GB2065602A - Timing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A timing mechanism having an operating member (2) movable between two predetermined positions in which the operating member is to be located. The timing mechanism is particularly intended to be used with an Optic (Register Trade Mark) type of liquid dispenser having a valve-operating member which is to be engaged by a glass or other container into which the liquid is to be dispensed. The operating member 2 of the timing mechanism is made integral with the valve-operating member of the Optic dispenser or is connected thereto for movement in unison therewith. The operating member 2 of the timing mechanism is locked in each of its predetermined positions for a time predetermined by the timing mechanism and hence the valve-operating member of the Optic dispenser is also locked in each of its open and closed positions for said predetermined time which is at least equal to the time taken for the measuring chamber of the Optic dispenser to refill, thereby to prevent the use of the dispenser to give more than or less than the prescribed volume of liquid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Timing mechanism The invention relates to a timing mechanism having an operating member movable between two predetermined positions in which the operating member is to be located and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with such a timing mechanism which is to be used in association with a liquid measure and dispenser of the kind for measuring and dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid. An example of such a dispenser is the well-known Optic (Register Trade Mark) dispenser which is used for dispensing predetermined volumes of spirits and other aicoholic beverages.

An Optic dispenser is fitted to the neck of an opened bottle which is then supported in an inverted position. The Optic dispenser has a measuring chamber into which a predetermined volume of the liquid in the bottle will flow under gravity to a predetermined level.

This can be seen through a transparent wall or window of the chamber. The bottom of the chamber communicates with a discharge nozzle through a valve which is normally closed.

The valve is opened by the action of pushing a glass, into which the measure of liquid is to be discharged, upward against the valve or nozzle. Starting with the chamber filled with the predetermined volume of liquid, when the valve or nozzle is pushed upward by the glass, the valve will open and the predetermined volume of liquid will flow into the glass.

When the glass has been removed, the chamber will refiil automatically to the correct level.

Then the valve can be opened again, in the same manner to cause a further predetermined volume of liquid to be discharged. If the Optic dispenser is used properly by holding the valve open by the glass until the flow of liquid has ceased and by not re-opening the valve until the chamber has refilled, a correct volume of liquid will be discharged each time the measure is used. However if the valve is allowed to close before the chamber has completely emptied and if the valve is then reopened, it may be possible to dispense more than the predetermined volume or to dispense a short measure. An object of the invention is to provide a timing mechanism which can be incorporated into or used in association with an Optic dispenser to prevent these abuses.

According to the invention, a timing mechanism comprises an operating member movable between two alternative predetermined positions in which the operating member is to be located; a pair of detent means spaced apart in the direction of movement of the operating member and each arranged to be engageable with a locating face on the operating member, whereby when one or other of the detent means is engaged with the locating face, the operating member is located in one or other of said predetermined positions; a slave member also movable between two alternative positions corresponding respectively to the predetermined positions of the operating member, the sleve member acting to hold one or other of the detent means in engagement with the operating member according to said alternative position occupied by the slave member, whereby when the operating member is in one or other of its predetermined positions and the slave member is in the corresponding position, the appropriate detent means will locate and lock the operating member in one or other of its predetermined positions; spring means acting metween the operating member and the slave member, whereby movement of the operating member from one of said predetermined positions to the other will act to urge the slave member from one position into the other position, and delay means operabie to delay the movement of the slave member under the force of the spring means for a predetermined time during which the operating member will be locked in said one or other predetermined position.

The delay means is conveniently an escapement gear mechanism having a driving gear wheel arranged to be driven by gear teeth on the slave member.

The spring means acting between the operating member and the slave member is conveniently a leaf spring located at one end thereof by the operating member and at the other end thereof by the slave member.

The operating member and the slave member are conveniently a pair od plungers guided for parallel movement in guideways provided in a housing of the timing mechanism.

Where the timing mechanism is to be used to lock the valve of an Optic dispenser in either of its open or closed positions, the operating plunger or other member of the timing mechanism is arranged to be moved in unison with a valve-operating member of the Optic dispenser which is to be engaged by a glass or container into which the liquid is to be dispensed. The operating member of the timing mechanism and the valve-operating member of the Optic dispenser may either be integral with each other or be arranged to be connected together for movement in unison.

By way of example, a timing mechanism in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through the mechanism in its "rest" position in which the operating member of the mechanism is in one of the aforesaid predetermined positions, but is unlocked; Figure 2 is a section on the line AA in Fig.

