ELECTRONIC BEVERAGE DOSING AND POURING SPOUT

Abstract

Electronic pouring device (10) for dosing a pre-determined amount of liquid from a liquid container, said electronic pouring device comprising a housing (11), said housing comprising: an inlet opening (17) and an outlet opening (19) for the passage of liquid from said liquid container, a valve comprising a valve member (22) for controlling the passage of said liquid and a valve seat (20) at said outlet opening (19) for arresting said valve in a closed position, a liquid internal region (28) for accommodating said valve and for allowing the passage of said liquid through said housing (11), a dry internal region (30) for accommodating displacement means for displacing said valve against said valve seat (20) into said closed position, or for displacing said valve away from said valve seat (20) into an opened position, said displacement means comprising drive means (25) and transmission means (24), and a membrane (29) for separating said thy internal region (30) from said liquid internal region (28).

Claims

1. Electronic pouring device for dosing a pre-determined amount of liquid from a liquid container, said electronic pouring device comprising a housing, said housing comprising: an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the passage of liquid from said liquid container, a valve comprising a valve member for controlling the passage of said liquid and a valve seat at said outlet opening for arresting said valve member in a closed position, a liquid internal region for accommodating said valve member and for allowing the passage of said liquid through said housing, a dry internal region for accommodating displacement means for displacing said valve member against said valve seat into said closed position, or for displacing said valve member away from said valve seat into an opened position, said displacement means comprising drive means and transmission means, a membrane for separating said dry internal region from said liquid internal region.

2. Electronic pouring device according to claim 1, wherein said valve further comprises a valve outlet gasket and a valve rod, said valve member adapted to cooperate with said valve outlet gasket, said valve rod adapted to cooperate with said valve member, and wherein said displacement means for displacing said valve member actuates on said valve rod, said valve rod thereby displacing said valve member and said valve outlet gasket, thereby also displacing said valve member into said opened or closed position.

3. Electronic pouring device according to claim 1, wherein said membrane cooperates with said valve rod, whereby said valve rod actuates on said membrane by moving the membrane as the valve rod displaces said valve member into said closed position or said opened position.

4. Electronic pouring device according to claim 1, wherein the drive means includes at least one motor, and the transmission means includes at least one threaded rod.

5. Electronic pouring device according to claim 4, wherein the transmission means also includes a set of gears comprising a first and a second set of gears, where said threaded rod is connected to said second set of gears, while the motor engages with said first set of gears, and said first set of gears engages with said second set of gears and thereby said threaded rod.

6. Electronic pouring device according to claim 1, wherein said dry internal region includes: (a) a set of sensors for identification of the exact position of said valve member or said valve rod during its displacement, and/or (b) a mechanical stopping mechanism, i.e. not electronically based, provided on said transmission means for identification of the exact position of said valve member or said valve rod during its displacement.

7. Electronic pouring device according to claim 6, wherein in (a) said set of sensors is a set of optical sensors, said valve rod is provided with a protrusion at its lower end extending perpendicularly to the length direction of the valve rod, and said set of optical sensors is adapted to cooperate with said protrusion for controlling the displacement of said valve member into said opened or closed position, and/or wherein in (b) the transmission means includes a third and fourth set of gears, wherein a second and preferably smaller gear, e.g. having nine teeth, of said second set of gears is adapted on top of said first of gear, e.g. having thirty-six teeth, of said second set of gears, wherein said second and smaller gear of the second set of gears drives a third set of gears by engaging with a first and preferably larger gear, e.g. having thirty-six teeth of said third set of gears, wherein a second and preferably smaller gear, e.g. having nine teeth, of said third set of gears is adapted on top of said first gear, e.g. having thirty-six teeth, of said third set of gears, wherein said second and smaller gear of said third set of gears drives a fourth set of gears by engaging with a first and preferably larger gear, e.g. having thirty-six teeth, of said fourth set of gears, and wherein said first gear of said fourth set of gears is provided on its top with a stop block, and wherein said housing is provided with a stopping element seated or affixed thereto, which is adapted to cooperate with said stop block.

8. Electronic pouring device according to claim 2, wherein said valve outlet gasket has a rounded shape, preferably in the form of a ball, which is adapted to tightly seal said outlet opening at said valve seat.

