GB2240763A

GB2240763A - Recording device for drinks dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2240763A
Application number: GB9027719A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Adam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-09
Filing date: 1990-12-20
Publication date: 1991-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-20
Also published as: GB9027719D0; GB2240763B

Abstract

A recording device 10 for tots dispensed from a dispenser 12 having a chamber 14 with inlet 16 and outlet 18 and valve 20 axially movable between a first position in which the outlet 18 is sealed and the inlet 16 is open, and a second position 28 in which the inlet 16 is sealed and the outlet 18 is open. Valve actuator 24, movable generally parallel to axis of movement of the valve 20, move the valve 20 from the first position to the second position 28, return being under the influence of biasing means 44. The recording device comprises a switch 46 operable by the valve actuator means 24 and a housing 48, 50 which encloses the switch so as to prevent anauthorised access. The switch 46 is connectable to signal transfer means 74 for conveying an electrical signal to a central monitoring device 76 each time the switch is operated by the valve actuator means. The switch may be an electro-optical or an electro-mechanical switch. <IMAGE>

Description

ALIQUOT RECORDING DEVICE This invention relates to aliquot recording device, and in particular to a tot recording device for recording tots of liquid dispensed from a liquid dispenser.

A liquor outlet, such as a bar incurs financial losses when bar tenders dispense of liquor without charging for it, or alternatively retain payment for themselves by failing to record the sale on the cash register each time liquor is dispensed from a tot dispenser.

One type of tot recording device is disclosed in the complete specification of South African Patent No.

78/4062. Switch means which are provided on each tot dispenser, are operatively connected to a central computerised cash register, which automatically records a transaction each time a tot is dispensed.

It is an object of the invention to provided a tot recording device which is compatible with a tot dispenser of the type disclosed in British Patent No. 2195982.

According to the invention there is provided an aliquot recording device for recording metered aliquots of liquid dispensed from a liquid dispenser, the liquid dispenser being of the type having a chamber with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a valve axially movable within the chamber between a first position in which the outlet is sealed and the inlet is open, and a second position in which the inlet is sealed and the outlet is open, valve actuator means, and biasing means for biasing the valve into the first position, the valve actuator means being adapted to move the valve means from the first position to the second position, and to allow the valve means to move from the second position to the first position under the influence of the biasing means, the aliquot recording device comprising a switch operable by the valve actuator means, a housing which encloses the switch so as to prevent unauthorised access thereto, the switch being connectable to signal transfer means for conveying an electrical signal to a central monitoring device each time the switch is operated by the valve actuator means.

Preferably, the valve actuator means is movable generally parallel to the axis of movement of the valve, and the switch is actuable by transverse movement of a portion of the valve actuator means.

The switch may be enclosed in a cartridge which forms part of the housing.

The body of the liquid dispenser may include a pair of spaced apart parallel walls which are provided with extensions which serve as walls of the housing of the aliquot recording device.

Mounting means may be provided for mounting the aliquot recording device to the fluid dispenser.

The switch may be an electro-optical switch.

Alternatively, the switch is a electro-mechanical microswitch, the contactor bearing operatively against a portion of the valve actuator means, and being switchable by the valve actuator means between the first and second positions.

The invention extends to an aliquot recording system which includes a plurality of aliquot recording devices, a central interface unit to which the aliquot recording devices are connectable, the central interface unit in turn being connectable to at least one cash register, and central processing unit for recording and transmitting transaction-related data to the cash register.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to tfle accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 Shows a side, partly cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a tot recording device of the invention mounted to a tot dispenser; Figure 2 Shows a perspective view of the tot recording device of Figure 1; Figure 3 Shows a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a tot recording device of the invention, and Figure 4 Shows a cross-sectional top plan view of the tot recording device of Figure 3.

The illustrated tot recording device 10 is mounted to a liquid dispenser 12 of the type disclosed in British Patent No. 21951982. The liquid dispenser 12 has a chamber 14 having an inlet 16 at its upper end and an outlet 18 at its base. A valve 20 is mounted inside the chamber 14 and is axially movable from a first position indicated in solid outline in which the outlet 18 is sealed and the inlet 16 is open, and a second position indicated in broken outline 22 in which the inlet 16 is sealed and the outlet 18 is open.

An actuator 24 is positioned behind the chamber 14 and is slidable upwardly from a first position indicated in hard outline in a direction parallel to the axis of movement of the valve 20 to a second position 28 indicated in broken outline. The valve actuator 24 carries the valve 20, upward movement of the actuator 24 thereby causing the valve to move from the first position to the second position 22. The actuator 24 is provided with two parallel side walls 30 at its upper end, a slot 32 being formed in each side wall.

An intermediate lever 34 is operatively connected to the actuator 24 by means of a pin 36 which passes through and slides freely in the slot 32. The intermediate lever 34 is rotatably attached by means of a pivot point 36 to first and second parallel walls 40 and 42 which define the sides of the chamber 14 and the liquid dispenser 12 as a whole. A spring 44 mounted to the pivot point 36 biases the intermediate lever 34 into the first position indicated in hard outline. The operation and components of the liquid dispenser 12 are described in more detail in the specification accompanying UK Patent No. 21951982, and the operation of the various components are discussed in this specification in order to assist in understanding the operation of the tot recording device of the invention.

