ES2629291T3 - Automated equipment for beer dispensing facilities - Google Patents

Abstract

Automated equipment adapted to be installed on a beer pump (2) located in an establishment. This beer pump (2) comprises at least two tanks (4) to serve the product, with outlets connected to a refrigerated duct network (5) adapted to transport the product to one or more beer pumps (6) . This automated equipment comprises: - a pneumatic valve (9) placed, during use, at the exit of each tank (4), - an air intake regulator assembly (10) for each tank (4), - a pneumatic system comprising: - a compressed air circuit (7) and - a compressor (8) adapted to produce against pressure in each tank (4) allowing the product to exit. This compressed air circulation (7) is connected to this pneumatic valve (9) of the product outlet of each tank (4) and connected to this air intake regulator assembly (10), characterized in that the automated equipment comprises a system electronic containing: - a series of tank control boxes (11), one for each tank (4 in summary) of the installation (2), - a main control box (12), - a set of action and counter pressure (13) comprising magnetic valves (14, 14f) and tank pressure regulators (15), where these tank control boxes (11) are connected to each other and connected to this main control box (12) so that at the time of use, the electronic system is adapted to control the automatic operation and power supply of this set of action and counter pressure (13), as well as to control the operation of this system tire, and so that The main control box (12) incorporates a pre-registered and programmable management software adapted to the management and control of the equipment, to connect and disconnect the flow of the product to one or several beer pumps (6), to change the tanks (4), to know the temperature and pressure or the level of the latter's content at any time; and so that the main control box (12) is adapted to be connected during use, through an Internal Wi-Fi network, to an electronic device (17) with a touch screen that serves as a remote user interface .

Description

DESCRIPTION

Automated equipment for beer dispensing facilities.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 5

[0001] The invention, as stated in the present specification, refers to an automated equipment for beer dispensing facilities, which provides a series of advantages and features, which will be described in detail below, which entail a remarkable improvement of the current state of the art within its field of application. 10

[0002] More particularly, the object of the invention is centered on an automatic control and management equipment applicable to beer dispensing facilities from two or more tanks at a point of consumption, which, by means of a set of electronic components, electromechanical and computer, provides an optimized system that allows the hospitality provider that has the dispenser and tanks installed, to perform said control, operation and management automatically and remotely through an electronic device with touch screen that acts as an interface, as well As the supplier of the beer tanks, receive information on the installation status remotely and in real time.

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION 20

[0003] The field of application of the present invention is framed within the beer industry sector, especially that which contemplates, in bars, restaurants or other consumption points, beer dispensing facilities by means of tanks.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] As is known, in some hospitality and catering establishments the volume of beer served and consumed is very high, causing the dispensing taps, instead of connecting to a barrel system, to connect directly to one or more tanks whose capacity is much greater, usually 250, 500 or 30 1000 liters, which avoids the continuous transfer of barrels and the continuous exchange of them.

[0005] The advantage of this type of facilities is logistic, economic and marketing for the company that supplies beer, advantages at the level of occupational risk prevention since there is no barrel manipulation and therefore weight manipulation, as well as a more carefree beer dispensing service due to the large capacity of the tanks.

[0006] The drawback, however, is that not all hoteliers are willing to set up a facility of this nature in their premises because a series of operations are left in their hands that are not always easy to perform. 40

[0007] Thus, these tanks have standard outlets equipped with a manual stopcock, refrigerated pipes that transport the beer to the shooter, located in the bar counter and a series of pneumatic taps that allow the necessary operations to be carried out. be able to make use of the tank to be used for the dispensation. Four. Five

[0008] Currently, the steps to perform the use and, where appropriate, the change from one tank to another, are performed manually. It is, therefore, an operation to be performed by the hotelier every time a tank is depleted and another one is used, contemplating the following steps:

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- close the product outlet stopcock from the depleted tank;

- close the pneumatic back pressure tap of the exhausted tank;

- move the beer outlet distributor head from the depleted tank to the new tank to be used, for which it is necessary to use tools to unscrew and screw the corresponding coupling fittings; 55

- open the product outlet stopcock of the new tank to be used;

- open the pneumatic back pressure tap of the tank to be used.

[0009] In addition, these tanks, most of the time, are installed in high altitude areas, in preferred areas of the premises so that they are visible to customers or in poorly accessible areas. This means that the hotelier has to carry out the previous operations in situations of risk if it is performed at height, and also causing inconvenience to customers if the tanks are installed in a preferred area of the premises and must be accessed.

