WO2012013741A1

WO2012013741A1 - A beverage dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2012013741A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/062985
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Maguire; Chris Murphy; Peter Cole
Original assignee: Diageo Ireland
Priority date: 2010-07-29
Filing date: 2011-07-28
Publication date: 2012-02-02
Also published as: EP2598430A1; GB201012724D0

Abstract

A beverage dispenser (10) of the "optic" type with a chamber (14) for communication with a beverage reservoir (13) and bottle (B). The chamber (14) also has an inlet (15) and outlet (16) for dispensing beverage therefrom. Within the chamber is a piston (17) that moves to force beverage from the outlet of the chamber when the inlet is closed, therefore, the dispenser is intended to deliver beverage at a speed faster than gravity.

Description

A BEVERAGE DISPENSER

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser, particularly of th e "optic" type which delivers a predetermined volume of alcoholic spirit to a glass.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional spirit dispense in a bar environment involves use of a gravity fed device with an inverted bottle wherein a spring biased valve mechanism permits a predetermined "shot" of spirit into a chamber with a viewing window. After the shot is dispensed to a glass the chamber is refilled with the next shot.

GB2262507 describes an electrically controlled optic device, utilising solenoids to open and close valves to a chamber of predetermined volume, however, it otherwise relies on gravity for its operation.

Because these optic devices rely on gravity to enable the flow of spirit from bottle to glass this presents a limit on the operational speed. A time limitation can lead to customer dissatisfaction in a busy bar environment, especially when multiple drinks (often with multiple shots into one glass) are required to be delivered quickly. GB1564910 describes a spirit dispenser that features a piston, ultimately manually operated by a lever, as a means of drawing liquid into a chamber and pushing it out for dispense. A first embodiment is described with a spirit bottle in a non- inverted state, where liquid is sucked out of the bottle by virtue of a vacuum created by the piston, past a floating ball valve at an inlet to the chamber. When the direction of the piston is reversed the ball valve sinks and seals the inlet from the spirit bottle and spirit is directed against the spring-bias of a second ball valve at an outlet, thereby dispensing into a glass. A second embodiment is described with an inverted spirit bottle and modifications to the ball valves to enable dispense.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a beverage dispenser that can deliver a required shot of liquid at a rate more quickly than a gravity feed.

In one broad aspect of the invention there is provided a beverage dispenser including a chamber for communication with a beverage reservoir via a closeable inlet, a closeable outlet for dispensing beverage therefrom, and a positive displacement means within the chamber, wherein in use, when the outlet is open and the inlet is closed the displacement means moves to force beverage from the chamber, out of the outlet. Since different spirits have different viscosities, the use of a timed pumping system can lead to inaccuracies in product delivery (where a predetermined volume is required by legal regulation) . Therefore use of a positive displacement means (e.g. a piston, diaphragm, peristaltic system, wobble plate etc) to provide a volumetric dispense system results in a specified volume being dispensed irrespective of the viscosity of the liquid, hence the dispenser can be used for any beverage. The preferred form of positive displacement means is a piston moving in the chamber, i.e. the displacement of the piston defines the volume being dispensed.

Preferably closure of the inlet and outlet is controlled by use of a solenoid operated valve such that, when either the inlet or the outlet is closed, the other is open and vis-a- versa. A suitable valve is a double-ended seal located about a shaft, i.e. a reciprocating valve, actuated by the solenoid. Preferably the valve is timed to coincide to move with the piston such that it closes the inlet when the piston moves to compress the volume of the chamber and force liquid from the outlet. Subsequently, as the piston withdraws and the chamber volume increases, the inlet opens/outlet closes to draw/suck beverage into the chamber. Preferably, the timing function relating the piston movement and valve is enabled by a timing plate located on/adjacent a crankshaft actuated by a motor that drives the piston. Preferably a one-way breather valve is in communication with the interior of the bottle or reservoir to permit external air therinto as the piston draws liquid into the chamber. Preferably the breather valve is located at a coupling between the bottle and dispenser device.

In a preferred embodiment a first sensor is provided to measure a volumetric level of beverage in the device for the purposes of indicating an error if an insufficient volumetric measure is detected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a device according to the invention; and

Figure 2 illustrates a more detailed cross section view of components for a beverage dispenser according to the invention .

MODE ( S ) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment as illustrated the beverage dispenser includes a housing 10, enclosing the working components of the device, and a coupling 11 which receives a bottle B, e.g. of alcoholic beverage.

Coupling 11 should be a suitable component for supporting a bottle B in an inverted position, although additional bracing members may be employed to assist. The coupling may include an internal thread to receive a threaded bottle neck, an appropriate clamp means, or both. Further embodiments preferably include a sensor to detect when a bottle is present/detached .

