GB2428666A

GB2428666A - Liquid dispenser with counting device

Info

Publication number: GB2428666A
Application number: GB0614532A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alejandro Cisneros Bardolet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-21
Filing date: 2006-07-21
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: ES1060807Y; ES1060807U; FR2889176A1; GB0614532D0

Abstract

A liquid dispenser, such as a spirits dispenser, comprises a support structure 1 for a bottle being held upside down and containing the liquid to be dispensed and a pouring element 4. Pouring element 4 comprises a valve member (5, fig.2) which is displaced to open and close a conduit. The counter device includes an electronic circuit (6, fig.3), which comprises at least one detector (SW1, fig.4) adapted to detect a change in position of said moving valve member 5 and a microprocessor-based electronic unit (U1, fig.4) connected to the detector (SW1) to record, in a memory, the number of detections made. The detector may be a magnetic detector and the moving part 5 may be magnetic. A wireless communications system may be associated with the electronic unit (U1), to supply the data to an external reader device 7.

Description

TITLE

A counter device applicable to a liquid dispenser.

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

In general, the present invention concerns a counter device applicable to a to liquid dispenser and in particular, a self-contained electronic counter device. I.

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Various proposals are known for the purpose of counting the doses supplied . 15 by a liquid dispenser of the type generally manually operated by displacing a moving part of a valve, such as a piston or plunger, whether by applying pressure with the hand on, for example, a lever or with a cup or glass when it is positioned under the dispenser and pressed upwards against said moving part or another associated with same.

Document ES-A-2056064 concerns a dispenser measuring apparatus of the type described above, in other words, with a valve comprising a piston or operative column which, when moved upwards opens a conduit that allows liquid to flow from an upside-down bottle into which a dispenser head has been inserted. In the apparatus proposed by said document, the operation of the moving part or operative column is manually produced by the operation of a corresponding lever. Although not claimed, the possibility is contemplated of the apparatus incorporating a mechanical counter, such as the one proposed by patent application GB-A-2036695, or electrically, together with a signalling device that transmits a signal to a cash register or a computer each time a dose is dispensed. I.

Patent application GB-A-2036695, referred to by the previous background, proposes a counter for one of said liquid dispensers, which is fitted to the dispenser casing and operated when a piston of same is moved upwards. The possibility is contemplated of the counter being mechanical or electronic, but the final objective is to show the count made by display means, being those incorporated into the actual counter if it is mechanical or by means of an LCD screen or LEDs.

In the cited documents, it is proposed either to visually show the user the count, or to transmit a signal to a computer or cash register each time the count is incremented, in other words, in real-time, but it is not proposed to : autonomously store the count in the actual dispenser in order to communicate S. it to a computer or any other class of electronic device, not in real-time, but when the user desires,so also making it possible to read the bottles by predetemiined groups (user-defined) and in different periods, for statistical purposes.

Disclosure of the invention

It seems necessary to offer an alternative to the state of the art, which covers the gaps stated above, by contributing a counter device, as proposed by the present invention, applicable to a dispenser of liquids: in general, drinks from a bottle.

The dispenser is of the conventional type, briefly described above, comprising: - a support structure with a support piece providing an orifice, around which, on a first face of said support piece, is seated the edge of a bottle neck containing the liquid to be dispensed, when said bottle is arranged upside-down on said support structure, and - a pouring element which is fixed to said support piece, crossed by a conduit or internal chamber for the circulation of liquid from said bottle with two ends that define inlet and outlet mouths for said chamber and which comprises a valve member to open and close said conduit or chamber through the movement of a moving part of said valve member.

In an exemplary embodiment, the edge of the bottle containing the liquid to be dispensed does not come into contact with said support piece, but instead is directly seated on a head of said pouring element, which includes said inlet : 10 mouth, which is adapted to fit inside the neck of said bottle going through said onfice in the support piece. I.

The present invention is characterised in that said counter device comprises an electronic circuit with: - a detector adapted to detect a minimum of the change in position of said moving part when it is moved, and - a microprocessor-based electronic unit, such as a microprocessor, connected to said detector to at least count the detections made by the detector and to store at least the number of detections in a memory.

