GB2244698A - An alarm and monitoring system, e.g. for a bottle dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A monitor and alarm system for apparatus for metering and dispensing liquid from a container, such as for dispensing measures of drink is disclosed. The monitor section of the system preferably comprises a switch (30) which is activated when a measure is dispensed and sends a signal to an indicator which indicates that a measure has been dispensed from the container. The monitor section comprises a light which is illuminated when the switch (30) is closed and a counter which displays the total number of measures dispensed and which is incremented every time the switch (30) is closed. The alarm section of the system comprises switch (31) which is connected to an audible alarm via a relay. The relay enables the alarm to continue to be activated even after the switch (31) has been returned to its non-alarm state. <IMAGE>

Description

An Alarm and Monitoring Svstem This invention relates to monitor and alarm systems for apparatus for meterinq and dispensing a liquid from a IR'TM) container, and especially for apticsifor metering and dispensing liquid.

Generally, in public houses and other places where spirits are served to customers, it is common practice to attach a device known as an optic to the bottle containing the spirits. The bottle is then inverted and the bottle and the optic is mounted on a support, which is usually attached to a wall. The optic fulfils two functions. Firstly, it dispenses the spirit from the bottle when the activating lever is depressed and, secondly, it allows only a given, pre-set volume of liquid to be dispensed each time the lever is depressed. This ensures that each measure of spirit dispensed from the bottle is of approximately the same volume.

However it is possible for a person to dispense a measure from the bottle without paying for the measure and this results in loss of revenue to an owner of a public house. It is. also possible for someone to remove a non-empty bottle from the support and the optic, and replace it with a full bottle without anyone realising that the first bottle was not empty. This again results in loss of revenue.

In addition, it is also possible for someone to tamper with a bottle by taking a measure, removing the bottle and filling the bottle with a measure of water to make it appear as though no spirit had been removed from the bottle.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a monitoring system for apparatus for metering and dispensing a liquid from a container comprises a monitor detector and a monitor indicator, the monitor detector sending a signal to the monitor indicator in response to a measure of liquid being dispensed from the container, wherein the indicator indicates that a measure of liquid has been dispensed in response to the signal.

This aspect of the invention mitigates the security problems associated with apparatus for metering and dispensing liquids from containers by indicating each measure of liquid dispensed.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an alarm system for apparatus for metering and dispensing a liquid from a container mounted on a support comprises an alarm detector coupled to one or both of the container or the metering and dispensing apparatus, and an alarm indicator, wherein the alarm detector sends a signal to the alarm indicator when one or both of the container or the metering and dispensing apparatus is separated from the support wherein the alarm indicator indicates an alarm condition in response to the signal.

This other aspect of the invention mitigates the security problems associated with apparatus for metering and dispensing liquids from containers by detecting if the container and/or metering and dispensing apparatus is removed from the support.

Preferably, the monitor detector comprises a monitor switch such as a micro switch, which typically closes when a measure is being dispensed from the container.

Preferably, the monitor indicator comprises a visual indicator such as a light which is illuminated when the monitor switch is closed. Alternatively, or in addition to the light, the visual indicator may comprise a counter which maintains a running total of measures dispensed.

Typically, the alarm detector comprises a security switch, such as a micro switch, which closes when the container and/or the metering and dispensing apparatus is separated from the support and the alarm indicator may comprise an audible alarm.

Typically, the alarm detector also comprises a relay, which continues to activate the alarm indicator even after the security switch has been opened again, for example if the container and/or the metering and dispensing apparatus is re-mounted on the support.

Preferably, the alarm indicator is activated until the alarm system is reset.

Preferably, the alarm system and the monitor are combined into a single unit which both monitors the number of measures dispensed and which activates the alarm indicator if the container and/or the metering and dispensing apparatus is separated from the support.

Typically, the metering and dispensing apparatus is an optic for metering and dispensing measures of drink and, preferably, the optic may be of the type manufactured by Gaskell and Chambers and shown in British Registered Design No. 1,036,078.

Typically, the monitor and/or alarm system is powered by a 12 volt DC supply, which may be supplied by a 12 volt battery or which may be supplied by a mains supply, via a transformer and rectifier. Where the power is supplied by the mains supply, there is also typically a re-chargeable battery which is re-charged by the mains supply and which powers the alarm system and/or monitor if the mains supply is interrupted.

Preferably, a number of monitors and/or alarm systems may be connected to the same power supply.

