GB2354080A

GB2354080A - Determining the volume of dispensed beverage by weighing

Info

Publication number: GB2354080A
Application number: GB0021391A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Collier Mitchinson
Original assignee: LINBURN TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Current assignee: LINBURN TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Priority date: 1999-09-04
Filing date: 2000-09-01
Publication date: 2001-03-14
Also published as: GB0021391D0

Abstract

To determine the volume of liquid in a drinking vessel it is weighed on electronic scales 10 and the volume calculated, the weight of the vessel being known. The conversion from weight to volume takes account of the specific gravity of the beverage, set using a keypad 14, and possibly also the temperature. The volume may be expressed as a percentage of a predetermined target volume and the output may indicate when a minimum volume has been exceeded. The scales may be a stand-alone device or may be located under a beverage dispenser and form part of an automatic dispensing arrangement, controlling a valve on the dispenser.

Description

1 2354080 1 "Methods and Apparatus for Measuring, Controlling or 2

Monitoring Dispensing of Beverages" 3 4 The present invention relates to methods and 5 apparatus for use in measuring the quantity dispensed 6 of a beverage, particularly draught beers and 7 spirits. In its simplest form, the invention 8 provides means for verifying the quantity of beverage 9 in a container such as a glass. The invention may 10 also be applied to measure the quantity of beverage 11 whilst it is being dispensed and/or to control the 12 quantity of beverage dispensed. 13 14 In the United Kingdom, there is a statutory 15 requirement for a pint glass of draught beer to 16 contain a minimum of 95% liquid when dispensed on 17 licensed premises. This limit applies once the beer 18 has had sufficient time to settle into unclouded 19 liquid and a frothy head with a clear line of 20 differentiation. From the consumer's point of view, 2 1 it would be desirable to have a means of verifying 2 that a pint contains at least the required minimum 3 quantity of liquid. From the point of view of the 4 licensed trade, it would be desirable to minimise the 5 amount of beer dispensed whilst ensuring compliance 6 with the statutory requirements. It would also be 7 desirable to minimise the time required to verify 8 that sufficient liquid is in a glass without having 9 to wait for the beer to settle. 10 11 Whilst the dispensing of spirits is generally more 12 controlled than draught beer, e.g. by means of optics 13 and standard measure vessels, the dispensing of short 14 measures is still a problem and it would also be 15 desirable to have means for verifying the content of 16 a measure of spirits, particularly for auditing 17 purposes. 18 19 It is an object of the present invention to provide a 20 means whereby the amount of liquid in a glass can be 21 verified without unnecessary delay. 22 23 In accordance with a first aspect of the present 24 invention, there is provided apparatus for 25 determining the volume of a beverage in a drinking 26 vessel comprising a device adapted to generate a 27 first signal representative of the weight of the 28 vessel and any beverage contained therein and to 29 convert said first signal to a second signal 30 representative of the volume of said beverage. 31 3 1 Preferably, the device provides an output signal 2 displaying the volume of beverage expressed as a 3 percentage of a predetermined target volume. 4 5 Preferably, the device includes means enabling user 6 input of a desired minimum volume level, preferably 7 expressed as a percentage of a target volume. 8 9 Preferably also, the device further provides an 10 output signal indicating when said minimum volume has 11 been equalled or exceeded. 12 13 Preferably, the conversion of said first signal is 14 based on the specific gravity of the beverage. 15 Preferably also, the device is adapted to enable user 16 input of a specific gravity value for a particular 17 beverage. Preferably also, the device has a default 18 specific gravity value suited to a range of typical 19 beverages. 20 21 Preferably, the device has a weighing accuracy of 22 plus 1% and minus 0%. 23 24 Preferably, the device is adapted to record the tare 25 weight of the drinking vessel prior to filling with 26 said beverage. Preferably also, the tare weight will 27 default to the last measured tare value. 28 Alternatively, the device may be adapted to make an 29 initial measurement of the weight of a vessel 30 containing a beverage and subsequently to measure the 31 weight of the empty vessel, deduct the weight of the 4 1 empty vessel from that of the full vessel, and 2 calculate the volume of beverage therefrom. 3 4 optionally, the device further includes a temperature 5 sensor and is adapted to correct the calculated 6 volume to compensate for variations in temperature. 7 This is of greater importance when the device is 8 adapted to measure relatively small volumes of 9 beverage having a high concentration of alcohol, such 10 as measures of spirits. 11 12 Preferably, the device is powered by electrical 13 storage cells. 14 15 Preferably, the device comprises an electronic 16 weighing platform. Most preferably, the weighing 17 platform is configured to channel spilled liquid 18 away. 19 20 In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a stand21 alone device upon which the drinking vessel may be 22 placed. In another embodiment, the device is adapted 23 to be located under a beverage dispenser so as to 24 monitor liquid volume while the beverage is being 25 dispensed. In a further variation, the device is 26 connected to the dispenser to provide automatic in27 line control of the volume of beverage dispensed. 28 29 In accordance with a second aspect of the present 30 invention, there is provided a method for determining 31 the volume of a beverage in a drinking vessel 1 comprising generating a first signal representative 2 of the weight of the vessel and any beverage 3 contained therein and converting said first signal to 4 a second signal representative of the volume of said 5 beverage. 6 7 Preferably, the method includes displaying the volume 8 of beverage expressed as a percentage of a 9 predetermined target volume. 10 11 Preferably, the device includes user input of a 12 desired minimum volume level, preferably expressed as 13 a percentage of a target volume. 14 15 Preferably also, the method further includes 16 providing an output signal indicating when said 17 minimum volume has been equalled or exceeded. 18 19 Preferably, the conversion of said first signal is 20 based on the specific gravity of the beverage. 21 Preferably also, the method includes user input of a 22 specific gravity value for a particular beverage. 23 Preferably also, the method employs a default 24 specific gravity value suited to a range of typical 25 beverages. 26 27 Preferably, the weight of the vessel/beverage is 28 measured to an accuracy of plus 1% and minus 0%. 29 30 Preferably, the method includes recording the tare 31 weight of the drinking vessel prior to filling with 6 1 said beverage. Preferably also, the tare weight will 2 default to the last measured tare value.