9. Electronic pouring device according to claim 1, said housing further comprising, preferably within said liquid internal region, a device for measuring the flow of said liquid.

10. Electronic pouring device according to claim 9, wherein said device for measuring the flow of liquid includes a mill wheel encapsulated by a casing, said casing having a surface facing said dry liquid internal region, said surface being adapted to cooperate with a sensor for detecting the rotation of said mill wheel as the liquid passes through, said mill wheel including one or more internal arms, said mill wheel defining a centre, said one or more internal arms extending radially from said centre, and said one or more internal arms being provided, preferably at either end, with a magnet adapted to cooperate with said sensor.

11. Electronic pouring device according to claim 10, wherein the number of said rotating internal arms is 4-8, preferably 6, and said sensor is a hall-effect sensor.

12. Electronic pouring device according to claim 1, said housing further comprising an inclination detector for registering the inclination of said electronic pouring device with respect to a vertical axis, said vertical axis being an axis extending along the direction of the gravity force.

13. Electronic pouring device according to claim 9, wherein said device for measuring the flow of liquid and said inclination detector are adapted to cooperate with each other for determining when the pouring of said liquid is initiated, by activating said drive means and thereby displacing said valve member into said opened position.

14. Electronic pouring device according to claim 1, further comprising within said dry internal region, a printed circuit board (PCB) containing electronic components including communication means for wireless communication with an external transmitter.

15. Electronic pouring device according to claim 1, further comprising a visual display adapted on the exterior surface of said housing for at least indicating said liquid brand or type and/or said pre-determined amount of liquid.

Description

[0080] The invention will now be further described by reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a perspective of the electronic pouring device. FIG. 2 shows a cut-out front view of the electronic pouring device with the housing and its interior parts including displacement means and valve member for controlling the passage of liquid in an opened position. FIG. 3 shows a front view as in FIG. 2, yet with the valve member in a closed position. FIG. 4 shows a perspective of an internal part of the electronic pouring device including the device for measuring the flow of liquid. FIG. 5 upper-part is an expanded and detailed view of the area depicted in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 lower-part is a top view along cut A-A and shows details of the optical sensors used for controlling the displacement of the valve into an opened or closed position. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment comprising four sets of gears for controlling the displacement of the valve into an opened or closed position.

[0081] FIG. 1 shows the electronic pouring device 10 including housing 11, visual display e.g. in the form of screen 12 on an exterior surface 13 of said housing 11 and touching means 14 in the form of buttons for providing the desired dosage on the visual display 12. The dosage may be 20, 30 ml or any other size and is displayed on screen 12, preferably together with the name of the liquid, for instance “Vodka 25 ml”. The electronic pouring device 10 is also provided with external arms 15, which engage with outer part of the bottle neck (not shown) to arrest the pouring device into a fixed position when using sealing ties or tape (not shown), as well as bottle gasket 16 for tight insertion into the bottle neck. The electronic pouring device includes also an inlet opening 17 for the passage of liquid from the liquid container (bottle). The flow of liquid passes through the inlet opening 17 as depicted by the arrow and exits at outlet orifice 18 as also depicted by the corresponding arrow and is thereby poured into a beverage glass or cocktail shaker or other recipient. The outlet orifice 18 is in direct fluid communication with an outlet opening 19 for the passage of liquid as it will become apparent in connection with the description of FIG. 2. An air check valve 37 is provided, which sucks air into the bottle during pouring. The electronic pouring device defines also a length direction extending vertically in the figure from bottom to top or top to bottom.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows the electronic pouring device 10 with housing 11 and interior parts including outlet opening 19 for the passage of liquid from the liquid container (bottle), valve seat 20 for arresting the valve member 22 and thereby the valve into a closed position. The valve member 22 controls the passage of the liquid. The valve comprises, valve outlet gasket 21, valve member 22, and valve rod 23. The valve member 22 is shown in the opened position. The valve rod 23 is adapted to cooperate with the valve member 22, which then causes the outlet gasket 21 to move towards the valve seat 20, thereby closing the valve member and thereby the valve (FIG. 3 shows such closed position of the valve member). Displacement means comprising transmission means in the form of e.g. a threaded rod 24 includes set of gears 26′ 26″. The threaded rod 24 is connected to second set of gears 26″ and drive means in the form of e.g. electrical motor 25 connected to first set of gears 26′ cause the displacement of the valve member away from the valve seat 20 into an opened position, so that liquid passes through the outlet opening 19 and then to outlet orifice 18 as described in connection with FIG. 1. The electrical motor 25 engages with first set of gears 26′, which then engages with second set of gears 26″ connected to the threaded rod 24, thus converting rotational motion into a linear motion of the valve rod 23 along the length direction of the electronic pouring device. Behind the electrical motor 25, the outer periphery of mill wheel e.g. casing 27 for the measurement of liquid flow is shown. Further, the housing 11 comprises a liquid internal region 28 for allowing the passage of said liquid. A membrane 29 separates the liquid internal region 28 from the dry internal region 30 (see FIG. 4) within the housing 11.

