Automatic beverage dispenser

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein the quantity of beverage dispensed into the container is automatically controlled.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2 wherein the container is a glass.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1 wherein the gripping means lifts the container before the beverage is dispensed into the container.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4 wherein the gripping means tilts the container before the beverage is dispensed into the container.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 4 wherein the gripping means lowers the container after the beverage has been dispensed into the container.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 5 wherein the gripping means moves the container to an upright position after the beverage has been dispensed into the container.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein the container is washed before it is gripped by the gripping means.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein the container while in an inverted position is on a conveyor means which moves the container to the gripping means as required, the container is washed before being gripped by the gripping means and the container after being filled with the beverage, is moved away from the gripping means by the conveyor means.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein the beverage is draft beer.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is activated by manually activating a programmed control means which upon activation sends or causes to be sent in sequence (i) a first signal to means that causes the beverage container to be moved into position relative to the beverage dispensing means for filling the container with the predetermined quantity of beverage; (ii) a second signal to the dispensing means which signal causes the dispensing means to dispense the predetermined quantity of beverage into the container while the container is positioned in a beverage filling position; and (iii) a third signal to means that causes the container containing the predetermined quantity of beverage to be moved away from the beverage filling position.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 11 wherein the first signal is made up of three signals in sequence, the first of which signals causes a kicker means to move the container to a mechanical container gripping means, whereupon the container gripping means holds the container, the second of which signals causes the container gripping means to turn the container over, and the third of which signals causes the container gripping means to raise the container to the dispensing means.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 11 wherein the second signal is made up of two signals in sequence, the first of which signals activates means which causes the dispensing means to open for a predetermined length of time and dispense beverage into the container, and the second of which signals causes the container gripping means to lower the beverage filled container from the dispensing means.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 13 wherein the container is made of glass and the container is held at an angle while the container is being filled from the dispensing means so that the beverage being dispensed from the dispensing means flows down the sides of the container.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 14 wherein the container is returned to an upright position after the beverage has been dispensed into the container and before the beverage filled container is lowered from the dispensing means.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the container is washed by washing means before it is filled with beverage.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein prior to the occurrence of the first electronic signal the container is set in an inverted position on a conveyor means as the electronic signal is sent to the gripping means, the container is washed by washing means before being gripped by the gripping means, and after being filled with beverage the container is lowered by the gripping means from the dispensing means to the conveyor means and the container is moved away from the gripping means by the conveyor means.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the beverage is draft beer.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein at least two containers are handled by the gripping means.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein at least two containers are handled by the gripping means.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein one or a plurality of containers are handled by the gripping means and the programmed control means is manually activated by enter-ing an order for one or more containers filled with dispensed beverage on a selector panel which is connected to the control means.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the predetermined quantity of beverage dispensed into the containers is controlled by regulating the pressure exerted on the beverage while in the beverage dispensing means and regulating the period of time during which the dispensing means dispenses beverage into the container.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the number of times the control means is manually activated is counted by an electronic counting means.

Claim 25

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the electronic control means can be manually activated by using a coded optical card.

Claim 26

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein an electronic counting means is used to count the number of times the control means is manually activated and the electronic counting means is capable of distinguishing between two or more coded instruments used respectively to manually activate the control means and to count the number of times the control means is respectively activated by the two or more instruments.

Claim 27

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein a counting means is used to count the number of times the control means is manually activated but no count is made if the dispensing means does not dispense beverage.

Claim 28

A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein the container is a glass, the gripping means is a glass holder, and the dispensing means is a dispensing tap and the method is actuated by a control means which upon actuation sends in sequence (a) a first signal that causes a kicker to move a glass to a glass holder, (b) a second signal that causes the glass holder to turn the glass over, (c) a third signal that causes the glass holder to raise the glass to a dispensing tap, (d) a fourth signal that causes the dispensing tap to open for a predetermined length of time and dispense beverage into the glass, and (e) a fifth signal that causes the glass holder to lower the glass.

Claim 31

An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the apparatus includes washing means that washes the container before it is gripped by the gripping means.

Claim 32

An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the conveyor means comprises: (a) a movable conveyor upon which the container can be set at a first position on the conveyor and from which the container can be taken when moved to a fourth position on the conveyor, the conveyor being capable of moving the container at the first position in the direction of the gripping means, (b) a container moving means located at a second position along the conveyor in the direction of movement of the conveyor, the container moving means being capable of moving the container to the gripping means; (c) a beverage dispenser located at a third position along the conveyor between the second position and the fourth position and adapted to automatically dispense a predetermined amount of beverage into the container after the container has been moved to a set position by means (b) above; (d) pumping means for pumping beverage to the beverage dispenser; and (e) a programmed control means which co-operates with and directly or indirectly activates the conveyor, the container moving means, and the beverage dispenser.

Claim 33

An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein a container washing means is positioned between the first and second positions on the conveyor.

Claim 34

An apparatus according to claim 31 wherein a pumping means pumps container washing fluid to the container washing means.

Claim 35

An apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said gripping means comprises a mechanical container holder located at the third position on the conveyor which operates to hold the beverage container while it is being filled with a predetermined amount of beverage from the beverage. dispenser.