3 Alternatively, the method includes making an initial 4 measurement of the weight of a vessel containing a beverage and subsequently to measuring the weight of 6 the empty vessel, deducting the weight of the empty 7 vessel from that of the full vessel, and calculating 8 the volume of beverage therefrom.

9 Optionally, the method further includes temperature 11 measurement and correction of the calculated volume 12 to compensate for variations in temperature. This is 13 of greater importance when the method is employed to 14 measure relatively small volumes of beverage having a is high concentration of alcohol, such as measures of 16 spirits.

17 18 In one embodiment, the method comprises determining 19 said volume after said vessel has been filled. In another embodiment, the method comprises monitoring 21 said volume while the beverage is being dispensed.

22 In a further variation, the method provides automatic 23 in-line control of the volume of beverage dispensed.

24 Embodiments of the invention will now be described, 26 by way of example only, with reference to the 27 accompanying drawings, in which:

28 29 Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention; and 31 7 Fig. 2 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1.

2 3 Referring now to the drawings, a first example of an 4 embodiment of the invention comprises a stand-alone measuring instrument to assist with 6 monitoring/verifying the amount of a beverage 7 (particularly draught beer or spirits) dispensed into 8 a drinking vessel (particularly a beer glass or a 9 tumbler for spirits). The instrument comprises an accurate and robust weighing device 10 onto which a 11 glass can be placed either before, during or after 12 filling. The weighing mechanism may be of known 13 type, preferably of the type including strain gauges 14 or other electrical or electronic load cells.

