FR2770505A1 - Device for controlling the actuation of alcoholic drink bottle dispensers. - Google Patents

Abstract

Monitors the number of drinks served, and displays the results. The device is designed to dispense alcoholic drinks. Each dispenser (4) includes a hand actuator . The device has means (5) for detecting the operation of each actuator , and a housing (6) which counts the number of drinks dispensed, and displays the results and the operations carried out.

Description

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF DOSERS
DISTRIBUTORS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
The subject of the present invention is a device for controlling the actuation of dispensers for distributing alcoholic beverages and more particularly of dispensers of the type described in patent FR-A-2,669,609.

 This dosing device, which is fixed on the neck of the bottles, upside down, includes a cavity in which the dose of alcohol is stored, and a joystick which allows to actuate a valve finally to allow the flow of the dose. by gravity. This lever which is arranged at the lower end of the device pivots about an axis and drives said valve in upward translation. It is activated by the pivoting force exerted by the server, the glass being in abutment against said lever.

 This relatively simple and reliable device makes it possible to quickly and precisely deliver the desired dose of alcohol.

 However, this device does not allow any control of the number of doses served.

 On the other hand, this device does not prohibit an unauthorized person from using or changing a bottle.

 The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device for controlling the actuation of dispensers for distributing alcoholic beverages which makes it possible to count the number of doses served, to prohibit unauthorized persons from using or carrying out a change of bottle and also to know the number of doses served for each authorized person and for each dispenser.

 To this end, the subject of the present invention is a device for controlling the actuation of dispensers for distributing alcoholic beverages fixed on a plurality of bottles arranged upside down, each dispenser comprising an actuating handle, characterized in that it includes means for detecting the actuation of each joystick, and a management unit which makes it possible to count the number of doses served, and to view the results and the operations carried out.

 According to one embodiment, the means for detecting the actuation of each lever are constituted, for each dispenser, by a contactor fixed on a support arranged in a housing and in line with each dispenser, and connected to said management unit, each handle comprising a hook-shaped extension capable of actuating said contactor when the lever is pivoted, said hook passing through a window formed in the front facade of said housing in line with each metering device.

 Preferably, it comprises means for locking the levers.

 Advantageously, the locking means of the levers consist of a movable comb connected to the support by connecting rods, capable of translating horizontally in the housing between a stop position and a service position, and which comprises openings which are located at right windows and contactors and allow the hook of the levers to pass into the service position, said openings being offset relative to the windows and to the contactors and preventing the levers from pivoting in the stop position.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the movable comb can be translated automatically by means of electromagnets which are excited when a server key is introduced into the management unit.

 According to another characteristic, it comprises door locking means, door opening detection means and means for locking the change of bottle.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows of the object according to a preferred embodiment, description given by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device for controlling the actuation of dispensers for distributing alcoholic beverages,
- Figure 2 is a cross section of the control device
- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the mobile support,
- Figure 4 is a detailed cross section of the interior of the device,
FIG. 5A is a top view of the movable and fixed combs in the stop position,
FIG. 5B is a top view of the movable and fixed combs in the service position,
FIG. 6 is a front view of the interior of the device, the movable comb being actuated using the unlocking key,
FIG. 7 is a section through the means for locking and detecting the opening of the side door,
- Figure 8A is a perspective view of the device with the side door open,
FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the device with the means for locking the change of bottle unlocked, and
- Figure 9 is an example of use of the control device in a computerized management network.

 In Figure 1, there is shown a device 1 for controlling the actuation of dispensers dispensers of alcoholic beverages according to the invention. In the configuration described, the device can receive six bottles 2.

 Each bottle 2 is fixed to the control device 1 using a support 3, the neck being directed downwards. Each bottle neck is provided with a volumetric dispenser 4 of the type described above and which, in known manner, is removably mounted on said support 3.

 For each bottle, the device 1 comprises means 5 for detecting the actuation of the dispenser 4.

 In order to count the number of doses and to view the results and the operations carried out, a management box 6 is connected to the device 1 using a cable 7. This management box 6 is known to those skilled in the art. art and is not part of the present invention. It may in particular be constituted by the box marketed under the trade name HARTEK 400.

 The control device 1 is now described with the aid of FIG. 2.