[0010] For its part, the supplying company of the tanks does not have a direct or constant control of the level of consumption of its beer, since it is subject to what the hotelier informs or the forecast that makes, of monkey that can be produce supply errors that may affect the benefit of both the company and the hotelier, in addition to other aspects over which it cannot have direct control, such as maintenance of the product conditions.

[0011] The objective of the present invention is, therefore, to develop equipment that allows automating the operation of the installation, in such a way that the hotelier does not care about it as much as possible and, on the other hand, the supplier can have greater control. of all its facilities. 10

[0012] Finally, as a reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, at least by the applicant, the existence of any automated equipment for beer dispensing facilities or other invention that discloses something similar and presents certain characteristics is unknown. technical, structural and constitutive similar to those presented here, as claimed. fifteen

[0013] An automated equipment according to the preamble of the claim is described in the application WO 2008/147199 A2.

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EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The invention consists of an automated equipment according to the attached claim 1.

[0015] Thus, the automated equipment for beer dispensing facilities that the invention proposes is configured as a remarkable novelty within its field of application, since, according to its implementation and in a restrictive manner, the objectives are satisfactorily achieved. noted above, the characterizing details making it possible conveniently set out in the final claims that accompany the present description.

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[0016] Specifically, the equipment of the invention is applicable to a beer dispensing installation of the type that includes between two and four tanks with outlets connected to refrigerated pipes that transport the beer to at least one shooter located in the bar of the premises of consumption and with a series of pneumatic taps that allow to carry out the necessary operations to be able to make use of the tank that is going to be used for the dispensing, said equipment being formed from a series of electronic elements and components, 35 electromechanical and computer, connected to said installation and designed to allow automatic and / or remote operation of the installation, specifically, to open and close the pneumatic taps and automatically switch from one tank to another, allowing the drive for product output and exchange of remote tank, by the hoteliers from an interface with touch screen, as well as the control of parameters of level, temperature, pressure or other parameters of the tanks, allowing, in addition, in an option of more advanced realization of the equipment, that said information on the state of the installation can also be known remotely, by means of a remote computer server that houses the management software and data generated by all facilities.

[0017] For all this, the equipment of the invention essentially contemplates an electronic system comprising 45 a series of tank switchboards, one for each tank of the installation, and a main switchboard, which control the operation and power supply of a set of actuation and back pressure in each tank, formed by solenoid valves and regulators for the operations of product opening and counter pressure in the tank, as well as the operation of the pneumatic system that acts on said set of actuation and counterpressure, as well as on the set of air inlet regulator and the actuator of the outlet tap of each tank to perform the 50 operations of opening and closing of valves of product passage and against pressing inside the tank to leave the product.

[0018] With the particularity that, in addition, the aforementioned main switchboard is equipped with a management software, programmable to adapt the needs of the equipment to each type of installation and acts as a mini web server, allowing, through a router, its connection via internal WiFi network, to an electronic device with a touch screen, for example an electronic tablet or mobile phone smartphone, to be able to interact with the computer remotely.

[0019] It should be noted that the aforementioned management software is dedicated software, that is, specific for said management, being designed both to connect and disconnect the product fluid to the tap or dispenser taps, to change the tanks and to know their status or content level at any time.

Likewise, it allows to know parameters of temperature and pressure of the product inside the tanks, through the existence of a series of temperature sensors and level and pressure transducers provided for that purpose in the tanks and that are conveniently connected to the switchboards of each tank.

[0020] Likewise, it is envisaged that said management software can be programmed to operate in a totally autonomous manner and the change of tanks takes place according to the parameters established so that, upon reaching a certain level threshold, the product transfer to another tank, even being able to establish the order of opening of the tanks, so that a rotation is always followed to avoid any unnecessary prolongation of consumption. It is worth mentioning that these options are only accessible to the installation operators, leaving the user / hotel owner the conventional handling of the equipment once implemented. 10

[0021] In addition, preferably but not limited to, the main exchange also connects, via Ethernet network to a remote computer server that, as noted above, allows access to information on the status of the installation remotely.

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[0022] With all this, the advantages provided by the team are essentially the following:

- Allows the hotelier to remotely perform automatic tank change.

- The change of tanks can be established automatically, so that the hotelier does not have to be aware of changing the tank, since the change is made automatically once it has been detected that the level 20 of the product is almost nil in the tank That is in service.

- Provides information on the storage temperature of the beer and the pressure inside in each of the tanks, as well as the possible alarms that may be generated in the installation with respect to these measured parameters.

- Report the liters that remain in each tank. 25

- Report the status of each of the equipment tanks to know at any time whether it is in service, empty or at rest.

- Allows communication with the installation via a touch screen and wirelessly for local configuration and management.

