The invention also includes a method of dispensing a beverage employing the apparatus.

For convenience the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to dispense into a glass but it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable to other receptacles and the term'glass'is to be construed accordingly.

It is conventional practice when dispensing certain beverages, e. g. lagers, beers, for the bar staff to hold the glass at an angle to the outlet so that the beverage is initially dispensed onto the side of the glass and to gradually bring the glass to an upright position to complete the dispense.

This is done in the case of carbonated beverages such as lagers and beers which are typically dispensed at low temperatures to prevent the beverage frothing excessively as it is being dispensed due to break-out of the carbon dioxide if the glass is filled in an upright position throughout the dispense.

The dispense of such carbonated beverages is typically metered to achieve accurate dispense of the required volume of the beverage. Such metered dispense is controlled automatically in response to the bar staff initiating the dispense but the need to tilt the glass still requires the presence of the bar staff to hold the glass during the dispense.

As a result, the bar staff are prevented from carrying out other tasks during the dispense. This effectively limits the time taken to serve a customer and can lead to delays and queues forming at times of high demand. In order to reduce any delays, additional bar staff are required, especially at times of high demand. This adds to running costs.

In addition, the angle at which the glass needs to be held varies during the dispense as the glass is filled and requires practice and experience on the part of the bar staff to dispense the beverage in an acceptable manner.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide an improved apparatus and method for dispensing beverages in which the beverage can be dispensed without requiring bar staff to hold the glass during the dispense.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for dispensing a beverage in which a glass into which a beverage is to be dispensed is automatically positioned for dispense of the beverage.

It is another preferred object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for dispensing a beverage in which the position of a glass is adjustable during dispense of the beverage.

It is yet another preferred object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for dispensing a beverage that reduces excessive frothing of the beverage.

It is a still further preferred object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method of dispensing a beverage in a manner that is interesting to the consumer.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for dispensing a beverage into a glass, the apparatus comprising an outlet connectable to a supply of the beverage and means for supporting a glass in which the beverage is to be dispensed, the support means being operable to adjust the position of the glass relative to the outlet whereby the glass can be tilted during the dispense so that beverage is dispensed from the outlet onto the side of the glass.

By this invention, dispense of the beverage is controlled to reduce frothing by positioning the glass relative to the outlet so that the beverage is dispensed onto the side of the glass. More particularly, the glass is supported for movement relative to the outlet such that the glass can be raised and tilted to position the outlet adjacent to the side of the glass onto which the beverage is to be dispensed.

Preferably, the support means comprises a lifting arm to locate and support the glass and a drive mechanism operable by drive means such as an electric motor for raising and lowering the lifting arm accompanied by pivotal movement of the lifting arm to tilt a glass carried by the lifting arm.

The lifting arm may comprise a platform on which the glass can be placed, and a bearer member for the side of the glass to rest against to support the glass in the tilted position. Alternatively, the lifting arm may comprise a ring or collar in which the glass can be placed to engage the side of the glass and support the glass in the tilted position.

The drive mechanism may comprise a vertical lead screw rotatable by the drive means and a sleeve movable up and down the lead screw by reversing the direction of rotation of the lead screw and operatively

connected to the lifting arm for raising and lowering the lifting arm accompanied by pivotal movement of the lifting arm about a horizontal axis to tilt a glass supported by the lifting arm.

The lifting arm may be arranged to move the glass between an upright, lowered position and a tilted, raised position in which the outlet is located inside the glass adjacent to the inclined side of the glass below the rim for initial dispense of the beverage.

The glass may be positioned below the outlet in the upright, lowered position with the lifting arm being movable up and down in one plane to raise and lower the glass accompanied by tilting for the initial dispense of the beverage.

Alternatively, the glass may be angularly offset from the outlet in the upright, lowered position with up and down movement of the lifting arm in one plane being combined with rotational movement of the lifting arm about vertical axis in a second plane for positioning the glass below the outlet in the raised, tilted position.

