Drink-dispensing device, control system, and drink-dispensing method

• US 10,214,408 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ndmac Systems
• Original Assignee: Ndmac Systems
• Inventors: Istin, Jean-Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Carroll, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US15/125,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20170001851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 2221291
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0006 based on the timed opening of a valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0462 Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0804 Shape or materials
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0859 the evaporator being in direct heat contact with the beverage, e.g. placed inside a beverage container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0874 Means for illuminating the handle of taps or faucets
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0884 Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1243 comprising flow or pressure sensors, e.g. for controlling pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1272 preventing froth
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/16 Devices for collecting spilled beverages
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0822 Pressurised rigid containers, e.g. kegs, figals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0828 in pressurised housing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/1483 electrically or electro-mechanically operated
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00031 Housing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00044 Insulation
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00091 Bar management means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00133 wheeled

Abstract

A liquid-dispensing device includes: a table, including a body and a plate, the body including three casks containing a liquid, each cask including a shell in which a pouch, made of a flexible material and containing the liquid, is positioned; three draft circuits, extending from each cask to three dispensing taps; a system for cooling the draft circuit; three pressurized draft systems for drawing the liquid from each cask, the draft system including a solenoid valve in each draft circuit, between the cask and the tap; a system for managing the device, the managing system being provided to control dispensing by opening or closing the solenoid valve; and wheels enabling movement of the device. The plate includes: three liquid-dispensing taps; and a unit for interacting with the management system, which is suitable for interfacing with the liquid-dispensing control. The managing system is connected to a database via a connector.

Claims

1. A liquid-dispensing device forming a table comprising:

a body (10);

a plate (17), the plate (17) being removably mounted on a top of the body (10);

three casks (11) disposed in the body (10), each cask containing a liquid to be dispensed, each cask comprising a shell inside which a pouch made of a flexible material and containing the liquid is positioned;

a plurality of liquid-dispensing taps (15), each of the liquid-dispensing taps (15) being connected to a corresponding one of the three liquid-dispensing taps (15), each of the liquid-dispensing taps (15) being located above the plate (17);

a draft circuit (24) for each cask (11), each draft circuit (24) connecting one of the casks (11) and the corresponding one of the three liquid-dispensing taps (15); and

a cooling system (12) for cooling each draft circuit, the cooling system (12) being disposed between each cask (11) the corresponding one of the three liquid-dispensing taps (15), the cooling system (12) further comprising an evaporator having i) a first arcuate evaporator element extending vertically in the body (10) with a concave surface of the first arcuate evaporator element located adjacent a first one of the casks (11), ii) a second arcuate evaporator element extending vertically in the body (10) with a concave surface of the second arcuate evaporator element located adjacent a second one of the casks (11), and iii) a third arcuate evaporator element extending vertically in the body (10) with a concave surface of the third arcuate evaporator element located adjacent a third one of the casks (11), wherein a convex surface of the first arcuate evaporator element is adjacent a convex surface of the second arcuate evaporator element and adjacent a convex surface of the third arcuate evaporator element, a convex surface of the second arcuate evaporator element is adjacent a convex surface of the first arcuate evaporator element and adjacent a convex surface of the third arcuate evaporator element, and a convex surface of the third arcuate evaporator element is adjacent a convex surface of the first arcuate evaporator element and adjacent a convex surface of the second arcuate evaporator,

a pressurized draft system (13) connected to the cases for drawing the liquid from each cask (11), said draft system (13) comprising, for each cask (11), a solenoid valve (25) positioned in each draft circuit (24) between the one cask and the corresponding one tap, the solenoid valve (25) controlling an exit of the liquid from the one cask;

a management system (14) operatively connected to each solenoid valve (25), the management system (14) for managing the device and adapted to control the dispensing of liquids by opening or closing each solenoid valve (25), said management system (14) being connected, via a connection, to a database (37); and

a control unit (16) situated on the plate and operatively connected to the management system (14) for interacting with the management system (14) adapted to interface with the function controlling the dispensing of liquids, the control unit comprising a screen.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising castors attached to the body (10), the castors enabling movement of the device.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection is a wired connection.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each cask (11) is thermally insulated from the other casks by a separating wall.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressurized draft system (13) comprises:

means for blowing a gas into the cask (11) between the shell and the flexible material pouch,

a flow meter adapted to measure the flow rate of liquid in the draft circuit (24),

a blocking valve located between each cask and the cooling system (12).

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each solenoid valve is positioned at the level of the taps (15), said solenoid valves (25) are cooled by the cooling system (12).

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling system (12) comprises a cooling circuit (23) a heat-exchange fluid of which passes through the evaporator (18), an expansion valve (19), a condenser (20) and a compressor (21).

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the management system (14) includes:

a microcontroller connected by the connection in real time to the database (37), the connection being a wireless connection,

a temperature probe adapted to measure the temperature of the cask (11), and

a pressure probe adapted to measure the pressure inside the cask (11).

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the management system (14) includes card reader for recognizing the cask (11) to identify the liquid and to transmit information to the microcontroller.

10. A control system (36) and device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a digital tablet wirelessly connected to said device for wireless communication with said device.

11. A control system (36) and device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a mobile telephone wirelessly connected to said device for wireless communication with said device.

12. A control system (36) and device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system is a computer wirelessly connected to said device for wireless communication with said device.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection is a wireless connection.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressurized draft system (13) comprises:

means for blowing a gas into the cask (11) between the shell and the flexible material pouch,

a flow meter adapted to measure the flow rate of liquid in the draft circuit (24),

a blocking float located in each draft circuit (24).