SK9615Y1 - Bar - self-service - Google Patents

Abstract

Self-service counter comprises at least one beverage dispensing unit (1) as a dispensing device, which is a motorized rotary around the vertical axis by a rotating mechanism (17) and comprises at least two sensors (2) for positioning, locking and switching the dispensing unit (1) in one of the places 15, where this place 15 contains a customer display (3) and a call button (4).

Description

The field of technology

The technical solution refers to a rotating tap counter placed on self-service tables in establishments intended for refreshments.

Current state of the art

Various self-service refreshment facilities are currently known, for example in Slovak utility model no. 3782 describes a mobile device for dispensing drinks, which consists of a base on which an attachment is placed, above which is a cylinder, which is equipped with a tight stopper in its lower part and is also equipped with a discharge tap, the top of the cylinder is equipped with a stopper with aeration. Document US 913454 describes a beverage dispensing device that is self-service and computer-controlled, where the customer activates the entire device with a payment card. A payment card controlled beverage dispensing system also works on a similar principle and is described in document US 5291004. Other self-service distribution systems are also known in the state of the art, known for example from documents FR 2759073, WO 9936347 or KR 207130. All these systems are exclusively intended for only one customer they serve.

Small consumer packages with a volume of five to ten liters are also known, which are equipped with a drain hole from the manufacturer and the drink can be tapped directly by the consumer using the tap device. The disadvantages of such filling of drinks are that it is necessary to have a special tapping device or the packaging is usually only small-volume and for one-time use, which increases the price of the drink to a large extent.

The essence of the technical solution

The mentioned shortcomings are largely eliminated by the solution according to this technical solution, the essence of which is that the self-service counter contains at least one beverage dispensing unit, which is rotatable around a vertical axis by a motor drive with a gearbox and contains at least two sensors for positioning, locking and switching the dispensing units in any of the places where the place is equipped with a display and a call button. In order to avoid torsional stress and damage to the pipeline when moving the dispensing unit between locations, the pipeline passes through a rotating mechanism, which consists of a fixed and a rotating part, where the drink and cooling water are guided through channels separated by sealing O-rings. The self-service counter also contains a PLC control unit for process control connected to the cash register, places, customer displays, while the PLC control unit is also connected to sensors, a flow meter and a valve, which serve to measure and block the flow of the beverage from the beverage reservoir to the dispensing unit. At the cash register, by inserting cash, the customer chooses the quantity of the drink, which can be poured into a container by the dispensing unit at the self-service counter at the appropriate location. The dispensing unit is capable of dispensing a drink only at a place with a sensor and with a non-zero credit for dispensing a specified amount of drink, while at the corresponding place with the corresponding sensors, the corresponding display shows the value of the credit and the corresponding amount of drink available. After the credit is used up, the dispensing of the drink is blocked by a valve. At the self-service counter, several customers can be served by one dispensing unit, who have an overview of the purchased drink via individual displays.

Overview of images on drawings

A self-service counter or table is shown schematically in Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows the layout of a self-service counter or table.

Figure 3 shows the motor drive of the dispensing unit.

Figure 4 shows the rotating mechanism.

Figure 5 shows the valve control.

Figure 6 shows the dispensing unit with the control valve.

Implementation examples

The self-service counter consists of a beverage container 8, a CO2 bottle 13, a cooling unit 12, a heat exchanger 9, it contains at least one beverage dispensing unit 1 as a tap device, which is rotatable by a motor drive 11 around a vertical axis and contains at least two blocking sensors 2 for positioning, blocking and switching of the dispensing unit 1 in one of the places 15, where this place is equipped with a display 3 and a call button 4. The self-service counter further includes a PLC control unit 10 for controlling the beverage dispensing process connected to the cash register 5, while the PLC control unit 10 is connected also with blocking sensors 2, display displays 3, call buttons 4, flow meter 6 and valve 7, which are used to measure and block the flow of the drink through the pipe 14 from the drink reservoir 8 to the dispensing unit 1. At the cash desk 5, the customer determines the amount of drink by inserting cash, which can be obtained by issuing unit 1 at the self-service counter at the relevant location 15 by himself no pour into the container. Dispensing unit 1 is capable of dispensing a drink only at a place 15 with sensors 2 and with a prepaid credit for dispensing a specified amount of drink, while at the corresponding place 15 with sensors 2 the corresponding display 3 shows the credit and the amount of drink available. After the credit is used up, the dispensing of the drink is blocked by the valve 7, which is controlled by the tap lever 18, the puller 16 and the sensor 2. At the self-service counter, several customers can be served by one dispensing unit 1, who have an overview of the purchased drink via the individual display screens 3. So that there is no to torsional stress and damage to the pipe 14 when moving the dispensing unit 1 between the locations 15, the pipe 14 passes through the rotating mechanism 17, which consists of a fixed and a rotating part, where the drink and cooling water are guided through channels 20 separated by sealing O-rings 19.

List of related brands dispensing unit sensors display call button cash register flow meter valve beverage container heat exchanger control unit PLC motor drive cooling unit bottle CO2 pipe location puller rotary mechanism tap lever sealing O-ring channel

Claims (3)

CLAIMS FOR PROTECTION 1. A self-service tap counter, characterized by the fact that it consists of a reservoir (8), a cooling unit (12) and at least one dispensing unit (1), rotatable around a vertical axis, which 5 contains at least two blocking elements with sensors (2) to place, lock and switch the dispensing unit (1) to one of the locations (15), where the locations (15) are equipped with a display (3) for displaying the credit and quantity of the drink; a call button (4) for automatically moving the dispensing unit (1) between locations (15); PLC control unit (10) for controlling the beverage dispensing process, which is connected to the cash register (5), while the PLC control unit (10) is connected to blocking sensors (2), display 10 displays (3), call buttons (4), flow meter (6) and valve 7, which are intended for measuring and blocking the flow of the beverage through the pipe (14) from the reservoir (8) of the beverage to the dispensing unit (1); it further consists of a tapping lever (18) controlled by a valve (7); sensor (2) for sensing the position of the tapping lever (18) by means of a puller (16); rotary mechanism (17), which forms a fixed and rotating part; and channels (20) separated by sealing rings (19) for conducting the beverage and cooling water. 15 2. Self-service tap counter according to claim (1), characterized in that a heat exchanger (9) is connected to the cooling unit (12). 3. Self-service tap counter according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the dispensing unit (1) is a tap counter with a cash register (5).