Typically, the power supply, with a mains on/off switch and the counter reset switch, is located within a security box which is remote from the monitor detector, the alarm detector, the monitor indicator and the alarm indicator, and which has restricted access.

Preferably, the monitor indicator which indicates when the monitor switch is closed is mounted on the support for the container and, typically, the counter may be mounted adjacent a work surface, such as a bar in a public house, and could be, for example, adjacent to a till. However, the monitor indicator and the alarm indicator could be within the security box.

Typically, the alarm indicator is located where a person responsible for the dispensing of the liquids, such as the proprietor or bar manager, may monitor the alarm indicator.

An example of a monitor and an alarm system in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of an optic attached to a bottle support; Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view through the optic shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and, Fig. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of an alarm and monitoring system incorporated into the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a bottle support 1 which comprises a central support section 2 having two brackets 3 to enable the bottle support 1 to be attached to a supporting structure, such as a wall.

Attached to the bottom end of the section 2 is an optic support 4 which has a shaft 5 which is inserted into the central section 2. The optic support 4 is attached to the section 2 by means of a releasable catch (not shown) which enables the optic support 4 to be detached from the section 2.

The bottle support 1 also comprises a top section 17 having a shaft 18 which fits within the central section 2 and a helical spring 19 enables the top section 17 to be extended with respect to the central section 2 and to remain connected to the central section 2. The top section 17 also has a bottle retaining loop 20 and a bottle end stop 21.

When a bottle (not shown) is connected to an optic 6, the shaft 5 of the optic support 4 is connected to the central section 2 and the top section 17 is extended.

The bottom of the bottle may then be inserted through the loop 20 and the action of the helical spring 19 urges the end stop 21 against the end of the bottle to maintain the bottle in position on the support 1.

Mounted on the optic support 4 is an optic 6. The optic 6 is shown in more detail in Fig. 3 and has a main body portion 12 with an inlet tube 7 which is connected to a bottle from which a liquid such as a spirit is to be dispensed. The optic 6 also has a valve member 8 and an actuator 9 which are connected by a linkage (not shown). When the actuator 9 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the valve member 8 seals an outlet tube 10 and permits liquid to enter a liquid containing section 25 of the optic 6 via the inlet tube 7. When the actuator 9 is moved upwards, the valve member 8 is also moved upwards via the linkage to seal the bottom of the inlet tube 7. At the same time, the outlet tube 10 opens to enable the liquid within the optic 6 to flow out of the outlet tube 10 into a receptacle such as a glass.When the actuator 9 is released, the valve member 8 returns to the position shown in Fig. 3 and liquid from the bottle attached to the optic 6 is allowed to refill the liquid containing section 25 of the optic 6.

The optic 6 also has an arm 11 attached to the main body portion 12 of the optic 6 via a pivot point 13.

Attached to the other end of the arm 11 is a plate 14 which has a prong (not shown) which is located within a slot 15 in the actuator 9. Hence, when the actuator 9 is moved upwards, the arm 11 and the plate 14 rotate about the pivot point 13 in the direction of the arrow 16.

Connected to the support 1 is an alarm and monitoring system, a circuit diagram of which is shown in detail in Fig. 4. The system comprises a counter switch 30, such as a micro switch (shown in phantom in Fig. 1) located within the optic support 4 and which is closed by movement of the plate 14 in the direction of the arrow 16 when a measure of liquid is dispensed from the optic 6 by activating the lever 9.

Also located within the support 1 is a security switch 31 (shown in phantom in Fig. 1), which closes when the shaft 5 of the optic support 4 is removed from the central section 2 of the support 1. Located on the top section 17 is an indicator light 32, which is electrically connected via a line 33 to the counter switch 30. Also connected to the counter switch 30 is a counter 34 which maintains a running total of measures dispensed through the optic 6 by adding one to the count every time the counter switch 30 is closed.

There is also a counter reset switch 35 which may be used to reset the counter 34 and a capacitor 36 which absorbs electrical noise caused by the switch contacts vibrating when the switch is shut and helps to prevent spurious signals being registered on the counter 34.

The counter switch 30 is connected via a line 37 to-a positive terminal block 38 and the negative supply for the counter 34 and the light 32 is connected via a line 39 to a negative terminal block 40. The security switch 31 is connected via line 41 to a relay 42 and via line 43 to one terminal of an audible alarm 44.