 This device comprises a frame 8 produced by a vertical front plate 9 and a horizontal profile 10 in the shape of a U, each end 11 of the profile being connected to the rear face 12 of the plate 9 by means of rivets 13 in order to form a housing 1 4 of rectangular section. This housing 1 4 is closed at one end by a fixed side plate 1 5 and at the other end by a side door 16, the elements 1 5 and 1 6 being visible in FIG. 1.

 The device also comprises means 1 7 for fixing to a support 1 8. These means 1 7 for fixing are fixed to the external vertical face of the profile 10 in the form of a U using screws 19 and can be produced by clamps -joints.

 On the front face 20 of the plate 9, each bottle support 3 is fixed using fixing means 21, for example two bolts.

 In known manner, the support 3 of the bottle is equipped with a metering device 4 on which the neck of the bottle 2 is fixed. In the lower part, each support 3 has a horizontal extension 22 which includes a horizontal slot 23 in which is housed a tab 24 of the dispenser. In addition, a pin 25 makes it possible to immobilize the tab 24 of the dispenser in the horizontal slot 23. Thus, to change the bottle, it suffices to pull the pin 25 downwards to release the doser / bottle assembly from its support. .

 The metering units 4 originally comprise a lever 26 disposed at the lower end of the metering unit 4 and which pivots about an axis 27. It is actuated by the pivoting force exerted by the server, the glass being in support against said lever 26.

 According to the invention, the handle 26 is modified and extended by an actuating hook 28 capable of penetrating into the frame 8 through a window 29.

 The means 5 for detecting the actuation of the metering device are arranged inside the frame 8 in line with each window 29. According to one embodiment, they are constituted for each metering device by an electrical contactor 30 which is actuated by the end of hook 28.

 Thus when the lever 26 is actuated (visible in dotted lines in FIG. 2), it pivots and the hook 28 enters the frame 8 through the window 29.

At the end of the travel, when the dose is served, the hook 28 actuates the contactor 30 which delivers an electrical signal to the management unit 6.

 In addition to the means 5 for detecting the actuation of the metering device, the control device 1 is equipped with means 31 for locking the handles and means 32 for locking the change of bottle.

 The means 31 for locking the levers and the means 32 for locking the change of bottle respectively make it possible to prohibit an unauthorized person from using and changing the bottle.

 To facilitate maintenance, the means 5 for detecting the actuation of the metering device and the lever locking means 31 are arranged on a removable support 33 which is disposed in the housing 1 4 of the frame.

 The removable support 33, illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises a support 34 for contactors and a movable comb 35 which constitutes the means 31 for locking the levers.

 The contactor support 34 is constituted by a vertical plate of length substantially equal to the length of the housing 14, and has at one of its ends a folded part 36 capable of being attached to the side door 1 6. This folded part 36 serves of support for means 37 for detecting the opening of the side door 16, produced by an electrical contactor, and for a connector 38 for connecting the control device 1 to the cable 7.

 This plate 34 is cut to form support tabs 39 where the electrical contactors 30 are fixed, the latter being arranged in line with each window 29 when the movable support 33 is in the housing 14.

 The movable comb 35 is produced by an L-shaped profile with a first vertical part 40 and a second horizontal part 41. This second horizontal part 41 is cut to form openings 42 capable of allowing the hook 28 of the lever to pass.

 The first vertical part 40 is connected to the contactor support plate 34 by means of at least two links 43. Thanks to these links 43, the movable comb 35 can translate horizontally relative to the contactor support plate 34.

 To allow translation, each link 43 is equipped with an electromagnet 44 for actuation fixed on the plate 34.

 In FIG. 4, the removable support 33 is shown in the housing 1 4. When it is put in place, the plate 34 for contactor support slides by means of a slide 45 against the internal vertical face 46 of the U-shaped profile 10 to come into abutment against the side plate 1 5. The slide 45 is formed by tabs 47 cut from the profile 10 in the form of U.

 In addition, the horizontal part 41 of the movable comb 35 is guided using guide means 48 produced by a fixed comb 49 fixed to the rear face 12 of the plate 10.