[0083] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but with the valve member being in a closed position. The same reference numerals as for the previous figures apply. In addition, a protrusion 35′ at lower end of valve rod 23 is shown. The protrusion 35′ extends perpendicularly to the length direction of the valve rod 23 and in a direction pointing towards the transmission means. A nut 36 is integrated or embedded in this protrusion, i.e. affixed to protrusion 35′ and thereby to valve rod 23, for securing the engagement with the transmission means 24. Furthermore, the membrane 29 has moved with respect to the opened position of FIGS. 2 and 3, as shown in the drawing, thus showing more clearly the separation of liquid internal region 28 from dry internal region 30. Thereby, the use of rigid steel plates, plastic, packing or the like for separating these liquid and dry internal regions is avoided while at the same time providing a more simple separation between the liquid internal region 28 and the dry internal region 30. The dry internal region 30 permits therefore the presence of electronic elements such as optical sensors 31′ 31″ for identification of the exact position of the valve rod 23 during its displacement as well as displacement means 24 25.

[0084] FIG. 4 shows the device for measuring the flow of liquid, which passes inside the liquid internal region. A flow of liquid from the bottle at the bottom of the figure as represented by the arrow enters the electronic pouring device via inlet opening 17. The liquid travels inside along the length direction of the electronic pouring device and comes into contact with internal arms 33 of mill wheel 27″ (not shown) which is encapsulated by casing 27′, so that the liquid remains inside and continues its travel towards outlet opening 19. The internal arms 33, i.e. rotating internal arms, extend radially from the centre of the mill wheel. Further, the internal arms 33 are provided with a magnet 39 adapted to cooperate with a sensor for detecting rotation 32. This sensor 32 is located in the dry internal region and suitably affixed to the outer part of casing 27′, i.e. the surface of the casing 27′ facing the dry internal region. By having six internal arms 33 in the mill wheel 27″, each arm 33 being provided with a magnet, not only a highly precise and accurate measurement of the flow is possible, but also it is possible to register even a small amount of liquid passing through the pouring device, since a relatively high number of magnets, here six magnets, are provided along the periphery of the mill wheel. Sensor 32 detects the passage of each magnet and thereby enables an accurate and consistent measurement of the flow of liquid within a very confined space. Also shown in FIG. 4 is a bottle change detector 34 for registering when the electronic pouring device is placed on a bottle or removed from a bottle.

[0085] FIG. 5 shows a detail view of a set of optical sensors 31′ 31″ arranged in a first dry internal region 30 of the housing 11. Valve rod 23 is provided at its lower end with protrusion 35″, which cooperates with the set of optical sensors 31′ 31″ for identification of the exact position of valve rod 23 during its displacement. As shown, the protrusion 35″ extends perpendicularly with respect to the length direction of the valve rod 23. Protrusion 35″ extends also in a direction away from the displacement means 24, 25. As the protrusion 35″ passes in between the transmitting part and the receiving part of the set of optical sensors 31′ 31″, a light beam generated is interrupted and the displacement of the valve rod 23 and thereby the valve member is registered, so that its opening and closing is precisely controlled.