The other terminal of the audible alarm 44 is connected via line 45 to the negative terminal block 40. The relay 42 and the security switch 31 are connected to the positive terminal block 38 via a line 46. The relay 42 is also connected directly to a main system on/off switch 47 via a line 48. The system on/off switch 47 is also connected to the positive terminal block 38 via an in-line fuse 49 which protects the electrical components of the system against damage in the event of a power surge to the positive terminal block 38.

The power supply for the alarm and monitoring system is supplied from a 240 volt AC mains supply 52 through a transformer 50 and bridge rectifier 51 which converts the mains supply 52 to a 12 volts DC Supply. Connected in parallel with the rectifier 51 is a re-chargeable battery 53 and a capacitor 54. The capacitor 54 smoothes the output signal from the rectifier and helps to maintain the output signal from the rectifier 51 at a constant DC level. A diode 55 is connected between the positive terminal of the battery and the rectifier 51. In the event of the failure of the mains supply 52, the battery 53 will power the alarm and monitoring system and the diode 55 prevents current from the battery being supplied to the rectifier 51 and ensures that there is no current loss in this direction.

Typically, the system on/off switch 47, the terminal blocks 38, 40, the counter reset switch 35 and the relay 42 are all located in a security box which has restricted access and is remote from the counter 34, the light 32, the audible alarm 44, the counter switch 30 and the security switch 31. The audible alarm 44 is mounted in a position where the proprietor or manager of a bar may monitor the alarm and the counter 34 may be located adjacent to the support 1 or could be adjacent to a cash till (not shown).

In use, every time a measure of liquid is dispensed from the bottle attached to the optic 6, the count on the counter 34 is increased by one. This enables a proprietor or bar manager to compare the number of measures of drink dispensed with the till receipt for the till and hence, to tell whether all the measures dispensed have been paid for.

The light 32 is illuminated every time the counter switch 30 is closed and is illuminated for the whole period that the counter switch 30 remains closed.

Hence, if a person manages to tamper with the counter switch 30 or it sticks so that it remains closed after the actuator 9 returns to its initial position, so that the actuator 9 can be actuated to dispense another measure without moving the counter on by one count, then the light 32 will remain on. This will alert someone to the fact that the switch is still closed and enable this to be rectified.

If a person tries to remove the optic support 4 with the optic 6 and the attached bottle from the support 1 without being authorised then the security switch 31 will close and cause the relay 42 to activate the audible alarm 44. Even if the optic support 4 is immediately replaced the alarm 44 will continue to sound until the system is reset, which can only be done by a person having access to the security box.

A person could try to remove the bottle from the optic 6 by extending the top section 17 without removing the optic support 4 from the support 1. However, as the bottle is inverted, this would be extremely difficult to accomplish without spilling any of the contents of the bottle. It would of course be possible to fit a second security switch to the support 1 to prevent this happening without an alarm being activated.

The provision of the terminal blocks 38, 40 enables a number of systems, for example thirty or more, all to be connected to the same power supply so that there is an individual alarm and monitor system for each optic which is in use.

Claims (14)

1A monitoring system for apparatus for metering and dispensing a liquid from a container comprising a monitor detector and a monitor indicator coupled to the detector, the monitor detector sending a signal to the monitor indicator in response to a measure of liquid being dispensed from the container, wherein the indicator indicates that a measure of liquid has been dispensed in response to the signal.

2 A monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor detector comprises a switch.

3 A monitoring system according to claim 1 or claim 2, where a monitor indicator comprises a visual indicator.

4 A monitoring system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the monitor indicator comprises a counter which indicates the total measures dispensed from the container.

5 An alarm system for apparatus for metering and dispensing liquid from a container mounted on a support, comprising an alarm detector coupled to one or both of the container or the metering and dispensing apparatus, and an alarm indicator coupled to the alarm detector, the alarm detector sending a signal to the alarm indicator when one or both of the container or the metering and dispensing apparatus is separated from the support wherein the alarm indicator indicates an alarm condition in response to the signal.

6 An alarm system according to claim 5 and further comprising a monitoring system according to any of claims 1 to 4.

7 An alarm system according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the alarm detector comprises a switch.

8 An alarm system according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm.

9 An alarm system according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the alarm indicator comprises a relay which receives the signal from the alarm detector.

10 A monitor according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the metering and dispensing apparatus is an optic.

11 An alarm system according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the metering and dispensing apparatus is an optic.

12 An alarm system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13 A monitoring system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14 An alarm and monitoring system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.