EP3765398B1

EP3765398B1 - Device for automated beverage dispensing into vessels on a turntable, and corresponding method

Info

Publication number: EP3765398B1
Application number: EP19723510.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gabriel BAGUR; Adam MACHETA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-03-13
Filing date: 2019-03-13
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-13
Also published as: WO2019177476A1; EP3765398A1; PL424860A1; EP3765398C0; PL3765398T3

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a device for and a method of automated beverage dispensing, especially beer. The device can be successfully used in pubs and restaurants as a portable or stationary device placed in cocktail stations, counters or bars, as well as can serve as a vending machine which enables maintenance-free sale of beverages using coins, banknotes or payment cards.

Prior art

Manual dispensing of draft beer with a standard dispenser to a glass mug or a plastic cup in a classic cocktail station or a mobile bar dispenser is time-consuming and involves the bartender entirely in this activity. At the same time, it is a repetitive and essentially simple operation, but in situations with many guests at the bar, it gives rise to longer waiting times and results in long queues. The solution to such situation may be to employ more staff, which allows a more efficient service, but at the same time increases the employment costs.
The prior art includes beverage dispensing devices, including beer dispensing ones, which to lesser or greater degree allow automation of the dispensing process, but each of these solutions has also certain limitations. Some of them basically do not allow the service to be significantly improved. Others are very large stations used in unusual situations only (a very large scale). Still others require the use of special cups, which in turn increases costs and complicates the process.
Most machines on the market mainly focus on the speed of dispensing a single beer, while not allowing for:

taking a mug/cup and placing it directly under the tap,
pouring the beer by regulated dispensing which allows foam control,
filling a mug/cup one by one so that a single bartender command results in constant filling until it is stopped by a command or all free places in the beer receiving area are exhausted.

Automatic beverage dispensers are known, for instance, from US6102246A , DE2921663A1 , DE202005015254U1 and US3364959A .

Summary of the invention

Using an automated machine for this operation can significantly increase the efficiency and capacity of the bar. Therefore, it is reasonable to develop a solution that will ensure automated operation in a single cycle mode of beer dispensing as well as a continuous operation.
The purpose was achieved by providing a device for automated beverage dispensing, especially beer, according to the content of the attached claims.
A device for automated beverage dispensing, especially beer, according to the invention comprises:

a body serving as a support for the device components;
a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis, having a plurality of locations for beverage containers:
- an electric motor rotating the turntable by a specified angle;
- at least one container presence sensor detecting the presence of a container on the turntable;
- a liquid dispensing system, located above the turntable, comprising a dispensing nozzle attached to a movable mechanism moving in a vertical direction, which is driven by an electric motor, an electrically controlled control valve, and a flow sensor;
- a container feeder placed above the turntable, comprising a holder with a release mechanism for releasing a single container onto the turntable;
- a control system, comprising an electronic system, a driver with software, and a user interface.

The control system is configured in such a way that after the dispensing procedure is started in the user interface, the system sends a signal to the container feeder which releases one container on the turntable, wherein the detection of the presence of a container on the turntable by the container presence sensor causes the motor to rotate the turntable to a position, in which the container is placed under the dispensing nozzle which is lowered down towards the bottom of the container by a movable mechanism and held in the container space until the dispensing system dispenses a measured amount of liquid which is stored in the software, and dispensing of a measured amount of liquid causes the control valve in the dispensing system to close, the dispensing nozzle to move upwards by the movable mechanism, and the turntable to be rotated by the motor by a predefined angle, wherein

in the manual mode the control system repeats the dispensing process until the number of containers defined with the user interface is filled, while
in the automatic mode the control system repeats the dispensing process until containers in all container locations on the turntable are filled, or until the number of filled containers on the turntable, as defined by the user with the user interface, is reached, wherein the control system maintains the user-defined number of filled containers on the turntable continuously by repeating the dispensing process each time by the number of cycles equal to the number of filled containers that have been removed from the turntable.

