WO2009039869A1

WO2009039869A1 - Device for recognizing authenticity of compressed refill bottles

Info

Publication number: WO2009039869A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/008269
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacques Valere Vandaele
Original assignee: Jacques Valere Vandaele
Priority date: 2007-09-24
Filing date: 2007-09-24
Publication date: 2009-04-02
Also published as: EP2203676A1

Abstract

A device for recognizing authenticity of compressed refill bottles (1) of pressurized fluid, having a cover element (14) which can be fixed in the mouth portion (2) of bottle (1); a magnetic ring (12) made for example of a permanent magnet; a connection member (21) engageable with cover element (14); a sensor (22), for example a reed switch, mounted on connection member (21). Magnetic ring (12) and cover element (14) from a bottle unit (10) that remains always integral to the bottle, both when packaged and in use. Instead, connection member (21) and reed switch (22) form a connection unit (20) that remains always integral to the machine that uses the bottle as refill of gas or other fluid. The manufacturer of the machine arranges the connection unit (20) on the machine in the zone of fastening to the bottle. Furthermore, the manufacturer of the bottle provides the bottle unit (10) fixed to the bottle. Sensor (22) is connected, by a cable to a control system that operates a solenoid valve for blocking/releasing the flow of the fluid to the machine. If the bottle (1) is not recognized by sensor (22), which does not detect the magnetic field generated by the ring (12), the machine blocks the fluid supply. This function is useful to ensure the quality and the nature of the supplied fluid, such as a gas, by the manufacturer of the machine.

Description

TITLE

DEVICE FOR RECOGNIZING AUTHENTICITY OF COMPRESSED REFILL

BOTTLES

===o==o=== Field of the invention

The present invention describes a system for recognizing auihenuicity for compresseα refill Dottles, used in particular in the food field, for example containing nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, gas fuel, etc., in order to assure, through the certification of a supplier, the origin and the quality of a gas or liquid contained inside.

Recognition of authenticity is desirable because the compressed refill bottles must be applied on machines, which use the fluid contained inside, and for which the manufacturers guarantee the operation. If the compressed refill bottles do not contain the fluid having the correct quality characteristics, the operation of the machines can be faulty. In case, moreover, of S food fluids, the health of the users can be at risk.

Description of the technical problem

Apparatus exist as disclosed in EP0586083A2 and

EP1447769A1 for detecting gas or liquid bottles, which use a system consisting of a transponder mounted on the body of the bottle and an antenna that receives the electromagnetic signal. The transponder consists of a micro-chip and an antenna, as well as a condenser, in case of passive transponders, or a battery, in case of active transponders. The transponders, if forced by a magnetic field, allows receiving and transmitting data at a short distance .

The quantity of data that such a system can send and receive spans from zero, in a read only configuration, to different thousands of bits, which correspond up to 1000 alphanumeric characters.

A system of this type has some drawbacks, such as a constructional and structural complexity of each single component, a breakable body and need of a set up of the sender/receiver member on each single bottle.

A further drawback is that, being compressed gas refill bottles, a large number of compressed fluid bottles is needed, generally with small capacity and to be replaced on a daily basis, so that this transponder recognigion system bears high costs for each single bottle.

The problem of the cost is particularly felt in the food field, where the final prices of the products should be desirably low.

On the other hand the systems with a transponder can contain a large number of data, which however are not necessary and not useful in case of a simple recognition of authenticity. Summary of the invention

It is then a feature of the present invention to provide a device for recognizing authenticity of compressed refill bottles, that consists of structurally simple elements, easy to set up and reliable with time. Another feature of the present invention is to provide a device for recognizing authenticity of compressed refill bottles, such that the overall cost of a refill service, owing to the high number of circulating small capacity compressed bottles, used and replaced on a daily basis, is relatively low.

These and other objects are achieved by a device for recognizing authenticity of compressed refill bottles; said compressed fluid bottles having a mouth portion cooperating with a connection member located on a machine that uses said fluid, said device comprising:

- a magnetic body, in particular a permanent magnet, with a predetermined electromagnetic intensity, located on the bottle mouth portion;

- a sensor mounted on said connection member, which detects the presence of said magnetic body when said connection member and said mouth portion are coupled to each other; - means for blocking the delivery of said fluid from said bottle when said sensor does not detect the presence of said magnetic body.

Advantageously, said sensor is calibrated in order to detect, once said connection member and said mouth portion are coupled, the presence of the predetermined magnetic field, with specific intensity, provided by the magnetic body.

