GB2099790A - Liquid dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of monitoring the dispensing of measured quantities of a liquid such as spiritous drink comprises detecting the flow of air bubbles through a tube (2) by which a measuring bowl (1) is filled from a vessel such as an inverted bottle. The detecting is achieved by photoelectric means for detecting the flow of air bubbles through the inlet tube of the apparatus and/for applying signals so derived to electronic counting apparatus such as a microprocessor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to liquid dispensing apparatus This invention relates to liquid dispensing apparatus and is concerned with a method of and apparatus for the monitoring of the use of such apparatus. More particularly the invention concerns apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of liquid, of the kind used in bars more especially for dispensing spiritous liquors such as whiskey and gin.

Commonly such apparatus comprises a measuring bowl or sight glass having an inlet in the form of a spigot adapted to be inserted into the neck of the bottle from which liquid is to be dispensed, and an outlet tube to deliver the liquid into a glass. The inlet tube or spigot is inserted into the neck of a bottle, the whole then being inverted so that liquid will flow into the measuring bowl and fill it. The outlet tube is arranged to operate a valve mechanism which controls the withdrawal of liquid from the measuring bowl and arranges for the measuring bowl to be refilled from the bottle after a measure has been dispensed. The valve mechanism is operated by a crossbar which spans across the open top of a drinking glass so as to be raised thereby to operate the valve mechanism and deliver the measured quantity into the glass.When the glass is removed the valve mechanism reverts to its original position and the measuring bowl or sight glass is refilled.

It is useful to be able to monitor the use of such a dispensing apparatus by counting the number of times a dispense is made is made. It is, however, important that the monitoring operation, that is to say account of the number of times the valve mechanism is operated should relate only to those occasions when a measure of liquid is in fact dispensed. In other words, the monitoring apparatus should discriminate between operations when a measure of liquid is dispensed and operations of the valve mechanism when no liquid is present.

For this reason it is not satisfactory merely to monitor the operations of the crossbar by which the valve mechanism is operated and it has been proposed (co-pending patent application No.

8101349) to introduce electrodes into the measuring bowl so as to detect the presence and absence of liquid therein and monitor the dispensing operations accordingly. The present invention concerns an alternative method of achieving the desired result. Clearly it is preferable if no electrodes in contact with the liquid to be dispensed are required and by the same token no electric current is passed through the liquid at any time. Similarly it is preferable to avoid the complication of bringing electrical leads through the wall of the measuring bowl or any other part of the device through which liquid passes.

According to this invention a liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a measuring bowl, a spigot projecting from said bowl to afford connection of said bowl to a vessel from which liquid is to be dispensed and valve mechanism for controlling a two-way flow through said spigot, of liquid from said vessel to said bowl and air from said bowl to said vessel to refill said bowl with liquid after a dispensing operation, and signal generating means for detecting the occurrence of said twoway flow to provide a signal indicating that a dispensing operation has taken place.

In the invention in a preferred form the apparatus includes a transparent tube extending from said bowl to form said spigot and said apparatus comprises a source of illumination on one side and a photo-electric detector arranged on the opposite side of said transparent tube said photo-electric detector providing a signal in response to changes in illumination of said detector by said source when a dispense has taken place.

According to a feature of the invention in the last named form said photo-electric detector may be provided with a restricted aperture and said aperture is arranged substantially at the focus of the lens constituted by said transparent tube when said tube is full of liquid. Such an arrangement enables the discrimination between the static condition, when the inlet tube is full of liquid, and the filling phase when the measuring bowl is being refilled by said two-way flow, to be improved; According to another preferred feature the cross-section of the inlet tube is made noncircular in a manner such that the focussing properties of the filled tube are improved.

According to another preferred feature of the invention the apparatus includes electronic counting means and electronic circuit means for applying a signal generated by said signal generating means to operate said counting means to provide a count of the number of dispensing operations effected with the apparatus.

According to a preferred feature of the invention as carried out according to the last preceding paragraph said electronic circuit means includes means for ensuring a single increment of said counting means for each dispensing operation detected by said detecting means.

According to the invention in another aspect a method of monitoring dispensing operations in a liquid dispensing apparatus, said apparatus including a measuring bowl and a tube connected to said measuring bowl for filling and/or releasing air from said measuring bowl, said method comprising generating a signal in response to the passage of air during refilling of said measuring bowl after a dispensing operation, and applying said signal to register the completion of a dispense operation.

