ES2863524T3 - Pyramid Self Service Beverage Dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

Device intended to allow a user to fill a glass or cup with a predetermined quantity of drink without the intervention of an operator other than the user, controlling the quantity dispensed and / or the payment of the quantity dispensed and / or the user to whom it is dispensed the drink, by means of a device whose ceiling (13) has an area less than 35% of the area of the base (11) of the dispensing device; and in which at least a portion of the walls (12) of the casing (10) are inclined in a convergent path, with a cross-sectional area, parallel to the base of the dispensing device, being smaller the greater the distance from the base, the dispensing device having an isolated character accessible from different fronts thereof, and where the walls of the casing, with the exception of the service surfaces, lack horizontal or almost horizontal areas accessible from the exterior of the casing.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Pyramid Self Service Beverage Dispenser

Technique field

The present invention concerns a self-service beverage dispensing device, intended to allow a user to fill a glass or cup with a predetermined amount of beverage without the intervention of an operator other than the user, controlling the amount dispensed and / or the payment of the amount dispensed and / or the user to whom the drink is dispensed, by means of a device lacking or very few horizontal or almost horizontal surfaces on which to deposit glasses or glasses or suitable to facilitate the climbing of the device.

State of the art

Self-service beverage dispensing devices are known to allow the filling of glasses or cups of users automatically without the intervention of an operator other than the user.

Examples of these devices are disclosed by GB2458373A according to the preamble of claim 1, GB2320488, EP2199995, GB2441995, EP2735539 and US2010125362.

All these documents describe devices that can dispense doses of drinks to a user after making a payment or after their identification, but none of them propose a dispensing device that includes anti-vandalism characteristics that prevent the accumulation of glasses or glasses on top of it, which is used as a platform on which to stand up as a platform (especially if used in large bars, concerts or festivals), or that objects are accumulated on top of it. Neither are solutions proposed that make it difficult or prevent the dispenser from being knocked over by said vandalism users.

Brief description of the invention

The present invention concerns a self-service beverage dispensing device according to claim 1. Such dispensing device is intended to be located in places of public access, such as bars, restaurants, hotels, swimming pools, gyms, etc., or in places with a high influx public, such as concerts, festivals, sports stadiums, fairs, congresses, etc., having said beverage dispenser anti-vandal capabilities.

It is also expected that they can be easily located or moved, thus allowing their use in sporadic events and their subsequent removal. In all these situations, a self-service beverage dispensing device offers many advantages, since it allows offering beverage service in a controlled way without requiring it to be attended by an operator, with all the savings that this implies and with the freedom of schedules that it provides. Detailed description of some embodiments

The casing contains the main components of the dispensing device inside, protecting them from being manipulated by unauthorized operators. Said components include a tank containing a beverage to be dispensed, connected via conduits to a cooling device for cooling the beverage to be dispensed, which in turn is connected by conduits to at least one externally accessible beverage dispenser of the casing, which allows the liquids to be carried from the tank to the dispenser, passing through the cooling device. Users can obtain the beverage from the beverage dispenser by filling a cup or glass arranged below said beverage dispenser.

A serving surface is located under the vertical of the serving dispenser which is at least one, at a sufficient distance to allow a glass or cup to be placed under the beverage dispenser. The size of the service surface will be that occupied by a glass or cup located between said service surface and the beverage dispenser. Furthermore the dispensing device also includes control elements. The control unit governs the automatic opening and closing valve of the beverage dispenser, and is connected to at least one device for measuring the amount of beverage dispensed and / or remaining inside the beverage tanks to be dispensed. This allows the control unit to open the automatic valve, allowing the beverage to flow through the beverage dispenser, while controlling the amount of beverage dispensed, thus knowing when it is required to close the automatic valve for having dispensed a full dose of drink.

The control unit will also be connected to at least one payment detector device and / or a user recognition system, which allows it to know when a user has permission to receive a dose of drink, either for having made the payment, either by having identified themselves, which allows to know if that user has permission to receive a drink by verifying their identity in a register accessible by the control unit, or allows them to register their drinks in a register for a later payment.

The control unit can also optionally have a sensor for the correct positioning of the glass or cup under the beverage dispenser, avoiding erroneous dispensing, or it is also envisaged that the beverage dispenser has a manual dispensing valve, redundant with the automatic valve, being necessary the simultaneous opening of the automatic valve by the control unit and the manual valve by the user to obtain a dose of drink, thus ensuring that the user has correctly placed the glass or cup before it is dispense.

Obviously it is contemplated that the automatic valve is at any point in the conduit between the beverage container to be dispensed and the beverage dispenser.

It will be understood that a control unit is an electronic device preferably programmable, such as a programmable logic controller, a computer, a printed circuit, etc., provided with a data input, a memory, a calculation capacity and a data output, optionally having an interface that allows information to be communicated to a user, or that allows a user to modify the configuration of the control unit. By way of example, it is proposed that the payment detector device be a credit or debit card reader, or a coin and / or banknote recognition system, a contactless payment system, or a payment system through a mobile phone.