In particular, said sensor is calibrated in order to detect, once said connection member and said mouth portion are coupled, the presence of the predetermined magnetic field at a distance defined and chosen by the designer.

Advantageously, the connection member can be screw threaded with a pitch defined such that the bottle and the magnetic body, once reached a limit stop, they are at a predetermined distance such that the sensor detects the magnetic field.

Preferably, said sensor is a reed switch mounted in the mouth portion of the bottle.

In particular, said magnetic body is protected and hidden by a cover element of a metal or plastic material, located on the bottle mouth portion in a fixed way so that it cannot be removed without damaging it.

Advantageously, there is a single reed switch for a mouth portion of a bottle. - A -

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, said body is a magnetic ring. Alternatively, it can comprise at least one plate member of magnetic material. In this case, several plate members can be provided distanced from each other in a predetermined way in order to form a recognition code.

In the various exemplary embodiments described above, the device according to rhe invention allows an easy and cheap installation and set up, and once calibrated it has a good reliability. Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be made clearer with the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings wherein: - Figure 1 shows the device, according to the invention, for recognizing authenticity of compressed fluid bottles mounted in a mouth portion of a refill bottle;

- Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the device of figure 1, with a part of it integral to the bottle and a part of it integral to a connection member of a machine which uses the gas contained in the bottle;

- Figure 3 shows a cross sectional detailed view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a device, according to the invention, in a position similar to the zone indicated as III in figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows an exploded cross sectional view of the device, according to the invention, where the bottle and the connection member are also partially shown, and, in particular, it shows a mouth portion of the bottle; a magnetic ring fitted on the bottle; a cover fitting element; a reed switch; a connection member that brings the reed switch to a position and distance adapted to detect the field of the magnetic ring; a collecting valve for the pressurized fluid . Description of the preferred exemplary embodiment

With reference to figure 1, an elevational side view is shown of a device for recognizing authenticity of a bottle 1 of pressurized fluid, indicated in figure 1 with 4 and comprising:

- a cover element 14 which can be fixed in the mouth portion 2 of bottle 1;

- a magnetic ring 12 (visible in figure 2), made for example of a permanent magnet; - a connection member 21 engageable with cover element 14;

- a sensor 22, for example a reed switch, mounted, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, outside and integral to connection member 21. In figures 1 and 2, furthermore, a valve portion 24 is shown of a pressure reducing valve 30 (partly visible in figure 3) .

Figure 2, in an exploded view, shows in detail the elements of device 4 for recognition of authenticity of compressed refill bottles, consisting of:

- a bottle unit 10 that remains always integral to the bottle, both when packaged and in use, consisting of magnetic ring 12 and cover element 14,

- and a connection unit 20, which comprises connection member 21 and reed switch 22 that remains always integral to the machine that uses the bottle as refill of gas, for example a machine to use in the food or medical fields, with a gas such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or oxygen. In figure 2 magnetic ring 12 is shown located in a housing 13 made in cover element 14. Always in figure 2 it is visible how cover element 14 is kept integral to refill bottle 1 at neck 3 of mouth portion 2. Cover element 14 for magnetic ring 12 has also the function to guide the coupling with connection member 21, according to the axis of the bottle so that threads 15 and

25 (shown in figure 4) couple correctly. This matching connects the two groups 10 and 20, as shown in figure 1.

In figures 1 and 2, furthermore, reed switch 22 is shown that can be located both inside or outside of connection member 21 such that it detects the magnetic field produced by ring 13. Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of the device for recognition of authenticity of a bottle, according to the invention. In particular, the cross section shows the arrangement of the various parts when the two groups of components 10 and 20 are coupled, as shown in figure 2 in the zone indicated as III in figure 1.

In figure 3, in detail, the matching is shown between cover element 14 and connection member 21.

In particular, this connection, in one desired form, can be of a following type: -screw type;

-snap fit type;

Among a possible chosen structure, a screw coupling with fluid tight screw thread 15, 25 is possible. In any case, instead of a cylindrical coupling between cover element 14 and connection member 21, another possible exemplary embodiment provides, for example, the construction of a frustoconical profile of cover element 14 that engages with connection member 21 with corresponding shape. Furthermore, in figure 3 reed switch 22 is shown associated to element 21 in an external zone, and, according to possible arrangements, it can be coupled by a connection of the type: - snap fit type; - screw type;

- by gluing;

- by welding.

