IN-STORE BEVERAGE CONTAINER FILLING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement for use in a retail environment is provided, comprising a housing, a beverage dispensing unit for dispensing a beverage, comprising a retail beverage container holder for receiving and holding a retail beverage container, wherein the beverage dispensing unit is at least partially provided in the housing, a consumer interaction module for receiving a consumer input and generating a consumer control signal based on the received consumer input, and a dispensing controller arranged for receiving the consumer control signal and controlling the beverage dispensing unit to dispense the beverage in accordance with the consumer control signal.

Claims

1. A consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement for use in a retail environment, comprising: a housing, a beverage dispensing unit for dispensing a beverage, comprising a retail beverage container holder for receiving and holding a retail beverage container, wherein the beverage dispensing unit is at least partially provided in the housing; a consumer interaction module for receiving a consumer input and generating a consumer control signal based on the received consumer input; and a dispensing controller arranged for receiving the consumer control signal and controlling the beverage dispensing unit to dispense the beverage in accordance with the consumer control signal.

2. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the beverage dispensing unit comprising a retail beverage container sensor for detecting the presence of a retail beverage container in the retail beverage container holder, and generating a detection signal when a retail beverage container is detected, and wherein the dispensing controller is arranged for receiving the detection signal and controlling the beverage dispensing unit to dispense the beverage in accordance with the detection signal.

3. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 2, further comprising a consumer feedback module arranged to receive the detection signal from the retail beverage container sensor, and to provide a feedback signal to the consumer operating the filling arrangement indicative of the detection signal provided by the retail beverage container sensor.

4. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the beverage dispensing unit comprises a beverage level sensor arranged to provide a level sensor signal indicative of a beverage level inside a retail beverage container held by the retail beverage container holder, and wherein the dispensing controller is further arranged for receiving the level sensor signal and for controlling the beverage dispensing unit according to the level sensor signal.

5. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the beverage level sensor is an optical sensor.

6. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein: the beverage dispensing unit comprises a dispensing unit housing defining a dispensing compartment; the retail beverage container holder is at least partially provided in the dispensing compartment; and the dispensing unit housing substantially separates the dispensing compartment from a storage area comprised by the filling arrangement.

7. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the dispensing unit housing comprises a drain.

8. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising a dispensing compartment door for selectively opening or closing off the dispensing compartment.

9. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 8, further comprising a dispensing compartment door locking mechanism for locking the dispensing compartment door in a closed state, wherein the dispensing controller is arranged for selectively locking the locking mechanism.

10. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a storage area for storing at least one of a supply beverage container and a pressurised gas source.

11. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a storage area access opening for accessing the storage area and at least one housing door for selectively opening or closing off the storage area access opening.

12. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising a cooling unit for cooling the storage area.

13. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the beverage dispensing unit is at least partially provided in the housing door.

14. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a label printer and a label printer controller, wherein the label printer controller is arranged to receive at least part of the consumer control signal and to control the label printer based on at least part of the consumer control signal.

15. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the beverage dispensing unit comprises a dispensing line connector comprising a first dispensing line engagement element arranged to engage a disposable dispensing line at a first position of the disposable dispensing line and for holding the disposable dispensing line.

16. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein: the first position of the dispensing line is provided on an outlet end of the disposable dispensing line; the retail beverage container holder is arranged to hold the retail beverage container in a first orientation; and the dispensing line connector is oriented such that the outlet end is oriented at a second orientation for dispensing the beverage under a third orientation, which third orientation is at an angle relative to the first orientation.

17. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein: the beverage dispensing unit comprises a dispensing outlet, a supply beverage container coupler, and a dispensing line providing a flow path for beverage between the supply beverage container and the dispensing outlet; the retail beverage container holder is arranged to hold the retail beverage container in a first orientation; and the dispensing outlet is oriented to dispense beverage in a second orientation at an angle relative to the first orientation.

18. The consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the beverage dispensing unit comprises a pressure unit arranged to receive pressurised gas from a pressurised gas container and to provide the pressurised gas to a retail beverage container held in the retail beverage container holder.