Weighing platforms of this general type are well 1G known in the art and will not be described in detail 17 herein.

18 19 The strain gauges or the like of the weighing platform generate a first signal which is 21 representative of the weight of the glass plus any 22 liquid contained therein. In accordance with the 23 invention, this first signal is converted to a second 24 signal representative of the volume of liquid contained in the glass. In preferred embodiments of 26 the invention, the device provides a visual numeric 27 output signal representing the volume of liquid as a 28 percentage of a predetermined target volume, 29 typically one pint. For the purposes of the invention, it is desirable that the weighing device 31 has an accuracy of plus 1% and minus 0%. This 8 1 ensures that the contents of the glass are never less 2 than the value displayed.

3 4 As seen in the drawings, the device 10 comprises a weighing platform 12 of a size and shape suitable for 6 supporting the relevant drinking vessel(s). The 7 device further includes a keypad 14, numeric display 8 16 and indicator lights 18 and 20. The device is 9 preferably powered by dry cell batteries, for ease of use and portability. The vessel supporting surface 11 of the platform may include a shallow central recess 12 22, or a plurality of concentric recesses, of 13 appropriate size and shape to suit one or more types 14 or sizes of drinking vessel, to ensure that the vessel is centred on the supporting surface.

16 17 In this embodiment, the keypad 14 includes the 18 following keys:

19 An ONIOFF key for switching the device on and off.

21 22 A SET LEVEL key and associated up and down arrow keys 23 to set the required minimum volume of liquid as a 24 percentage of a predetermined volume (normally one pint for draught beer). The arrow keys vary the set 26 level in increments of 1%, suitably with a range from 27 90% to 100%. The device may have a default level 28 set, suitably 97%.

