Method and apparatus for manual dispensing from discrete vessels with electronic system control and dispensing data generation on each vessel, data transmission by radio or interrogator, and remote data recording

• US 5,255,819 A
• Filed: 03/18/1991
• Issued: 10/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arganious E. Peckels
• Original Assignee: Arganious E. Peckels
• Inventors: Peckels, Arganious E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US07/672,054
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/25-28, 222/30, 222/36, 222/37, 222/39, 222/640, 222/641
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• 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 2210/00144 Magnets, e.g. used in valves or for stirring
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0041 with provisions for metering the liquid to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0051 dispensing by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/265 of the ball type
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/006 measuring volume in function of time

Abstract

A liquid dispensing method and apparatus has a system with new individual dispensing heads connectible one each to a plurality of different liquid bottles, i.e. liquor, and a remote dispensing data receiver and computer that receives data from each head. Each head has structure for being secured to a bottle, a liquid bore and an air vent, and one or more of the following features and functions: an electronic dispensing timer, a stop pour annunciator, a magnetically latched dispensing control valve, an electronic bottle lock, a radio transmitter and antenna, an electronic fractional pour annunciator, programmable dispensing control, a microprocessor computer, a data storage, a data I/O structure, and structure and function for uniquely electrically identifying each head and liquid. The receiver/computer has a data receiver and has structure and function to electronically program each head, the computer provides a record of all important dispensing data including head connection to bottles, head numbers, liquid identities, quantities of dispense cycle, quantity of liquid dispensed, inventory status and other desirable business data.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing beverage from a plurality of bottles comprising the steps of

a) connecting a discrete dispensing head to each bottle;

b) electronically reading the bottle and electronically identifying the specific beverage product therein; and

c) electronically programming the head to pour a predetermined quantity of said specific beverage through said head, during manual inversion of the connected bottle and head.

2. The method of claim 1, including the further step of transmitting head and bottle identification data and dispensing operation data by radio from each head to a receiver only at each start and at each termination of dispensing operation.

3. The method of claim 1, including the further step of electronically assigning an identification number to each head after connecting of the head to a bottle.

4. A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising

a) a plurality of individual remote dispensing heads, each head having a pouring spout, connector means for connecting the head to a single individual bottle, a battery, means for electronically identifying and distinguishing the head, dispensing data means for providing dispensing data, and an electrical dispensing switch for connecting the battery to the data means during dispensing from the bottle;

b) bottle reader electronic means for identifying the beverage, bottle connected to each head;

c) a remote receiver operatively connected to said bottle reader electronic means and having means for receiving electronic head distinguishing identification and electronic dispensing data from each head; and

d) means connected to said receiver for computing and providing dispensing data on each head and each beverage.

5. A dispensing apparatus comprising

a) a body with a bottle connector, a liquid pouring bore through said connector, and an air vent through said connector, said body being invertible together with a bottle connected thereto;

b) programmable electronic control means secured to said body for providing a signal to stop dispensing through said bore; and

c) a remote central data center having means for uniquely programming an identity and the function of said control means to signal a dispensing stop upon a predetermined quantity of liquid having been dispensed through said bore during inversion of the head and bottle.

6. A method of dispensing beverage comprising the steps of

a) connecting a plurality of discrete dispensing heads, one each to a plurality of discrete beverage bottles;

b) electronically reading each bottle and identifying the specific beverage therein;

c) electronically coding each head for identification of dispensing of the specific beverage therefrom;

d) electronically transmitting coded identification and dispensing event data from all the connected bottles and heads to a remote data center; and

e) providing a record of dispensing data for each head and each specific beverage.

7. Beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising

a) a head having a body with a bottle connector, a liquid pouring bore through said connector and an air vent through said connector, said head being manually invertible together with a connected bottle for dispensing of beverage therefrom;

b) electronic identification means on said head for identifying the head from other similar heads; and

c) electronic means remote from said head for electronically coding said head identification means.