 This fixed comb 49 is produced from an L-shaped profile, the horizontal part 50 of which is cut in line with each window 29 in order to form openings 51 (visible in FIGS. 5A and 5B) to allow the passage of the hook 28 of the lever. The horizontal part 50 of the fixed comb 49 is also cut in order to produce tongues 52 which guide the movable comb 35.

 When the removable support 33 is in position in the housing 14, the electrical contactors are in line with the openings 51, the fixed comb 49 and the windows 29.

 The operation of the means 31 for locking the lever are explained with reference to the drawings 5A and 5B.

 In FIG. 5A, the locking means 31 are in the stop position. In this case, the opening 42 of the movable comb 35 is offset with respect to the opening 51 of the fixed comb 49, to the contactor 30 and to the window 29. In this position, the lever 26 cannot pivot because the end of the hook 28 abuts against the movable comb 35. The fixed comb 49 disposed above the movable comb 35 reinforces the abutment effect of the movable comb 35 by preventing it from any upward translation.

 In FIG. 5B, the means for locking the lever are in the service position. In this case, the opening 42 of the movable comb 35 is located in line with the opening 51 of the fixed comb 49, of the contactor 30 and of the window 29. In this position, the lever 26 can pivot and pass through the window 29, openings 42 and 51 in order to actuate the contactor 30.

 In a normal operating mode, the movement of the movable comb 35 is made automatic by means of the electromagnets 44. In this mode, the introduction of a server key 53 (visible in FIG. 1) in the management box 6 used to excite the electromagnets and to move the movable comb 35.

 In a degraded operating mode, in particular in the event of a power failure, the comb is moved mechanically using an unlocking key 54 visible in FIG. 1. This mode is represented in FIG. in this case, the unlocking key 54 rotates a latch 55 which drives the movable comb in translation by pressing against a lug 56 integral with said comb 35. This lug 56, also visible in FIG. 3, is cut out in the vertical part 40 of the movable comb 35, then folded in order to form a support for the latch 55.

 In Figure 7, the means 57 for locking the side door 1 6 are shown. These door locking means 57 comprise a door key 58 (visible in FIG. 1) and a latch 59. This hook-shaped latch 59 passes through a slot 60 (visible in FIG. 3) cut out on the folded part 36 of the support 34, and in a slot 62 cut in the side door 1 6. In the locked position, as shown in Figure 7, the latch 59 keeps the side door 1 6 closed. In the open position shown in dotted lines, the latch 59 is raised and authorizes the opening of the side door 1 6.

 In addition to these door locking means 57, the door opening detection means 37 make it possible to send an electrical signal to the management unit 6 when the door is open. This signal is used in particular to manage bottle changes.

 The means 32 for locking the change of bottle, illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, consist of a locking plate 63 disposed under the pins 25, also visible in FIG. 2. This plate 63 is capable of preventing the pins 25 to translate and therefore to separate the doser / bottle assembly from its support.

 It is produced by an L-shaped profile and fixed to the lower ends of the supports 3 and can pivot relative to said supports. For this, the horizontal part of the plate 63 includes openings 64, near its free edge 65, which allow the passage of the supports 3. In addition, each support 3 comprises in its lower part a horizontal slot 66 which makes it possible to accommodate the part of the plate located between the lumen 64 and the free edge 65. The length of the lumens 64 is such that it allows a slight horizontal translation of the plate 63 relative to the frame 8.

 Finally, to keep the plate 63 horizontal and to avoid its pivoting, the frame 8 comprises means 67 for stopping rotation which are produced by means of adapted shapes of the side plate 1 5 and the side door 1 6. Thus in locking position the plate 63 rests on the side plate 1 5 and the side door 1 6.

 The plate 63 also comprises means 68 for stopping in translation which are constituted by a tab 69 cut at the end of the locking plate 63 located on the side of the side door 16. Thus, this tab 69 bears against the door lateral 1 6 and prevents the plate 63 from translating.

 The operation of the means 32 for locking the change of bottle is simple. To change the bottle, an authorized person opens the side door 1 6 using the door key 58. As soon as it is opened, the means 37 for detecting the door opening send an electrical signal to the management box 6 . Then, the person slightly translates the locking plate 63 so that it is no longer resting on the side plate 1 5. The locking plate 63 then pivots as shown in FIG. 8B. The person can then change the bottle.