1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the operating member in the other of its predetermined positions and locked in that position; Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the operating member in the position shown in Fig. 3 and unlocked, and Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the operating member after its return to said one predetermined position and locked in that position.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the timing mechanism comprises a casing 1 defining a slideway for the operating member which is a plunger 2. The plunger 2 is guided for movement upwardly and downwardly as viewed in Fig. 2 between the lower position, in which it is shown in Fig. 1, and an upper position, in which it is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The lower and upper positions are determined by one or other of a pair of spaced detents 3, 4, having ends of saw-tooth shape engageable in complementarily-shaped recesses 5, 6 respectively spaced apart in the direction of movement of the plunger 2. The detents 3 and 4 are movable in directions perpendicular to the direction of movement of the plunger 2 and are urged lightly away from the plunger by leaf springs 7, 8.The detents 3 and 4 are alternatively urged towards engagement into the respective recesses 5 and 6 by leaf springs 9, 10 carried on a slave member 11, depending on the position of the plunger 2 and the slave member 11, as will hereinafter be described with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. The slave member 11 is guided by a slideway within the casing 1 for movement parallel with the directions of movement of the plunger 2. The plunger 2 is attached to the slave member 11 by a leaf spring 1 2 secured at its ends to the plunger 2 and to the slave member 11 respectively.Thus upward movement of the plunger 2 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3 will flex the leaf spring 1 2 into the position shown in Fig. 3 and thus the leaf spring 1 2 will tend to straighten again to push the slave member 11 upward into the position shown in Fig. 4, as will be described hereinafter. Dcwnwarsj movement of the plunger 2 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 will flex the leaf spring 1 2 into the position shown in Fig.

5 and thus the leaf spring 1 2 will tend to straighten and so return the slave member 11 to the position shown in Fig. 1, as will hereinafter be described.

The slave member 11 is formed with a toothed rack 1 3 on the face thereof remote from the springs 9, 1 0. The teeth of the rack 13 are spaced apart in the direction of guided movement of the slave member 11. The teeth of the rack 1 3 are engaged with a pinion 14 of an escapement type gear mechanism, shown generally by arrow 15, also having an escapement wheel 1 6 and an escapement level 1 7 engaging therewith. The escapement type gear mechanism controls the speed of movement of the slave member 11 when the latter is urged to slide by the flexing of the leaf spring 1 2 into either of the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The cycle of operation of the timing mechanism will now be described with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. The cycle commences from the rest position, as shown in Fig. 1, in which the plunger 2 is in its lower position and is unlocked. The spring 8 urges the detent 4 away from the plunger 2 out of the lower recess 6. The plunger 2 is not engaged in the recess 6 as the spring 10 is spaced from or only lightly touches against the lefthand end of the detent 4. The spring 9 however is in the position in which the detent 3 is forced to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, but the recess 5 is not in alignment with the detent 3 and so the detent 3 merely engages against the adjacent side face of the plunger 2.The plunger 2 is therefore free to be pushed upward into the upper position shown in Fig. 3 and it is located and locked in that position by the detent 3 being pushed by the spring 9 into engagement with the upper recess 5, as soon as the latter becomes aligned with the detent 3. The plunger 2 cannot fall or be pulled downwardly from the upper position as shown in Fig. 3, while the slave member 11 is in the lower position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the plunger 2 is pushed upward from the position shown in Fig. 1 into the position shown in Fig. 3, the spring 1 2 flexes into the position shown in Fig. 3.Thus the force of the spring 1 2 forces the slave member 11 upwardly but its upward movement is controlled by the escapement type mechanism 1 5. There is therefore a predetermined time delay before the slave member 11 reaches the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the spring 1 2 has become straight again. In the position shown in Fig.

4, the force of the spring 9 on the detent 3 is removed and so the detent is moved out of the recess 3 by the spring 7. The spring 10 urges the detent 4 to the right as viewed in Fig. 4; but as the plunger 2 is still in its upper position in which the recess 6 is not aligned with the detent 4, the latter merely engages the adjacent side face of the plunger 2. When the slave member 11 has reached the position shown in Fig. 4, the plunger 2 can then fall to the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the detent 4 is pushed by the spring 10 into engagement with the lower recess 6, thereby to locate the plunger 2 in its lower position and to lock it in that position. The slave member 11 will be held in the upper position by the escapement type gear mechanism 1 5 and so the spring 1 2 will be flexed to the position shown in Fig. 5 and a downward force will be exerted on the slave member 11 by the spring 12, thereby tending to push the slave member 11 downward until the spring 1 2 has become straight again; but this down ward movement of slave member 11 is controlled by the escapement type gear mechanism 1 5 and so the slave member 11 will not be returned to its lower position, as shown in Fig. 1, until the delay time predetermined by the escapement type gear mechanism 1 5 has ended. Thus the plunger 2 will be locked in its lower position, as shown in Fig. 5, for the duration of this predetermined delay time.At the end of the delay time, the spring 8 will move the detent 4 out of the lower recess 6, thereby unlocking the plunger 2, as shown in Fig. 1. The cycle of operation can then be repeated.

