FR2929262A1 - Liquid e.g. alcohol, dosing device for e.g. bar, has drawing and distributing tubes connected by silicone tube, and control unit to control number of fractions of rotations traveled by rotary piece that carries rollers of dosage units - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a drawing tube (111) and a distributing tube (112) connected by a connection tube (4) that is made of flexible material i.e. silicone. Dosage units have rollers (3) that are carried on a periphery of a rotary piece in a uniformly distributed manner. The rollers define an elementary distribution volume (V), and drive the volume from the drawing tube towards the distributing tube. A control unit is in the form of a stop and controls a number of fractions of rotations traveled by the piece. An air duct (5) is made of flexible material and placed opposite to the connection tube.

Description

Device for dosing liquid from a container comprising rotary dosing means defining two by two an elementary volume of distribution, and corresponding dosing system. The object of the invention is that of equipment for dosing a liquid. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for dosing a quantity of liquid extracted from a container having an opening in which the dosage is performed while the container is overturned, as is the case in institutions beverage flow. In the field of the invention, the drinking establishments are required to deliver dosed amounts of liquid, for example as regards the sale of alcohols, liqueurs, syrups ... For this, these establishments are conventionally equipped with a plurality of dosing devices, generally arranged in height, and in which the bottles of the liquids concerned are inverted and each held on a metering device comprising a member penetrating the neck of the bottle and a metering portion actuated by presenting a glass under the dosing part. Currently, the traditional operation of these devices is as follows: the glass is presented under the metering portion, bearing against it; a push (upwards) is exerted on the dosing part, through the glass; the dosing part is filled with a fixed dose of liquid; the pressure on the dosing part is released; the liquid contained in the metering portion is poured into the glass. Such devices, yet very common, have several disadvantages. In the first place, these dosing devices are relatively unclear and therefore deliver only an approximate dose of liquid. Another drawback lies in the fact that the quantity of liquid extracted is dependent on the handling of the metering part made by the server: it can indeed release the thrust on the metering part before it is completely filled with liquid, in which case the quantity of liquid served is less than that which the dosing part is supposed to deliver. Moreover, the current liquid dosing systems, implemented in the establishments of flow of beverage (bars, restaurants, hotels ...) are not secured in terms of invoicing. Indeed, it is possible for the server to extract bottles one or more amounts of liquid without charging the customer. Of course, such a practice tends to considerably reduce the profitability of the establishment concerned. The invention particularly aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, the object of the invention is to propose a device for metering a quantity of liquid extracted from a container which is more accurate than those of the prior art. Another object of the invention is to provide such a metering device which makes it possible to deliver a reproducible quantity of liquid independently of the reproducibility of the manipulation of the device by a user. The invention also aims to provide such a dosing device that is convenient for the user. Another object of the invention is to provide such a device that allows to be associated with a system for monitoring the billing of the quantities of liquid extracted. These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which relates to a device for metering a quantity of liquid extracted from a container having an opening, the device being intended to be resonant on said opening and to be used in a configuration 30 according to which the container is inverted so as to orient said opening downwards, characterized in that it comprises: at least one withdrawal duct and at least one duct of distribution; - At least one rotating part carrying at its periphery, regularly distributed, dosing means defining in pairs an elementary volume and for driving said elementary volume of said withdrawal conduit to said distribution duct; means for controlling the number of fractions of revolutions traversed by said rotary part. In this way, the metering device according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a greater precision than the metering devices of the prior art. Indeed, the dosing means are distributed on the rotating part so as to extract an elementary volume of liquid, this elementary volume being constant and can be easily determined either a posteriori by a measurement, or a priori during the design of the device. (in particular by the appropriate dimensioning of the parts which constitute it). In other words, the spacing between two dosing means being fixed, the volume delimited by these two means is constant, and the driving of the rotating part generates the distribution of a given quantity of liquid corresponding to n volumes. elementary, n being an integer. In addition, it is noted that the filling by the liquid of an elementary volume separating two dosing means is independent of the manipulation of the dosing device by the user (the server). It is thus clear that the elementary volume being a reliable parameter of the metering device according to the invention, and the quantity of liquid extracted is, as indicated above equal to n elementary volumes, it remains to check the rotation angle of the rotating part which determines the number n of elementary volumes delivered, which is ensured by the control means of the number of fractions of turns traveled by the rotating part.