Likewise, the user recognition system is proposed, with a non-limiting character, to be a detector of an identifier delivered to the user, such as a magnetic card, an RFID transmitter, a bracelet, a barcode or QR code, or other similar technology, or a user biometric detection system, either by reading fingerprints, iris, voice, detecting the shape of any part of the body, etc.

In a novel way, the present invention proposes that at least a portion of the casing walls are inclined in a convergent path, preferably at least the upper half of the walls, and that the cross section of the dispensing device, parallel to the base, It has a smaller area the greater its distance from the aforementioned base. It will be understood that said convergent trajectories can be curved, for example forming a spherical cap, or the union of one or more curved planes on a single axis. Preferably said sloping portion of the casing walls runs from the base to the ceiling of the dispensing device.

This feature allows the ceiling of the device to be lower than the base without presenting horizontal or near horizontal surfaces. It also allows the interior hollow space to have a larger size at the base, where the beverage tanks to be dispensed are located, which should be large, than at the top, thus optimizing the overall volume of the dispensing device, ensuring that it houses a large quantity of beverage to be dispensed into a dispenser with a relatively small volume, and shifting the center of gravity towards the lower part of the dispensing device, which gives it greater stability.

Furthermore, this geometry allows that, in the event that the dispensing device were pushed horizontally by a malicious user attempting to overturn it, the inclination of its walls would cause a portion of said horizontal thrust to decompose in the form of a vertical component force, reducing the horizontal component of the pushing force and at the same time increasing the stability of the dispensing device, making its overturning much more difficult. This characteristic allows the dispensing device to be deposited in an isolated position, without requiring the backing of a wall or wall, thus remaining accessible from all sides.

The inclination of the walls also discourages urination against them, since an inclined plane would expel said urine against the user's feet.

Other essential characteristics of the proposed invention are that the ceiling has an area less than 35% of the area of the base of the dispenser, and that the walls of the housing, except for the service surfaces, lack horizontal or almost horizontal areas accessible from the exterior of the casing, making it impossible to deposit glasses or cups in said areas, and their use as a support point for climbing the dispensing device.

It will be understood that an almost horizontal zone will be all that surface that has an inclination of less than 15 ° with respect to the horizontal. For the sake of understanding it will also be understood that the roof is the part of the casing that covers its cusp, enclosing the interior space of the casing, regardless of its geometry, being able to be flat, pyramidal, spherical cap, curved, etc. Typically the roof will slope less than 45 ° from the horizontal.

All these essential characteristics described allow the dispensing device to be left unattended in hostile environments and at the mercy of drunk users, such as large sporting or musical events, without the risk of damaging the dispensing device or its users, thanks to the innovative features anti-vandalism described.

According to a further embodiment, the serving surfaces lack horizontal or nearly horizontal areas of a sufficient area to inscribe circles of 3 cm in diameter, making it impossible to deposit glasses or glasses on said serving surfaces. This feature forces the user to hold the glass or cup under the beverage dispenser during dispensing, and ensures that no user forgets a full or empty glass or cup in that position, hindering the normal use of the dispensing device.

It is also proposed that the beverage dispenser does not protrude from the dispenser shell. This prevents him from being exposed, which would make it easier for him to be hit, and would facilitate vandalism such as drinking directly from the beverage dispenser. By not being exposed, these possibilities are avoided.

It will be understood that the envelope is the minimum geometric shape that the proposed dispenser contains, the casing being inscribed in said minimum geometric shape, although there may be hollow spaces within said envelope.

It is also envisaged that the service surface does not protrude from said enclosure, for similar reasons.

According to a preferred embodiment, said at least one beverage dispenser and its corresponding service surface are integrated in at least one niche withdrawn from the walls of the casing, said niche being accessible from the outside of the casing but being sunk towards the inside of the casing. the casing and therefore preventing the aforementioned elements from being exposed to vandalism.

Likewise, it is proposed that said at least one service surface has a slope greater than 30 ° with respect to the horizontal, which avoids the deposition of glasses or glasses and ensures a rapid elimination of residues that could be deposited on said service surface.

Additionally, it is considered preferable that the area of the horizontal or almost horizontal ceiling zone is less than 35% of the area of the base of the dispenser, for example being less than 20%, 10% or even being equal to zero. It is also contemplated that the horizontal surface of the ceiling, without considering the almost horizontal surface, has an area less than 35%, or 20%, or 10% of the area of the base of the dispenser, and may even be equal to zero. Preferably, said horizontal zone, or said horizontal or almost horizontal zone, will be of such a size that it is not possible to inscribe a circle with a diameter of 25 cm, which would make it extremely difficult for a person to stand on said ceiling.

These novel features described above provide a beverage dispensing device on which glasses or glasses can be placed very difficultly, which is very difficult to scale and which lacks an upper ceiling surface that can be reached or on which a large object or a user can stand. easily. All these characteristics, together with the great robustness of its casing, make the proposed beverage dispenser an element with anti-vandalism characteristics, since it makes it impossible to use it as a platform on which to stand, and avoids the accumulation of glasses, goblets and other elements such as jackets, bags, backpacks, etc., on the upper part, or on any surface, which makes it ideal for large events in which alcohol is served, as it allows them to be placed among people without requiring constant supervision of a operator.