19. A method of operating a consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement for filling a retail beverage container, comprising: by means of a consumer interaction module, receiving a consumer input and generating a consumer control signal based on the received consumer input; and by means of a dispensing controller, receiving the consumer control signal, and based on the consumer control signal, controlling a beverage dispensing unit to dispense a beverage into the retail beverage container.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: by means of a retail beverage container sensor, detecting a presence of a retail beverage container in a retail beverage container holder and sending a detection signal based on the detection; and by means of a dispensing controller, receiving the consumer control signal and the detection signal; wherein the controlling the beverage dispensing unit to dispense a beverage into the retail beverage container is also based on the detection signal.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising dispensing the beverage against an inner wall of the retail beverage container.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: by a pressure unit, increasing a pressure in the retail beverage container up to a pre-determined pressure level; by a gas flow sensor, determining a volume of gas provided to the retail beverage container during the increase in pressure; estimating, by the dispensing controller, a volume available for dispensing beverage in the retail beverage container; comparing, by the dispensing controller, the estimated volume available for dispensing to a pre-determined required volume available for dispensing; and based on the comparison of the estimated volume with the pre-determined required volume available for dispensing, by the dispensing controller, controlling the beverage dispensing unit to dispense the beverage into the retail beverage container.

23. The method Method according to claim 22, further comprising: comparing, by the dispensing controller, the estimated volume available for dispensing to data in a dataset comprising data indicative of a type and/or size of one or more retail beverage containers; and controlling, by the dispensing controller, the beverage dispensing unit based on the comparison to dispense beverage into the retail beverage container.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0063] In the figures,

[0064] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement for use in a retail environment;

[0065] FIG. 2 shows part of an embodiment of a filling arrangement; and

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-section of an embodiment of a filling arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0067] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement 100 for use in a retail environment. The filling arrangement 100 comprises a housing 102. The housing 102 comprises a left housing door 122′ and a right housing door 122″. The left housing door 122′ and a right housing door 122″ together close off a storage area of the housing 102. The left housing door 122′ and right housing door 122″ are hingedly attached to the housing 102, such that they can both open outwardly to open a storage area access opening.

[0068] The left housing door 122′ is provided with two beverage dispensing units 110, and the right housing door 122″ is provided with a single beverage dispensing unit 110. When opening a housing door, any beverage dispensing unit 110 provided in the respective housing door is moved away from the position as shown by FIG. 1 such that it does not block the storage area access opening.

[0069] The filling arrangement 100 comprises, as an option, a display 950 for displaying information to a consumer using the filling arrangement 100. As a further option, the filling arrangement 100 comprises a label printer 138, which in this particular embodiment is provided in the left housing door 122′. As an even further option, the housing comprises a cooling unit, of which a condenser 124 is visible in FIG. 1. The condenser 124 may be used as a heat exchanger with the surroundings of the filling arrangement 100 for cooling the storage area of the housing 102.

[0070] As a mere example, each beverage dispensing unit 110 comprises a growler holder 112 as a beverage container holder, with in each growler holder 112 a growler 113. The growlers 113 are suspended from the growler holders 112 in a dispensing compartment 128. Each of the dispensing units 110 is provided with a door for closing of the dispensing compartments. The doors are not visible in FIG. 1, as the doors are transparent. At the left of each of the dispensing compartments, FIG. 1 shows hinges for connecting the doors to the applicable housing doors 122. Embodiments of the filling arrangement 100 are envisioned wherein one or more of the dispensing compartments is provided with one or more dispensing compartment doors.

[0071] In embodiments, the display 950 is a touch screen and forms part of a consumer interaction module. A touch input provided by the consumer to the touch screen may be used to generate a consumer control signal. Additionally or alternatively, one or more sensors may be provided for detecting the presence of a growler 113 in a growler holder 112, for detecting whether a door such as a housing door 122 and/or a dispensing compartment doors is in an opened or closed state, and/or detecting any other type of consumer interaction with the filling arrangement 100.

[0072] For example, when the consumer provides a growler 113 to the growler holder 112, this may be regarded as a consumer interaction with the device and thus as a consumer input, and may hence be used to at least partially generate the consumer control signal. Presence of a growler 113 in the growler holder 112 may be detected by means of an optical sensor like a light sensor and, optionally, a light sensor, a contact sensor like a button, other, or a combination thereof.

[0073] When the consumer opens or closes a dispensing compartment door, this may also be regarded as a consumer interaction with the device and thus as a consumer input, and may hence be used to at least partially generate the consumer control signal. such opening and closing may be detected by means of optical sensors, contact sensors, electromagnetic sensors, other or a combination thereof

[0074] Thus, in general, the consumer interaction module may comprise any sensor which may detect a consumer interaction with the filling arrangement 100 and any consumer interaction with the filling arrangement 100 may be considered to be a consumer input.

[0075] Preferably, to make the filling arrangement 100 particularly consumer operable, the consumer does not need to operate any valves, handles, or any other controls to operate the filling arrangement 100. Hence, as a preference, the consumer only needs to provide an empty beverage container to the retail beverage container holder. The rest of the filling process will then be governed by the dispensing controller.