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[0023] Optionally, the information collected in each brewery or premises is reported to Factory, to be treated and used well for maintenance, logistics, etc., through a dedicated software application that collects and displays all this data and allows to perform A treatment of them.

[0024] Finally, it should be mentioned that, although the equipment has been defined as to dispense beer, it must be understood that, logically, if there were any other type of beverage or product that could be dispensed in this type of facility, the equipment It will be equally applicable to it.

[0025] The described automated equipment for beer dispensing facilities thus represents an innovative structure of structural and constitutive characteristics unknown until now for the purpose to which it is intended, 40 reasons that, together with its practical utility, provide it with a sufficient basis. to obtain the privilege of exclusivity that is requested.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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[0026] To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, this descriptive report is attached, as an integral part thereof, of a set of drawings, in the that the following has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation:

Figure number 1.- Shows a schematic representation of the automated equipment for beer dispensing facilities 50, showing in it the main parts it comprises and the relationship between them.

Figure number 2.- Shows a schematic view of one of the tanks of the installation and the tank and main switchboards, the schematics of the electronic system and the pneumatic system having been represented as well as the output of the product, showing the linkages of each element in them.

Figures 3 and 4.- They show paths, front and top respectively, of one of the tank exchanges contemplated by the equipment, according to the invention, and which are connected to each tank of the installation, showing the main elements comprising . 60

Figures 5 and 6.- They show paths, front and side respectively, of the control unit

principal of the equipment of the invention, also appreciating the main elements it comprises.

Figure number 7.- Shows a schematic and enlarged view of the actuation and counterpressure assembly that incorporates the equipment, showing in greater detail the different solenoid valves and regulators and their connection to the electrical system and the pneumatic system. 5

Figure number 8.- Shows a schematic view of the air inlet assembly to the tank that the equipment in each tank has, appreciating its elements in greater detail.

Figure number 9.- Shows an enlarged view of the connector and the actuator that incorporates each tank of 10 the installation in the product outlet.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, an example of a non-limiting embodiment of the automated equipment for dispensing installations of recommended beer can be seen, which comprises the parts and elements that are indicated and described in detail below, having used the references to designate each element, according to the following list:

1. Team 20

2. Installation (of beer dispensing)

3. restoration location (where the installation is located)

4. tanks

5. refrigerated pipes (product)

6. shooter (who dispenses beer) 25

7. pressurized air circuit (pneumatic system)

8. compressor

9. pneumatic faucets. 9th actuator 9b connector

10. air inlet regulator assembly (to tank)

11. tank control units 30

12. main switchboard

13. joint action and counter pressure

14. actuating solenoid valves. 14 ’back pressure solenoid valves

15. pressure regulators

16. remote computer server 35

17. electronic device (local user interface)

18. remote computer

19. temperature sensors

20. level transducers

21. pressure transducers 40

22. back pressure opening and closing button (tank control unit (11))

23. product opening and closing button (tank control unit (11))

24. final product recharge button (tank control unit (11))

25. led indicator tank in use (tank control unit (11))

26. led empty tank indicator (tank control unit (11)) 45

27. air inlet

28. connectors to solenoid valves (14), level transducer (20) and temperature probe (19)

29. Rj45 communications ports

30. power connection of the main control unit (12)

31. 50 Ethernet cable connector

32. USB connectors

33. stop button

34. manual tank change button (4),

35. LEDs indicating the status of the equipment (switched on and connected to the network)

36. pressure gauge 55

37. electrical connections of the electronic system

[0028] Thus, as can be seen in the scheme of Figure 1, the equipment (1) in question is designed to be applicable to a beer dispensing installation (2) which, located in a restaurant (3) It comprises at least two product tanks (4), with outlets connected to a refrigerated duct circuit (5) that transport said product to at least one handle (6) located at a distance from the tanks (4). ) in the same place (3), there is also a pressurized air circuit (7), by means of a pneumatic system powered by a

compressor (8), which presses against the inside of the tank so that the product comes out being connected to the pneumatic tap (9) provided at the outlet of each tank (4) and to an air intake regulator assembly (10) thereof.

[0029] From said configuration, already known from the installation (2), the equipment (1) is configured from an electronic system comprising a series of tank control units (11), one for each tank (4 ) of the 5 installation, connected to each other and to a main switchboard (12) and which, provided with the necessary electronic boards and microprocessors, control the automatic operation and power supply of an actuation and counterpressure assembly (13), formed by the solenoid valves (14, 14 ') and pressure regulators (15) of the tank (4), whose opening and closing determines the output of the product and back pressure in the tank, as well as the operation of the pneumatic system that also acts on said set of actuation and back pressure (13), as well as on the 10 air inlet regulator assembly (10) and the actuator of the pneumatic tap (9) of the tank outlet (4).