 The use of the device 1 for controlling the actuation of dosers is simple. Each server has a server key 58 which makes it possible to identify it.

Thus, when the server A wants to serve a glass of whiskey, he introduces his server key 58 into the management box 6. Immediately, the movable comb 35 translates and authorizes the actuation of the joystick 26. The server A presses on the joystick 26 so that the dose flows. At the same time, the hook 28 of the lever 26 actuates the contactor 30 which sends an electrical signal to the management box 6. Each contactor 30 is identified by said management unit 6 which displays the operation carried out, for example "SERVER A: WHISKEY". The management unit 6 makes it possible to effectively control the doses delivered.

Thus, it is possible to know for each server the number of doses delivered by each dispenser, or to know for each dispenser the number of doses served by each server.

 To carry out a bottle change, the authorized person X introduces his key into the management unit 6 in order to be identified. It then performs the bottle change as previously described. As soon as the side door 1 6 which is necessary to change the bottle is opened, the door opening detection means 37 send an electrical signal to the management box 6. Thus, the management unit 4 accounts for the openings of the side door 1 6 for each authorized person.

 Of course, the device of the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described above. It encompasses all the shapes and dimensions of the frame, said frame being designed to receive at least one bottle provided with a metering device which comprises a lever capable of actuating means for detecting actuation of the metering device arranged in said frame.

 This control device 1 can in particular be included in a computerized management network 70 as shown in FIG. 9.

 This network 70 may include a management computer 71 to which several management boxes 6 are attached. Each management unit 6 can be connected to several control devices 1 and / or to a printer 72.

 Thus at the end of the day, an overall assessment can be made and viewed on the management computer 71.

Claims (10)

 1. Device for controlling the actuation of dispensers for distributing alcoholic beverages fixed on a plurality of bottles arranged upside down, each dispenser (4) comprising a lever (26) for actuation, characterized in that it comprises means (5) for detecting the actuation of each lever (26), and a management box (6) which makes it possible to count the number of doses served, and to display the results and the operations carried out.  2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (5) for detecting the actuation of each lever (26) are constituted, for each metering device, by a contactor (30) fixed on a support (34 ) arranged in a housing (14) and in line with each metering device (4), and connected to said management unit (6), each lever (26) comprising a hook-shaped extension (28) capable of actuating said contactor (4) during the pivoting of the lever (26), said hook (28) passing through a window (29) formed in the front face (9) of said housing (14) to the right of each dispenser (4).  3. Control device according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises means (31) for locking the levers.  4. Control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (31) for locking the levers consist of a movable comb (35) connected to the support (34) by links (43), capable of translating horizontally in the housing (14) between a stop position and a service position, and which includes openings (42) which are located at the windows (29) and contactors (30) and allow the passage of the hook (28) levers in the service position, said openings (42) being offset with respect to the windows (29) and the contactors (30) and preventing the levers from pivoting in the stop position.  5. Control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the movable comb (35) can be translated automatically by means of electromagnets (44) which are excited when a server key (53) is inserted into the housing (6) Management.  6 Control device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the movable comb (35) can translate into degraded mode by mechanical action with a key (54) for unlocking, the pivoting of said key (54) causing the translation of said movable comb (35) by means of a latch (55) which bears on a tab (56) integral with said movable comb (35)  7. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (57) for door locking, means (37) for detecting door opening and means (32) for bottle change lock.  8. Control device according to claim 7, characterized in that the means (32) for locking the change of bottle are produced by a plate (63) for horizontal locking disposed under the pins (25), preventing any translation of said pins ( 25), said plate (63) being fixed to the lower ends of the supports (3) so as to be able to pivot and translate slightly relative to said supports (3), means (67) for stopping rotation and means (68) ) stop in translation being capable of keeping said plate (63) in a horizontal position.  9. Control device according to claim 8, characterized in that the means (67) for stopping in rotation are produced by means of adapted shapes of the fixed side plate (15) and of the side door (16) on which the locking plate (63) rests and in that the means (68) for stopping in translation are produced by means of a tab (69) secured to the locking plate (63) which bears against the side door (16).  10. Control device according to claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the means (37) for door opening detection are produced by a contactor (37) which sends a signal to the control unit (6) when the door side (16) is open.