The device may have a manual valve on the liquid supply line for emergency shut-off of the inflow.
A method of automated beverage dispensing, especially beer, according to the invention, carried out using the above-described device, includes the execution of one dispensing cycle consisting in that:

a) the control system sends a signal to the container feeder which releases one container onto the turntable,
b) the container presence sensor detects the presence of a container on the turntable,
c) the motor rotates the turntable to a position where the container is located under the dispensing nozzle,
d) the dispensing nozzle is lowered down towards the bottom of the container by a movable mechanism and is held in the space of the container until the control valve in the dispensing system dispenses a measured amount of liquid which is stored in the software,
e) after the measured amount of liquid is dispensed, the control valve in the dispensing system is closed, the dispensing nozzle is moved upwards by the movable mechanism and the turntable is rotated by a predefined angle,

in the manual mode the dispensing cycle is repeated until the number of containers defined with the user interface are filled, while
in the automatic mode the dispensing cycle is repeated until containers in all container locations on the turntable are filled, or until the number of filled containers on the turntable, as defined by the user with the user interface, is reached, wherein the control system maintains the user-defined number of filled containers on the turntable continuously by repeating the dispensing process each time by the number of cycles equal to the number of filled containers that have been removed from the turntable.

Advantageous effects of the invention

The device significantly improves the beer dispensing operation, it allows significant reduction of the queues in front of the bar, and thus the order waiting time, which translates into cost savings.
The operation in the single dispensing cycle mode, as well as in the continuous mode, allows easy adaptation of the device to the conditions in a restaurant or pub and provides quick access to the beverage due to fact that the device maintains the state in which the selected quantity of filled containers is always present on the turntable.

Description of the drawings

The invention is illustrated below in detail in a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 -: presents the device in perspective front view.
Fig. 2 -: presents the device in a bottom view.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The device for automated beer dispensing is a mechatronic device that combines the idea of synchronized operation of several components built into the supporting structure of the device.
In one of the practical embodiments, the device has a body 1 in which the main components are mounted. The body 1 may be in the form of a single- or multi-piece support structure enclosed by a housing. In the presented embodiment, the body 1 consists of a horizontally arranged lower part 1a which, at the same time, is a base and in which a turntable is mounted. The lower part 1a of the body 1 connects to a vertical upper part 1b, in which other components of the device are mounted, including a dispensing system, a control system and a container feeder 8.
The turntable 2 has a plurality of locations 3 for beverage containers 9. In the presented embodiment, the locations 3 have the form of specially shaped openings or bases that facilitate holding of the containers 9, but the turntable 2 can simply have a flat surface on which the containers 9 are positioned. The containers 9 can be, for example, traditional glass beer mugs or plastic cups. The turntable 2 is driven by an electric motor 11 with a belt transmission 12 and operates on the principle of the well-known indexing table used in many devices, but the drive can be implemented in any other way. Above the turntable 2 there is a beverage container feeder 8 equipped with a special holder with a mechanism for releasing a single container 9. A stack of plastic cups 9 is manually placed in the holder and they are kept in the container feeder 8 until the lowering request signal (the signal from the control system) is sent, which results in lowering one cup 9 vertically down onto the turntable 2.
In the case the device is used for filling glass containers, they are fed manually directly onto the turntable 2. In this situation, the automated container feeder 8 is not used.
In the upper part 1b of the body 1 above the turntable 2, a dispensing system is fixed, comprising a movable mechanism 7, to which a dispensing nozzle 5 is attached with an electrically controlled control valve 6. The movable mechanism 7 moves the dispensing nozzle 5 in a vertical direction. The movable mechanism 7 is driven by an electric motor. In addition, the dispensing system is equipped with a flow sensor that transmits a signal representing the amount of dispensed liquid to the control system.
A source of beer (or other liquid) is permanently connected to the dispensing system via a tube. The adjustable opening of the control valve 6 (also with an electric motor) allows the beer/liquid to flow through the control valve 6 to the dispensing nozzle 5 and then to the container 9.
The control system provides power supply management for the electric motors, reads signals from the sensors, provides user interface management, and decides on the device's operating mode. The control system comprises, among others, an electronic system, a controller with software, and a user interface. The user interface 10 enables controlling of the device, configuration of parameters, and provides information about the operating status.
The control system is configured so that after activation of the dispensing procedure in the user interface 10 it sends a signal to the container feeder 8, which releases one container 9 onto the turntable 2, wherein the detection of the presence of a container 9 on the turntable 2 by the container presence sensor 4 causes the motor 11 to rotate the turntable 2 to a position, in which the container 9 is under the dispensing nozzle 5 which is lowered down towards the bottom of the container 9 by the movable mechanism 7 and held in the space of the container 9 until the dispensing system dispenses the measured quantity of the liquid, which is stored in the software, and the dispensing of the measured amount causes the control valve 6 in the dispensing system to close, the dispensing nozzle 5 to move upwards by the movable mechanism 7, and the turntable 2 to rotate by a predefined angle.
In the manual mode the control system repeats the dispensing process until the number of filled containers 9 is equal to that defined with the user interface 10. On the other hand, in the automatic mode the control system repeats the dispensing process until containers 9 in all container locations 3 on the turntable 2 are filled, or until the number of filled containers 9, as defined by the user with the user interface 10, is reached, wherein the control system maintains such state continuously by repeating the dispensing process each time by the number of cycles equal to the number of filled containers 9 that have been removed from the turntable 2.
The device may be equipped with a manual valve on the beer supply line if an emergency shut-off of the beer inflow is needed.
The above-mentioned elements cooperate with each other in the manual or automatic cycle. The choice of the operating mode is made with the user interface 10.
In the manual mode, a specific number of cups 9 to be filled are defined. After the operating mode is acknowledged and the dispensing procedure is started, the device performs the following operations:

a) the control system sends a signal to the container feeder 8, where containers 9 are stacked, whereby the release mechanism of the feeder holder releases one container 9 onto the turntable 2,
b) the container presence sensor 4 detects the presence of a container 9 on the turntable 2,
c) the detection of the presence of a container 9 causes the motor 11 with the belt transmission 12 to rotate the turntable 2 to a position, in which the container 9 is located exactly under the dispensing system,
d) after the container 9 reaches the position under the dispensing system, the dispensing nozzle 5 together with the control valve 6 are lowered down to a position close to the bottom of the container 9, and the control valve 6 which measures the amount of beer, as stored in the software, is opened by an electric drive,
e) after the predefined amount of liquid is dispensed, the dispensing system with the dispensing nozzle 5 moves upwards to the initial position, and the turntable 2 rotates by one position to allow better access to the recently filled container 9,
f) if the number of filled containers 9 is smaller than programmed in the user interface 10, the device proceeds to the first step and repeats the dispensing cycle from a) to e) until the desired amount is reached.

In the automatic mode, one defines how many filled containers 9 are to be kept all the time on the turntable 2. If the user has specified the number of containers 9 to be filled equal to three, and on the turntable 2 there are already three filled containers 9, and at any moment one filled container 9 will be removed, then the device performs one cycle automatically and fills one container 9 to maintain on the turntable 2 the number of full containers 9 equal to three. Alternatively, the user may choose the device to keep constantly the state where all the locations 3 on the turntable 2 are occupied by the filled containers 9. The operation in the automatic mode comprises the following operations:

a) the control system sends a signal to the container feeder 8, where containers 9 are stacked, whereby the release mechanism of the feeder holder releases one container 9 onto the turntable 2,
b) the container presence sensor 4 detects the presence of a container 9 on the turntable 2,
c) the detection of the presence of a container 9 causes the motor 11 with the belt transmission 12 to rotate the turntable 2 to a position, in which the container 9 is located exactly under the dispensing system,
d) after the container 9 reaches the position under the dispensing system, the dispensing nozzle 5 together with the control valve 6 are lowered down to a position close to the bottom of the container 9, and the control valve 6 which measures the amount of beer, as stored in the software, is opened by an electric drive,
e) after the predefined amount of liquid is dispensed, the dispensing system with the dispensing nozzle 5 moves upwards to the initial position, and the turntable 2 rotates by one position,
f) if the number of filled containers 9 is smaller than programmed in the user interface 10, the device proceeds to the first step and repeats the dispensing cycle from a) to e) until the desired amount is reached, wherein the device repeats each time the dispensing cycle by the number of times equal to the number of filled containers 9 that have been removed from the turntable 2, while maintaining all the time such a number of filled containers 9 that is selected with the user interface 10.