Furthermore, figure 3 shows in detail; - a zone of connection, by a fixing screw 41, between element 21 and a structure 40 integral to the machine that uses the fluid;

- a seal 23 for conveying the pressurized fluid exiting from the bottle; - valve element 24 having the function of controlling the pressurized fluid;

- passage 28 having the function of conveying the fluid, once put in neck 3 of bottle 1;

- connection zone 29 leading to the pressure reducing valve 30, partially visible in the figure.

Finally figure 4 shows an exploded and cross sectional view of the elements of the device among which those adapted to recognition of authenticity of compressed refill bottles. In particular, in mouth portion 2 of the bottle, bottle neck 3 is visible, which in use is perforated by means not shown when engaging connection member.

Neck 3 can have an external thread enabling the connection to cover element 14. In figure 4 an exploded view is shown of the device, depicting magnetic ring 12, cover element 14 having a cylindrical shape where housing 13 of magnetic ring 12 is made, connection member 21 having a shape compatible to cover element 14 connected to each other as above described or in another way. In the configuration, depicted in the drawing, the fluid tight thread indicated as 15,25 is visible.

Reed switch 22, located on element 21 and connected to it, shows a sensor supply cable 19 for sending electric pulses to a control system of the machine. Instead of a reed switch with cable transmission, a sensor with wireless transmission can be provided.

Among possible systems for controlling the fluid an solenoid valve not shown can be provided, connected to reed switch 22, mounted downstream of the device of the invention .

In figure 4, hole 26 made in connection member 21 is also shown that allows the fluid to flow towards pressure reducing valve 30, visible in part in figure 3. In this position, seal element 23 engages for defining tightly the fluid between elements 21 and 24 in housing 27, when valve element 24 is kept integral, for example by a screw coupling 31, to connection member 21. In valve element 24 coupling means 33 are provided that are put on the neck of the bottle and work for collecting the fluid; moreover, a thread 32 for coupling to connection member 21 and a connection zone 29 for coupling to pressure reducing valve 30 are shown. The operation of the device is the following. The manufacturer of the machine arranges connection member 21 with sensor 22 on the machine in the zone of fastening to the bottle. Furthermore, the manufacturer of the bottle provides cover element 14 with magnetic ring 12 fixed to the bottle.

Sensor 22 is connected, by cable 19, to a control system (not shown) that operates a solenoid valve (not shown) for blocking/releasing the flow of the fluid to the machine . If the bottle 1 is not recognized by sensor 22, which does not detect the magnetic field generated by ring 12, the machine blocks the fluid supply. This function is useful to ensure the quality and the nature of the supplied fluid, such as a gas, by the manufacturer of the machine .

Instead of a magnetic ring, in cover element 14 it is possible to arrange several magnetic plate members, in special housings.

To increase recognition reliability, magnet 12 can be chosen with a predetermined intensity, and sensor 22 is calibrated to detect the magnetic field within a predetermined range of intensity. Furthermore, also the distance between sensor 22 and ring 12 can be chosen suitably sizing the connection member and the cover element screwed to each other. All these features can increase the recognition reliability and then the authenticity of the refill bottle. The foregoing description of a specific embodiment will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such an embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiment. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims

CLAIMS l.A device for recognizing authenticity of compressed refill bottles, said bottles having a mouth portion cooperating with a connection member located on a machine that uses said fluid, said device comprising:

- a magnetic body, with a predetermined electromagnetic intensity, located on the bottle mouth portion, in particular a permanent magnet;

2.A device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is calibrated in order to detect, once said connection member and said mouth portion are coupled, the presence of a predetermined magnetic field, with specific intensity, provided by the magnetic body.

3.A device according to claim 1, where the connection member can be screw threaded with a pitch defined such that the bottle and the magnetic body, once reached a limit stop, are at a predetermined distance such that the sensor detects the magnetic field.

4.A device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a reed switch mounted in said connection member.

5.A device according to claim 1, where a single reed switch is provided for each bottle.

6.A device according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic body is protected and hidden by a cover element of a metal or plastic material, located on the bottle mouth portion in a fixed way so that it cannot be removed without damaging it.

7.A device according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic body is a magnetic ring.

8.A device according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic body comprises at least one plate member of magnetic material.

9.A device according to claim 8, wherein several plate members are provided distanced from each other in a predetermined way in order to form a recognition code.