Card-controlled beverage distribution system
First Claim
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1. A beverage distribution apparatus comprising:
- a piping network for transporting a beverage from at least one source at a first location to at least one output at a second location, said second location remote from said first location;
means for actuating the flow of beverage from a source at the first location to an output at the second location, said actuating means comprising a valve system for fluidically connecting an output to a desired source, said actuating means in communication with the piping network;
means for controlling the actuating means, said controlling means comprising at least one card having information thereon, said information comprising a first portion serving to identify the card, a second portion representing a predetermined quantity of beverage, and a third portion for specifying which sources the user can have access to, said controlling means comprising a card reader for reading the information from the card and generating a first signal corresponding to the information, a flow meter for measuring the flow of the beverage from the output and generating a second signal indicative of the flow, and an element for generating a third signal depending on said first and second signals, said third signal controlling said actuating means, said element in communication with the card reader and the flow meter, said means for controlling the actuating means in communication with the actuating means; and
means for controlling the temperature of the piping network, said temperature controlling means disposed in thermal communication with and positioned about said piping network along a majority of its length.
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Abstract
A self-service beverage distribution system includes a piping network with refrigerated tubing for transporting beverages, such as beer, from at least one source to at least one output. A drinker purchases a magnetic card which represents a predetermined quantity of beer, and which specifies which beer sources the drinker can have access to. A flow meter measures how much beer the drinker dispenses, and the quantity of beer represented on the card is decreased accordingly.
45 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A beverage distribution apparatus comprising:
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a piping network for transporting a beverage from at least one source at a first location to at least one output at a second location, said second location remote from said first location; means for actuating the flow of beverage from a source at the first location to an output at the second location, said actuating means comprising a valve system for fluidically connecting an output to a desired source, said actuating means in communication with the piping network; means for controlling the actuating means, said controlling means comprising at least one card having information thereon, said information comprising a first portion serving to identify the card, a second portion representing a predetermined quantity of beverage, and a third portion for specifying which sources the user can have access to, said controlling means comprising a card reader for reading the information from the card and generating a first signal corresponding to the information, a flow meter for measuring the flow of the beverage from the output and generating a second signal indicative of the flow, and an element for generating a third signal depending on said first and second signals, said third signal controlling said actuating means, said element in communication with the card reader and the flow meter, said means for controlling the actuating means in communication with the actuating means; and means for controlling the temperature of the piping network, said temperature controlling means disposed in thermal communication with and positioned about said piping network along a majority of its length. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeMichael S. Frank
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Original AssigneeMichael S. Frank
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InventorsGarrett, R. Patrick, Frank, Michael S.
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Primary Examiner(s)Turner, Samuel A.
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Assistant Examiner(s)SIKORSKI, EDWARD
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Application NumberUS07/900,548Time in Patent Office621 DaysField of Search222/2, 222/71, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/487, 235/385, 235/383, 4/420.2, 62/393, 62/436US Class Current235/381CPC Class CodesB67D 1/0867 the cooling fluid being a l...B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic...G07F 13/02 by volumeG07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by obje...