Claims

A device for automated beverage dispensing, especially beer, comprising:
a body (1) serving as a support for the device components;

a turntable (2) rotatable about a vertical axis, having a plurality of locations (3) for beverage containers;

an electric motor (11) rotating the turntable (2) by a specified angle;

at least one container presence sensor (4) detecting the presence of a container (9) on the turntable (2);

a liquid dispensing system, located above the turntable (2), comprising a dispensing nozzle (5) attached to a movable mechanism (7) moving in a vertical direction, which is driven by an electric motor (11), an electrically controlled control valve (6), and a flow sensor;

a container feeder (8) placed above the turntable (2), comprising a holder with a release mechanism for releasing a single container (9) onto the turntable (2);

a control system, comprising an electronic system, a driver with software, and a user interface (10),

characterised in that

the control system is configured in such a way that after the dispensing procedure is started in the user interface (10), the system sends a signal to the container feeder (8) which releases one container (9) onto the turntable (2), wherein the detection of the presence of a container (9) on the turntable (2) by the container presence sensor (4) causes the motor (11) to rotate the turntable (2) to the position, in which the container (9) is placed under the dispensing nozzle (5) which is lowered down towards the bottom of the container (9) by a movable mechanism (7) and held in the container (9) space until the dispensing system dispenses a measured amount of liquid which is stored in the software, and the dispensing of a measured amount of liquid causes the control valve (6) in the dispensing system to close, the dispensing nozzle (5) to move upwards by the movable mechanism (7), and the turntable (2) to be rotated by the motor (11) by a predefined angle, wherein

in the manual mode the control system is configured to repeat the dispensing process until the number of containers (9) defined with the user interface (10) are filled, while in the automatic mode the control system is configured to repeat the dispensing process until containers in all container (9) locations (3) on the turntable (2) are filled, and is configured to repeat the dispensing process until the number of filled containers (9) on the turntable (2), as defined by the user with the user interface (10), is reached, wherein the control system maintains the user-defined number of filled containers (9) on the turntable (2) continuously by repeating the dispensing process each time by the number of cycles equal to the number of filled containers (9) that have been removed from the turntable (2).
The device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a manual valve on the liquid supply line for emergency shut-off of the inflow.
A method of automated beverage dispensing, especially beer, using a device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the execution of one dispensing cycle consisting in that:
a) the control system sends a signal to the container feeder which releases one container onto the turntable.

b) the container presence sensor detects the presence of a container on the turntable,

c) the motor rotates the turntable to a position where the container is located under the dispensing nozzle,

d) the dispensing nozzle is lowered down towards the bottom of the container by a movable mechanism and is held in the space of the container until the control valve in the dispensing system dispenses a measured amount of liquid which is stored in the software,

e) after the measured amount of liquid is dispensed, the control valve in the dispensing system is closed, the dispensing nozzle is moved upwards by the movable mechanism and the turntable is rotated by a predefined angle,
characterised in that
in the manual mode the dispensing cycle is repeated until the number of containers (9) defined with the user interface (10) are filled, while

in the automatic mode the dispensing cycle is repeated until containers (9) in all container locations (3) on the turntable (2) are filled, or until the number of filled containers (9) on the turntable (2), as defined by the user with the user interface (10), is reached, wherein the control system maintains the user-defined number of filled containers (9) on the turntable (2) continuously by repeating the dispensing process each time by the number of cycles equal to the number of filled containers (9) that have been removed from the turntable (2).