[0086] FIG. 6 shows a view of the drive means in form of electrical motor 25 and transmission means in the form of fourth set of gears with the mechanical stop for the valve member in an opened and closed position. Fixed on top of the electrical motor 25 is the small gear, e.g. nine teeth, i.e. first set of gears 26′, driving the second set of gears 26″ in form of a first larger gear 26″-I, e.g. having thirty-six teeth, which is connected to the threaded rod 24. The second set of gears includes a smaller gear 26″-II in the center, e.g. having nine teeth. This smaller gear 26″-II of the second set of gears drives a third set of gears 26′″ which contains two sprockets, a first gear 26′″-I of the third set e.g. having thirty-six, driven by the gear 26″-II, and a second gear 26′″-II of the third set in the form center gear e.g. having nine teeth, which then drives the first gear 26″″-I of fourth gear set, having e.g. thirty-six teeth, and further provided with a stop block 40 mounted on the top. When the valve member gets to full open position, one end of the stop block 40′ at the fourth gear 26″″ hits a corresponding end of stopping element 41′ mounted on the housing of the electronic pouring device. When the valve member moves to a closed position, the opposite side of the stop block 40″ on the fourth gear 26″″ will hit the opposite side or end of the stopping element 41″, once the valve member has the correct closing position.

LIST OF PARTS

[0087] 10. Electronic pouring device [0088] 11. Housing [0089] 12. Visual display; screen [0090] 13. Exterior surface of housing [0091] 14. Dosage buttons [0092] 15. External arms [0093] 16. Bottle gasket [0094] 17. Inlet opening [0095] 18. Outlet orifice [0096] 19. Outlet opening [0097] 20. Valve seat [0098] 21. Outlet gasket [0099] 22. Valve member [0100] 23. Valve rod including nut [0101] 24. Transmission means; threaded rod [0102] 25. Drive means; electrical motor [0103] 26. Set of gears; 1.sup.st-4.sup.th set of gears [0104] 27. Casing; mill wheel [0105] 28. Liquid internal region [0106] 29. Membrane [0107] 30. Dry internal region [0108] 31. Set of optical sensors [0109] 32. Sensor for detecting rotation [0110] 33. Internal arm of mill wheel [0111] 34. Bottle change sensor [0112] 35. Protrusion at lower end of valve rod 23 [0113] 36. Nut [0114] 37. Air admission valve; air check valve [0115] 38. Liquid detector [0116] 39. Magnets [0117] 40. Stop block [0118] 41. Stopping element

[0119] It should further be noted that a prim (′) or prims (″) symbols in the description and in the figures denote alternative realizations of the same part.

[0120] The invention is characterised by the following points:

[0121] 1. Electronic pouring device for dosing a pre-determined amount of liquid from a liquid container, said electronic pouring device comprising a housing, said housing comprising: [0122] an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the passage of liquid from said liquid container, [0123] a valve comprising a valve member for controlling the passage of said liquid and a valve seat at said outlet opening for arresting said valve member in a closed position, [0124] a liquid internal region for accommodating said valve member and for allowing the passage of said liquid through said housing, [0125] a dry internal region for accommodating displacement means for displacing said valve member against said valve seat into said closed position, or for displacing said valve member away from said valve seat into an opened position, said displacement means comprising drive means and transmission means, [0126] a membrane for separating said dry internal region from said liquid internal region.

[0127] 2. Electronic pouring device according to point 1, wherein said valve further comprises a valve outlet gasket, and a valve rod, said valve member adapted to cooperate with said valve outlet gasket, said valve rod adapted to cooperate with said valve member, and wherein said displacement means for displacing said valve member actuates on said valve rod, said valve rod thereby displacing said valve member and said valve outlet gasket, thereby also displacing said valve member into said opened or closed position.

[0128] 3. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, wherein said membrane cooperates with said valve rod, whereby said valve rod actuates on said membrane by moving the membrane as the valve rod displaces said valve member into said closed position or said opened position.

[0129] 4. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, wherein the drive means includes at least one motor, and the transmission means includes at least one threaded rod.

[0130] 5. Electronic pouring device according to point 4, wherein the transmission means also includes a set of gears comprising a first and a second set of gears, where said threaded rod is connected to said second set of gears, while the motor engages with said first set of gears, and said first set of gears engages with said second set of gears and thereby said threaded rod.