In a preferred embodiment, said detector is a magnetic detector and said moving part is, in part, magnetic or is fitted with a magnet, arranged so that when the moving part is moved, said magnetic part or said magnet lies in the

field of capture of said magnetic detector.

Said electronic circuit comprises a wireless communications system, which, in general, is bidirectional, associated with said electronic unit so that, for an embodiment example, it is adapted to supply the data stored in said memory to an external reader device.

The communications system operates via infrared andlor radio frequency and/or any other wireless technology that those skilled in the art consider recommended In a more elaborate embodiment said detector is also adapted to detect the periods during which said moving part remains in an open position for each change of position, and said electronic unit is adapted to also store said periods in said or another memory, with each period corresponding to a respective dose of supplied liquid, thus finally, not only the number of doses that have been supplied by the pouring element incorporated into the counter device proposed by the present invention, but also the amount of liquid supplied in each dose, which can be calculated from the cited periods by said electronic unit, and supply the result of said calculations to said external reader, or to supply to said reader only the data referring to the number of doses supplied, together with the periods corresponding to each dose and that the actual external reader or other device, such as a computer to which the said data are downloaded, performs the commented calculations from the periods.

Brief description of tho drawings

The previous and other advantages and characteristics will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. I is a schematic elevation view showing a liquid dispenser that incorporates the device proposed by the present invention and an external reader device in a situation of communication with the counter device, as an

embodiment example,

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a detector included in the electronic circuit of the counter device proposed by the present invention, facing a corresponding magnet mounted on the moving part of the pouring element of Fig. 1, as an embodiment example, Fig. 3 is a lower plan view of the support piece of the dispenser of Fig. 1, where the printed circuit card, integrated into the same, can be appreciated incorporated into the electronic circuit for the counter device proposed by the present invention, for the embodiment example of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is an upper plan view of the printed circuit card with the respective electronic circuit for the counter device proposed by the present invention, as an embodiment example, and Fig. 5 is an electrical drawing of the electronic circuit proposed by this invention as an embodiment example. * *

* * Detailed descriptions of some exempla,y embodiments The present invention concerns a counter device applicable to a liquid dispenser, with said dispenser being of the type illustrated in Fig. I and, as can be appreciated, comprises: - a support structure I with a support piece 2 providing an orifice 3, around which, on a first face 2a of said support piece 2, is seated the edge of a bottle neck (not shown) containing the liquid to be dispensed, when said bottle is arranged upside-down on said support structure 1, and - a pouring element 4, which is fixed to said support piece 2, crossed by a conduit or internal chamber for the circulation of liquid from said bottle with two ends that define inlet and outlet mouths for said chamber and which comprises a valve member to open and close said conduit or chamber through the movement of a moving part 5 (see Fig. 2) of said valve member.

The pouring element 4, illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises a head 9, which includes said inlet mouth, which is adapted to fit inside the neck of said bottle, passing through said orifice 3 of support piece 2.

As indicated above, for another embodiment example, not shown, the edge of the bottle containing the liquid to be dispensed, does not come into contact with said support piece 2, but instead is directly seated on said head 9 of said pouring element 4, which includes said inlet mouth, being, in both cases, applicable to the counter device proposed by the present invention. *...

The mentioned support structure I illustrated in Fig. I comprises an arm fixed by a zone IDa close to one end of said support piece 2 and the S. other bent end I Ob, which is coupled to a support portion I Dc to secure the base of said bottle so that same is fixed between said support piece 2 and said support portion lOc.

As can be seen in Fig. I, said arm 10 is adapted to be secured to a board, for which it comprises suitable means, such as the illustrated clamp II.

In order to adapt ft to the securing of bottles of various heights, said support structure 1 preferably comprises distance adjustment and regulation means to adjust and regulate the distance between said support piece 2 and said portion 1 Dc.