The preferred use for the proposed dispensing device is the dispensing of beer, but other beverages are also contemplated, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, it is proposed that its envelope, the minimal geometric shape that the proposed dispenser contains, has a general geometry that is conical, frusto-conical, with a circular base, or a pyramidal or frusto-pyramidal geometry with a polygonal base.

It will be understood that a pyramid may have any number of triangular sides greater than two.

According to a specific proposed embodiment, the geometry of the dispensing device is defined as an envelope in the shape of a regular pyramid with a hexagonal base and equipped with six inclined faces of a basic triangular shape converging on its upper edge, the upper end of the pyramid being horizontally truncated, and being the six lower corners of the pyramid, close to the six base vertices, truncated by six vertical planes, each one defined by a vertical line and by a line that joins the center of one side of the hexagonal base with the center of another side of the contiguous hexagonal base, each of said truncations producing a vertical plane of triangular shape, and each one of the six basic triangular faces of the pyramid being cut into a rhombus shape.

This geometry offers a six-sided, truncated-pyramidal casing whose lower third has been cut by the tips, reducing its base and giving said lower third a hybrid geometry that mixes a hexagonal prism with a hexagonal pyramid.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing device has a plurality of beverage dispensers, arranged in radial symmetry, accessible from different faces of the dispenser. In other words, it has several drink dispensers located on different faces of the dispensing device, which in this configuration may have an isolated character accessible from different fronts, thus increasing the service capacity, by being able to serve two, three, four or more users. simultaneously.

Preferably the dispensing device has three drink dispensers distributed with a regular angular spacing or four drink dispensers distributed with a regular angular spacing.

It is envisaged that all the dispensers of the same device dispense the same drink, or that they provide different drinks, and it is also possible to provide that the user has a selector that allows choosing the drink to be dispensed from a specific dispenser from a limited catalog of beverages, for example between different types of beer. It is also envisaged that a user has only access to one type of drink, for example only non-alcoholic beer, or that he has previously selected his preferred type of drink, and that when he identifies himself in the dispensing device, he is provided only that type of drink. to which you have access or that you have previously selected. Of course, for the realization of these embodiments, it will be necessary for the beverage tanks to be dispensed to include different tanks containing different beverages.

It is also proposed that the empty space inside the housing is distributed in three superimposed levels, a lower level containing at least the beverage tank to be dispensed, which is at least one, and the upper level containing at least the control unit.

This distribution of the content allows them to be arranged in such a way that those with the greatest volume and weight are at the base, while the lightest and smallest are concentrated at the top, thus achieving a very low center of gravity of the dispensing device, which gives it great stability and makes it difficult for it to be overturned by pushing it sideways, for example by vandalism users. This distribution also allows the volume of the dispensing device to be reduced in height, being able to adopt, for example, the aforementioned conical or pyramidal geometry, provided with inclined walls. Another additional advantage of this distribution of the elements is that the elements that can be damaged in case of being wet are all located above the elements that handle the drink, so not even in the event of accidental breakage or spilling of the drink. it would not damage the control unit.

According to another preferred embodiment, the lower level also houses pressurized gas cylinders connected to the beverage tanks to be dispensed to drive said beverage from the beverage tanks to be dispensed to the beverage dispenser, which is at least one and / or at least one tank. of discarded beverage connected to at least one filtering surface coincident with the service surface, for the collection of the discarded beverage during dispensing.

This arrangement allows the dispensing device to be autonomous from external intakes of liquids, gas and drains, facilitating its placement, and allows concentrating supplies of consumables and discarded beverage tanks that must be periodically emptied in the lower part of the device, facilitating its replacement without the need to carry weights.

The walls of the casing have at least one gate that gives access to said lower level of the casing, which facilitates access to that lower part that concentrates the consumables, and a gate that gives access to the intermediate level.

According to another proposed embodiment, the lower level also houses said at least one cooling device for the beverage to be dispensed which, optionally, will be housed within a closed compartment separated from the rest of the interior space of the housing. Said closed compartment will have its own ventilation independent of the possible ventilation of the rest of the interior space of the dispensing device, the closed compartment being therefore provided with an external air inlet and an external air outlet, both separate and independent, which it allows air circulation inside the closed compartment causing the extraction of heat from it, preferably causing a forced air circulation by means of, for example, a fan. Said outdoor air inlet and outlet will preferably be located at the base of the dispensing device, thus being protected from the entry of liquids or rain, from the insertion of foreign bodies by users, and remaining hidden. This allows the dispensing device to be cleaned with a hose, or with pressurized water without the risk of water entering through said inlet and outlet of outside air. Optionally, it is also proposed to include a hatch on the lower level that provides access to the interior of said closed compartment for maintenance.

It is also proposed that the dispensing device includes a hatch that provides access to the upper level of the housing.

It is also proposed that the different gates have different locks and different keys, allowing a specific user to give access only to some of the levels and not to the others, for example reserved for maintenance personnel.

The location of the cooling device on the lower level also contributes to lowering the center of gravity of the assembly, as it is a very heavy element that contains a tank that is filled with water for its operation.