[0131] 6. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, wherein said dry internal region includes: [0132] (a) a set of sensors for identification of the exact position of said valve member or said valve rod during its displacement, and/or [0133] (b) a mechanical stopping mechanism provided on said transmission means for identification of the exact position of said valve member or said valve rod during its displacement.

[0134] 7. Electronic pouring device according to point 6, wherein in (a) said set of sensors is a set of optical sensors, said valve rod is provided with a protrusion at its lower end extending perpendicularly to the length direction of the valve rod, and said set of optical sensors is adapted to cooperate with said protrusion for controlling the displacement of said valve member into said opened or closed position, and/or

[0135] wherein in (b) the transmission means includes a third and fourth set of gears,

[0136] wherein a second and preferably smaller gear, e.g. having nine teeth, of said second set of gears is adapted on top of said first of gear, e.g. having thirty-six teeth, of said second set of gears,

[0137] wherein said second and smaller gear of the second set of gears drives a third set of gears by engaging with a first and preferably larger gear, e.g. having thirty-six teeth of said third set of gears,

[0138] wherein a second and preferably smaller gear, e.g. having nine teeth, of said third set of gears is adapted on top of said first gear, e.g. having thirty-six teeth, of said third set of gears,

[0139] wherein said second and smaller gear of said third set of gears drives a fourth set of gears by engaging with a first and preferably larger gear, e.g. having thirty-six teeth, of said fourth set of gears,

[0140] and wherein said first gear of said fourth set of gears is provided on its top with a stop block,

[0141] and wherein said housing is provided with a stopping element seated or affixed thereto, which is adapted to cooperate with said stop block.

[0142] 8. Electronic pouring device according to any of points 2-7, wherein said valve outlet gasket has a rounded shape, preferably in the form of a ball, which is adapted to tightly seal said outlet opening at said valve seat.

[0143] 9. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, said housing further comprising, preferably within said liquid internal region, a device for measuring the flow of said liquid.

[0144] 10. Electronic pouring device according to point 9, wherein said device for measuring the flow of liquid includes a mill wheel encapsulated by a casing, said casing having a surface facing said dry liquid internal region, said surface being adapted to cooperate with a sensor for detecting the rotation of said mill wheel as the liquid passes through, said mill wheel including one or more internal arms, said mill wheel defining a centre, said one or more internal arms extending radially from said centre, and said one or more internal arms being provided, preferably at either end, with a magnet adapted to cooperate with said sensor.

[0145] 11. Electronic pouring device according to point 10, wherein the number of said rotating internal arms is 4-8, preferably 6, and said sensor is a hall-effect sensor.

[0146] 12. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, said housing further comprising an inclination detector for registering the inclination of said electronic pouring device with respect to a vertical axis, said vertical axis being an axis extending along the direction of the gravity force.

[0147] 13. Electronic pouring device according to points 9-12, wherein said device for measuring the flow of liquid and said inclination detector are adapted to cooperate with each other for determining when the pouring of said liquid is initiated, by activating said drive means and thereby displacing said valve member into said opened position.

[0148] 14. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, further comprising within said dry internal region, a printed circuit board (PCB) containing electronic components including communication means for wireless communication with an external transmitter.

[0149] 15. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, further comprising a visual display adapted on the exterior surface of said housing for at least indicating said liquid brand or type and/or said pre-determined amount of liquid.

[0150] 16. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, further comprising an air admission valve for allowing air entry into the liquid container.

[0151] 17. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, wherein said membrane is at least 10% larger, preferably at least 30% larger, more preferably at least 50% larger, than is necessary to accommodate the distance travelled by the displacement of said valve member from said closed position into said opened position, or the distance travelled by the displacement of said valve member from said opened position into said closed position.

[0152] 18. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, wherein said membrane includes an outer ring, which is liquid-tight and disposed between said dry internal region and said liquid internal region, and an inner ring, which is liquid-tight and attached to said valve member and said valve rod, whereby said moving of said membrane is conducted by said valve rod moving said inner ring, as said valve rod displaces said valve member into said closed position and said opened position.

[0153] 19. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, further comprising a liquid detector for registering the presence of liquid, including the flow of liquid, in said liquid internal region, i.e. liquid chamber.

[0154] 20. Electronic pouring device according to any preceding point, further comprising a bottle gasket for tight insertion into said liquid container.