As illustrated in Figure 1, coupling 11 further includes a breather valve 12 therethrough. Valve 12 is preferably a one^¬ way valve with a tube extending from an external airspace into the bottle B. Preferably, the external airspace is located within the unit to minimise the risk of the tube becoming blocked or contaminated. In use, when beverage empties from the bottle B, valve 12 permits air to flow (one-way) into the bottle to replace the lost volume. Internal pressure is thus equalised with the external atmosphere so the other components are able to operate unimpeded. The primary tube of breather 12 may extend substantially above the liquid level toward the "base" (which is inverted) of the bottle.

Figure 2 effectively illustrates two valves within the coupler 11, namely a valve associated with the breather tube 12 and a further spring-biased valve to prevent liquid pouring out of the bottle when it is fitted (by inversion) to the unit.

Inside housing 10 a reservoir tube 13 communicates between bottle B and a chamber 14 via an inlet 15. Chamber 14 also includes an outlet 16 and a reciprocating piston 17 therein that is sealed with the chamber walls 14a such that the chamber 14 can be set between a maximum and minimum internal volume. Both inlet 15 and outlet 16 may be closeable by virtue of the same, double-ended, reciprocating valve 18 actuated by a solenoid 23 and/or spring-bias and moving perpendicularly to the first piston 17.

According to Figure 2 valve 18 is spring-biased such that the outlet 16 is closed in a general "rest" position. During the dispense phase solenoid 23 lifts valve 18 to seal inlet 15 and open outlet 16. In practice the vertical displacement is only a small amount (e.g. 2.5mm) and the 45 degree angle of the seat surface at the outlet makes this appear even smaller. Flow behaviour was optimised by considering the ratio of diameter to displacement.

Functional components of the invention are best explained by describing the operational sequence wherein:

1. A user attaches the coupling 11 to the bottle B allowing it to be inverted without leaking while being inserted into the housing 10. 2. On insertion, the coupling valve 11 opens and liquid flows under gravity through the reservoir tube 13, past the open inlet 15 and into the pump chamber 14. The liquid channels are large enough to allow air to be displaced into the bottle B, thus priming the system automatically.

3. In a standby mode of the preferred embodiment the unit will show a solid green LED 19, indicating that there is sufficient liquid in the system for at least one dispense volume. The liquid level is detected by a sensor 20 located in the reservoir 13. To activate, the user pushes a momentary switch 21 which causes a motor 22 to start and, at the same time, solenoid 23 to energise, lifting the valve 18 upwards (thereby opening outlet 16) . As the motor 22 turns, a crankshaft 24 causes the piston 17 to move forwards and liquid is dispensed at speed from outlet 16.

4. When the motor 22 has turned through 180 degrees the piston 17 will have travelled its full stroke, having dispensed one fixed measure. This position is detected by an optical switch 25 via a gap in a revolving crankshaft plate ("timing plate") 26 and power is immediately cut to the solenoid 23. This causes the valve 18 to drop under spring bias, closing outlet 16 and liquid dispense stops. Provision of a timing plate associated with piston movement as a means of activating valve 18 enables accurate dispense of small volumes of beverage as required in context of the invention. Alternative forms of sensing a position on the timing plate (other than an optical switch) can be contemplated within the scope of the invention. 5. Preferably the motor 22 ignores the action of the solenoid 23 and continues to turn one complete revolution before stopping exactly where it started, its position being detected by sensor 25. During the back stroke, the piston pulls liquid at speed (i.e. faster than gravity) back into the pump chamber 14 from the bottle B. As the pressure in the bottle drops, air is automatically vented from atmosphere via the one-way breather valve 12 located in the coupling 11. 6. Preferably the green LED 19 blinks throughout the 360 degrees cycle to indicate that the system is in dispense mode. If the user tries to activate the switch 21 during the cycle, the request is ignored by a control means 27, so that a complete cycle cannot be interrupted. "Control means" is a general term for a processing device that manages the electronic function of the invention, e.g. operation of motor 23, sensing of timing plate 26, activation of solenoid 23, etc . 7. To ensure only complete volumes are dispensed, the reservoir tube 13 level is checked by the optical liquid level sensor 20. If a low level is detected during a cycle, that cycle is allowed to finish but any further dispensing is prevented until the reservoir is topped up. After that cycle, control means 27 activates red LED 28 to indicate to the user that the system needs attention.

In the illustrated embodiment the combined volume of chamber 14 and reservoir tube 13 is twice the shot volume dictated by the displacement of piston 17. In this way, if sensor 20 indicates a "low" level this will mean there must be at least one shot remaining for dispense before the system must be checked (possibly requiring replacement of bottle B, the contents of which should be readily visible) .