It will be evident from the immediately preceding paragraph and from Figs. 3 and 5 that the plunger 2 will be locked in each of its upper and lower positions, as shown in Figs.

3 and 5 respectively, for the duration of the delay time predetermined by the escapement type mechanism 1 5.

Although the timing mechanism provided by this invention may have other applications, it is intended to be used to control the operation of an Optic dispenser. In this application of the timing mechanism, the plunger 2, is integral with, or is attached to the valve member or dispensing nozzle of the Optic dispenser and is movable upwardly and downwardly in unison with the valve member or dispensing nozzle of the Optic dispenser.

Therefore commencing with the timing mechanism in the rest position, shown in Fig. 1, the opening of the dispenser valve by the user engaging the valve member or the dispensing nozzle with the rim of the glass into which the liquid is to be discharged and pushing the glass upward, will simultaneously cause the plunger 2 to be moved upward into the position shown in Fig. 3. The plunger 2 will be held in the upper position, as hereinbefore described, for the predetermined time delay.

This predetermined time will have been selected to be at least equal to the time taken for the measuring chamber of the Optic dispenser to empty. The user will then remove the glass from engagement with the Optic dispenser and so the valve member of the Optic dispenser and the plunger 2 will fall under the force of a return spring in the Optic dispenser. The plunger 2 will then be locked for the duration of the predetermined time delay n the lower position, as shown in Fig.

5, thereby preventing the user from attempting to re-open the valve of the Optic dispenser. The predetermined time delay is at least equal to the time taken for the measuring chamber of the Optic dispenser to be refilled from the bottle. The timing mechanism piovided by this invention therefore prevents the Optic dispenser from being used in such a way that a short measure is dispensed and from being used in such a way that a second opening of the valve of the Optic dispenser is attempted before the measuring chamber has refilled to the level determining the measured volume.

The timing mechanism provided by this invention therefore makes incorrect operation of the Optic dispenser impossible and also prevents illegal operation in countries where it is an offence to use an Optic dispenser which could otherwise be used to deliver an incorrect volume of spirits or other beverage or liquid. As the timing mechanism is purely mechanical and does not include any electrical controls, no electricity supply or battery is required. Thus an Optic dispenser fitted with the timing mechanism provided by this invention can be used in places where there is no electricity supply.

Although the time delay in the foregoing example is produced by the escapement type gear mechanism 1 5 another type of delay device to determine the response time of the slave member 11 may be employed instead.

Claims (8)

1. A timing mechanism comprising an operating member movable between two alternative predetermined positions in which the operating member is to be located; a pair of detent means spaced apart in the direction of movement of the operating member and each arranged to be engageable with a locating face on the operating member, whereby when one or other of the detent means is engaged with the locating face, the operating member is located in one or other of said predetermined positions; a slave member also movable between two alternative positions corresponding respectively to the predetermined positions of the operating member, the slave member acting to hold one or other of the detent means in engagement with the operating member according to said alternative position occupied by the slave member, whereby when the operating member is in one or other of its predetermined positions and the slave member is in the corresponding position, the appropriate detent means will locate and lock the operating member in one or other of its predetermined positions; spring means acting between the operating member and the slave member, whereby movement of the operating member from one of said predetermined positions to the other will act to urge the slave member from one position into the other position, and delay means operable to delay the movement of the slave member under the force of the spring means for a predetermined time during which the operating member will be locked in said one or other predetermined position.

2. A timing mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 in which the delay means is an escapement gear mechanism having a driving gear wheel arranged to be driven by gear teeth on the slave member.

3. A timing mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the spring means acting between the operating member and the slave member is a leaf spring located at one end thereof by the operating member and at the other end thereof by the operating member and at the other end thereof by the slave member.

4. A timing mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim in which the operating member and the slave member are a pair of plungers guided for parallel movement in guideways provided in a housing of the timing mechanism.

5. A timing mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with an Optic dispenser, as used for dispensing predetermined volumes of liquid, the operating plunger, or other member, of the timing mechanism being movable in unison with a valve-operating member of the Optic dispenser and which is to be engaged by a glass or container into which the liquid is to be dispensed.

6. A timing mechanism as claimed in Claim 5 in which the operating member of the timing mechanism and the valve-operating member of the Optic dispenser are integral with each other.

7. A timing mechanism as claimed in Claim 5 in which the operating member of the timing mechanism and the valve-operating member of the Optic dispenser are arranged to be connected together for movement in unison.

8. A timing mechanism according to Claim 1 constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.