Claim 36

An apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the mechanical container holder is capable of lifting the containers to the beverage dispenser for filling the container with the predetermined quantity of beverage, and thereafter is capable of lowering the container to the conveyor.

Claim 37

An apparatus according to claim 31, 32 or 33 wherein the washing means comprises in combination (1) a detergent-hot water washing means, (2) a hot water washing means, and (3) an iodine-cold water washing means.

Claim 38

An apparatus according to claim 33 or 34 wherein the container holder is operated by a compressed air powered motor and the beverage dispenser is opened and closed by a cylinder-piston combination that is powered by compressed air.

Claim 39

An apparatus according to claim 33 or 34 wherein the movement of the container holder is controlled by a timer disc and a photosensitive eye combination.

Claim 40

An apparatus according to claim 30, 31 or 32 wherein a selector panel is connected electrically with the control means.

Claim 41

An automatic dispensing apparatus according to claim 30, 31 or 32 wherein the beverage is carried to the beverage dispenser through a cooled hose.

Claim 42

An apparatus according to claim 28, 29 or 30 wherein the apparatus has a plurality of beverage dispensing means, and a plurality of container holders, and a plurality of containers can be filled with beverage at the same time.

Claim 43

An apparatus according to claim 28, 29 or 30 wherein the beverage supplied to the apparatus is held in two or more containers connected in series so that beverage is drawn from the last container in the series, an on-off valve is located on the pumping line between the last and penultimate containers and a pressure relief valve and an auxiliary beverage pumping means equipped with an on-off valve are connected to the last container.

Claim 44

An apparatus according to claim 33 or 34 wherein the holder is operated by a compressed air powered piston-cylinder combination.

Claim 45

An apparatus according to claim 30, 31 or 32 wherein the container moving means is operated by a compressed air powered piston-cylinder combination.

Claim 46

An apparatus according to claim 28, 29 or 30 wherein the apparatus has at least two beverage dispensing means, at least two container gripping means and the compressed air required to operate same is collected in a manifold which by means of a valve releases air required to operate the two or more of the beverage dispensing means, and the two or more gripping means.

Claim 47

An apparatus according to claim 33 or 34 wherein the container holder is coated with a substance that facilitates its ability to hold the beverage container.

Claim 48

An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the apparatus includes an electrical motor which is used to power various of the means components specified and is connected and disconnected as required by a clutch which is controlled by a signal from the control means.

Claim 50

An automatic beverage container washing and beverage dispensing apparatus which comprises: (a) a movable conveyor upon a first position of which a beverage container can be set in an inverted position, said conveyor being capable of moving said container to a mechanical container holder, said conveyor also capable of moving said container away from said mechanical container holder; (b) a beverage container washer which is located at a second position along the conveyor, the conveyor moving in the direction of the first position to the second position and being positioned so that the washer can wash the interior of the beverage container set on the conveyor; (c) pumping means for pumping washing fluid from a washing fluid source to the beverage container washer; (d) a movable kicker means located at a third position point along the conveyor and capable of moving a beverage container set on the conveyor; (e) a mechanical container holder located at a fourth position along the conveyor the holder being capable of at least partially holding a container when the container is moved against the holder by the kicker means, the holder being capable of inverting the container so that the container becomes positioned right side up, and the holder being further capable of positioning the container right side up on the conveyor for conveyance of the container away from the holder; (f) a beverage dispenser located in association with the container holder and adapted to co-operate with the container held by the holder so that the beverage can be dispensed into the container before the container is conveyed away from the holder; (g) pumping means for pumping beverage to the beverage dispenser; and (h) an electronically programmed control means which can directly or indirectly activate the conveyor, the beverage container washer, the kicker means, the container holder, and the beverage dispenser, so as to wash the container while it is in an inverted position and fill the container with a predetermined quantity of beverage while the container is held by the holder in an upright position.

Claim 51

An automatic beverage container washing and beverage dispensing apparatus which comprises: (a) a movable conveyor upon a first position of which a beverage container can be set in an inverted position, said conveyor being capable of moving said container to a mechanical container holder, said conveyor also capable of moving said container away from said mechanical container holder; (b) a beverage container washer which is located at a second position along the conveyor, the conveyor moving in the direction of the first position to the second position and being positioned so that the washer can wash the interior of the beverage container set on the conveyor; (c) pumping means for pumping washing fluid from a washing fluid source to the beverage container washer; (d) a movable kicker means located at a third position point along the conveyor and capable of moving a beverage container set on the conveyor; (e) a mechanical container holder located at a fourth position along the conveyor the holder being capable of at least partially holding a container when the container is moved against the holder by the kicker means, the holder being capable of inverting the container so that the container becomes positioned right side up, and the holder being further capable of positioning the container right side up on the conveyor for conveyance of the container away from the holder; (f) a beverage dispenser located in association with the container holder and adapted to co-operate with the container held by the holder so that the beverage can be dispensed into the container before the container is conveyed away from the holder; (g) pumping means for pumping beverage to the beverage dispenser; and (h) an electronically programmed control means which can directly or indirectly activate the conveyor, the beverage container washer, the kicker means, the container holder, and the beverage dispenser, so as to wash the container while it is in an inverted position and fill the container with a predetermined quantity of beverage while the container is held by the holder in an upright position.

Claim 52

A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein the conveyor is of mechanical construction.

Claim 53

A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein the conveyor operates electrically.