By way of example, the shot volume (displacement volume of piston) may be 35mL and, therefore, the combined volume of chamber 14 and reservoir 13 is 70mL which includes a space 29 in chamber 14 around the valve 18, opposite piston 17. In general this space 29, in communication with inlet 15, allows more unrestricted flow of liquid flowing under gravity and assisted by the back pressure created by withdrawal of piston 17 to enlarge the internal volume of chamber 14.

The illustrated embodiment exemplifies advantageous functions of the invention but can be modified to achieve otherwise analogous results. For example, a solenoid could be configured to cause movement of piston 17 as solenoid 23 pulls valve 18 to close inlet 15, although such an arrangement may be too sudden and require damping. Further modifications will be apparent such as an alternative position/ form of sensor 20 which detects whether at least one full shot is present ready for dispense. A sensor could be configured to detect less than a single shot in chamber 14, rather than between one and two shots as presently suggested. The illustrated embodiment is suggested to minimise the clutter of components around the chamber 14.

An alternative embodiment may feature a sensor located as close to the inlet to the chamber as possible (e.g. approximately a half measure above the inlet to the chamber, assuming the inlet is closed) . A further possibility is to reduce the volume of the chamber, however, preferably this should be more than a measure (i.e. the displacement volume of the piston) to assist with fluid dynamics.

The purpose of a sensor means is to make sure the unit does not dispense less than a measure as the bottle runs out. A focus of further development will be to reduce wastage once the bottle is empty or when cleaning the unit.

Coupler 11 may take various forms; likewise breather valve 12 can be built into coupler 11 or otherwise incorporated so long as there is provision for air to be introduced into bottle B. In another form of the breather 12 pressurised air could be forced into bottle B which would aid the dispense of liquid from the bottle at a speed quicker than gravity alone.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILI TY

The present invention is intended to provide an optic-type device enabling spirits to be dispensed at quicker speeds than a gravity fed system. By way of example a gravity fed optic may take 2 seconds to dispense and a further 6 seconds to refill (before the next shot can be dispensed) . Utilisation of the present invention can reduce these times by setting the operating characteristics of the piston to any speed within practical limits (if dispense is too fast then splash back from the glass may occur) . Good performance could be obtained in prototype testing with a one second dispense and one second refill. The improved refill speed is of particular advantage when serving multiple shots into a single glass.

It should be noted that, while the preferred embodiment is designed for use with an inverted bottle, the invention may also be used with a non-inverted bottle (where the piston creates a vacuum that draws in liquid against gravity) or in conjunction with a keg or other larger container located in a remote location.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

A beverage dispenser including a chamber for communication with a beverage reservoir via a closeable inlet, a closeable outlet for dispensing beverage therefrom, and a positive displacement means within the chamber, wherein in use, when the outlet is open and the inlet is closed the displacement means moves to force beverage from the chamber, out of the outlet.

2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 including a reciprocating valve with a double-ended seal movable by an actuator means, such that when either the inlet or the outlet is closed by the valve, the other is open and vis- a-versa.

3. The beverage dispenser of claim 2 wherein the actuator means is a solenoid and/or a spring bias.

4. The beverage dispenser of any of the preceding claims including a control means wherein closure of the inlet is activated when the displacement means moves toward a minimum volume of the chamber.

5. The beverage dispenser of claim 4 wherein closure of the outlet is activated when the displacement means moves toward a maximum volume of the chamber.

6. The beverage dispenser of claim 4 or 5 wherein the control means includes a timing plate.

7. The beverage dispenser of any of the preceding claims wherein the positive displacement means is a piston moveable in the chamber.

8. The beverage dispenser of any of the preceding claims wherein a breather valve is provided, in communication between a beverage reservoir and an external airspace.

9. The beverage dispenser of claim 8 wherein the breather valve is located at a coupling between a beverage bottle and the beverage reservoir communicating with the chamber .

10. The beverage dispenser of claim 9 wherein the coupling means includes a sensor for sensing the presence and/or absence of the beverage bottle.

11. The beverage dispenser of claim 8 or 9 wherein the breather valve is a one-way valve.

12. The beverage dispenser of any of the preceding claims wherein a first sensor is provided to measure a volume of beverage in the beverage dispenser for the purposes of indicating an error if an insufficient volume is detected .

13. The beverage dispenser of claim 12 wherein the first sensor is arranged to measure a volume of beverage in the combined chamber and beverage reservoir.

14. The beverage dispenser of claim 13 wherein the volume measured is twice the displacement volume of the piston within the chamber.