29 A SET GRAVITY key and associated up and down arrow 31 keys to set the specific gravity of the liquid so 9 1 that the device may calculate the volume of liquid 2 from the measured weight. The arrow keys vary the 3 set gravity in increments of one degree (one part per 4 thousand), suitably with a range from 0.990 to 1.025 5 for beer products. The device will have a default 6 gravity setting appropriate for typical beverages, a 7 suitable default value being 1.007. Different ranges 8 and default settings may be employed for devices 9 intended for use with beverages other than beer, or a 10 single device could have a variety of settings to 11 enable use with a variety of different types of 12 beverage. The keypad may also allow the specific 13 gravity to be switched between values suitable for 14 beverages and a value for water, which may be used 15 for training purposes. 16 17 A ZERO key for setting the tare weight of a drinking 18 vessel placed on the device, so that the device 19 subsequently measures the only weight of any liquid 20 contained in the vessel. The device preferably 21 defaults to the last-measured tare weight, avoiding 22 the need to zero the device repeatedly for identical 23 drinking vessels. 24 25 Where the device is intended for use by, for example, 26 auditors or trading standards inspectors, it may be 27 preferable for the device to be adapted to first 28 measure the total weight of a full drinking vessel, 29 subsequently to measure the weight of the empty 30 vessel, to deduct the weight of the empty vessel from 31 that of the full vessel, and to calculate the 1 original volume of beverage from the difference 2 between the two measurements. The device may be 3 adapted to be switchable between these two modes of 4 operation. 5 6 A BATTERY TEST KEY to check the state of the 7 batteries which power the device. Suitably, a 8 numeric display will indicate the relative strength 9 of the batteries as a percentage of their total 10 capacity. 11 12 The numeric display 16 may be a two-digit display. 13 When the SET LEVEL key is pressed, the arrow keys 14 vary the displayed figure between 90 (90%) and 00 15 (100%). When the SET LEVEL key is pressed again the 16 display reverts to showing the percentage of liquid 17 volume corresponding to the weight currently being 18 measured by the device. When the SET GRAVITY key is 19 pressed, the arrow keys vary the displayed figure 20 between 90 (s.g. = 0.990) and 25 (s.g. = 1. 025). 21 When the SET GRAVITY key is pressed again the display 22 reverts to showing the percentage of liquid volume 23 corresponding to the weight currently being measured 24 by the device. When the ZERO key is pressed the 25 display is reset to zero and the display subsequently 26 displays the percentage volume represented by the 27 weight measured over and above the weight present on 28 the device when the ZERO key was pressed. When the 29 BATTERY TEST key is pressed, the display shows a 30 figure in the range 00 to 99, representing the 31 relative strength of the batteries. This display 1 times out after a suitable period (typically 5 2 seconds), and then reverts to showing the percentage 3 of liquid volume corresponding to the weight 4 currently being measured by the device. If the 5 battery state falls below 20% then the numeric 6 display is adapted to flash, regardless of what 7 function is being used, in order to attract attention 8 to the battery condition. 9 10 one of the.indicator lights 18, 20 is red and the 11 other is green. The red light is illuminated when 12 the measured volume of liquid is less than the set 13 level. The green light is illuminated when the 14 measured volume equals or exceeds the set level. is Both lights are extinguished when the Set Level and 16 Set Gravity functions are in use. 17 18 In use of this embodiment of the invention, the 19 required level and specific gravity are set and the 20 device is zeroed using an empty glass (or else the 21 default level, specific gravity and tare values are 22 employed). The glass is then filled with a measure 23 of draught beer and placed on the device. If the 24 volume of liquid in the glass equals or exceeds the 25 set level then the green indicator light is 26 illuminated. otherwise, the red light is illuminated 27 indicating that the glass requires "topping up". As 28 noted above, the measuring sequence may be reversed 29 so that the weight of the full vessel is measured 30 before the weight of the empty vessel. 31 12 1 The invention may be adapted such that the glass is 2 placed on the device while it is being filled, the 3 dispenser being turned off manually once the green 4 indicator light is illuminated. Alternatively, the 5 device may be incorporated into an automatic 6 dispensing system, controlling a valve on the 7 dispenser which is closed automatically when the set 8 volume level is reached. 9 10 The weighing platform may be configured such that any 11 liquid which may overspill from the glass is 12 channelled away from the weighing platform so as not 13 to introduce any significant errors in the 14 measurement. 15 16 The relationship between the weight and the volume of 17 liquid will vary with temperature. In normal use of 18 the invention for beverages such as beer, such 19 variations will be negligible. However, a 20 temperature sensor could be incorporated into the 21 device to compensate for significant variations. 22 Where the invention is used for measuring relatively 23 small volumes of beverages having a high 24 concentration of alcohol, such as spirits, it is more 25 important for the device to include temperature 26 compensation since temperature variations will be 27 more significant than in the case of beers and the 28 like. 29 30 Improvements and modifications may be incorporated 31 without departing from the scope of the invention.

13

Claims

1 Claims

2 3 1. Apparatus for determining the volume of a 4 beverage in a drinking vessel comprising a device adapted to generate a first signal representative of 6 the weight of the vessel and any beverage contained 7 therein and to convert said first signal to a second 8 signal representative of the volume of said beverage.

9

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the 11 device provides an output signal representing the 12 volume of beverage expressed as a percentage of a 13 predetermined target volume.

14

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, 16 wherein the device includes means enabling user input 17 of a desired minimum volume level.

18 19

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said desired minimum volume level is expressed as a 21 percentage of a target volume.

22 23 S. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, 24 wherein the device further provides an output signal indicating when said minimum volume has been equalled 26 or exceeded.

27 28 6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, 29 wherein the conversion of said first signal is based on the specific gravity of the beverage.

31 14 1 7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the 2 device is adapted to enable user input of a specific 3 gravity value for a particular beverage.

4 8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, 6 wherein the device has a default specific gravity 7 value suited to a range of typical beverages.

8 9 9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the device has a weighing accuracy of plus 1% 11 and minus 0%.