Every time the beverage tanks to be dispensed are exhausted, an operator must replace or refill them, through the aforementioned hatch, taking advantage of, if necessary, replacing or refilling the pressurized gas cylinders, and to empty or replace the tanks of discarded drink.

To facilitate said operation in the event that the dispensing device has at least three tanks of beverages to be dispensed, it is proposed to place them on a rotating platform, arranged at the bottom of the hollow space, allowing any of said tanks to be faced with said hatch.

The intermediate level is proposed to contain at least one of the following characteristics:

an electrical panel of the dispensing device;

at least one device for measuring the amount of beverage dispensed and / or remaining;

at least one automatic and / or manual valve for opening and closing said at least one beverage dispenser (22); a purge valve for the beverage lines that carry the beverage to be dispensed;

at least one filling inlet of the refrigerator for its filling with water.

These elements allow the dispensing device to be turned on and off, which requires certain maintenance operations such as emptying the beverage lines to turn it off, or filling the refrigerator with water to start it, in addition to controlling the water. electrical switches and / or hydraulic or pneumatic valves. It is therefore proposed to centralize all these elements of control at the intermediate level, being accessible through a specific hatch on the intermediate level accessible to the operators in charge of switching the dispensing device on and off.

Optionally, it is proposed that where the base, the walls and the cover are attached to an inner tubular chassis, and where at least a fraction of the chassis coinciding with the aforementioned upper level is removably attached to the rest of the chassis by means of removable reusable connectors, and supports said at least one control unit, which is electrically and electronically connected to the rest of the components of the dispensing device by means of removable reusable connectors. The lid of the dispensing device will also be supported to said upper fraction of the chassis.

It will be understood that a removable joint is one that can be disconnected without requiring cutting tasks, and it will also be understood that reusable removable connectors are those that can provide a connection between two elements, but also allow them to be disconnected without requiring cutting operations, being able to be released to later be able to rejoin without being replaced. These reusable removable connectors can refer to both mechanical connectors that transmit forces, such as screws, pins, clamps, clamps, etc., as well as electrical or signal connectors, such as plugs of different formats, as well as hydraulic or pneumatic connectors, such as cylindrical quick connectors, bushings, etc.

That is to say that at least the upper level of the casing has a chassis independent of the chassis of the rest of the casing and connected to it for example by screws.

The said control unit housed in said upper level will also be supported to said independent portion of the chassis and connected to the components housed in other levels by means of said removable reusable electrical, electronic, hydraulic and / or pneumatic connectors.

This feature allows that if a problem or malfunction occurs in the control unit of the dispensing device, only said defective part can be removed and replaced by another that is operational in a short period of time, and that the damaged part can be transferred to a workshop for repair, being much easier to move a part of the device, which could be moved manually, than to move the entire dispensing device that can reach a high weight difficult to handle without tools.

Additionally it is contemplated that the upper level median cross section of the device has a smaller area than the median intermediate level cross section and / or the lower level median cross section. It will be understood that the cross section is that section parallel to the base.

Therefore it is proposed that the middle section of the different levels be decreasing, the upper levels being narrower than the lower ones, which provides a tapered section device. According to another embodiment, the control unit is connected to wireless communication means that allow relevant information to be transmitted to a remote terminal, the information being related to the amount of drink dispensed, to the amount of drink remaining, to the information received through of the payment detector device and / or of the user recognition system, and / or that allow receiving information or control orders from said remote terminal. This allows an operator to remotely control the dispensing device and know its status, also allowing him to remotely modify its operating parameters, said remote operator being able to control a plurality of dispensing devices simultaneously. This feature will allow the aforementioned remote operator to know when new supplies are required, and to supply them before they run out, or without requiring periodic face-to-face supply checking operations, with the consequent saving of personnel.

The housing can also integrate a battery that supplies electricity to the control unit and the other devices that require electrical power for their operation, the dispenser being autonomous from the electrical network.

This allows the proposed dispensing device to be totally autonomous, and allows it to be located in positions far from supply points, although it will require periodic replacement operations of depleted batteries with charged ones, or periodic recharging operations through connection to the electrical network. . This feature offers advantages especially in sporadic events of a duration limited to a few hours, such as concerts or sporting events, since the duration of the batteries may be sufficient to ensure the power supply throughout the duration of the aforementioned sporadic event.

It is also proposed that the handle integrates a detector of the presence of a glass below its vertical, thus allowing liquid to be dispensed only when said sensor confirms the presence of a glass, and also saving the installation of a manual valve, or manual actuator. that must be actuated by the user, with the consequent risk of misuse, application of excessive force or breakage.

