FR2505310A1 - Automatic dispenser for bulk liquid foods - uses volumetric measure with electronic metering and control of distribution and produces printed delivery slip - Google Patents

Abstract

The bulk dispenser has one or more bulk storage reservoirs and distribution units housed in an enclosure. Each distribution unit has a volumetric measure coupled to the reservoir and to an outlet tube, through a solenoid valve. A sink with its outlet connected to a recovery vessel has a flat surface on which a container is rested. A pushbutton controls the opening of the solenoid valve and the distribution of the liquid in the measuring chamber, and a memory which has written into it the volume of liquid delivered and the price. A printer prints a ticket using data stored in the memory.

Description

 Automatic dispenser for bulk food liquid.

 The present invention relates to automatic dispensers for bulk food liquids.

 The technical sector of the invention is that of the retail distribution of edible liquids, for example drinks such as wine, mineral water or spring water, fruit juice or else edible liquids such as edible oils, milk, etc.

 Food beverages are generally distributed at retail already packaged in bottles or containers.

 The packaging results in a significant increase in the retail price due to their cost and the increase in weight and volume to handle and display for sale that they entail.

 Automatic distributors of bulk liquids are known, for example petrol dispensing stations, which measure the volume of petrol dispensed and which display the price thereof.

 An objective of the present invention is to facilitate the retail distribution of liquid foodstuffs by allowing the bulk sale of these by automatic dispensers which can retail out one or more liters of liquid in a bottle or anywhere which container that the customer presents under a distributor conduit and which prints a ticket indicating the price to pay.

 The vending machines according to the invention are particularly well suited for retail sale in self-service stores where the customer presents his ticket at a cash register, but they can be used in any retail store.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic retail device for bulk food liquids, which allows the retailer to benefit a customer from time to time with free distribution in order to encourage the use of this. type of distributor for a general interest purpose because this type of distributor means that customers use and re-use their own containers for serving, hence a very significant saving in general in terms of manufacturing glass or plastic packaging, as well as savings in constraints and recovery costs for glass packaging and a reduction in pollution due to plastic packaging.

The objectives of the invention are achieved by means of automatic dispensers for a liquid foodstuff in bulk which comprise a bulk storage tank for the liquid and one or more distribution units grouped in a cabinet and each unit comprises
- a volumetric metering device which is connected, on the one hand, to said tank and, on the other hand, to a pouring spout through a solenoid valve;
- At least one sink which is provided with a drain towards a collecting tank, which is situated below said pouring spout and which comprises a lattice plate, intended to receive a container placed under said pouring spout;
- a. push button which controls the opening of said solenoid valve and the distribution of the volume of liquid contained in said volumetric metering device;
- a memory in which is written the volume of liquid contained in the dispenser and the price thereof;
- And a printer which issues a ticket reproducing the contents of the memory each time the button is pressed and the volume of liquid contained in the dispenser has been dispensed.

 According to a preferred embodiment, each unit has a second memory in which is written a message indicating that the dose of liquid dispensed is free and includes a pulse counter which counts the pulses emitted by said push-button, an encoder circuit which allows to enter a determined number N, a comparator which compares the number of pulses n recorded in said counter to said number N and a logic gate which is connected to the output of said counter and which controls the transfer to the printer of the message contained in said memory when the number of pulses n is equal to said determined number N.

 Preferably, the pouring spouts are articulated around a horizontal axis and, in the absence of a container engaged under the pouring spout, the latter is held by an elastic device such as a spring, in a low position where the height of the end of said pouring spout above said plate is less than the height of the smallest current container.

 Each spout is equipped with a microswitch which has an open contact as long as said spout is in the low position and said contact is placed in series with a closing contact of said push button in the opening control of said solenoid valve.

 The plate on which the container is placed is supported by elastic pads and it comprises a microswitch having a contact which is closed when a container is placed on said plate, which contact is mounted in series in the control circuit of opening of said solenoid valve.

 The invention results in new automatic dispensers for food liquids.