[0030] Figure 2 shows the electrical connections (37) of the electronic system, represented by thick continuous lines and the air circuit connections (7) of the pneumatic system, represented by thick dashed lines, showing in They link each of the elements 15 described in each tank (4) of the installation (2).

[0031] For its part, the main switchboard (12), is connected, via internal WiFi network and the corresponding router device (not shown in the figures), to an electronic device (17) with touch screen, which acts as a user interface remotely, to perform functions of drive, stop, and change of tank, as well as control of other 20 parameters, by the hotelier in the room (3), when moving through the different menus and options of the pre-recorded management software and programmable, according to the needs of each case, in said main switchboard (12).

[0032] Said management software is dedicated software, that is, specific for said management, 25 being designed both to connect and disconnect the product fluid to the puller (6) or pullers, and to change the tanks (4) and to Know their status or content level at any time. Likewise, it allows to know parameters of temperature and pressure of the product inside the tanks, for which, in each tank (4) the existence of temperature sensors (19), level transducers (20) and pressure transducers is contemplated (21) (schematically represented in Figure 9) conveniently connected to the tank control units (11). 30

[0033] In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the main switchboard (12) is also connected, via Ethernet network (E), to a computer server (16) that controls the specific management software, and to which the company that supplies the product and the tanks, from a remote device or computer (18), and allows you to receive information and data on the status of the different elements of the installation (2). 35

[0034] It should also be noted that the tank control units (11) are prepared to allow their manual operation and control the opening or closing of the product outlet of the tank (4) corresponding to which they are connected. To do this, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, these tank control units (11) have a counter-pressure opening and closing button (22), product opening and closing (23) and the end of recharging of 40 product ( 24). In addition, each tank control unit (11) also has LEDs indicating the status of use (25) or empty tank (26) (provided that the ignition of both LEDs indicates that the tank is deactivated), air inlet (27) , from connectors (28) to the solenoid valves (14, 14 ') of the actuation and back pressure assembly (13) and to the level or temperature probe (20) and transducer (19), as well as at least two ports of communications Rj45 (29) to connect to the main switchboard (12) and to the switchboard (11) of the next tank (4). Four. Five

[0035] For its part, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the main switchboard (12), in addition to the power connection (30), has a communications port Rj45 (29) for data entry from the tank control units (11), an Ethernet cable connector (31) for connection to the network, and two USB connectors (32) for the Wi-Fi connection with the electronic device (17). In addition, this main switchboard (12) also has a 50 stop button (33) to disconnect the equipment and a manual change button (34) to manually activate the change of service of the tanks (4) if necessary, as well as two LEDs indicating the status of the device (35) which, with different colors, show if the device is switched on and connected to the network).

[0036] In accordance with Figure 7, the elements of each actuation and back pressure assembly 55 (13) of the tanks (4) can be seen in detail, essentially comprising an actuation solenoid valve (14), and a back pressure solenoid valve ( 14 ') which, associated with corresponding regulators (15) with high and low pressure gauge (36), are linked to the tank control unit (11) through the electrical connections (37) of the electronic system, and to the Pressurized air circuit (7) of the pneumatic system, so that, upon receiving the signal from the control unit (11), they act to give way or not to the product outlet and to provide back pressure through the pneumatic tap 60 (9 ) coupled to the tank outlet (4) and to which said circuit (7) of the pneumatic system is linked.

[0037] Figure 8 shows the air intake regulator assembly (10) that each tank has (4) and which, having a pressure gauge (37) for said regulation and being connected to the air circuit (7) of the pneumatic system between the counter pressure solenoid valve (14 ') and the tank control unit (4), so that it only acts when said control unit sends a signal for it, contemplates an incoming connection (38) with a non-return valve (39) 5 connected to a ball valve (40) provided with a silencer (41).

[0038] Finally, Figure 9 shows a detail of the pneumatic tap (9) of the product outlet of the tank (4). Preferably, this tap includes an actuator (9a) with two connecting connectors to the air circuit (7) for the pressure inlet and outlet, and a connector (9b) which, actuated by said actuator (9a) to which it is linked, 10 constitutes the opening and closing valve of the tank (4) that opens and closes the product passage towards the handle (6), in this figure, as in figure 2 said product has been represented in the form of a thick line of discontinuous sections, understood, logically circulating inside the aforementioned refrigerated pipes (5).

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[0039] It is worth mentioning that in this figure 9, in order to be able to point them out, a temperature sensor (19), level transducer (20) and pressure transducer (21) have been schematically represented, it being understood that their location is only representative.