The tot recording device comprises a switching means in the form of a microswitch 46 which is mounted within a removable cartridge formed from first and second complemental mounting blocks 48 and 50. The mounting blocks 48 and 50 are clamped between side wall extensions 52 and 54 of the respective second and first side walls 40 and 42 by means of mounting screws 56 and 58 which pass transversely through the side wall extension 54, the mounting blocks 50 and 48, and the side wall extension 52. The microswitch 46 includes a contactor 60 which has a resilient metal 62 reed mounted pivotably towards one end of the body of the microswitch 46, the reed 62 carrying a rotatable roller 64 at its free end.

The actuator 24 has a lip 66 at its lower end for accommodating the index finger of the barman when he is gripping a glass. An inwardly slanting reinforcing web 68 extends upwardly along the actuator from an outer edge 70 of lip 66. The roller 64 of the contactor 60 is biased against the slanting edge of the web 68. Upward movement of the actuator 24 to the position indicated at 28 will thus cause the contactor 60 to move to a position indicated in broken outline. Return of the actuator to a down position will in turn cause the contactor 60 to return to its original position under the influence of the reed 62.

The microswitch 46 is connected to an armoured electrical lead 74 which is in turn connected to an electronic cash register 76 via an interface unit 78. A cable gland 79 secures the lead in position at the microswitch interface. A host of further aliquot recording devices are connected to the interface unit 78 via leads 80. The cash register 76 may in turn be linked to a central computer 82 which acts as a central processing unit for a cash register network.

Once the contactor 60 is closed by upward movement of the actuator 24, it actuates the microswitch 46, causing a signal to travel down the lead to the cash register 76 via the interface 78. Therefore, each time a tot is dispensed from the dispenser 12 the resultant signal is sensed at the cash register 76, which automatically records the price associated to the type of liquor being dispensed. The central computer 82 may be used for the purposes of price updating and for calculating or the combined takings from the cash registers to which it is linked.

The housing constituted by the side wall extensions 52 and 54 and the mounting blocks 48 and 50 forms a sealed unit which completely surrounds the microswitch 46 and prevents unauthorised access thereto. The countersunk screws 56 and 58 may be sealed with a compound so that tampering will be detected. The screws 56 and 58 allow removal of the mounting blocks 48 and 50 within which the microswitch 46 is mounted in case of the microswitch 46 requiring maintenance or replacement.

In an alternative form of the invention, the microswitch 46 and housing may be mounted in such a manner that it is actuated by the lower face of the intermediate lever 34 on movement of the lever 34 to its broken line position.

The tot recording device is preferably manufactured together with the liquid dispenser. Alternatively, the tot recording device may be mounted to an existing tot dispenser by means of sonic welding along the broken outline 83 indicated in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, a second embodiment of a recording device is shown, in which an electro-optical switch 84 is mounted at angle perpendicular to the rib 68. The switch 84 has mounting flanges 86 which locate in angled recesses 88 formed in mounting blocks 90 which are fixed to the walls 52 and 54. The U-shaped electrooptical switch 84 is mounted so that the slanted web 68 intrudes into the aperture 92 as it is pushed upwardly to the position 94 indicated in broken outline, thereby breaking the infra-red beam and causing switching to occur.

An advantage of the tot recording device of the invention is that it is housed in such a manner that unauthorised tampering with the device is made difficult.

Furthermore, an existing tot dispenser of the type described can be easily modified to accommodate a tot recording device of the invention.

Claims

1. An aliquot recording device for recording metered aliquots of liquid dispensed from a liquid dispenser, the liquid dispenser being of the type having a chamber with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a valve axially movable within the chamber between a first position in which the outlet is sealed and the inlet is open, and a second position in which the inlet is sealed and the outlet is open, valve actuator means, and biasing means for biasing the valve into the first position, the valve actuator means being adapted to move the valve from the first position to the second position, and to allow the valve to move from the second position to the first position under the influence of the biasing means, the aliquot recording device comprising a switch operable by the valve actuator means, a housing which encloses the switch so as to prevent unauthorised access thereto, the switch being connectable to signal transfer means for conveying an electrical signal to a central monitoring device each time the switch is operated by the valve actuator means.

2. An aliquot recording device as claimed in claim 1 in which the valve actuator means is movable generally parallel to the axis of movement of the valve, and the switch is acutable by transverse movement of a portion of the valve actuator means.

3. An aliquot recording device as claimed in either one of the preceding claims in which the switch is enclosed in a cartridge which forms part of the housing.

4. An aliquot recording device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the body of the liquid dispenser includes a pair of spaced apart parallel walls which are provided with extensions which serve as walls of the housing of the aliquot recording device.

5. An aliquot recording device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which mounting means are provided for mounting the aliquot recording device to the fluid dispenser.

6. An aliquot recording device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the switch is an electro-optical switch.

7. An aliquot recording device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the switch is an electro mechanical microswitch, the contactor bearing operatively against a portion of the valve actuator means, and being switchable by the valve actuator means between the first and second positions.

8. An aliquot recording system which includes a plurality of aliquot recording devices as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, a central interface unit to which the aliquot recording devices are connectable, the central interface unit in turn being connectable to at least one cash register, and a central processing unit for recording and transmitting transaction-related data to the cash register.

9. An aliquot recording device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figure 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. An aliquot recording system substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.