According to a further proposal, the casing can further include external air inlets located below the lower level, and / or located at the base and / or located between the base and the walls of the casing, and because the casing also includes some air vents located above the upper level, and / or on the ceiling, and / or located between the walls and the ceiling, the three levels being communicated allowing air circulation from the base to the ceiling passing through the three levels and producing the cooling of the components housed in the casing. This position of the air inlets and outlets avoid the presence of openings in the walls of the device, where users could introduce foreign elements or liquids inside the device, or where the water in the rain could seep inside. In addition, the position of the inlets at the lower and upper ends ensures an ascending air current by convection, since the heat dissipated inside the housing by the beverage cooling device and by the electronics, as well as the possible sun incident on the housing , will heat the indoor air, producing its rise and accumulation in the upper part or upper level, where it will be expelled through the air outlet causing a fresh and cooler air entry through the base of the device, achieving a cooling of the interior of the Case.

Optionally it is proposed that said upward air circulation is driven by at least one fan installed inside the casing. This will allow to increase the renewal of indoor air and therefore will ensure a lower temperature of said indoor air, achieving a more efficient operation of the systems that compose it.

It is also contemplated that at least the walls of the dispensing device are thermally insulated, which prevents excessive heating of its interior from occurring, and increases its resistance to heating in the event of direct sunlight. It could also allow the interior of the dispensing device to be cooled to ensure a correct temperature of the beverage and gas tanks, avoiding dangerous overheating. It is also proposed that the service surface is a filtering inclined plane connected to a waste beverage container arranged within the empty space, next to the beverage containers to be dispensed.

The base of the dispensing device may also include at least one of the following features:

• two elongated housings parallel to each other and parallel to the base, accessible from the front of the dispensing device, and provided for inserting the forks of a forklift;

• a plurality of wheels to facilitate movement of the dispensing device;

• a plurality of adjustable telescopic legs for stabilizing the dispensing device;

at least one front portion beveled to allow access to ramps.

Above the ceiling of the dispensing device, it is envisaged that, according to an alternative embodiment, advertising elements such as flags or posters are included, or that elements are included to improve their location such as poles, or functional elements, such as for example a parasol.

It will be understood that the supply of beverage to the dispensing device from a reservoir external to said dispensing device does not alter the proposed invention at all.

The addition of advertising elements or advertising screens on the surface of the walls of the dispensing device is also contemplated.

Another additional feature is to incorporate, associated with each of said drink dispensers, an information screen that transmits information to the user, said information screen being connected to the control unit. The information displayed can be related to the amount of drink consumed by a user, the credit entered, the amount of drink remaining to be served, at the start of the dispensing of the drink, and the time remaining to obtain the drink to be dispensed. , etc.

Geometric positional references, such as parallel, perpendicular, tangent, etc. They admit deviations of up to ± 5 ° with respect to the theoretical position defined by said nomenclature.

Other characteristics of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of an embodiment. Brief description of the figures

The foregoing and other advantages and characteristics will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, which should be taken by way of illustration and not limitation, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a first side elevation view of the dispensing device, according to a first embodiment provided with six faces, three of which are provided with beverage dispensers;

Fig. 2 shows a second side elevation view of the dispensing device, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the dispensing device, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a bottom view of the dispensing device, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a side elevation view of the dispensing device, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, in which the casing has been removed, leaving its base and a structural chassis that supports the interior elements of the dispensing device;

Fig. 6 shows a first side elevation view of the dispensing device, according to a second embodiment, also provided with six faces, three of them provided with beverage dispensers;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the dispensing device, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, in which two doors of the lower level of the beverage dispenser are shown open, giving access to the beverage tanks to be dispensed, and a hatch of the intermediate level of the beverage dispenser open, giving access to control and regulation elements (not shown) of the beverage dispensing device;

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the dispensing device, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, in which the bare tubular chassis is shown, devoid of walls, showing the main interior elements of the dispenser.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The present invention shown in the attached figures, with a non-limiting illustrative character, describes a self-service beverage dispensing device whose general geometry, the arrangement of the components and whose technical characteristics make it suitable for its autonomous use without regard to public places, such as bars, restaurants, hotels, sports facilities, theaters, cinemas, etc., and in events with a large influx of public, such as concerts, festivals, sporting events, fairs, congresses, etc.

The dispensing device is composed of a housing 10 formed, according to a first illustrative embodiment shown in Fig. 1, and according to a second embodiment shown in Fig. 6, by a hexagonal base 11 intended to rest on a floor, walls 12 and a ceiling 13, said casing 10 defining an interior hollow space that houses the main components of the proposed dispensing device. Said walls 12 and ceiling 13 are anchored on a tubular chassis 15 integrated inside said interior hollow space.

The geometry of the casing 10 is designed to make it difficult for a person to scale the dispensing device and stand on top of it, while making it difficult to accumulate objects on its ceiling 13 and its use as a bar on which to accumulate glasses or glasses. , and ensures a low center of gravity and a difficult tipping when pushed, thanks to having sloping walls, which breaks down horizontal forces increasing its stability.

All this is achieved by avoiding the existence of horizontal or almost horizontal surfaces (with an inclination of ± 15 ° with respect to the horizontal), accessible from the outside of the casing 10 on the walls 12 of the casing10, and offering a ceiling 13 of very small size, said roof 13 being, in the first and second described embodiments, of a size less than 20% of the size of the base 11 of the casing 10, and being preferably not flat but convex.

The ceiling 13 is furthermore preferably inclined more than 15 °, making it impossible to store objects or for a user to remain on top of it.

