GB2261208A

GB2261208A - Spirit measure counter

Info

Publication number: GB2261208A
Application number: GB9121322A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliver Benjamin Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-10-09
Filing date: 1991-10-09
Publication date: 1993-05-12
Also published as: GB9121322D0

Abstract

There is provided an electronic counter for a liquid dispenser, including an electronic counting circuit (11) and a display device (15). Memory (M1, M2) in the circuitry allows the display to show either the current total of measures dispensed, or other information such as price etc. Dispensing of a measure of liquid is sensed by electrical contacts (8, 9) which are immersed intermittently in the liquid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPIRIT MEASURE COUNTER The present invention relates to spirit measures used for dispensing beverages, and particularly concerns a counting mechanism for recording the number of measures dispensed.

In retail outlets, it is often helpful for accounting purposes to record the number of measures of spirits which have been dispensed over the course of an accounting period, for example by the week or by the month. Hitherto, mechanical counters have been proposed for the 'Optic' type spirit measures, the mechanical counters being advanced by the reciprocating vertical movement of the plunger in the dispenser.

While mechanical counters have been reliable in operation, they are constructed from a large number of individual components and their production, assembly, and mounting to the spirit measure proper is a time consuming operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable, and accurate counting device for a spirit dispenser, utilising an electronic circuit and an electronic display to show the number of measures dispensed from the dispenser.

According to the present invention, a counting circuit for a liquid dispenser having a reservoir adapted to contain a predetermined volume of liquid to be dispensed comprises a triggering device, a counting circuit responsive to the triggering device, and a display driven by the counting circuit.

In a first arrangement, the triggering device comprises a pair of electrical contacts positioned within the reservoir one or both of the contacts being placed in an upper region of the reservoir, so that both contacts are immersed in the liquid only when the reservoir is completely filled. In such a case, the counting circuit will be arranged to increment the count total when the circuit between the two contacts is made by their simultaneous immersion in the liquid.

Alternatively, the two contacts may be positioned at a lower part of the reservoir so that both contacts are immersed in the liquid at all times, unless the reservoir is completely empty. In such a case, the counting circuit will be arranged to increment the count total as the circuit between the two electrical contacts is broken.

The triggering device may, in a further alternative, be an electrical switch operated for example by the moving plunger of the dispenser, or by a float in the reservoir.

The electrical power to supply the counting circuit and the count total display device may be provided by a battery, or may be provided from an external source via a power supply line, or alternatively a light-sensitive 'solar' cell may be used to supply the electrical power required.

In a further development of the device, memory circuits may be added to the counting circuit. A first memory circuit will store the count total, and a second memory circuit may be provided to store predetermined price information. In such a case, the display will be arranged so that it normally shows the price information, indicating to the customer the price of the spirit dispensed by the measure.

When the count total is required to be displayed, a selector switch may be operated to disconnect the second memory from the display and connect the first memory thereto, thus displaying the count total stored in the first memory.

Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram for a first electronic counter for use with a liquid dispenser, and Figure 2 illustrates, in schematic form, a combined counter and price display circuit.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a dispenser 1 having a reservoir 2 adapted to contain the volume of liquid to be dispensed. Liquid is supplied to the reservoir 2 via an inlet duct 3 which is sealingly connected to the neck of a bottle (shown in phantom lines). A vertically reciprocating plunger 4 includes an outlet duct 5 and outlet ports 6. When the plunger is raised to a 'dispense' position, the outlet ducts 6 are positioned within the lower part of the reservoir 2, and liquid within the reservoir 2 is drained through the outlet duct 5. To prevent a continuous flow of liquid through the reservoir 2, the inlet duct 3 is closed by a valve 7 while the outlet ports 6 are positioned within the reservoir.

In the upper part of the reservoir 2, electrical contacts 8 and 9 project through the wall 10 of the reservoir. Advantageously, the electrical contacts 8 and 9 may be constituted by screws or other fixings used to retain parts of the dispenser assembly together. The contacts are preferably of stainless steel, to avoid corrosion problems.

The contacts 8 and 9 are connected to a counting circuit 11 by means of signal lines 12 and 13. The counting circuit 11 is arranged to generate a count total, which is increased by one whenever a circuit is made between the electrical contacts 8 and 9.

Power for the counting circuit 11 is supplied by a power source which may be an individual battery pack. The power source 14 may alternatively be a photoelectric device, or in a further alternative power may be supplied to a number of counting circuits 11 by common power supply lines.

The counting circuit 11 is connected to a display device 15, which may advantageously be a liquid crystal display device. The count total generated by the counting circuit 11 is displayed by the display device 15, and thus may be read to determine the number of times the spirit dispenser 1 has been operated.

In operation, the spirit dispenser 1 has its reservoir 2 filled with spirit to be dispensed. This completes the circuit between electrical contacts 8 and 9, and the counting circuit 11 increases the count total by one. When the spirit dispenser is operated by raising the plunger 4, the liquid level within the reservoir falls, exposing the contacts 8 and 9 and breaking the circuit therebetween. hhen the reservoir has been drained of liquid and a full measure has been dispensed, the plunger 4 is allowed to fall.

