SELF-SERVICE, MONITORED AND CONTROLLED BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTION AND DISPENSING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A beverage distribution system comprising:
- one or more beverage sources;
a plurality of dispensing stations for the purpose of providing self-service dispensing of beverages from the one or more beverage sources, each dispensing station comprising;
a display;
a dispenser for providing an access point for the self-service dispensing control of a beverage from a one beverage source;
at least one valve for the flow control of beverage from the beverage source;
a flow meter that measures the amount of liquid passage as a function of time; and
a controller coupled to the display device, the valve and the flow meter, the controller being operative to receive flow measurements from the flow meter, present information pertaining to the dispensing from the beverage source on the display device, and controls the operation of the valve; and
a piping network interconnecting the one or more beverage sources to the dispensing stations, wherein the flow meter and the at least one valve are connected in series between the dispenser of the dispensing stations and the beverage sources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage distribution system is offered for the purpose of self-service beverage dispensing, capable of providing customers real-time feedback on beverage consumption levels. The system includes a network of control stations and patron stations which are in constant communication via a wired or wireless network. The system is capable of detecting low beverage levels in beverage containers when or before they occur and can inform wait staff of such events. Furthermore, wait staff is provided with the tools to perform intelligent control of the self-service consumption according to local laws as well as paying visits to patrons at the appropriate time resulting in a very efficient system. A novel valve control scheme is also offered that is energy efficient, that does not generate undesirable heat in the presence of cooled beverages. Also, a generic flow control for beverage distribution is presented.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A beverage distribution system comprising:
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one or more beverage sources; a plurality of dispensing stations for the purpose of providing self-service dispensing of beverages from the one or more beverage sources, each dispensing station comprising; a display; a dispenser for providing an access point for the self-service dispensing control of a beverage from a one beverage source; at least one valve for the flow control of beverage from the beverage source; a flow meter that measures the amount of liquid passage as a function of time; and a controller coupled to the display device, the valve and the flow meter, the controller being operative to receive flow measurements from the flow meter, present information pertaining to the dispensing from the beverage source on the display device, and controls the operation of the valve; and a piping network interconnecting the one or more beverage sources to the dispensing stations, wherein the flow meter and the at least one valve are connected in series between the dispenser of the dispensing stations and the beverage sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. A toggle type valve that can be used as a replacement of any conventional valve for liquid distribution, the toggle type valve providing a low power and low heat generating valve for applications limited to binary control schemes.
- 13. A system for interconnecting a number of liquid sources to another number of liquid terminals, each source connected to a split point with a number of fan-out branches equal to the number of said terminals, followed by an on-off valve, that is normally closed and opens when energized, followed by a combining node with a number of fan-in branches equal to number of liquid sources and one output branch connected to each of the liquid terminals.
Specification