In all the embodiments described, the walls 12 lack horizontal or nearly horizontal surfaces, or surfaces on which circles of more than 3cm in diameter can be inscribed, and therefore lack surfaces on which vessels can be stably deposited. or glasses.

According to both embodiments shown in the attached figures, the casing has a hexagonal base 11, and from each of its edges a triangular vertical wall 12a starts, while from each of its vertices a rhomboidal inclined wall 12b starts laterally joined by its lower half with said vertical triangular walls 12a and laterally joined by its upper half with the other rhomboidal walls 12b. The six rhomboidal walls 12b have convergent trajectories at an upper vertex, but are truncated forming the roof 13 of the casing 10.

Thus, the general shape of the dispensing device is that of a regular pyramid with a hexagonal base with its upper vertex truncated horizontally and its six lower vertices truncated vertically by six vertical planes.

In a similar way it is proposed that the dispensing device have a similar geometry with a triangular, square or octagonal base.

This geometry provides other advantages, such as a wider hollow interior space at the base, a lower center of gravity, etc.

Said walls 12, base 11 and ceiling 13 are attached to a tubular chassis 15 that joins and supports them, said tubular chassis 15 being a set of tubes joined forming a rigid structure that defines the general geometry of the dispensing device, leaving the interior space free. . The walls 12 are joined and fixed on said tubular chassis 15 so that their joints are sealed preventing the entry of water or foreign bodies, and said walls 12 integrating one or more gates 16 to gain access to the interior of the dispensing device.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, open gates 16 can be seen intended to give access to the beverage tanks 20 housed in the lower part of the dispensing device, said gates being composed of two adjacent vertical triangular walls 12a connected to a triangular portion. bottom of an inclined rhomboidal wall 12b. In the same figure another open gate 16 can be seen destined to give access to an intermediate level N2 of the dispensing device, said gate 16 being an intermediate portion of a rhomboidal inclined wall 12b.

In all the embodiments shown in the attached figures, in one or more of the rhomboidal walls 12b there are sunken niches that house drink dispensers 22, through which users can obtain their dose of drink after making a payment or after making their identification, without said drink dispensers 22 protruding from the plane formed by said rhomboidal walls 12b.

Said recessed niches also house a serving surface 14 arranged vertically aligned below each beverage dispenser 22, including a filter surface to collect any spilled beverage.

An information screen 30 is also incorporated inside said sunken niche that provides the user with relevant information regarding their consumption.

In the first and second embodiments shown in the attached figures of a pyramidal shape with a hexagonal base, drink dispensers 22 are arranged on three alternating rhomboidal walls 12b, accessible from three different flanks of the dispensing device, which allows to serve more people in less time. and with fewer queues, using isolated smaller dispensing devices.

The interior of the hollow space defined by the casing 10 houses the main components of the device, organized in three superimposed levels, as shown in Fig. 5, corresponding to the first embodiment, and in Fig. 8 corresponding to the second embodiment. realization.

In both the first and second embodiments, at a lower level N1 there are the beverage tanks to be dispensed 20, as well as pressurized gas cylinders 23 connected to said beverage tanks to be dispensed 20 to drive the beverage to the dispensers. 22. This lower level N1 also houses some discarded drink tanks (not shown), where the drink that has been dispensed through the drink dispensers 22 but which has been collected by said filtering surface of the surface of the service 14 as it was not collected by the user.

According to the second embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the lower level N1 also contains a cooling device 21 for the beverage to be dispensed, through which the beverage to be dispensed circulates after leaving the tank and before exiting through the beverage dispenser 22. This cooling device 21 is of the type usually used in the sector, but in the present embodiment it is proposed that it be contained in a closed compartment 21a separated from the rest of the interior space of the dispensing device and provided with a ventilation independent from the rest of the dispensing device. , to prevent the heat generated by said cooling device from heating other components of the dispensing device. Said independent ventilation is proposed to consist of an outside air inlet and an outside air outlet independent and separate, housed in the base 11, and connected to a fan that produces the air inlet and outlet. It is proposed that the lower level N1 contains gates to allow the replacement of the beverage tanks to be dispensed and the gas cylinders 23, as well as an independent gate for the maintenance of the cooling device 21.

Alternatively, and according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 5, said cooling device 21 is located at an intermediate level N2 superimposed on the lower level N1. In such a case, the cooling of said cooling device 21 would be produced by an ascending air current that would pass through the entire hollow interior of the dispensing device from the base 11, where it would enter through some inlets or slits, to the ceiling 13 where it would be expelled. through outlets or slits, said air stream being the same one in charge of cooling the rest of the elements that make up the dispensing device.

On the contrary, and according to the second embodiment shown in Fig. 8, said intermediate level N2 would contain control and regulation elements necessary for turning the dispensing device on and off, such as an electrical control panel, which allows the passage to be opened or closed. of electrical current to the device as a whole or to its parts independently. It can also contain hydraulic or pneumatic valves that regulate the passage of the beverage to be dispensed or of the gas from the gas cylinders 23, allowing the passage of fluid to be opened or closed to a specific beverage dispenser 22, to all of them, or to allow the emptying of ducts for cleaning or storage. Also different sensors can be housed in said intermediate level N2. All these elements included in said intermediate level N2 are accessible through at least one gate made in the walls 12 of the dispensing device.