 The dispensing devices according to the invention facilitate the retail sale of food liquids, in particular drinks such as wine, mineral or spring waters, fruit juices.

They avoid having to bottle these drinks for retail sale which takes place in the containers of buyers, hence a significant saving in packaging costs due to the price of packaging, packaging operations, recovery operations. returnable packaging etc ...

 The distributing devices according to the invention are simple devices to build and inexpensive. They essentially comprise a volumetric metering device of a known type and approved by the service of measuring instruments to which a memory containing a message indicating the unit volume of the metering unit and the price of this unit volume is associated.

 The electronic circuits of the dispensers according to the invention are relatively simple circuits, which do not include a calculation unit. They simply include a memory in which the price of the unit volume delivered by the dispenser is recorded and a printer which edits the recorded message each time the push button is pressed.

 Of course, the electronic circuits also include safety devices which cancel any successive presses on a push button while a dose is being dispensed.

 The devices according to the invention have several safety features which add up to prevent the device from being able to deliver a dose if no container is placed under the spout.

 The following description refers to the appended drawings which represent, without any limiting character, examples of realization of a vending machine according to the invention.

 Figures 1 and 2 are a side view and a front view of a cabinet having two distribution units.

 Figure 3 is a partial section of the spout and the sink plate of a distribution unit.

 Figure 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuit controlling the opening of the solenoid valve of a volumetric metering device.

 FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronic circuits of a distribution unit.

 FIG. 6 is a diagram of an embodiment of the electronic circuits of an apparatus according to the invention.

 Figures I and 2 show a side view and a front view of an automatic vending machine according to the invention, for example a wine dispenser.

 This device comprises a cabinet 1 containing one or more distribution units. Each unit has a barrel or barrel bottom which is in slight relief on the front face of the cabinet and which is provided with a pouring spout 3.

 The device 1 is connected to a tank or a reservoir which contains the wine in bulk and which is located outside the body 1 to which it is connected by a pipe fitted with a pump.

 The body 1 contains one or more volumetric metering devices 4 of a known model approved by the service of measuring instruments which accurately measure well-determined volume units.

 For example, the device contains one or more volumetric dosers measuring doses of one liter and a volumetric doser measuring doses of 5 liters. Of course, this example is not limiting and the device may include volumetric dosers measuring fractions of a liter.

 Each volumetric dispenser is equipped with a solenoid valve 20 which connects it through a hose 5 to a pouring spout 3, towards which the wine contained in the calibrated container of the dispenser flows by gravity when the solenoid valve 5 is open. Each metering container 4 has a probe 20a which automatically controls the closing of the solenoid valve 20 when all the liquid contained in the metering container 4 has drained.

 Each dosing container is connected by a pipe 4a to the liquid storage tank and is automatically filled with a new dose when the solenoid valve 20 has closed.

 The spout 3 is articulated around a horizontal axis 6 and there is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 the extreme positions it can occupy.

 Each pouring spout 3 is placed above a sink 7 which has a flow 8 towards a recovery tank or tank 9 which can be located in the apparatus or outside of it. The device comprises above each sink a plate 10 for positioning a container 11 under the spout.

The appliance comprises, next to each sink, a control desk fitted with a push button 12.

 After placing a container 11 under a pouring spout, the customer presses the push button 12 corresponding to the volume of wine he wishes, for example 1 liter or 5 liters. If the customer wishes an intermediate volume, for example 3 liters, he will have to press the 1 liter button three times, waiting each time that the complete operation relating to the distribution of a liter and the issuance of the corresponding ticket is completed. .

 Each push button 12 associated with a pouring spout 3 is incorporated in a chain of several contacts mounted in series which control the opening of the solenoid valve 20 located at the outlet of the dosing container 4 associated with said spout 3 and pressing on the push button 12 triggers the dispensing of a determined volume of liquid if all the desired conditions are met.

 Pressing a push button 12 also closes a contact which creates the emission of an electric pulse which will be seen later.

 An apparatus according to the invention comprises one or more detectors intended to verify that the empty container 11 is correctly positioned below the pouring spout 3 before authorizing the flow of the liquid.

