EP3239093A1 - Distributeur automatique pour boissons et snacks - Google Patents

Distributeur automatique pour boissons et snacks Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3239093A1
EP3239093A1 EP16166841.3A EP16166841A EP3239093A1 EP 3239093 A1 EP3239093 A1 EP 3239093A1 EP 16166841 A EP16166841 A EP 16166841A EP 3239093 A1 EP3239093 A1 EP 3239093A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drinks
snacks
sachets
accordance
automated device
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Withdrawn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
EP16166841.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Charles Seadon
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 EP16166841.3A priority Critical patent/EP3239093A1/fr
Publication of EP3239093A1 publication Critical patent/EP3239093A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/16—Delivery means
    • G07F11/165—Delivery means using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0041—Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0888—Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/16—Delivery means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of drinks, snacks, and beverage dispensing. More specifically to an automated device for dispensing beverages, drinks, and /or snacks with a printed circuit board (PCB) incorporating an integral on-board processor and hard drive or solid state drive storage system with software to control its electronic systems, operation, and communicate with other devices.
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • the beverages, drinks, and /or snacks dispenser's contents are packaged into small sachets Fig. 2 .
  • Each sachet has a barcode label, RFID or similar identification and labelling system.
  • Each sachet has a burstable seal at one end to enable pressure from the rollers to extrude the contents into a receptacle.
  • a compartmental storage system for storing product sachets Fig. 1 is able to hold hundreds of sachets which can be individually selected by the extractor head Fig. 3 and dispensed directly into a glass receptacle, or receiving tray.
  • Hotels are unable to monitor minibars or fridges situated in hotel rooms, scenerys, apartments, lodges, or holiday flats remotely, determine the stock levels within or control their sales, see their status, recognise breakdowns and carry out remote support, repair and servicing.
  • the minibars or fridge cannot determine precisely what is selected and directly add the item to the bill and automatically add the item to a reordering list.
  • minibar / fridges are easily accessible and not sealed their contents can be tampered with and contaminated, the minibar / fridge itself can be contaminated by food and other items being placed into the unit.
  • Hotels cannot view up to the minute data on sales of beverages and snacks from minibars / fridges, view historical data, and extrapolate sales and profit data both historical and up to the minute, easily and instantly.
  • Minibars / fridges cannot communicate with the hotel billing system or point of sale systems directly.
  • Minibars / fridges do not automatically reorder stock.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an automated drink, snacks, and beverage dispenser, and more particularly an automated drink, snacks, and beverage dispenser that can dispense and mix a wide range of drinks, beverages and snacks by packaging these products into small sachets.
  • This unique feature makes the unit capable of stocking many individual sachets and offering a vast array of beverages and snacks it is low maintenance, does not require constant or frequent cleaning, does not require frequent refilling, can be controlled remotely, is capable of remembering and recording contents, recording transactions, can monitor its temperature, state of readiness, water reservoir or supply, waste bin capacity, and can transmit this information to a remote database for rendering on a web interface.
  • this information can be retrieved directly from the machine or from the database, by applications which access the features or data of the automated drink, snacks, and beverage dispenser for remote monitoring and management purposes.
  • This system by dispensing the contents of the sachets directly into the glass receptacle or receiving tray, avoids cross contamination caused by a number of different fluids sharing tubes or pipes, or dispensing apparatus, or requiring the storage of products in bottles. This alleviates the requirement for regular washing and cleaning, thereby minimising maintenance and cleaning cycles. In addition restocking intervals may be kept to a minimum reducing maintenance requirements and costs.
  • a compartmental storage system or main array of compartments for storing sachets containing fluids or other products.
  • the compartmental storage system is comprised of sections, each section containing a number of rows of compartments.
  • These sections of the compartmental storage system can be removed and easily replaced by a new section which has been prefilled with replacement sachets, to facilitate fast reloading of the device.