In order that the invention may be better understood it will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dispensing apparatus to which the invention can be applied and Figure 2 is a cross-section of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, taken on the line Il-Il of Figure 1.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a body 1 which constitutes the measuring bowl. It is surmounted by a spigot 2 which passes through a bush 3 of suitable size to connect the apparatus to the neck of a bottle 4. At its lower end the body 1 houses a delivery tube 5 which at its lower end carries an operating bar 6.

Inside the measuring bowl 1 the delivery tube 5 carries a closure member 7 which limits the downward movement of the delivery tube 5 and seals the measuring bowl against loss of liquid around the outside of delivery tube 5, which slides in the bottom neck of the body 1.

On the top of the closure member 7 is a valve head 8 which is urged upward by a spring 9 and which is positioned to close the lower end of the tubular passage-way 2a through the spigot 2 when the bar 6 is raised.

At the side of spigot 2 is arranged a valve 10 the head 11 of which is normally held closed by a spring 12. A stem 13 extends down from the valve head 11 into the measuring bowl 1 so as to be engaged by the top surface of closure member 7 at the appropriate time in the operation of the device.

The apparatus so far described is conventional and operates as follows. When the bar 6 is raised by means of a glass rim the valve head 8 first contacts the open end of spigot 2 and seals it against the entry of liquid from bottle 4. As the bar is further raised closure member 7 continues to rise against the action of spring 9. A hole 14 in the wall of delivery tube 5 is then uncovered inside the measuring bowl 1 so that liquid can be released into delivery tube 5. However, no liquid emerges because an air-lock exists. Almost at the end of its travel the closure member 7 engages the bottom end of stem 13 which opens valve 10 to atmosphere aginst the action of spring 12.

Once this valve is unseated air can enter the measuring bowl and the bowl quickly empties down delivery tube 5 into the glass by which bar 6 was actuated.

When the actuating arm 6 is released the delivery tube and associated valve mechanism returns to its original position under spring pressure. First the air vent at valve 10 then the outlet hole 14 is covered. Lastly valve 8 opens and gravity forces liquid from the bottle 4 into the measuring bowl thereby expelling the air from it. The air escapes through the spigot passage-way 2a of the dispenser into the bottle as a series of bubbles. It is the detected of this series of bubbles which is used according to the invention to monitor the dispensing operation of the device.

In the bottom portion of spigot assembly 2 there are provided cavities 1 5 and 1 6 (see Figure 2). These cavities are located opposite one another and ons of them, say 15, houses a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED). The other cavity, 1 6 receives a light-sensitive detector such as a photodiode which is normally illuminated by light from the LED in cavity 15.

These devices have not been shown in the drawing. The spigot 2 is preferably made of transparent plastics material or glass so that an optical path between the LED in cavity 1 5 and the photodiode in cavity 1 6 exists. This path includes the passage-way 2a through spigot 2 and when this is full of liquid it forms a lens focussing the light from the LED onto an aperture 1 7 in a diaphragm 17 located within the cavity 1 6. When the dispenser is operated and an air bubble passes through the tubular passage-way 2a this optical system is disturbed and the illumination on the photodiode is greatly reduced. This reduction in illumination generates a signal which is used to monitor a dispense operation.

The manner in which the air leaves measuring bowl 1 and liquid enters it will depend to some extent upon the geometry of the liquid system.

Although it may appear that a single air bubble enters passage-way 2a and emerges from its upper end into the bottle as a series of bubbles, the break-up taking place at the inner end of spigot 2, it would appear that the flow pattern is not normally as simple. Instead, at the point at which the light source and detector are situated according to the above description, a series of bubbles will normally pass through the passageway and a fluctuating signal will therefore be generated in the photodiode.

The electronic circuitry to which the signal from the light-sensitive diode is applied is therefore arranged to treat a series of signals as though it were one. Thus the leading edge of the first signal can be caused to trigger a monostable circuit and hold it in its actuated condition for a period of time sufficient to cover the series of signals generated by the two-way flow of liquid and air through spigot passage-way 2a which normally seems to occur. Since the duration of this phenomenon is short in relation to the normal actuating times of the dispenser no difficulties arise in discriminating between one actuation of the dispenser and the next. However, if required, an 'inhibit' signal from the actuating mechanism (e.g. the bar 6) can be used to protect the detecting mechanism from spurious signals which might otherwise be generated during the recognition and recording of a dispense signal.