Note that these control means can be designed and adapted either by a manual drive of the rotating part (the control means can then take the form of notches and / or rotational stops of the rotating part). either in the context of a motorized drive of the rotating part as will be explained in more detail later. According to a preferred embodiment, said withdrawal duct and said distribution duct are connected by a connecting duct made of a flexible material, said metering means being intended to crush successively said connecting duct so as to obstruct it.

A simple and effective solution is thus obtained for delimiting sections of the connecting pipe, these sections extending between two obstructed zones generated by the metering means, and the internal volume of these sections constituting the elementary volume of liquid according to the principle of the invention.

According to a preferred solution, said connecting duct has an arcuate portion along which at least two of said locking means are intended to crush said connecting duct, said elementary volume extending between said two dosing means crushing said connecting conduit. Thus, it is easy to position the connecting pipe with respect to the blocking means, these describing a circular path (being borne by the rotating part) so as to simultaneously obtain: the crushing at two points of the connecting tube by the blocking means; maintaining this crushing in two points and moving these two points (with a fixed spacing between the two points) along the arc-shaped portion of the connecting pipe to deliver the elementary volume in the conduit of distribution. Preferably, said connecting duct is made of silicone.

Such a material is particularly suitable for use in the context of the invention, the silicone offering the advantages of: - presenting a good behavior over time; - recover perfectly its initial shape after deformation, 5 ensuring the constant nature of the elementary volumes. According to an advantageous solution, said metering means comprise four rollers evenly distributed around the periphery of said rotary part. Thus, the number of rollers is sufficient to ensure continuous extractions of successive elementary volume. According to a preferred approach of the invention, said rotating part is coupled to motor means controlled by said control means. It is thus easy to enslave the start and stop phases of the motor means to control means, this in order to distribute n elementary volumes. In this case, said control means advantageously comprise means for identifying said fractions of revolutions and a detection cell of said locating means connected to a counting unit of said fractions, the locating means preferably comprising a visual marking of said fractions while the cell is a photodetector cell. According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises a facade having at least two selection buttons corresponding to two different dosages being connected to said control means. Thus, it is sufficient for the user to press the button corresponding to the desired quantity of liquid to be extracted to obtain the corresponding quantity, this without interruption of the operation of the device. According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises an air intake and an air duct extending from said air intake, said duct being intended to open into said container. In this case, said air duct is made of a flexible material and disposed diametrically opposite said connecting duct with respect to said rotating part, said metering means being intended to successively crush said connecting duct so as to obstruct this one. A simple and effective device is thus obtained in which the same elementary volume is used to extract the liquid and inject air into the container from which the liquid is extracted. The distribution of the blocking means allows in other words to extract, on one side of the device, an elementary volume of liquid, and on the other side of the device, to raise the same elementary volume of air in the container.