8. A method of dispensing liquid from bottles comprising the steps of:

a) connecting a plurality of individual remote dispensing heads one each to a plurality of normally upright individual bottles;

b) sensing a start of manual dispensing from each individual bottle;

c) transmitting a radio signal from each individual dispensing head to a remote receiver that (1) dispensing has started and (2) identifying the particular head that is dispensing;

d) sensing termination of manual dispensing from the dispensing individual head;

e) transmitting a second and discrete radio signal from the individual dispensing head to the receiver that (1) dispensing has been terminated, and (2) identifying the individual head; and

f) providing a data record of the dispensing frequency and duration of each individual and remote head.

9. The method of claim 8, including the further step of timing the dispensing in the head, and annunciating a sensory termination signal upon completion of dispensing of a predetermined quantity of liquid, and then manually terminating dispensing liquid flow.

10. The method of claim 9, including the further step of electronically programming the head timing, while the head is connected to the bottle, with the data center.

11. A beverage dispensing system comprising

a) a plurality of individual remote dispensing heads, each head having a pouring spout, means for connecting of each head to a single bottle, an electrical switch for sensing dispensing through the head, a battery, and means for sending a first radio signal indicating a start of dispensing and identity of the particular head, and a second and discrete radio signal indicating termination of dispensing and identity of the particular head, said sending means being silent between the first and second signals;

b) a remote receiver for receiving the radio signals; and

c) remote means connected to the radio receiver for identifying dispensing occurances and time periods of dispensing for each individual head.

12. A liquid dispensing system comprising

a. a dispensing head having a normally open pouring spout, means for connecting the head to a normally upright bottle, and a normally open latched valve for closing the spout and stopping dispensing;

b. a remote dispensing data center;

c. means for sensing inversion of said head and bottle into a pouring position;

d. means for sending a start signal to the data center that the head has started pouring of liquid, for electronically closing said valve and stopping dispensing, and for sending a signal to the data center that the head has stopped pouring;

e. means in said data center for determining and recording the quantity of liquid dispensed; and

f. means in said head for re-latching said valve in the normally open position when the bottle and head are returned to the normal upright position.

22. The system of claim 12, in which said valve is magnetic and movable, in which said re-latching means is a permanent magnet, and in which a closing means includes an electrical coil in proximity to said magnet for momentary cancelling a field of the magnet and causing dropping of the movable magnetic valve to close the spout.

13. A method of dispensing liquid comprising the steps of

a. connecting a normally open dispensing head to a bottle of liquid;

b. inverting the connected head and bottle and free-pouring liquid therefrom;

c. sending a start signal to a data center that pouring has started;

d. timing out a pouring period after inversion of the bottle;

e. electronically closing a normally open valve in the head upon conclusion of the pouring period;

f. sending a stop signal to the data center that pouring has stopped;

g. determining and recording at the data center of the quantity of liquid dispensed; and

h. latching the valve open immediately upon reversion of the bottle and head to a normally upright position.

23. The method of claim 13, in which said step of electronically closing includes momentarily cancelling a permanent magnet field and dropping a magnetic responsive valve member from a permanent magnet to a valve thereby fluidly closing the normally open head to flow of liquid there through.

14. In a liquid dispensing system having a plurality of dispensing heads, means for connecting each head to an individual bottle of liquid, a pour spout on each head, a battery in each head, means in each head for providing electronic dispensing data, and a remote data center for receiving and recording the data, the dispensing head improvement comprising:

a) a normally open liquid valve in each head;

b) permanent magnetic means for magnetically holding the valve open during inversion of the bottle and head to a pouring position; and

c) electronic means for electrically neutralizing said permanent magnetic means for releasing said valve and effecting valve closing while the bottle and head are pouring, to terminate dispensing.

24. The system of claim 14, in which said valve is a movable magnetic responsive ball, in which said permanent magnetic means is a magnet upon which the ball is normally latched, and in which said electronic means includes an electromagnetic coil to cancel the field of the magnet and cause dropping of the ball upon a valve seat.