The angle at which the glass is tilted in the raised, tilted condition for initial dispense will depend on the beverage to be dispensed. For lagers, and beers, a tilt angle of from 30° to 50° to the horizontal in the raised tilted position may be employed with a tilt angle of about 40° being preferred.

Preferably, the drive mechanism is operable to return the glass to the upright, lowered condition during the dispense and the dispense may be timed so that the dispense is completed with the glass in or approaching the upright, lowered condition to prevent spillage.

The dispense of the beverage may be controlled by a valve operable to initiate the dispense when the glass is in the raised, tilted position. The valve may be on/off valve to provide a constant flow rate or a modulating valve to provide variable flow rate for a profiled dispense of the beverage. For example, the valve may provide a lower flow rate at the start and/or end of the dispense to reduce frothing and prevent spillage.

Preferably, the drive mechanism is housed in a tower with the outlet at the upper end and a drip tray or the like at the lower end on which the glass can be placed in the upright, lowered position. The tower may adapted for mounting on a bar or similar support surface so that the glass can be seen by the customer in the upright, lowered position at the start and end of the dispense.

Where the lifting arm is movable in one plane to raise and lower the glass, the glass is visible to the customer throughout the dispense. Where the lifting arm is movable in two planes, the glass may be hidden from the customer behind the tower in the tilted, raised position.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for dispensing a beverage into a glass, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a glass, means for moving the support means between a lowered, first position in which the glass is upright and a raised, second position in which the glass is tilted relative to an outlet for dispense of beverage onto a side of the glass, the moving means including a lead screw arranged to extend in a vertical direction, a sleeve movable lengthwise of the lead screw in response to rotation of the lead screw, and link means coupling the sleeve to the support means, the arrangement being such that the support means is moved between the first and second directions by reversing the direction of rotation of the lead screw.

Preferably, the lead screw is rotatable by an electric motor.

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for dispensing a beverage into a glass, the apparatus comprising an outlet connectable to a supply of the beverage, means for supporting a glass in which the beverage is to be dispensed, and means for moving the support means between a lowered first position in which the glass is substantially upright and a raised second position in which the glass is tilted so that beverage can be dispensed from the outlet onto the side of the glass wherein the moving means includes guide means for causing pivotal movement of the support means as it moves between the first and second positions.

Preferably, the guide means includes a groove or slot in a fixed support member, the groove or slot co-operating with a linkage connecting the moving means to the support means to cause pivotal movement of the support means.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of dispensing a beverage employing the apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising providing means for supporting a glass and rotatable drive means for moving the support means between a lowered, first position in which the glass is substantially upright and a raised, second position in which the glass is tilted at an angle to the horizontal by reversing the direction of rotation of the drive means, positioning an empty glass in the first position and moving the glass to the second position so that an outlet for dispense of the beverage is adjacent to a side of the glass below the rim, initiating dispense of the beverage when the glass is in the second position so that the beverage

impinges on the side of the glass, and returning the glass to the first position.

The dispense of the beverage may be completed before, after or at the same time the glass returns to the first position. The beverage may be dispensed at a constant flow rate or at a variable flow rate to provide a profiled dispense. For example the flow rate may be lower at the start and/or end of the dispense.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a front view of beverage dispense apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention with the glass shown in an upright, lowered position; FIGURE 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the glass shown in a tilted, raised position; FIGURE 3 is a front view of the apparatus similar to Figure 1 showing the glass in both the lowered and raised positions; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing the glass in both the lowered and raised positions; FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of a drive mechanism for the apparatus of Figure 1 with the glass shown in the lowered position ; FIGURE 6 is a schematic view of the drive mechanism with the glass shown in the raised position;

FIGURE 7 is a front view of beverage dispense apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention with the glass shown in an upright, lowered position; FIGURE 8 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 7 with the glass shown in a tilted, raised position; FIGURE 9 is a front view of the apparatus similar to Figure 7 showing the movement of the glass between the lowered and raised positions; FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 7 showing the movement of the glass between the lowered and raised positions; and FIGURE 11 is a schematic view of a drive mechanism for the apparatus of Figure 7 with the glass shown in the raised position.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, beverage dispense apparatus 1 for lagers, beers or the like is shown having a dispense outlet 2 connected to a supply (not shown) of the beverage and a drip tray 3 positioned below the outlet 2.