 For example, the device comprises three transmitters 13, 14, 15 located on a canopy which overhangs the pouring spouts. These emitters can be emitters of visible light, or preferably emitters of an infrared or ultrasound beam which are not visible, which makes it possible to avoid acts of vandalism.

 The beams 13a, 14a, 15a emitted by the transmitters have directions such that the container 11 interrupts them all only when it is placed in the normal position, under the pouring spout, in order to prevent the liquid from running out of the container.

 For example, the three beams 13a, 14a; 15a overlap at a point 42 which is situated slightly above the pouring spout 3 and are therefore located on a crown cone 42 which envelops the normal position of the containers 11 whatever their size and natural shape.

 The device comprises receivers 13b, 14b, 15b which are arranged opposite the transmitters 13, 14 and 15. The outputs of the receivers 13b, 14b and 15b are connected to a logic gate which authorizes the flow of the liquid if and only if , all the beams are interrupted by the container. For example, the contacts 13b, 14b, 15b of the receivers are closed when the corresponding beam is interrupted and these contacts are connected in series in the opening control circuit of the solenoid valve 20 as shown in FIG. 4.

 This safety device makes it possible to prevent the liquid from flowing out of the container when the container is badly positioned but also when there is no container under the spout.

 FIG. 3 is a partial vertical section passing through one of the pouring spouts 3.

 The pouring spout 3 is shown articulated around an axis 6 and connected to a supply hose 5. The rear end of the pouring spout 3 is attached to a return spring 16 which tends to keep the spout in the low position shown in solid lines. This low position is determined such that the height h of the spout 3a above the plate 10 is less than the height of the smallest usable container.

 In this low position, the rear part of the pouring spout bears against a microswitch 17 which it keeps closed.

 To insert a container under the spout, lift it which causes the opening of the microswitch 17.

The spring 16 keeps the pouring spout 3a engaged in the neck of the bottle 11 placed on the plate 10.

 The plate 10 is a perforated plate which is placed on springs 18 or equivalent elastic buffers.

 The force of the springs is calculated so that the weight of the smallest empty container li suffices to crush them and to close or open a microswitch 19 which indicates the presence of a container on the plate.

 FIG. 4 is a general diagram of the electrical circuits for controlling the distribution of the liquid by a pouring spout 3 connected through a solenoid valve 20 to a volumetric metering container 4. The reference 20b represents the control coil of the solenoid valve 20. The item 21 represents the power supply of the device. The supply voltage passes through a series of contacts mounted in series, namely a contact 17a of the microswitch 17 which is open when the spout 3 is in the low position, contacts of the detectors 13b, 14b, 15b which are closed. when the respective beams 13a, 14a, 15a are interrupted by the container 11, a contact 19a of the microswitch 19 which is closed when an empty container is placed on the plate 10 and a closing contact 12a of the push button 12 which is kept closed when a customer has pressed the push button 12.

When all of these contacts are closed, the solenoid valve 20 opens and the liquid flows through the pouring spout 3 to the container 11.

 The reference 22 represents logic electronic circuits which control a printer 23. The circuits 22 include a ROM type ROM, in which is written the volume of liquid-corresponding to the volume of the dosing container 4 and the selling price of it. this. Each time a customer presses the push button 12 and a unit volume of liquid has been delivered by the pouring spout 3, the circuits 22 control the printing of the message ge contained in the memory. If a customer wishes several liters, the printer 23 edits the message stored in the memory several times.

 The use of a volumetric dosing container 4 and a memory in which the price of the unit volume delivered by the dosing unit is recorded, makes it possible to avoid imprecise flow sensors and a calculation unit.

 FIG. 5 represents a block diagram of part of the electronic circuits 22, 23 equipping a dispenser according to the invention.

 A dispenser according to the invention has the particularity of issuing a free ticket whenever a predetermined number N of unit volumes have been delivered by a pouring spout.

 The reference 24 represents circuits for shaping and authorizing the passage of successive pulses delivered by a push button 12.