In both the first and second embodiments, it is proposed that an upper level N3 superimposed on the intermediate level N2, houses a control unit 40, which in this embodiment will be a PLC (programmable logic controller), programmed to serve the right amount of drink to users who obtain permission after making a payment or after identifying themselves, by means of said payment detector device or said user identification device (not shown) connected to the control unit 40, also the different sensors and the different automatic actuators, such as for example solenoid valves, integrated in the dispensing device, will be connected to said control unit 40.

To carry out this control, the PLC will be connected to an automatic opening and closing valve for each of the beverage dispensers 22, allowing or preventing the passage of beverage through each one of them. It will also be connected to a meter for the amount of beverage dispensed or remaining to allow accurate dosing of dispensed doses, and to one or more payment detection devices and / or user recognition systems, preferably one for each beverage dispenser.

As an alternative embodiment, a user recognition system is proposed by means of a detector of RFID wristbands that have previously been provided to accredited users, either by prepayment, or by recording the consumptions for later payment. Means of payment are also provided through electronic devices, such as through a mobile phone, or through biometric detection.

This also allows that, in the case of dispensing alcoholic beverages, only those people who have been verified to meet the age requirements are supplied, for example by prior registration before supplying said bracelets or before registering them in the system. .

The preferred use of the proposed dispensing device is the dispensing of beer.

In the two embodiments shown in the attached figures, the control unit 40 is also connected to screens 30 located above each of the drink dispensers and visible from the outside of the housing, in which information is offered to the user about your drink consumption, on the economic amount spent or remaining, or advertising information.

The walls 12, base 11 and roof 13 are joined and supported by a tubular chassis 15 that defines a rigid structure. A portion of said tubular chassis 15, corresponding to the upper level N3, is independent from the rest of the tubular chassis 15, and is removably attached to it by means of reusable removable connectors, such as screws or clamps.

The control unit 40 will be supported on said removable portion of the tubular chassis 15, and connected electrically and electronically to the rest of the components by means of removable reusable connectors, for example power or data plugs. This allows that, if necessary, said upper portion of the tubular chassis 15, together with the control unit 40, can be quickly removed for repair and replaced by an operational control unit 40. The roof 13 and the portions of the walls 12 covering said removable portion of the tubular chassis 15 may also be replaced with said removable portion of the chassis, or be detached from the chassis and repositioned on the replacement after placement.

It is also proposed that, as shown in Figures 6 to 8 corresponding to the second embodiment, but also applicable to the first embodiment or others, include one or all of the following characteristics:

that the base 11 of the dispensing device integrates three wheels 41 protruding from its lower face, arranged in a triangle, at least one of them being able to be self-orientating;

that the base 11 of the dispensing device integrates three adjustable telescopic legs 42 arranged in a triangle, which allow the dispensing device to seat, fix it and level it, said telescopic legs 42 being able to be arranged sandwiched between said wheels and equidistant from them;

including a beveled front portion 43 at one end of the underside of the base 11, so as to facilitate access of the dispensing device to ramps;

include two elongated housings 44 parallel to each other and parallel to the base, accessible from the front of the dispensing device, and provided for the insertion of forks of a forklift.

Claims (14)