The moving part 5 of said valve member is movable, by pressure, from a rest position in which said conduit or chamber is blocked, to a position in which said conduit or chamber is open, which allows the flow or dispensing of the liquid in said bottle, with, in general, said pressure exerted on said moving part 5 by pushing directly or indirectly upwards with a glass or cup, although in another embodiment example, said pressure may be exerted in a different manner, such as a lever that is pressed with the hand.

On the other hand, the mentioned moving part 5 cannot be appreciated in Fig. 1, since it moves internally with respect to the illustrated pouring device, for which reason it is only shown in a schematic fashion in Fig. 2.

The counter device proposed by the present invention comprises an electronic circuit 6, which is illustrated in more or less detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. Said electronic circuit 6 comprises: - a detector SWI adapted to detect a minimum of the change in position of said moving part 5 when it is moved, and - an electronic unit UI based on a microprocessor connected to said S..

detector SWI in order to at least count the detections made by the detector SWI and to record the number of detections in a memory, in other words, the number of services performed by said pouring element 4.

For a preferred embodiment, said detector SWI is a magnetic detector SWI, such as the reed switch CT5 illustrated in the drawing of Fig. 5, and said moving part 5 is partly magnetic or includes a magnet I (or element capable of producing a magnetic field) (situation illustrated in Fig. 2), arranged so that when the moving part 5 is moved, said magnetic part or said magnet I lies in the capture field of said magnetic detector SWI.

Said magnetic part or said magnet I is arranged on said moving part 5 so that it lies within the capture field of said magnetic detector SWI, when moving part 5 is in a position of opening the said conduit or chamber (not visible).

Such a situation is schematically shown in Fig. 2, with the magnet I facing the magnetic detector SWI.

In an embodiment example, said magnet Ha of the neodymium cylindrical type and is located in the air inlet zone (not shown) of the pouring element 4, with, for the same or another embodiment example, the arrangement of magnetic detector SWI vertical and displaced a few millimetres with respect to the printed circuit card 8, remaining in line with to the movement made by the magnet I in the air inlet orifice (not shown).

For other embodimen that are not shown, the detector SWI can be another type, such as a proximity detector or infrared detector that detects the beam emitted by a corresponding transmitter, also belonging to the electronic circuit 6, with the transmitter and receiver arranged on either side of the moving part 5, so that the infrared beam is interrupted by the moving part 5 when displaced to one position, in general, the opening of the pouring element 4 e.o conduit, thus producing the detection of the position change at this moment.

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The mentioned electronic circuit 6 comprises a wireless communications system, preferably bidirectional, associated with said electronic unit UI, in order to supply at least the data recorded in said memory to an external reader device 7 (Fig. I).

Depending on the exemplary embodiment, said communications system operates via infrared and/or radio frequency. In the example illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the communications system is via infrared and comprises an infrared-emitting diode DI, together with phototransistor QI for bidirectional communications with said external reader device 7.

As can be seen, above all in Fig. 4, the electronic circuit 6 is arranged on a printed circuit card 8, which (depending on the exemplary embodiment) is fitted to and/or integrated into said support piece 2, preferably in a sealed manner. Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment example in which the printed circuit card is integrated into support piece 2, so that only part of same can be appreciated, with parts of said diode DI and phototransistor QI and their respective connections to the rest of the electronic circuit 6 being hidden.

Such an arrangement is also that illustrated by Fig. 1, a figure in which it can also be seen how an external reader device 7 is in bidirectional communication (as shown by the arrow with two heads represented in Fig. 1) with the electronic circuit 6 arranged on card 8.

For an embodiment example, the printed circuit card 8 is made of fibreglass with tinned tracks and a green mask.

For another embodiment example, already described in the previous section corresponding to the invention description, the detector SWI is also adapted to detect the periods during which the moving part 5, for each change of : position, remains in an open position and the electronic unit UI is adapted to * also record said periods in said memory (in a different sector to that for the position change data, for example) or another memory, with each period corresponding to a respective dose of supplied liquid.