 The reference 25 represents a predetermined pulse counter which counts the number n of pulses delivered by the circuits 24 and which compares n to a predetermined number N which is entered in a register 26. The number N can be modified at will by the retailer.

 The reference 27 represents a memory in which two messages are inscribed, one indicating a price and the other indicating that the distribution which has just taken place is free. Reference 23 represents a printer and its interface circuits connecting it to memory 27. Each time the comparator incorporated in circuits 25 detects equality between the number n of pulses and the number N, it controls l printing of the message contained in the memory 27 indicating the gratuitousness.

 We could use a microprocessor to perform the logic functions indicated above, but these are very simple and a microprocessor would be used for a very small part of its possibilities.

 The electronic circuits equipping a dispenser according to the invention can be produced with current components, inexpensive and requiring no study of programmed logic.

 The general operating principle is as follows. Each press of the push button 12 causes, at the same time as the distribution of a dose of liquid, the printing of a message by the printer 23. This message is normally the indication of the volume and of the price of the dose distributed which are recorded in a first memory or in a determined register of a single memory.

 We wish that from time to time, once on N, the printed message be an indication that the distribution which has just been carried out is free.

 Figure 6 is a diagram of an embodiment of the electronic circuits. Reference 24 is a lockable anti-rebound rocker, composed of two doors 24a and 24b (7400 and 7410).

The reference 30 is a monostable rocker (74121) which locks the entry door 24a for a time equal to the duration of the operations for dispensing a dose.

 The references 28a, 28b, 28c represent a decimal pulse counter 28 composed of three stages in cascade (circuits 7490). The references 29a, 29b, 29c represent three stages of a binary comparator 29 (circuits 7485) connected in cascade.

The marks 26a, 26b, 26c represent three decimal coding wheels making it possible to display a number N between
O and 999.

 The counter 28, associated with the comparator 29 and the coding wheels 30, constitutes a predetermined counter which counts the number n of pulses delivered by the anti-rebound rocker and which delivers a signal when the number n is equal to the number N.

 Reference 33 represents an adjustable electronic clock controlled by quartz (circuit NC 14411). The reference 32 represents a door (7400) for enabling the clock.

 The reference 42 represents the printer timing circuits which are composed of two frequency dividers by two 42a, 42b (7474) and an inverter circuit 42c (7404).

The circuits 42 are intended to obtain a correct rate for the printer. The reference 43- (7410) represents a summing circuit intended to generate the command signal from the printer 23.

 The marks 34a, 34b represent two stages of a binary counter 34 which is composed of two circuits (7493) in cascade and which is intended to generate the addresses where the characters of the message to be printed are stored in memory. The reference 27 designates a memory. This memory is for example a random access memory (PROM) which can contain four messages of 255 characters.

 The references 35a, 35b represent two stages of a three-state memory (two circuits 74367) intended to isolate the outputs to the printer.

 The reference 37 represents a monostable rocker (74121) associated with two reversers 44a, 44b (7404) and with a NAND gate 45 (7400).

 The output of the inverter 44b delivers a reset signal (RESET) from the three stages of the counter 28a, 28b and -28c, when the output of the comparator 29c, which is connected to the inverter 44a, detects an equality between the numbers n and N.

 The operation is as follows.

 When a customer presses the push button 12, the output of the flip-flop 24 goes to level 1, which has the effect of incrementing the content of the counter 28 by one unit and of disconnecting the monos table 30 which locks the flip-flop 24 for a determined period and sufficient for the distribution of a dose to have time to take place. This locking prohibits taking into account other presses on the push button during filling and printing operations.

 The output of the single table 30 is connected to an input of the door 32 which allows the passage of the clock pulses to the address counter 34a, 34b, through the two dividers by two 42a, 42b.

 The printer management works as follows.

During the first clock pulse, the first character of the memory 27 is selected. The output of the first divider by two 42a is inverted by the inverter 42c and the output of the inverter is applied to the validation inputs of the two tri-state circuits 35a, 35b, which allows the passage to the printer 23 of the first character taken from memory.