1. - Self-service beverage dispensing device with anti-vandalism characteristics that includes a casing (10) equipped with a base (11), intended to be supported on a floor, and walls (12) and a ceiling (13) that surround an interior empty space, integrating the aforementioned casing: • at least one tank (20) containing a beverage to be dispensed located in the lower half of said casing and within the interior empty space; • at least one cooling device (21) for cooling the beverage to be dispensed arranged within the interior empty space and connected to the tank (20) containing a beverage to be dispensed, which is at least one in number, by means of conduits; • at least one beverage dispenser (22) accessible from outside the casing (10) connected to the cooling device (21) by conduits, • at least one measuring device to measure the amount of beverage dispensed and / or remaining; • at least one automatic valve for opening and closing said at least one beverage dispenser (22); • at least one payment detection device and / or a user recognition system; • a control unit (40) that controls said at least one automatic valve and is connected to the payment detection device and / or to the user recognition system and to the measurement device to measure the amount of drink dispensed and / or remaining; characterized because • the upper part (13) has a surface area less than 35% of the surface area of the base (11) of the dispensing device; and • at least a part of the walls (12) of the housing (10) is inclined in a convergent path, with a cross-sectional area parallel to the base of the dispensing device being smaller the further it is from the base; • the dispensing device is self-contained in nature, accessible from different sides and comprises at least one other beverage dispenser (22) such that a plurality of beverage dispensers (22) are arranged around the dispensing device with a regular angular spacing, being accessible from different faces of the dispensing device; • said beverage dispensers (22) each being arranged vertically on at least one service surface (14) accessible from outside the housing (10), being located at a sufficient distance from the beverage dispenser (22) to place a cup or glass between the surface (14) and the beverage dispenser (22), and • the walls (12) of the housing (10), with the exception of the service surfaces (14), lack horizontal or almost horizontal areas accessible from outside the casing (10), making it difficult to climb onto the dispensing device 2. - Dispensing device according to claim 1, which also includes at least one of the following additional features: • said at least one beverage dispenser (22) does not protrude from the convex shell of the dispensing device; • said at least one service surface (14) does not protrude from the convex shell of the dispensing device; • said at least one beverage dispenser (22) and said at least one serving surface (14) are integrated in at least one niche that is retracted with respect to the walls (12) of the housing (10); • said at least one service surface (14) lacks horizontal or nearly horizontal areas that have a sufficient surface to draw circles of 3 cm in diameter; • said at least one service surface (14) has a slope greater than 30 ° with respect to the horizontal. 3. - Dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein • the convex shell of said dispensing device has a general geometry selected from: conical or frusto-conical having a circular, pyramidal or truncated pyramidal base having a polygonal base; or where the casing has a hexagonal base (11), and a triangular vertical wall (12a) that starts from each of its edges, while an inclined rhombus-shaped wall (12b) starts from each of the vertices of the hexagonal base, said inclined rhombus-shaped wall being a wall laterally joined in the lower half thereof to said vertical triangular walls (12a) and laterally joined in the upper half thereof with the other rhombus-shaped walls ( 12b), the six diamond-shaped walls (12b) having trajectories that converge at an upper but truncated vertex, forming the upper part (13) of the casing (10). 4. - Dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the empty space inside the casing (10) is distributed in a lower level (N1), an intermediate level (N2) and an upper level (N3 ) arranged one above the other, at least the lower and intermediate levels being equipped with doors independent accesses, and in which said lower level (N1) contains said at least one tank (20) containing a beverage to be dispensed; and where said upper level (N3) contains at least said control unit (40). 5. - Dispensing device according to claim 4, in which the base (11), the walls (12) and the lid (13) are attached to an inner tubular chassis, and in which at least a fraction of the chassis coincides with said upper level (N3) is removably fixed to the rest of the frame by means of removable reusable connectors, and supports said at least one control unit (40), which is electrically and electronically connected to the rest of the components of the dispensing device by means of removable connectors and reusable. 6. - Dispensing device according to claim 4 or 5 wherein said lower level (N1) also contains at least one of the following characteristics: • at least one pressurized gas cylinder (23) connected to the tanks (20) containing a beverage to be dispensed; • at least one tank configured to contain overflowing beverage connected to at least one filtering surface coincident with the service surface (14); • at least one access door provided in the walls of the lower level (12); • at least one cooling device (21) to cool the beverage to be dispensed; • at least one cooling device (21) for cooling the beverage to be dispensed housed inside a closed compartment (21a), separated from the rest of the interior space of the housing, equipped with a separate external air inlet and external air outlet among themselves and exclusive for said closed compartment (21a); at least one cooling device (21) to cool the beverage to be dispensed housed inside a closed compartment (21a), separated from the rest of the interior space of the housing, equipped with an external air inlet and an external air outlet separated between yes and exclusive for said closed compartment (21a), said outside air inlet and said outside air outlet being housed at the base of the dispensing device. 7. - Dispensing device according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the intermediate level (N2) includes at least one of the following characteristics: • a distribution board of the dispensing device; • at least one measuring device to measure the amount of beverage dispensed and / or remaining; • at least one automatic and / or manual valve for opening and closing said at least one beverage dispenser (22); • a purge valve for the beverage lines that carry the beverage to be dispensed; at least one filling inlet in the cooling device to fill it with water. 8. - Dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (40) is connected to wireless communication means that allow receiving and transmitting relevant information to a remote terminal, said relevant information being selected from: amount of drink dispensed, the amount of drink remaining, information received through the payment detector device and / or the user recognition system, control orders. 9. - Dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beverage dispenser integrates a detector of the presence of a glass below its vertical. 10. - Dispensing device according to claim 4 characterized in that the housing includes external air inlets located below the lower level (N1), and / or located at the base (11) and / or located between the base (11) and the walls (12) of the casing, and because the casing also includes air vents located above the upper level (N3), and / or on the ceiling (13), and / or located between the walls (12) and the ceiling (13), the three levels being communicated allowing air circulation from the base to the ceiling passing through the three levels and producing the cooling of the components housed in the casing. 11. - Dispensing device according to claim 10 characterized in that said air circulation is driven by at least one fan installed inside the casing that generates an upward flow of air within the casing. 12. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the walls of the dispensing device are thermally insulated. 13. - Dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base of the dispensing device includes at least one of the following characteristics: • two elongated cavities (44) parallel to each other and parallel to the base, accessible from the front of the dispensing device, and provided for inserting the forks of a forklift; • a plurality of wheels (41) to facilitate movement of the dispensing device; • a plurality of adjustable telescopic legs (42) to stabilize the dispensing device; at least one beveled front part (43) to allow you to access the ramps. 14. Dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, associated with each of said drink dispensers, an information screen is incorporated that transmits information to the user, said information screen being connected to the control unit ( 40).