Liquid dispensing apparatus

• US 5,133,480 A
• Filed: 04/26/1991
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seicho Kogyo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Seicho Kogyo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yakuwa, Jiro, Kitamura, Kazhide, Matsumoto, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REISS, STEVEN
• Application Number:
  US07/690,339
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 222/23, 222/30, 222/36-38, 222/2, 222/14, 222/129.3, 222/129.1, 222/399, 222/397, 235/381, 235/491, 194/210
• US Class Current: 222/2
• 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 2001/0487 Mixture of gases, e.g. N2 + CO2
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00091 Bar management means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/14 responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

A liquid dispensing apparatus capable of providing a customer with a desired amount of liquid depending on data recorded in a memory card purchased in place of liquor in the unit of a bottle. The apparatus includes a flowmeter to generate a signal representing the amount of liquid supplied, a card read/write device in which a reloadable memory card is inserted, and a CPU connected to the card read/write device and flowmeter. The CPU receives data of the memory card read by the card read/write device to open a valve depending on the data to dispense a desired amount of liquid and receives a signal from the flowmeter to operate the amount of liquid dispensed and close the valve. The card read/write device also carries out write of new data based on the operation of the CPU.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a valve arranged at a flow passage led out from a liquid tank in which liquid is stored;

a flow meter provided at said flow passage to generate a signal proportional to the amount of liquid supplied through said flow passage;

a reloadable memory card in which data necessary for dispensing liquid is stored wherein said data is proportional to an amount of liquid available;

a card read/write device in which said reloadable memory card is inserted, said card read/write device carrying out read and write of data with respect to said reloadable memory card; and

a CPU connected to said card read/write device and flow meter for opening said valve depending on data of said reloadable memory card read out by said card read/write device and receiving said signal from said flow meter to operate the amount of liquid passing through said passage, to thereby close that valve when either a desired amount of liquid is supplied or said amount of liquid supply through said flow passage as reflected by said proportional signal exceeds said amount of liquid available as reflected by said date;

said card read/write device carrying out writing of new data with respect to said memory card based on said operation of said CPU.

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reloadable memory card is a magnetic card.

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reloadable memory card is a color card which is varied in color depending on data stored therein.

4. A liquid dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said flowmeter is a pulse generating flowmeter.

5. A liquid dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said flowmeter is connected to said CPU through an A/D converter.

6. A liquid dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said CPU includes a memory circuit which stores therein data read out by said card read/write device.

7. A liquid dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said CPU is connected to said valve through an ON-OFF switch which is controlled by said CPU to operate said valve.

8. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a liquid tank for storing liquid therein, said liquid tank being communicated to a pressure source for applying pressure liquid in said liquid tank when liquid is to be dispensed;

a flow passage connected to said liquid tank to feed liquid therethrough;

a valve arranged at said flow passage;

a flow meter provided at said flow passage to generate a signal proportional to the amount of liquid supplied through said flow passage;

a reloadable memory card in which data necessary for dispensing liquid is stored wherein said data is proportional to an amount of liquid available;

a card read/write device in which said reloadable memory card is inserted, said card read/write device carrying out read and write of data with respect to said reloadable memory card;

a CPU connected to said card read/write device and flow meter for receiving data of said memory card from said card read/write device to open said valve depending on said data and receiving said signal from said flow meter to operate the amount of liquid passing through said flow passage, to thereby close said valve when either a desired amount of liquid is supplied or said amount of liquid supplied through said flow passage as reflected by said proportional signal exceeds said amount of liquid available as reflected by said data; and

a memory circuit connected to said CPU for storing therein data of said memory card read out by said card read/write device;

said card read/write device carrying out writing of new data with respect to said memory card based on said operation of said CPU.

9. A liquid dispensing device as defined in claim 8, wherein said pressure source is an ambient atmosphere.

10. A liquid dispensing device as defined in claim 8, wherein said pressure source comprises a non-oxidizing gas source.

11. A liquid dispensing device as defined in claim 8, said pressure source comprises one of an ambient atmosphere and a non-oxidizing gas source.