Modern micrpprocessor technology will enable the signals derived from the apparatus above described to be used in a number of different ways. For example, by the use of a simple 'flipflop' circuit the complex signal which might be derived from the photo detector may be combined into a simple single signal to provide a simple count of dispensing operations carried out.

A more elaborate microprocessor program can, however, be used. For example, if the pattern of air bubbles passing through the spigot passageway is such as to generate a recognisable and regularly reproduceable pattern of signals the circuitry can be caused to 'recognise' this characteristic pattern and discriminate between situations where a dispense has properly been made and an operation where, say, the refilling of the measuring bowl is incomplete. Furthermore, the microprocessor can be made to take a count of the time interval between successive dispense operations or to provide an analysis of the rate at which dispense operations are carried out over various periods of time.

Various other modifications in the construction of the device are of course possible. For example, the inlet tube through spigot 2 may be divided into two passages one for air and one to carry the liquid into the measuring bowl. If then both these passages are full of liquid when the apparatus is ready for a dispense operation to take place a signal can be derived from the passage of air bubbles through the air passage-way even though there is a flow of liquid through the other channel.

Again, the cross-sectional shape of the passageway 2a can be varied to improve the optical performance of the arrangement. The full cylindrical lens formed by the column of liquid and the tube walls containing it may not produce a sufficiently sharp forcus to provide the discrimination between the two situations where the tube is full of liquid on the one hand or passing air bubbles on the other. On the other hand, if discrimination between these two conditions is adequate it may not be necessary to provide the aperture diaphragm 17.

Another possibility is to employ a capacitive effect between electrodes located, for example, on the inner surfaces of the cavities 15 and 1 6 which face one another across the passage-way 2a. The difference in capacity between the two electrodes according to whether the gap is filled with liquid or with air can be used to provide the required signal.

Other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.

Claims (filed 8/6/82).

1. method of monitoring dispensing operations in a liquid dispensing apparatus, said apparatus including a measuring vessel and a channel connected to said measuring vessel for filling and/or releasing air from said measuring vessel, said method comprising generating a signal in response to the passage of air and/or liquid through said channel during refilling of said measuring vessel after a dispensing operation, and applying said signal to register the completion of a dispenser operation.

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein said channel serves both for the supply of liquid to and the exhaust of air from said measuring vessel and said signal is derived from passage of an air/liquid interface through said channel.

3. Method according to claim 2 wherein said channel is in the form of a pipe and said air/liquid interface is the surface of an air bubble passing through said tube.

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a composite electronic signal derived from a refilling operation is electronically processed to provide a single monitoring signal and said monitoring signal is applied to register an increment in a count of dispensing operations effected by said apparatus.

5. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid comprising a measuring bowl, a channel affording communication between said measuring bowl and a vessel from which liquid is to be dispensed, valve mechanism for controlling a two-way flow through said channel of liquid from said vessel to said bowl and air from said bowl to said vessel to refill said bowl with liquid after a dispensing operation, and signal generating means for detecting the occurrence of said two-way flow to provide a signal indicating that a dispensing operation has taken place.

6. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid from a vessel comprising a measuring bowl, a body of transparent material extending from said bowl to form a spigot adapted to fit into an outlet neck of said vessel, a channel through said body affording connection between said measuring bowl and said vessel for the flow of liquid from said vessel to said bowl and air from said bowl to said vessel, valve mechanism for controlling flow of liquid and air through said channel to effect discrete dispensing operations, a source of illumination on one side of said channel and a photo-electric detector arranged to receive illumination from said source through said channel said photo-electric detector constituting signal generating means adapted to provide a signal in response to changes of illumination thereof due to flow of air and liquid through said channel.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said detector is arranged to receive a more concentrated illumination from said source due to lens action when said channel is full of liquid and a less concentrated illumination when said lens action is disturbed by an air bubble in said channel.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said source and said detector are arranged in cavities in said transparent body on opposite sides of said channel.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8 including an apertured diaphragm in the light path between said source and said detector, the aperture in said diaphragm being positioned to receive illumination from said source concentrated thereon by lens action when said channel is full of liquid.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9 including electronic counting means and circuit means for applying signals from said signal generating means to said counting means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said circuit means includes signal processing means for limiting signals applied to said counting means to a single operating signal for any given operation of the dispensing apparatus.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. circuitry can be caused to 'recognise' this characteristic pattern and discriminate between situations where a dispense has properly been made and an operation where, say, the refilling of the measuring bowl is incomplete. Furthermore, the microprocessor can be made to take a count of the time interval between successive dispense operations or to provide an analysis of the rate at which dispense operations are carried out over various periods of time. Various other modifications in the construction of the device are of course possible. For example, the inlet tube through spigot 2 may be divided into two passages one for air and one to carry the liquid into the measuring bowl. If then both these passages are full of liquid when the apparatus is ready for a dispense operation to take place a signal can be derived from the passage of air bubbles through the air passage-way even though there is a flow of liquid through the other channel. Again, the cross-sectional shape of the passageway 2a can be varied to improve the optical performance of the arrangement. The full cylindrical lens formed by the column of liquid and the tube walls containing it may not produce a sufficiently sharp forcus to provide the discrimination between the two situations where the tube is full of liquid on the one hand or passing air bubbles on the other. On the other hand, if discrimination between these two conditions is adequate it may not be necessary to provide the aperture diaphragm 17. Another possibility is to employ a capacitive effect between electrodes located, for example, on the inner surfaces of the cavities 15 and 1 6 which face one another across the passage-way 2a. The difference in capacity between the two electrodes according to whether the gap is filled with liquid or with air can be used to provide the required signal. Other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Claims (filed 8/6/82).

1. method of monitoring dispensing operations in a liquid dispensing apparatus, said apparatus including a measuring vessel and a channel connected to said measuring vessel for filling and/or releasing air from said measuring vessel, said method comprising generating a signal in response to the passage of air and/or liquid through said channel during refilling of said measuring vessel after a dispensing operation, and applying said signal to register the completion of a dispenser operation.

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein said channel serves both for the supply of liquid to and the exhaust of air from said measuring vessel and said signal is derived from passage of an air/liquid interface through said channel.

3. Method according to claim 2 wherein said channel is in the form of a pipe and said air/liquid interface is the surface of an air bubble passing through said tube.

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a composite electronic signal derived from a refilling operation is electronically processed to provide a single monitoring signal and said monitoring signal is applied to register an increment in a count of dispensing operations effected by said apparatus.

5. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid comprising a measuring bowl, a channel affording communication between said measuring bowl and a vessel from which liquid is to be dispensed, valve mechanism for controlling a two-way flow through said channel of liquid from said vessel to said bowl and air from said bowl to said vessel to refill said bowl with liquid after a dispensing operation, and signal generating means for detecting the occurrence of said two-way flow to provide a signal indicating that a dispensing operation has taken place.

6. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid from a vessel comprising a measuring bowl, a body of transparent material extending from said bowl to form a spigot adapted to fit into an outlet neck of said vessel, a channel through said body affording connection between said measuring bowl and said vessel for the flow of liquid from said vessel to said bowl and air from said bowl to said vessel, valve mechanism for controlling flow of liquid and air through said channel to effect discrete dispensing operations, a source of illumination on one side of said channel and a photo-electric detector arranged to receive illumination from said source through said channel said photo-electric detector constituting signal generating means adapted to provide a signal in response to changes of illumination thereof due to flow of air and liquid through said channel.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said detector is arranged to receive a more concentrated illumination from said source due to lens action when said channel is full of liquid and a less concentrated illumination when said lens action is disturbed by an air bubble in said channel.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said source and said detector are arranged in cavities in said transparent body on opposite sides of said channel.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8 including an apertured diaphragm in the light path between said source and said detector, the aperture in said diaphragm being positioned to receive illumination from said source concentrated thereon by lens action when said channel is full of liquid.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9 including electronic counting means and circuit means for applying signals from said signal generating means to said counting means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said circuit means includes signal processing means for limiting signals applied to said counting means to a single operating signal for any given operation of the dispensing apparatus.

12. Method of monitoring dispensing

operations in a liquid dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described.

13. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.