 The adder circuit 43 adds up the input signal of the first divider 42a, the output of the inverter 42c and the output of the second divider 42b and the signal delivered by the summator 43 serves as a control signal for the printer.

 The address counter (34a, 34b) progressively advances until its most significant bit is at level 1.

It is then at address 128. It continues to advance to address 255 which corresponds to the maximum number of characters stored in memory (27-1). During the next clock pulse, the most significant bit goes to zero, which triggers the monostable 37, which has the effect, on the one hand, of resetting the monostable 30 and, on the other hand, if the comparator 29 has detected a tie, reset the three stages of the counter 28 to zero.

 The selection of the text to be printed is made by the output of the comparator 29 which is connected to the input A8 of the memory 27. The output A9 of the memory 27 is connected to ground, which means that a capacity of 2 x 256 byte memory containing two messages of 256 characters.

 The last character of each message stored in each 256 character register is a carriage return signal from the printer.

 As soon as the monostable 30 is reset to zero, the gate 32 blocks and stops the passage of the clock pulses to the address counter 34a, 34b. The device is ready for a new distribution of a dose ordered by a new press on the push button 12.

Claims (7)

 1. Automatic dispenser for a bulk liquid food, characterized in that it comprises one or more bulk storage tanks for said liquid and one or more distribution units grouped in a cabinet, each unit comprising  - a volumetric metering device (4) which is connected, on the one hand, to said tank and, on the other hand, to a pouring spout (3) through a solenoid valve (20);  - at least one sink (7) which is provided with a drain towards a collecting tank (9), which is situated below said pouring spout (3) and which comprises a plate (10) with skeleton, intended receiving a container (11) placed under said spout;  - a push button (12) which controls the opening of said solenoid valve (20) and the distribution of the volume of liquid contained in said volumetric metering device (4);  - A memory (27) in which is written the volume of liquid contained in the dispenser and the price thereof;  - And a printer (23) which issues a ticket reproducing the contents of the memory each time the button (12) has been pressed and the volume of liquid contained in the dispenser has been dispensed.  2. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that each unit comprises a second memory (27) or a second memory register (27), in which is written a message indicating that the dose of liquid dispensed is free and includes a pulse counter (28) which counts the pulses emitted by said push button (21), an encoder circuit (26) which makes it possible to enter a determined number (N), a comparator (29) which compares the number of pulses (n) recorded in said counter (28) to said number (N) and a logic gate (32) which is connected to the output of said counter (28) and which controls the transfer to the printer of said message when the number of pulses (n) is equal to said determined number N).  3. Distributor according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said pouring spouts (3). are articulated around a horizontal axis (6) and, in the absence of a container engaged under the spout, the latter is held by an elastic device (16) such as a spring, in a low position where the height (h) the end (3a) of said pouring spout above said plate (16) is less than the height of the smallest current container (11).  4. Dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that each spout (3) is equipped with a microswitch (17) which comprises a contact (17a) open as long as said spout is in the low position and said contact ( 17a) is placed in series with a closing contact (12a) of said push button (12) in the opening control of said solenoid valve (20).  5. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said plate (10) is supported by elastic pads (18 and it comprises a microswitch (19) having a contact (19a) which is closed when a container (11) is placed on said plate, which contact (19a) is mounted in series in the opening control circuit of said solenoid valve (20).  6. Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each distribution unit comprises one or more transmitting pairs (13, 14, 15), receivers (13b, 14b, 15b) which are placed on one side and other than the normal position of a container under the spout and which emit beams of: radiations (13a, 14a, 15a) which cut across said container when it is in the normal position and each receiver has a contact ( 13b, 14b, 15b) which is closed when said receiver does not receive the corresponding beam, which contacts are connected in series in the opening control circuit of said solenoid valve (20).  7. Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said piece of furniture comprises a canopy (la) placed above said pouring spouts and said radiation emitters are arranged on said canopy and emit radiation beams ( 13a, 14a, 15a), which are located on a cone whose top is located slightly above said pouring spout.