[0076] In a particular example, the housing doors 122 of the filling arrangement 100 are closed. Next, the consumer opens one of the dispensing compartment doors and places a growler 113 into the growler holder 112 associated with the same beverage dispensing unit 110 as the opened dispensing compartment door. After placing the growler 113, the dispensing compartment door is closed, either by the consumer of by the filling arrangement 100 itself, for example using a biasing element forcing the dispensing compartment door in a closed state. The dispensing controller may receive a consumer control signal based on any of these consumer interactions with the filling arrangement 100, including closing of the compartment door, and proceed with filling the growler 113 accordingly.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows part of an embodiment of a filling arrangement 100, wherein the housing doors and beverage dispensing units have been omitted to show the storage area 104 of the housing 102. Shown in the storage area 104 are six kegs 106 and one CO2 cylinder 108. With the housing doors opened, the storage area 104 is accessible via the a storage area access opening 120.

[0078] The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the storage area 104 is optional, and when a storage area 104 is comprised by the housing 102, this storage area 104 may be arranged for storing any number of supply beverage containers and/or pressurised gas containers. In other embodiments, a separate storage area 104 for at least one of a supply beverage container and, optionally, a pressurised gas container may be provided outside the housing 102, for example in an external refrigerator. It may be preferred to store the pressurised gas container at ambient temperature, rather than in a cooled cabinet.

[0079] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-section of an embodiment of a filling arrangement 100, in particular a consumer operable retail beverage container filling arrangement for use in a retail environment. The filling arrangement 100 comprises a housing 102, in which for this particular embodiment and as an option for other embodiments of the filling arrangement 100, substantially defines the volume occupied by all components of the filling arrangement 100, except for a power cord which is to be plugged into a power outlet of a retail environment.

[0080] In these preferred embodiments, the filling arrangement 100 can be placed anywhere in the retail environment as long as sufficient electrical power can be provided to the filling arrangement 100 for operation thereof. The housing 102 may be placed on rollers or wheels for increased movability.

[0081] As depicted in FIG. 3, the housing 102 comprises a storage area 104. In the storage area 104 a keg 106 as a supply beverage container and a CO2 cylinder 108 as a pressurised gas source are stored. A dispensing line 150 is provided between the keg 106 and the beverage dispensing unit 110. A gas conduit 152 provides a fluid connection between the CO2 cylinder and the keg 106 for pressurising the beverage inside the keg 106.

[0082] As schematically indicated in FIG. 3, the housing 102 comprises a storage area access opening 120 for accessing the storage area 104. The storage area access opening 120 is shown closed off by a housing door 122. The storage area access opening 120 is sufficiently wide and high to allow a retail environment employee to place and remove at least one of the keg 106 and the CO2 cylinder 108 as examples respectively of the supply beverage container and the pressurised gas source. By being able to selectively close off the storage area 104, it may be prevented that the consumer gains access to components of the filling arrangement 100 which the consumer does not need for consumer interaction with the filling arrangement 100, for example any of the keg 106, CO2 cylinder, 108, dispensing controller, and/or any other component comprised by embodiments of the filling arrangement 100.

[0083] The filling arrangement 100 depicted in FIG. 3 comprises the optional cooling unit 124 for cooling the storage area 104. The housing 102, or at least part thereof, may be insulated to decrease the energy required for cooling the storage area 104 when the temperature inside the storage area 104 is lower than an ambient temperature surrounding the housing 102.

[0084] The beverage dispensing unit 110 as depicted in FIG. 3 comprises the growler holder 112 as the retail beverage container holder which holds the growler 113 as the retail beverage container. In this example, the growler 113 comprises a support flange 115 and the growler 113 is suspended at the support flange 115 by the growler holder 112. The growler holder 112 preferably comprises two protrusions arranged in a wall of the dispensing compartment 128 to support the support flange 115. In other examples, the growler 113 may stand with its bottom on a pedestal comprised by an example of a retail beverage container holder.

[0085] As an option depicted in FIG. 3, the consumer interaction module comprises a touch screen 114 for receiving a consumer input and generating a consumer control signal 116 based on the received consumer input.

[0086] The filling arrangement 100 further comprises a dispensing controller 118 arranged for receiving the consumer control signal 116 and for controlling the beverage dispensing unit 110 in accordance with the consumer control signal. As such, the dispensing controller 118 may generate and send a dispensing module control signal 119 and the beverage dispensing unit 110 may be arranged to receive the dispensing module control signal 119 and dispense beverage in accordance with the received dispensing module control signal 119.

[0087] As depicted in FIG. 3, the beverage dispensing unit 110 may comprise a dispensing unit housing 126 defining a dispensing compartment 128. The growler holder 112 is provided in the dispensing compartment 128, and as such a growler 113 held by the growler holder 112 may be provided in the dispensing compartment 128 as well. The growler holder 112 is arranged to hold the growler 113 in a first orientation indicated with reference numeral 144, which may correspond to an axial direction of the growler 113.