12 13 10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim 14 wherein the device is adapted to record the tare 15 weight of a drinking vessel prior to filling with 16 said beverage. 17 18 11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the 19 tare weight defaults to the last measured tare value.

21 12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, 22 wherein the device is adapted to make an initial 23 measurement of the weight of a vessel containing a 24 beverage and subsequently to measure the weight of the empty vessel, deduct the weight of the empty 26 vessel from that of the full vessel, and calculate 27 the volume of beverage therefrom.

28 29 13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the device further includes a temperature 1 sensor and is adapted to correct the calculated 2 volume to compensate for variations in temperature. 3 4 14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, 5 wherein the device is powered by electrical storage G cells. 7 8 15. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, 9 wherein the device comprises an electronic weighing 10 platform. 11 12 16. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, 13 wherein a vessel supporting surface of the device is 14 configured to channel spilled liquid away. 15 16 17. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, 17 wherein the apparatus comprises a stand-alone device 18 upon which the drinking vessel may be placed. 19 20 18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 21 17, wherein the device is adapted to be located under 22 a beverage dispenser so as to monitor liquid volume 23 while the beverage is being dispensed. 24 25 19. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the 26 device is connected to the dispenser to provide 27 automatic in-line control of the volume of beverage 28 dispensed. 29 30 20. A method for determining the volume of a 31 beverage in a drinking vessel comprising generating a 16 1 first signal representative of the weight of the 2 vessel and any beverage contained therein and 3 converting said first signal to a second signal 4 representative of the volume of said beverage. 5 6 21. A method as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the 7 method includes displaying the volume of beverage 8 expressed as a percentage of a predetermined target 9 volume. 10 11 22. A method as claimed in Claim 20 or Claim 21, 12 wherein the method includes user input of a desired 13 minimum volume level. 14 is 23. A method as claimed in Claim 22, wherein said 16 minimum volume level is expressed as a percentage of 17 a target volume. 18 19 24. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 20 23, wherein the method further includes providing an 21 output signal indicating when said minimum volume has 22 been equalled or exceeded. 23 24 25. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 20 o 25 24, wherein the conversion of said first signal is 26 based on the specific gravity of the beverage. 27 28 26. A method as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the 29 method includes user input of a specific gravity 30 value for a particular beverage. 31 17 1 27. A method as claimed in Claim 25 or Claim 26, 2 wherein the method employs a default specific gravity 3 value suited to a range of typical beverages. 4 5 28. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 6 27, wherein the weight of the vessel/beverage is 7 measured to an accuracy of plus 1% and minus 0%. 8 9 29. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 10 28, wherein the method includes recording the tare 11 weight of the drinking vessel prior to filling with 12 said beverage. 13 14 30. A method as claimed in Claim 29, wherein the 15 tare weight defaults to the last measured tare value. 16 17 31. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 18 30, wherein the method includes making an initial 19 measurement of the weight of a vessel containing a 20 beverage and subsequently to measuring the weight of 21 the empty vessel, deducting the weight of the empty 22 vessel from that of the full vessel, and calculating 23 the volume of beverage therefrom. 24 25 32. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 26 31, wherein the method further includes temperature 27 measurement and correction of the calculated volume 28 to compensate for variations in temperature. 29 18, 1 33. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 2 32, wherein the method comprises determining said 3 volume after said vessel has been filled. 4 5 34. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 6 32, wherein the method comprises monitoring said 7 volume while the beverage is being dispensed. 8 9 35. A method as claimed in Claim 34, wherein the 10 method provides automatic in-line control of the 11 volume of beverage dispensed. 12 13 36. Apparatus for determining the volume of a 14 beverage in a drinking vessel, substantially as 15 hereinbefore described with reference to the 16 accompanying drawings. 17 18 37. A method for determining the volume of a 19 beverage in a drinking vessel, substantially as 20 hereinbefore described with reference to the 21 accompanying drawings.