This causes the reservoir to refill, and when the level of liquid in the reservoir reaches the contacts 8 and 9, the counting circuit 11 increases the count total by one. Thus, for each operation of the dispenser, the count total is correspondingly incremented. The operator of the dispenser may then keep a check on the number of times the dispenser has been operated during an accounting period.

Turning now to Figure 2, there is shown a spirit dispenser 1, equipped with an electronic counting circuit. Like reference numerals have been used in Figure 2 to denominate parts corresponding to those of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. Essentially, in Figure 2 the electrical contacts 8 and 9 are positioned at the lower part of the reservoir 2, connected as before to the counting circuit 11 by means of lines 12 and 13. The counting circuit 11 is arranged so that when the circuit between electrical contacts 8 and 9 is broken by the emptying of the reservoir, then the count total is incremented by one. The count total is supplied by the counting circuit to a first memory M1, where it is stored. A second memory circuit M2 is programmable with price information, for example showing the cost to the customer of one measure of spirit.A selector switch 16 is provided so that either the first memory M1 or the second memory M2 may be connected to the display device.

In normal operation, the spirit measure 1 starts with a full reservoir, and electrical continuity between the contacts 8 and 9 is provided by the liquid in the reservoir 2.

When the plunger 4 is raised to dispense a measure of liquid, the liquid level in the reservoir 2 falls until the reservoir is empty. When the reservoir has emptied, electrical continuity between the electrical contacts 8 and 9 is broken and the counting circuit 11 increments the count total stored in memory M1 by one unit. The plunger 4 is then allowed to fall to its rest position, whereupon the reservoir refills through its inlet duct 3. The counting circuit 11 is arranged only to increment the count total in memory Mi when the circuit between the electrical contacts 8 and 9 is broken, and does not increment the count total in memory Mi when the reservoir refills.

The memory circuit M2 is programmed by the user with information relating to the price of a single measure of liquid. By connecting memory M2 to the display device 15 by means of the selector switch 16, the display can be made to show the price of a measure of the liquid. When the operator wishes to consult the count total stored in memory M1, he simply operates selector switch 16 to connect memory M1 to the display device 15.

It may be possible, using an enhanced display device 15, to show simultaneously the price information and the count total information. Conveniently, the price information is displayed more prominently than the count total information. The display device may also be used to display information relating to the identity of the liquid to be dispensed, or indeed the name of the establishment in which the measure is being used.

In the embodiments shown, the electrical contacts 8 and 9 have been positioned at approximately the same height in the reservoir 2. It will be appreciated that the contacts may be at any location in the reservoir. For example one of the contacts may be positioned at an upper region of the reservoir, with the other placed lower down. It is observed, however, that in order for the counter to be operated only when a complete measure has been dispensed, it is necessary to place both contacts at the lower part of the reservoir so that electrical continuity between them is only disturbed when the reservoir is completely emptied.

While the present invention has been described in relation to 'optic' type spirit dispensers, it is foreseen that the counting circuitry may be applied to any intermittent flow region, for example any duct which supplies discrete measured quantities of an electrically conductive liquid, provided that at the point where the electrical contacts are installed there are intervals when fluid is present and intervals when fluid is absent.

It should be emphasised that the embodiments described above are merely exemplary, and that it is foreseen that the counting circuitry described may be used in conjunction with any design of spirit dispenser and any type of electronic or other display device, not only those constructions illustrated.

Claims

1. A counter for a dispenser having a reservoir adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of a liquid and first valve means connecting the reservoir to a discharge opening and the reservoir and to a replenishment opening, the first valve means being open when the second valve means is closed and vice versa, wherein the counter comprises an electrical circuit including triggering means, a counting circuit, and a display device, the triggering means providing an output signal to the counter each time the reservoir contents are discharged, and the counting circuit providing a signal capable of causing the display means to indicate the total number of times the reservoir has been discharged.

2. A counter according to Claim 1, wherein reset means are provided to enable the display device to be reset to zero.

3. A counter according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the triggering device comprises a pair of electrical contacts exposed to the liquid to be dispensed, at least one of which contacts is positioned in the upper part of the reservoir so that only when the liquid fills the reservoir is an electrical connection established by the liquid between the contacts.

4. A counter according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the triggering device comprises a pair of electrical contacts exposed to the liquid to be dispensed, wherein the contacts are positioned at a lower region of the reservoir so that electrical contact is made by the liquid unless the reservoir is empty.

5. A counter according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the counting circuit increments a count total each time electrical contact between the contacts is made.

6. A counter according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the counting circuit Increments a count total each time electrical contact between the contacts is broken.

7. A counter according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the triggering means is responsive to the operation of the first or second valve means.

8. A counter according to any preceding Claim including a first memory connected to the counting circuit to store the current count total.

9. A counter according to Claim 8, further including a second memory to store price information, and a selector device allowing the display device to display either the current count total or the price information.

10. A counter according to Claim 8, wherein data entry means is provided to enable the price information In the second memory to be altered.

11. A counter according to any preceding Claim, wherein the electrical circuits are driven from a photovoltaic cell.

12. A counter substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the drawings.