Typically, the supply is at a remote location such as a cellar and beverage is delivered to the outlet 2 in a delivery line (not shown), for example a so-called"python", with suitable cooling for dispense at a desired temperature.

The outlet 2 is provided at the upper end of a tower 4 and the drip tray 3 is incorporated in a base 5 at the lower end of the tower 4. The base 5 is adapted for mounting the apparatus on a bar or other support surface (not shown) so that a glass 6 placed on the drip tray 3 below the outlet 2 is in view of a customer as shown in Figure 1.

In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus includes a device 7 for tilting the glass 6 to prevent excessive frothing of the beverage dispensed into the glass 6 from the outlet 2.

The device 7 includes a lifting arm 8 to locate and support the glass 6 for movement between a lowered, upright position shown in Figure 1 and a raised, tilted position shown in Figure 2 in which the glass 6 is at an angle of approximately 40°to the horizontal The lifting arm 8 has an annular platform 9 on which the base of the glass 6 sits and is prevented from sliding off in the tilted position by an upstanding lip 10. The glass 6 is additionally supported in the tilted position by a curved plate 11 against which the side of the glass 6 rests.

A drive mechanism 12 for operating the lifting arm 8 is housed in the tower 4 and includes a sleeve 13 threadably mounted on a lead screw 14.

The lead screw 14 is rotatable about a vertical axis by an electric motor 15 at the lower end of the lead screw 14 such that the sleeve 13 is movable along the lead screw 14.

The motor 15 is operable to reverse the output for rotating the lead screw 14 in opposite directions such that the sleeve 13 is raised by rotation of the lead screw 14 in one direction and is lowered by rotation of the lead screw 14 in the opposite direction.

A linkage 16 connects the sleeve 13 to the lifting arm 8 whereby the lifting arm 8 is moved between the lowered and raised positions in response to movement of the sleeve 13 along the lead screw 14.

The linkage 16 includes a pair of links 17, 18 pivotally connected to each other at respective one ends. The other end of the link 17 is pivotally connected to the sleeve 13 and the other end of the link 18 is rigidly connected to the lifting arm 8 via a shaft 19 extending through an arcuate slot 20 in a planar wall 21 of the tower 4.

The pivot connection between the links 17, 18 is guided in an arcuate groove 22 on the inner face of the wall 21 and the shaft 19 is guided in the slot 20 for controlling movement of the lifting arm 8 in response to displacement of the sleeve 13 along the lead screw 14.

Operation of the apparatus to dispense a beverage is as follows. First, with the drive mechanism in the position shown in Figure 5, an empty glass 6 is positioned on the lifting arm 8 in an upright, lowered position.

The dispense cycle is then activated by actuating a suitable control, e. g. a switch operated by a push button (not shown) to start the motor 15. The lead screw 14 is rotated to raise the sleeve 13 causing the links 17,18 to raise and pivot the lifting arm 8 to move the glass 6 to the raised, tilted position shown in Figure 6.

In this position, the outlet 2 is disposed inside the glass 6 and close to the side below the rim. When the glass 6 reaches this position, the motor 15 is stopped and dispense of the beverage is activated, e. g. by microswitches or other means responsive to the lifting arm 8 reaching the upper end of the slot 20 to open a valve (not shown) controlling flow of the beverage.

Beverage dispensed from the outlet 2 impinges on the adjacent side of the glass 6 and runs down the side to the bottom. As the glass 6 fills, the motor 15 is re-started and lead screw 14 is rotated in the opposite direction to move the sleeve 13 back down the lead screw 14 to return the

glass 6 to the original upright, lowered position of Figure 5. In this way, the beverage is dispensed into the glass 6 without creating excessive frothing and spillage of the beverage.