  • each extractor head is mounted facing the main array of compartments enabling it to move to face any individual compartment and extract its contents.
  • the extractor head contains a series of motors and rollers enabling it to extract a single sachet, turn and deliver the sachet contents into either a receiving universal glass receptacle, or a receiving tray.
  • the rollers mounted on the extractor head enable the sachet contents to be first loaded into the extractor head and subsequently squeezed out into a receiving universal glass receptacle, the extractor head can then move to position over a bin and deposit the empty sachet packaging into a waste bin.
  • the receiving universal glass receptacle is placed into a housing tray prior to the sachet being selected.
  • the housing tray has a protective device to prevent a person's hand interfering with the delivery of the sachet contents or function of the device.
  • This protective device will be in the form of a laser beam curtain system which when interrupted will cause the device to halt its operation.
  • an automated device for dispensing beverages, drinks, or snacks comprises a main array of compartments, an extractor head mounted on a 2 axis robot system, a housing tray to hold one or more universal glass receptacles, an additional dispensing tray to receive non liquid sachets, a waste bin, a water bottle or water reservoir, a printed circuit board (PCB) which houses an on-board processor and electronic data storage device, to control the machine functions, an ice cube maker, an ice crusher, a dry ice dispenser.
  • the dispenser will also have external connectivity such as an Ethernet connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a blue tooth connection, a USB 3.0 connection, a thunderbolt connection and Li-Fi LED connection.
  • Drinks or snacks are stored in sachets ( Fig 2 ) which are in turn stored in the main array storage compartment ( Fig 1 ).
  • sachets Fig 2
  • main array storage compartment Fig 1
  • the automatic dispenser When the automatic dispenser is loaded with stock it takes account of where each product is located. It may move and relocate product sachets to other compartments.
  • a drink may be ordered using an application or web application, the said application being on a touch screen, a tablet personal computing device, a website, a personal computer, or smartphone ( Fig 4 ), the application or web application ( Fig 4 ) sends the command to the drinks dispenser.
  • the beverage, drinks, and /or snacks dispenser which has a printed circuit board (PCB) with an integral on-board processor and electronic data storage interprets the command, determines which sachets need to be retrieved.
  • the extractor head moves by means of the robotic axis system to align itself directly in front of the storage compartment for the required sachet ( Fig 1 ).
  • the extractor head ( Fig 3 ) then extends towards the selected sachet; electric powered rollers draw the sachet into the extractor head.
  • a barcode reader reads the information on the sachet to cross reference and check that it is the correct sachet.
  • the extractor head then rotates and moves to locate itself over the universal glass receptacle, it rotates into a vertical position, and electric powered rollers then squeeze the contents into the glass. Finally the electric powered rollers then withdraw the now empty sachet and dispense it into a waste bin. This process may be repeated in order to mix combinations of product into a glass. Ice or crushed ice may be added as required.
  • the beverage, drinks, and /or snacks dispenser then stores the information on its electronic data storage system, and transmits the information to the external database where the data is used to update the stock order list, update sales and transaction information, as well as sending the information to any hotel billing system or point of sale system.
  • the beverage or snack has been dispensed and confirms this with the requestor on the device used to order the beverage or snack via the web application, personal computing device, touch screen, tablet or smartphone.
  • a parental lock system will engage that prevents the dispensing of alcohol to unsuitable persons or children, should an alcoholic beverage be selected, this will require the inputting of a code for the unit to dispense the alcoholic beverage, if no code is inputted, or an incorrect code is entered the unit will not dispense the beverage.
  • the beverage, drinks, and /or snacks dispenser When the beverage, drinks, and /or snacks dispenser is restocked it reviews and records the location of each sachet, moving sachets within its storage system, and recording their location, contents, date of end usage, so that it is ready to receive further instructions.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
EP16166841.3A 2016-04-25 2016-04-25 Distributeur automatique pour boissons et snacks Withdrawn EP3239093A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16166841.3A EP3239093A1 (fr) 2016-04-25 2016-04-25 Distributeur automatique pour boissons et snacks

