cartridges to provide to reach a predetermined pressure level. To avoid beer frothing, the pressure system provides a defined quantity of pressurized air to reduce vapour pressure fluctuations during the dispensing process, especially at the beginning when the space between the beer level and the top of the cartridge is small. This known technique is extensively explained in the WO 2004 050537 . A visual signal per cartridge informs the consumer when the respective cartridge is empty on base of the delivered quantity of liquid and the known size of the cartridge. The automatic multi beer dispensing apparatus is equipped with a digital IC, for example a microcontroller, provided with the necessary in- and outputs and with sufficient memory capacity to store all necessary data to command all the functions of the dispensing apparatus. The electronic control panels which actuate the IC are integrated in the apparatus. They comprise the necessary illuminated push buttons and signalling displays to ensure operation and control of the different functions. Before the dispensing process can start, the desired volume of the chosen beer needs to be indicated by touching the respective push button on the electronic control panel linked with the respective cartridge. The dispensing apparatus offers the consumer a choice of volumes and products. The volume to be dispensed is controlled by the digital IC, which is programmed in consistence with the offered volumes beer types. The digital IC controls the dispensing valves and supervises the overall gas pressure as a mathematical estimate of remaining gas in the pressure system on subtracting the loss of gas during dispensing. After defining the dispensing volume, a push on the start button of the chosen cartridge is sufficient to start the beer dispensing. Dispensing is activated by a command of the digital IC to the dispensing valves. The with the standard operating pressure impinged cartridge, guaranteed by the reservoir (8) and the pressure limiter (9), pushes the product towards the dispensing valve (20) which is controlled by the IC (16) and relieves the product through the outlet tubing which is integrated in the pour out unit (13) into the glass, which is located on the tilt system (19). The tilt system consists of a compact circular metal plate (22), for example in aluminium, on which the beer glass (23) is positioned and held by a clamp system that fixes the foot construction of the glass. This metal plate is motioned by a stepping motor-driver unit. The tilting system by moving around a given centre (18) provides different inclinations for the dispensing. The inclination is controlled by the actuator unit (17) itself controlled by the IC (16) depending on the beer characteristics and conditions. The dispensing outlet tubing (11) connects the cartridge dispensing system with the pour out unit. Each cartridge dispensing system consists of a liquid outlet valve (4) connected to a liquid outlet tubing that extends to the upside down top of the cartridge to allow beer to be drawn from the cartridge (1). The outlet tubes of the different cartridges ends in the pour out unit (13) on top of the front panel of the dispensing apparatus (21). The dispensing process is controlled by a pulsed opening or partial opening of the valve depending on the desired dispensing characteristic. A sensor integrated in the pour out unit measures the volume of beer already drawn to avoid beer exceeding the glass edge. When the beer level reaches the glass edge the sensor gives a signal to the digital IC which generates a pulse to the liquid outlet valve that closes. The outlet characteristic is dynamically verified and updated on the response of the sensor. The cartridge can be easily placed into the apparatus because of the on top opening cover of the apparatus. To assure the cooling of the beer in the cartridges when placed in the dispensing apparatus, each cartridge disposes of an adapted cooling system (15) positioned at the bottom and partially around the cartridge. The upside down cartridge (1) ensures the best cooling for the first dispensed content, The cooling system comprises a Peltier element, which is in mechanical and heat transferring contact with the cartridge and supervised by a temperature sensor (14). Cooling efficiency is assured by Peltier elements performing electrical cooling transferred via convection to external heat sink. For each cartridge a different temperature can be programmed by simply entering the number mentioned on the beer label of the cartridge onto the electronic control panel. This number has to be taken from the cartridge and entered via the electronic control panel. The number refers to a reference table stored and updated in the controlling unit containing the optimum temperature as well as the yeast characteristic and dispensing inclination for various beers and glass types.
After the product is identified the digital IC initiates the cooling process for the beer in the respective cartridge until the predetermined temperature is reached, after that, the temperature is maintained. On base of the beer characteristic the dispensing characteristic is adapted to the fluid. On base of the inclination characteristic the tilt system, preferably built in near the bottom at the front of the apparatus, just above the sink plate is operated. The tilt system is motioned preferably by a stepping motor-driver unit. Several parameters, like the control of the speed and the angle of inclination of the stepping motor-driver unit of the tilt system during the pour out process, are programmed in the digital IC of the apparatus. The IC, as described before, contains data on the temperature and the yeast characteristics of the beer in the different cartridges.
Based on this information, the speed and angle of inclination of the inclination unit is continuously adapted by the digital IC. As a result speed and angle of inclination of the beer glass are being defined throughout the pour out process in such a way that by the end of the pour out process the beer glass has returned to its original position and a perfect beer head is ensured. Under the tilt system, a removable sink plate is integrated. When changing a cartridge, the dispensing tubing, which forms the connection between the cartridges and the pour out unit, can easily be cleaned by using a cartridge containing cleaning fluid or water and a cleaning program executed after inserting that cartridge. For this the opening cover of the apparatus is opened by means of a push button. The IC receives optionally its operating instructions as well as updates about available products and their characteristics via Ethernet interface as http formatted TCP/IP based data communication. The user behaviour as well as product orders can be optionally posted to a central server via http formatted TCP/IP based communication to allow the processing and creation of personalized offers or recommendations for products.

Claims

A beer dispensing apparatus, comprising at least two cartridges (15) with individual cooling means arranged to contain beer, provided with pressure generating means (18), characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a tilting means for the glass to be filled (18), arranged to be continuously controlled by a processor in accordance with the preferences of the individual user based on beer characteristics.
A beer dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for choosing out of two or more pour out volumes and products.
A beer dispensing apparatus according to claims 1 - 2, further comprising a means to receive updated information about operating and in particular dispensing characteristics via http TCP/IP connection.
A beer dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a means to transfer information about product usage via http TCP/IP connection.
A beer dispensing apparatus according to claims 3 - 4, further comprising a means to transfer delivery requests concerning the dispensed product via http TCP/IP
A beer dispensing apparatus according to claims 1 - 5, further comprising a temperature sensor per cooling system, that informs the consumer by means of a signal light on the electronic control panel of the respective cartridge when the programmed temperature is reached.
A beer dispensing apparatus according to claims 1 - 6, further comprising a digital IC which, based on temperature and yeast characteristics of the beer in the respective cartridge, defines the pour out speed as well as the tilt speed and the angle of inclination of the tilt system during the whole pour out process:
A beer dispensing apparatus according to claims 1 - 7, further comprising a sensor integrated in the pour out unit to avoid the beer exceeding the glass edge during pour out.
A beer dispensing apparatus according to claims 1 - 8, further comprising a cleaning system that operates by means of a cartridge filled with a cleaning fluid or water which cleans the tubes by using a cleaning program executed after inserting that cartridge.
A process for dispensing beer consists of selecting the preferred beer from the at least two cartridges as well as the preferred consuming volume, cooling the requested cartridge, building a pressure within the selected cartridge and characterised in that the tilting of a glass is continuously controlled by a processor based on the preferences of the user according to the beer characteristics.
A process using a beer dispensing apparatus according to claims 1 - 10.