Withdrawal system

• US 9,828,232 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AS Stromungstechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: AS Stromungstechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Szeteli, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnett, Nicolas A
• Application Number:
  US14/915,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20160194193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0802 Dip tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0829 Keg connection means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0288 Container connection means for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0829
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/221 using electrical or electro-mechanical means B67D7/224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/62 power operated

Abstract

The invention relates to a withdrawal system (1) for filling and emptying containers and involves a container closure (2) that is inserted into a container opening of a container seating a bung head. An immersion pipe (4) connected to the bung head has an extraction connector element connected to the immersion pipe (4) or the bung head. A transponder generating a transponder signal is provided; a monitoring signal is generated in dependence upon the transponder signal that indicates whether there is a permissible connection of the extraction connector element to the container.

Claims

1. A withdrawal system (1) for filling and emptying containers with a container closure (2) that is inserted into a container opening of a container seating a bung head and that has an immersion pipe (4) connected to the bung head and an extraction connector element connected to the immersion pipe (4) or the bung head, wherein a transponder generating a transponder signal is included, and wherein a monitoring signal is generated in dependence upon the transponder signal that indicates whether a permissible connection of the extraction connector element to the container exists, characterized in that said withdrawal system has a control unit (11) that controls the supply of liquid into the container and/or the withdrawal of liquid out of the container in dependence upon the monitoring signal and in that the control unit (11) controls a robot that is designed to connect the extraction connector element to the immersion pipe (4), wherein the robot is only allowed by the control unit (11) to effect this connection when the control unit (11) receives notification by the monitoring signal from the transponder that the connection of the extraction connector element to the container is permissible.

2. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transponder has a transmitter (6) that is firmly connected to the container and a receiver (7) assigned to the transmitter (6).

3. The withdrawal system according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmitter (6) of the transponder is integrated into the immersion pipe (4).

4. The withdrawal system according to claim 3, characterized in that the code stored in the transmitter (6) is read out into the receiver (7) and the monitoring signal is generated in dependence upon the code.

5. The withdrawal system according to claim 2, characterized in that a code identifying the container and/or the liquid contained in the container is stored in the transmitter (6) of the transponder.

6. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver (7) or an antenna (8) of the receiver (7) is connected to the extraction connector element, that a code identifying the extraction connector element is stored in the receiver (7) and that the monitoring signal is generated via a comparison of this code with the code stored in the transmitter (6).

7. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver (7) is spatially separated from the extraction connector element and that the extraction connector element is identified by the control unit (11).

8. The withdrawal system according to claim 7, characterized in that the monitoring signal is generated solely in dependence upon the code read out from the transmitter (6) of the transponder.

9. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (11) controls a pump for filling and emptying the container.

10. The withdrawal system according to claim 9, characterized in that the pump is only activated by the control unit (11) when the control unit (11) receives notification by the monitoring signal from the transponder that the connection of the extraction connector element to the container is permissible.

11. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that a warning signal transmitter is controlled by the monitoring signal that emits a warning signal when the monitoring signal reports that the connection of the extraction connector element is impermissible.

12. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that information involving the container closure (2) or material contained in the container is stored in the transponder.

13. The withdrawal system according to claim 12, characterized in that the information stored in the transponder can be read out into the control unit (11).