In general, the memory or memories where the electronic unit UI records the mentioned data referring to at least the number of services performed by the pouring element 4, is an internal non-volatile memory in the electronic unit Ui, which, in general, comprises a microcontroller that is usually programmed prior to being fitted to the card 8 on the support piece 2.

The electronic circuit 6 is shown as an electronic circuit drawing in Fig. 5 for an embodiment that must be taken merely as an example. In said drawing, the electronic unit Ui uses a Microchip PICI2F675 RISC microcontroller, a series of resistors R1-R6, the values of which in ohms are given in Fig. 5, an encapsulated, L-32P3C NPN phototransistor QI, with two 3-mm pins, a 3-mm diameter transparent WI 1541D infrared-emitting diode Di, a 150 pF ceramic capacitor C3, a 3.2V lithium battery, type CR2032 232 mAh, BT1, connected to a Reed Switch CT5-type detector SWI and a connector JP1 that incorporates and represents the microcontroller ui programming points.

In the embodiment example illustrated in Fig. 5, it can be seen how the layout of detector SWI between the battery BTI and the other components of the electronic circuit 6 means that these are only powered when the pouring element 4 provides a service, or when communications are initiated for reading the accounted value, which results in considerable savings in Consumption.

The external reader device 7 is adapted, for an embodiment example, to read the data stored in the memories of a plurality of counter devices, such as that proposed by the present invention and is also adapted for communication with another electronic device or central unit (not shown), such as a computer, in order to download said data acquired in same, which can then be processed by said computer using suitable software.

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Those skilled in the art would be able to introduce changes and modifications in the described exemplary embodiments without leaving the scope of the invention in accordance with that defined in the attached claims. -Il -

Claims

1. A counter device applicable to a liquid dispenser, with said dispenser being of the type comprising: a support structure (I), with at least one support piece (2) that provides an orifice (3) next to which may be seated the edge of a bottle neck by a first face (2a) of said support piece (2), the bottle being arranged upside down and containing the liquid to be dispensed; a pouring element (4) secured to said support piece (2), with a conduit or chamber for the circulation of the liquid from said bottle, comprising a valve member to open and close said conduit or chamber by displacing a moving part (5) of said valve member, said counter device being characterised in that it includes an electronic circuit (6) comprising: at least one detector (SW1) adapted to detect a minimum of the change in position of said moving part (5) when it is moved, and at least one microprocessoratj electronic unit (UI) connected to said detector (SWI) to at least count the detections made by detector (SWI) and to record, in a memory, the number of detections made.

2. A counter device in accordance with claim I, characterised in that said detector (SWI) is a magnetic detector and said moving part (5) is, in part, magnetic or is fitted with a magnet (I), arranged so that when the moving part (5) is moved, said magnetic part or said magnet (I) lies in the field of capture of said magnetic detector (SWI).

3. A counter device in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that said magnetic part or said magnet (I) is fitted to said moving part (5) so that it lies in the capture field of said magnetic detector (SWI) when the moving part (5) is in a position for opening the said conduit or chamber.

4. A counter device in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said electronic circuit (6) comprises a wireless communications system associated with said electronic unit (UI) to at least supply the data recorded in said memory to an external reader device (7).

5. A counter device in accordance with claim 4, characte,jsed in that said communications system operates using infrared and/or radio frequency.

6. A counter device in accordance with claim 4 or 5, characterised in that said communications system is bidirectional.

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7. A counter device in accordance with claim 6, charactensed in that said *: communications system comprises at least one infrared emitter diode (Dl)

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* and a phototransistor (QI) for bidirectional communications with said external readerdevice(7) *5 p. * 8. A counter device in accordance with any preceding claim, characterjsed in that said electronic circuit (6) is arranged on a printed circuit card (8) which is fitted to and/or integrated into said support piece (2).

9. A counter device in accordance with any preceding claim, charactensed in that said detector (SWI) is also adapted to detect the periods during which the said moving part (5), for each position change, remains in an open position and in that said electronic unit (UI) is adapted to also record said periods in said memory or another memory, with each period Corresponding to a respective supplied dose of liquid.