The invention also relates to a system for metering a quantity of liquid extracted from a container including a metering device as described above, characterized in that said control means comprise means for transmitting information relating to said extracted quantity and are connected to a remote unit comprising means for recording said extracted quantity. This provides a system that avoids, or at least greatly limits, the risk of fraudulent manipulation. Indeed, with such a system, any amount of liquid extracted is stored in the memories of the remote unit, which allows for an establishment manager to verify that the quantities served are billed. With such a system, it is further possible to control the metering device, so that any quantity of liquid can be extracted from a container after a prior entry of the invoice on the remote unit, this possibly coupled with an entry of a code corresponding to the identity of the server. Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which: - Figures 1 and 2 are views of a metering device according to the invention, respectively front and side; FIG. 3 is a view of means for locating fractions of laps traveled by a rotating part of a metering device according to the invention; FIG. 4 is a front view of a front piece of a metering device according to the invention; FIG. 5 is a representation of the electronic control diagram of a metering device according to the invention. As indicated above, the principle of the invention lies in the fact of proposing a device for metering a quantity of liquid extracted from a container in the form of an assembly comprising a rotating part bearing on its periphery. assay means for extracting n elemental volumes, the angular travel of the rotating part being controlled by control means. With reference to FIG. 1, the metering device according to the invention comprises: a housing 1 having an upper part 11 and a lower part 12; an extension 110 of the upper part 11 intended to penetrate the opening 1000 of an inverted container 100 (that is to say, presented in a configuration in which the opening is oriented downwards), this extension presenting preferably a frustoconical shape to form a tight connection with the opening of the container, including if the diameter of the opening varies; - A central recess 10 for housing dosing means described in more detail later. The device further comprises: a draw-off conduit 111 extending inside the extension 110 of the upper portion 11, and extending into the housing 1 in the direction of the central cavity 10; a distribution duct 112 extending vertically in the lower part 12 of the casing 1 and extending in the direction of the central cavity 10, this distribution duct 112 opening at the dispensing orifices 1120 formed in the lower part 12 ( the lower part 12 having according to the present embodiment 4 orifices 1120, oriented horizontally and distributed in pairs at 90 °). Furthermore, the device integrates two parts 2 integral with each other in rotation about an axis 20, these parts 2 carrying at their periphery dosing means 3 regularly distributed and intended to delimit two by two an elementary volume and to drive this elementary volume of the withdrawal conduit 111 to the distribution conduit 112 as will be described in more detail later. According to the present embodiment, the metering means 3 comprise four cylindrical rollers each carried by an axis 30, this axis being itself; carried by the rotating parts 2. The rollers 3 are distributed over the parts 2 to form two by two at an angle of 90 ° with the axis of rotation 20 of the rotating parts 2. In addition, the withdrawal ducts 111 and distribution 112 are connected by a connecting pipe 4, made of a flexible material, preferably silicone. The connecting pipe is fitted with force on the one hand on the lower end 1111 of the withdrawal pipe 111 and, on the other hand, on the upper end 1121 of the withdrawal pipe 112. The pipe 4 extends into the central cavity 10 of the housing 1 so as to have a portion in arc-of-circle, this portion of the duct 4 being in abutment against the wall 101 defining the central cavity 10.

It should be noted that: the withdrawal ducts 111 have a bent portion 1112 so as to orient the lower end 1111 obliquely with respect to the vertical and in the direction of the arc-shaped portion of the duct 4; the distribution duct 112 has a bent portion 1122 so as to orient the upper end 1121 obliquely with respect to the vertical and directed towards the arc-shaped portion of the duct 4. Moreover, the rollers 3 are dimensioned and positioned on the parts 2 so that they can successively crush the flexible conduit 4 during a rotation of the parts 2. In parallel, the device comprises an air intake 50 from which extends a duct d air 5 intended to open into the interior of the container 100 via an extension 52.

The air duct 5 is made of a flexible material (preferably silicone) and extends into the central cavity 10 so as to have an arc-shaped portion, this portion of the air duct 5 being in abutment against the wall 101 delimiting the central cavity 10. In addition, the arc-shaped portion of the air duct 5 is diametrically opposite to the arcuate portion of the connecting duct 3 relative to the axis 20. The air duct 5 is fitted on one hand on a sleeve 51 communicating with the air intake 50 and extending so as to be directed towards the arc-shaped portion of the air duct 5. The other end of the air duct 5 is fitted on a sleeve 521 presented at the lower end of the extension 52 (the extension 52 and the sleeve 121 having between them a bent portion 520 so that the sleeve 121 s extends obliquely with respect to the vertical while being directed towards the arcuate portion e-circle of the air duct 5). It is noted that the disposition of the arcuate portion 5 inside the central cavity 10 and the distribution of the rollers 3 inside the central cavity 10 is such that the rollers 3 crush the portion successively. in arc-circle of the air duct during a rotation of the parts 2. It is specified that when the rollers 3 crush the connecting duct 3 (or the air duct 5), it should be understood that this crushing occurs progressively as and rotation of the parts 2 which cause the rollers 3 to completely obstruct (that is to say, sealed) the corresponding area of the connecting conduit (or air duct). Thus, two consecutive rollers 3 (occupying for example the positions P1 and P2 indicated in FIG. 1) delimit between them an elementary volume V (illustrated by the hatched area in FIG. 1), whether at the level of the arcuate portion. of the connecting duct 3 or at the arcuate portion of the air duct 5. With reference to FIG. 2, the device further comprises according to the present embodiment: a driven pinion 60 , taking the form of a toothed wheel, mounted integral in rotation with the rotating parts 2; - A driving pinion 6, also in the form of a toothed wheel, mounted to mesh with the driven pinion 60 and intended to drive in rotation thereof, the driving pinion 6 being coupled to driving means (not shown ). The operation of a dosing device according to the invention such as that which has just been described is as follows. The triggering of the motor means (not shown) causes the driving pinion 6 to rotate, which rotates the driven pinion 60 and therefore the rotation of the rotating parts 2 about the axis 20 (it will be noted that the direction of rotation of the means motors is such that the rotation of the rotating parts 2 operates in the direction indicated by the arrow F1 shown in Figure 1). The rotating parts 2 then drive the rollers 3 in a circular path centered on the axis 20.