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16166841.3A EP3239093A1 (fr) 2016-04-25 2016-04-25 Distributeur automatique pour boissons et snacks

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3239093A1 true EP3239093A1 (fr) 2017-11-01

Family

ID=55862562

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16166841.3A Withdrawn EP3239093A1 (fr) 2016-04-25 2016-04-25 Distributeur automatique pour boissons et snacks

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3239093A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019158562A1 (fr) * 2018-02-13 2019-08-22 Carlsberg Breweries A/S Système de distribution de boisson comprenant des fûts pliables à usage unique

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1985004157A1 (fr) * 1984-03-14 1985-09-26 Meyer Ronald K Appareil pour l'assemblage automatique de materiaux coulants
WO2003072471A1 (fr) * 2001-11-23 2003-09-04 Munroe Chirnomas Machine et procedes de distribution automatique d'articles
US20070272019A1 (en) * 2006-04-12 2007-11-29 Sensotech, Inc. Method and System for Short-Range Ultrasonic Location Sensing
EP1905730A1 (fr) * 2006-09-30 2008-04-02 Imi Cornelius (Uk) Limited Distributeur de boisson
WO2009032941A2 (fr) * 2007-09-06 2009-03-12 The Coca-Cola Company Systèmes et procédés pour faciliter les interactions consommateur-distributeur
WO2011000021A1 (fr) * 2009-07-03 2011-01-06 Ipour Pty Limited Appareil et procédé de gestion de distribution de boissons
US20120029687A1 (en) * 2010-07-28 2012-02-02 Par Systems, Inc. Robotic storage and retrieval systems
US20120285986A1 (en) * 2011-01-26 2012-11-15 Jason Bradley Irvin System and method for customized beverages
EP2858043A1 (fr) * 2013-10-01 2015-04-08 meamix GmbH Machine de remplissage de produits liquides et coulants

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1985004157A1 (fr) * 1984-03-14 1985-09-26 Meyer Ronald K Appareil pour l'assemblage automatique de materiaux coulants
WO2003072471A1 (fr) * 2001-11-23 2003-09-04 Munroe Chirnomas Machine et procedes de distribution automatique d'articles
US20070272019A1 (en) * 2006-04-12 2007-11-29 Sensotech, Inc. Method and System for Short-Range Ultrasonic Location Sensing
EP1905730A1 (fr) * 2006-09-30 2008-04-02 Imi Cornelius (Uk) Limited Distributeur de boisson
WO2009032941A2 (fr) * 2007-09-06 2009-03-12 The Coca-Cola Company Systèmes et procédés pour faciliter les interactions consommateur-distributeur
WO2011000021A1 (fr) * 2009-07-03 2011-01-06 Ipour Pty Limited Appareil et procédé de gestion de distribution de boissons
US20120029687A1 (en) * 2010-07-28 2012-02-02 Par Systems, Inc. Robotic storage and retrieval systems
US20120285986A1 (en) * 2011-01-26 2012-11-15 Jason Bradley Irvin System and method for customized beverages
EP2858043A1 (fr) * 2013-10-01 2015-04-08 meamix GmbH Machine de remplissage de produits liquides et coulants

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019158562A1 (fr) * 2018-02-13 2019-08-22 Carlsberg Breweries A/S Système de distribution de boisson comprenant des fûts pliables à usage unique
US11091360B2 (en) 2018-02-13 2021-08-17 Carlsberg Breweries A/S Beverage dispensing system including single use collapsible kegs

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10657223B2 (en) Controlled inventory refrigerated dispensing system
US10377623B2 (en) System and method for dispensing and sale of bulk products
JP5989815B2 (ja) 注文を管理し、商品を容器に供給するための方法
EP2577624B1 (fr) Distributeur automatique mis en réseau pour lieu de travail ou environnement contrôlé
CN102113033B (zh) 虚拟自动售货机货架存货管理
US7844509B2 (en) Method and apparatus for monitoring depletion of an item
CN104205178A (zh) 售卖产品的系统和方法
EP2472482A1 (fr) Procédé pour distribuer des produits à partir d'un distributeur automatique
CN102150154A (zh) 用于翻新自动售货机的方法
WO1998055968A1 (fr) Systeme informatise de gestion des stocks
CN209514767U (zh) 一种智能远程液体自助消费终端
US20090032367A1 (en) Vending Machine to Dispense Cans
CN109448248A (zh) 一种智能远程液体自助消费系统及方法
EP3239093A1 (fr) Distributeur automatique pour boissons et snacks
CN113706770A (zh) 基于商品保质期的智能货物箱、无人售货机及无人售货系统
RU202011U1 (ru) Устройство для автоматизированной продажи, доставки товаров и услуг
CN203165080U (zh) 小型吧
US11670128B2 (en) Dispenser system
EP3981708A1 (fr) Système et procédé pour l'approvisionnement et/ou l'acquisition de produits en vrac
CN216053184U (zh) 一种颗粒及流质商品自动贩卖机
US20220051188A1 (en) System and method for management of substances
RU2747128C1 (ru) Автоматизированный магазин и способ его функционирования
WO2023283275A1 (fr) Système de distribution

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20180503