[0088] By virtue of the dispensing unit housing 126, the dispensing area 128 as depicted in FIG. 3 is substantially separated from the storage area 104. Hence, it may be prevented that any beverage dispensed into the dispensing area 128 reaches the storage area 104. It will be obvious that preferably all beverage is dispensed into a retail beverage container. However, if some beverage is spilled in the dispensing unit housing 126, a drain 130 is provided as an option. The drain 130 may be provided at the bottom of the dispensing unit housing 126, and the drain 130 may be provided with a reservoir 131 for receiving drained beverage. This reservoir may be easily removable from the filling arrangement 100 to dispose of any spilled beverage.

[0089] To prevent a consumer from interacting with a retail beverage container during the filling process, access to the dispensing area 128 may be restricted by the dispensing compartment door 132 for selectively opening or closing off the dispensing compartment.

[0090] As an option, applicable when the filling arrangement 100 comprises a dispensing compartment door 132, the filling arrangement 100 may comprise a dispensing compartment door locking mechanism for locking the dispensing compartment door. When locked, the dispensing compartment door cannot be opened by the consumer. The locking mechanism may be an automatic locking system governed by the dispensing controller 118. The dispensing controller 118 may for example be arranged to lock the locking mechanism before starting filling of the retail beverage container, and to unlock the locking mechanism when the filling process has ended such that the consumer can safely open the dispensing compartment door to remove the filled retail beverage container from the retail beverage container holder 112.

[0091] As a further option also applicable in other embodiments of the filling arrangement 100, the filling arrangement 100 comprises a beverage level sensor 134. The beverage level sensor 134 may be a part of the beverage dispensing unit 110. The beverage level sensor 134 is arranged to provide a level sensor signal 136 indicative of a beverage level inside the growler 113 as the retail beverage container held by the growler holder 112.

[0092] When the filling arrangement 100 comprises a beverage level sensor 134, the dispensing controller 118 may be further arranged for receiving the level sensor signal 136 and for controlling the beverage dispensing unit 110 according to the level sensor signal. For example, when the level sensor signal 136 is indicative of a sufficiently filled retail beverage container, the dispensing controller 118 may control the beverage dispensing unit 110 to stop dispensing beverage.

[0093] The beverage level sensor 134 may be embodied as an optical sensor, optionally in combination with a light source, arranged to look through the growler 113, for example through a neck section 115 of the growler 113. In other embodiments, the beverage level sensor 134 may be embodied as an in-line flow sensor, as a weight sensor for measuring the weight of the retail beverage container during filling, or as any other sensor arranged to obtain information indicative of a beverage level inside the retail beverage container during filling. As a further alternative, a timer may be used to specify a specific filling time.

[0094] To provide the consumer with a label to paste on a filled retail beverage container, as an option, the filling arrangement 100 depicted in FIG. 3 comprises the label printer 138 which may be accompanied by a label printer controller. The label printer controller may control the label printer based on for example at least part of the consumer control signal.

[0095] The dispensing line 150 may be connected to a dispensing line connector 140 of the beverage dispensing unit 110. The dispensing line 150 may be a fixed dispensing line intended for use with a plurality of kegs 106, and may hence comprise a coupler to connected to a keg 106. In other embodiments, the dispensing line 150 may be a disposable dispensing line.

[0096] Regardless of whether the dispensing line 150 is disposable or not, the dispensing line connector 140 may be arranged to hold or at least orient an outlet end 142 of the dispensing line 150 in a second orientation indicated with reference numeral 146. The second orientation 146 may be at an angle relative to the first orientation 144 at which the growler holder 112 holds the growler 113.

[0097] By virtue of the outlet end 142 being oriented at the second orientation 146, beverage may be dispensed under a third orientation 148, which third orientation 148 may be parallel to the second orientation 146. The third orientation 148 is provided at an angle relative to the first orientation 144, and as such the dispensing direction may intersect a side wall of the growler 113. When the third orientation 148 is provided parallel to the first orientation 144, and thus not at an angle relative to the first orientation 144, the dispensing direction intersects the growler 113 at a bottom 121 of the growler 113.

[0098] Embodiments of the filling arrangement 100, for example the filling arrangement 100 depicted in FIG. 3, may be arranged for counter-pressure filling of a retail beverage container. The pressurised gas used for the counter-pressure filling process may originate from the pressurised gas source provided in the storage area 104. As such, a filling pressure gas conduit 154 may be provided between the CO2 cylinder 108 and the beverage dispensing unit 110. As such, the beverage dispensing unit 110 of FIG. 3 is arranged to receive pressurised gas via the filling pressure gas conduit 154.