For the rest of the description, the positions of the rollers P0 are considered. P1, P2, P3 and P4 shown in Figure 1. Assuming these positions, the rotation of the parts 2 drive the roller 3 in position PO to the position P1 in which the corresponding roller crushes the connecting pipe 3 at the level of the arc-shaped portion of the connecting pipe. The connecting pipe fills with liquid upstream of the roller in position P1. The rotation of the rotating parts 2 continues, until two consecutive rollers in positions such as those marked by P1 and P2.

At this stage, the connecting pipe 3 is crushed into two zones spaced apart from each other, corresponding to the positions of the rollers P1 and P2. An elementary volume V of liquid is then trapped in the connecting pipe 3 between the rollers in position P1 and P2. The rotation of the pieces 2 continues, the elementary volume V trapped between two consecutive rollers is forced to follow the crushing zones which move in a circular path corresponding to that of the two consecutive rollers 3, until the first two consecutive rollers is brought to position P3. The corresponding roller then gradually releases the pressure on the connecting pipe 3 passing from the P2 position to the P3 position, releasing the passage inside the conduit 3 and allowing the gradual flow of the liquid to the distribution conduit 1122. The next roller continues simultaneously its circular path, which tends to push the liquid of the elementary volume V towards the distribution conduit 112. Of course, the following rollers generate the same liquid entrainment phenomena along the arcuate portion 3. At the same time, the return of air from the air intake 50 to the extension 52 operates in a similar way: the air is sucked into the air duct 5 via of the air intake 50, the air duct 5 is successively crushed (still tightly) by the rollers 3 which follow their circular path, two consecutive rollers trapping in the arc-de-cer portion the duct 5 an elementary volume V of air driven to the sleeve 521. It is noted that the action of the rollers 3 on the air duct tends to impose a rise of air in the container, which generates a slight overpressure inside the container and which, therefore, promotes the descent of liquid in the withdrawal conduit 111. The flow of liquid from the distribution conduit 112 is ultimately effected through the orifices 1120 formed in the lower part 12 of the device.

As indicated above, the withdrawal of a given quantity of liquid corresponds to an integer multiple of elementary volumes V. According to the principle of the invention, the withdrawal of an integer multiple of elementary volume V takes place with the aid of means for controlling the number of fraction of revolutions traveled by the rotating parts 2, the motor means driving in rotation the rotating parts 2 being controlled by these control means. With reference to FIG. 3, the control means comprise, according to the present embodiment, means for locating the fractions of turns made by the rotating parts 2, these locating means being constituted by a disk attached to one of the parts. rotating 2 and having a visual marking in the form of an alternation of black angular portions 70 and white angular portions 71; a detection cell, in this case a photodetector cell 8, placed opposite the disk 7, this photodetector cell emitting signals corresponding to the successive passages of the portions 70 and 71 and being connected to a counting unit 80 integrated in an electronic card mounted on the metering device.