[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the tanks (4) of the installation (2), preferably not more than four, 20 have a capacity of 250, 500 or 1000 liters, these being the most common standardized dimensions in this type of product.

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Claims (14)

1. Automated equipment adapted to be installed on a beer pump (2) located in a facility. This beer pump (2) comprises at least two tanks (4) to serve the product, with outlets connected to a refrigerated duct network (5) adapted to transport the product to one or more 5 beer pumps (6 ). This automated equipment includes: - a pneumatic valve (9) placed, during use, at the exit of each tank (4), - an air intake regulator assembly (10) for each tank (4), - a pneumatic system comprising: - a compressed air circuit (7) and 10 - a compressor (8) adapted to produce against pressure in each tank (4) allowing the output of the product. This compressed air circulation (7) is connected to this pneumatic valve (9) of the product outlet of each tank (4) and connected to this air intake regulator assembly (10),  fifteen characterized in that the automated equipment comprises an electronic system that contains: - a series of tank control boxes (11), one for each tank (4 in summary) of the installation (2), - a main control box (12), - an action and counter pressure assembly (13) comprising magnetic valves (14, 14f) and tank pressure regulators (15), where these tank control boxes (11) are connected 20 to each other and connected to this main control box (12) so that at the time of use, the electronic system is adapted to control the automatic operation and power supply of this set of action and counter pressure (13), so as to control the operation of this pneumatic system, and so that the main control box (12) incorporates a pre-registered and programmable management software adapted to the management and control of the equipment, to connect and disconnect the product flow to one or more beer pumps (6), to change the tanks (4), to know the temperature and the pressure or the level of the latter's content at every moment; and so that the main control box (12) is adapted to be connected during use, through an Internal Wi-Fi network, to an electronic device (17) with a touch screen that serves as a remote interface for the device. Username. 2. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE INSTALLATIONS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the main switchboard (12), in addition, is connected, via Ethernet network (E), to a computer server (16) that controls the specific software management, to receive information and data on the status of the 35 different elements of the installation (2). 3. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE INSTALLATIONS, according to claim 2, characterized in that the computer server (16) is accessed from a remote device or computer (18) of the company supplying the product tanks. 40 4. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE INSTALLATIONS, according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that in each tank (4) the existence of temperature sensors (19), level transducers (20) and transducers of pressure (21) connected to the tank control units (11) to know parameters of temperature, pressure and level of the product inside the tanks. Four. Five 5. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the tank control units (11) have Rj45 communication ports (29) for connecting to the main control unit (12) and with the control unit (11) of the next tank (4), as well as with air inlet (27) to connect to the pneumatic system. fifty 6. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the tank control units (11) have a counter-opening and closing counterpressure button (22), the opening and closing of the product ( 23) and end of product recharge (24) for manual operation and control of the opening or closing of the product outlet of the tank (4) corresponding to which 55 are connected. 7. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that each tank control unit (11) has LEDs indicating the state of use (25) or empty tank (26). 60 8.- AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of the claims 1-7, characterized in that each tank control unit (11) has connectors (28) to the solenoid valves (14, 14 ’) of the actuation and counterpressure assembly (13) and to probes and transducers. 9. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the main switchboard (12), in addition to the power connection (30), 5 has a communications port Rj45 (29 ) for data entry from the tank control units (11), an Ethernet cable connector (31) and USB connectors (32). 10. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the main control unit (12) has a stop button (33) to disconnect the equipment and a manual change button (34 ) to manually activate the change of service of the tanks (4). 11. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that the main control unit (12) has LEDs indicating the status of the equipment (35) which, with different colors, show if it is On and connected to the network. 12. AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that each actuation and counterpressure assembly (13) of the tanks (4), comprises an actuation solenoid valve (14), and a back pressure solenoid valve (14 ') which, associated with 20 corresponding regulators (15) with high and low pressure gauge (36), are linked to the tank control unit (11) through the electrical connections (37) of the electronic system, and the pressurized air circuit (7) of the pneumatic system. 13.- AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE INSTALLATIONS, according to any of the 25 claims 1-12, characterized in that the air inlet regulator assembly (10) of each tank (4) is connected to the air circuit (7) of the pneumatic system between the counter pressure solenoid valve (14 ') and the tank control unit (4). 14.- AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT FOR BEER DISPENSE FACILITIES, according to any of the 30 claims 1-13, characterized in that the pneumatic tap (9) of the product outlet of the tank (4) contemplates an actuator (9a) with connection to the circuit of air (7) and a connector (9b) which, actuated by said actuator (9a) to which it is linked, constitutes the opening and closing valve of the tank (4) that opens and closes the product passage to the handle (6 ).  35