15. A method of pouring and recording generally identical quantities of liquid from a bottle comprising the steps of

a) connecting a dispensing head to a normally upright bottle having liquid therein;

b) manually inverting the bottle and attached head to an inverted pouring position;

c) pouring a plurality of consecutive quantities from the inverted bottle and attached head during a single inversion of the bottle and head, the quantities being generally identical;

d) electrically timing and annunciating for each poured quantity;

e) providing a longer time period for a first poured quantity so that the first poured quantity is generally identical to subsequent poured quantities;

f) providing data on the start and then on the stop of the pouring to a remote data center; and

g) determining the true quantity of poured liquid.

16. Apparatus for dispensing and recording a plurality of generally identical quantities of liquid poured from an inverted bottle, comprising

a) a dispensing head having a pouring spout, means for connecting the head to a bottle of liquid, a switch for sensing dispensing from the bottle, and a source of electronic power;

b) a timer connectible by said switch to said electronic power, said timer having means for repetitively timing pouring periods one after another;

c) a pouring period annunciator operatively connected to said timer;

d) means in said timer for providing an additional unit of time in the first pouring period, so that the first poured quantity is generally equal to subsequent poured quantities in a single inversion of the head and bottle attached thereto;

e) a remote pouring data center;

f) means in said head for providing pouring start and pouring stop data to said data center; and

g) means in said apparatus for factoring the additional unit of time and for determining the true quantity of liquid poured.

17. In a fluid dispensing system having a plurality of discrete dispensing heads, a dispensing data center remote from the heads, and means for providing dispensing data from the heads to the data center, a coding system comprising

a) a dispensing start signal having data for identifying and distinguishing each head;

b) a dispensing stop signal having data for identifying and distinguishing each head;

c) means in said data center for determining the identity and quantity of liquid dispensed in a period between a start signal and a stop signal from any one of said heads.

18. A method of dispensing and recording a quantity of liquid, comprising the steps of

a) pouring a quantity of liquid and sending a coded signal that pouring has started;

b) receiving the signal at a remote data center;

c) stopping the pouring of liquid and sending a coded signal that pouring has stopped;

d) coding both signals with data for identifying and distinguishing the specific liquid; and

e) determining and recording in the data center the identity and quantity of liquid dispensed, solely on the basis of said two signals.

19. A method of dispensing liquid, comprising the steps of

a) free-pouring liquid from an open-spouted free-pour dispensing head, and manually stopping the dispensing pour regardless of specific time or quantity;

b) pouring subsequent liquid from a fixed volumetric dispensing head having a valve in a spout of the dispensing head, and automatically controlling the quantity of liquid per pour;

c) providing dispensing data from both heads to a remote dispensing data center; and

d) using an identical data code system with both the free-pour head and the fixed volumetric head.

20. A liquid dispensing system having

a) a plurality of dispensing heads that each have means for being connected to a bottle, said heads being comprised of a mix ofa first type being free-pour, and

a second type having volumetric control;

b) a remote dispensing data center;

c) means for providing dispensing data from said heads to said data center; and

d) a single and common data code system in both the first and second type of dispensing heads.

21. A liquid dispensing system comprising

a) a plurality of individual remote dispensing heads, each head having a pouring spout, means for connecting the head to a bottle of liquid, a battery, electronic means for identifying and distinguishing the head, dispensing data means for providing dispensing data on the heads activities, and an electrical dispensing switch for connecting the battery to the data means upon dispensing from the bottle;

b) a remote data center having a receiver having means for receiving electronic identification and dispensing data from each head, and means for collecting and providing dispensing data on each head and liquid;

c) means in said head data means for sending a single coded pulse start signal from the head upon initiation of dispensing from the head, for silencing said head data means after the single signal and during dispensing, and for then sending a single coded pulse stop signal from the head upon termination of dispensing from the head, both the start signal and the stop signal containing a head identification code;

d) means in said data center for calculating the identity and quantity of liquid dispensed in the time interval between the start and stop signals; and

e) said heads being any one, or any combination of the following types of pouring heads;

1) free-pour,

2) volumetrically controlled with a valved start and a valved stop, and

3) volumetrically controlled with a free-pour start and valve stop.