From the signals transmitted by the photodetector cell, the unit 8G proceeds to count the fractions of revolutions made by the rotating parts 2, a fraction of a turn corresponding to a passage of one of the angular portions 70, 71 in front; the photodetector 8.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an electronic card 800 integrated in a metering device according to the invention. As illustrated, this electronic card is connected to a power supply 801 and is intended to control the starting or stopping of a motor 802, this by means of a microprocessor 80 processing in particular the signals received by the counting unit 80 mentioned above. This card can also measure the display of an LCD 803 for example to display parameters and / or results of operation. This card can furthermore integrate a module 804 for transmitting / receiving radio signals. Moreover, with reference to FIG. 4, a front piece 9 is intended to be attached to the metering device according to the invention. This front piece 9 has several buttons 90 (in this case five buttons) each for selecting a specific amount of liquid to be extracted from the container. The user can thus select a different dosage depending on the button 90 that it operates. The microprocessor 81 of the electronic card is set to deliver a corresponding dose to each button 90 (the microprocessor 81 also managing the LED leds 91 according to the button 90 actuated).

Furthermore, the radio module 804 integrated in the electronic card of each metering device allows the exchange of information with a remote unit (such as a central body). In this case, according to an operation of the system associating the remote unit and the entire metering device, the user (the server) enters a command on the remote unit which transmits on the one hand the corresponding bill and on the other hand a signal to the dispenser assigned to the order. The signal emitted by the remote unit may also include the selection of a dose to be extracted, which causes the illumination of the LED corresponding to the button to which the determined dose is assigned. The server extracts the quantity of liquid by pressing the button 90 indicated by the illuminated led. Then, the system turns off the LED and neutralizes the doser (no product can be debited). The flow rate is recorded by the remote unit (possibly with the code of the user having extracted the liquid).

Moreover, it is noted that the system for securing fraudulent manipulations can be increased by supplementing the system with: means for detecting the presence of a bottle on a dispenser, making it possible to transmit a signal to the remote unit in case unauthorized withdrawal of a bottle from the corresponding dispenser; a metering device mounting system on the bottle supports, for example by providing at the base of the support a receiving housing in which the dispenser is intended to be housed, the housing comprising a lock for cooperating with a portion of the dosing device; such that the latter can be locked in position on the support housing (the establishment manager may be the only holder of the key to remove a metering device). 25

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for metering a quantity of liquid extracted from a container having an opening, the device being intended to be mounted on said opening and to be used in a configuration according to which the container is inverted so as to orient said opening towards the bottom, characterized in that it comprises: at least one withdrawal duct and at least one distribution duct; at least one rotatable piece carrying at its periphery, in a regularly distributed manner, dosing means delimiting in pairs an elementary volume and intended to drive said elementary volume of said withdrawal duct towards said distribution duct; means for controlling the number of fractions of laps traveled by said rotating part. 2. A metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that said withdrawal conduit and said distribution duct are connected by a connecting duct made of a flexible material, said metering means being intended to crush said connecting duct successively. in order to obstruct it. 3. Dosing device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said connecting conduit has a portion in an arc of a circle along which at least two of said locking means are intended to crush said connecting conduit, said volume elementary element extending between said two dosing means crushing said connecting conduit. 4. Dosing device according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said connecting duct is made of silicone. 5. Dosing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said metering means comprise four rollers regularly distributed around the periphery of said rotating part. 6. Dosing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said rotating part is coupled to motor means controlled by said control means. 7. Assay device according to claim 6, characterized in that said control means comprise means for locating said tower fractions and a detection cell of said locating means connected to a counting unit of said fractions. 8. Assay device according to claim 7, characterized in that said locating means comprise a visual marking of said fractions, said cell being a photodetector cell. 9. Assay device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a facade having at least two selection buttons corresponding to two separate dosages and being connected to said control means. 10. Dosing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises an air intake and an air duct extending from said air intake, said duct being intended to unclog inside said container. 11. A metering device according to claim 10, characterized in that said air duct is made of a flexible material and disposed diametrically opposite said connecting duct relative to said rotating part, said metering means being intended to crush. successively said air duct so as to obstruct it. 12. System for metering a quantity of liquid extracted from a container including a metering device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said control means comprise means for transmitting information relating to said extracted quantity and are connected to a remote unit comprising means for recording said extracted quantity.