This return movement may be initiated at any point in the dispense cycle and is preferably timed to return the glass 6 to the upright position just prior to completion of the dispense of the beverage so that the last part of the dispense fills the glass 6.

The valve controlling flow may be a simple on/off valve or it may be a modulating valve to vary the flow, eg a modulating solenoid valve. In this way, the valve may be controlled to vary the flow rate during the dispense cycle. For example, the valve may provide a lower flow rate at the start of the dispense cycle to further reduce frothing and increasing the flow rate during the main part of the dispense before reducing the flow rate at the end of the dispense cycle to prevent spillage.

As will now be appreciated, the device 7 replicates manipulation of the glass 6 during a manual dispense of the beverage. In this way, the beverage can be dispensed to fill the glass 6 automatically without requiring the glass to be held thereby freeing bar staff to carry out other operations during the dispense.

In addition, the operation of automatically lifting and tilting the glass 6 and then lowering the glass 6 back to the upright position is made visible to the customer by the positioning the glass 6 at the side of the tower 4.

As a result, customers can watch movement and filling of glass 6 with the beverage during the dispense cycle. This adds to the theatre of dispense which customers may find appealing.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described and that other arrangements may be provided for supporting and tilting the glass while it is raised and lowered during the dispense cycle.

Figures 7 to 11 show a modification to the apparatus in which like reference numerals in the series 100 are used to indicate corresponding parts.

In this embodiment, the lifting arm 108 is provided with an annular support ring 130 that is received in an annular recess 131 in the drip tray 103 in the lowered position of the lifting arm 108 shown in Figure 7.

The bottom of the glass 106 is positioned in the recess 131 within the ring 130. When the dispense cycle is activated as described previously, the lifting arm 108 is raised and the ring 131 engages the outside of the glass 106 above the bottom.

In this way, the ring 130 accommodates variations in the diameter of different glasses 106 and the glass 106 is located and supported throughout the dispense cycle by the ring 130 without additional support being required.

The lead screw 114 and sleeve 113 of the drive mechanism 112 are housed in the tower 104 and the sleeve 113 is connected to the lifting arm 108 by linkage 116 and shaft 119 extending through slot 120.

The lower end of the slot 120 has an initial portion 120a extending vertically leading to a main portion 120b inclined at an angle to the vertical.

The linkage 116 and shaft 119 guided in the slot 120 control movement of the lifting arm 109 in response to rotation of the lead screw 114 by electric motor 115 to move the sleeve 113 up and down the lead screw 114.

In this embodiment, tower 104 is of generally triangular cross-section and the outlet 102 and slot 120 are provided in a wall 132 facing away from the customer when the apparatus is positioned on a bar or other support surface.

Figure 7 shows the empty glass 106 positioned in the recess 131 prior to commencing the dispense cycle. In this position the glass 106 is arranged at the side of the tower 104 where it can be seen by the customer from the front of the apparatus. The outlet 102 is angularly offset relative to the glass 106 and the drip tray 103 is enlarged to extended below the outlet 102 On activating the dispense cycle, for example by a push button actuating a switch (not shown), the motor 115 is started and lead screw 114 is rotated to raise the sleeve 113. Initial travel of shaft 119 in end portion 120a of the slot 120 raises the lifting arm 108 vertically to engage the outside of the glass 106 with the support ring 130.

The glass 106 is then raised with the lifting arm 108 and the shaft 119 enters the inclined portion 120b of the slot 120 causing the lifting arm 108 to tilt the glass 106 as it is being raised. The glass 106 is again tilted at about 40° to the horizontal in the raised position.

At the same time, the lifting arm 108 is rotated about the axis of the lead screw 114 to move the glass 106 from its initial upright, lowered position

at the side of the tower 104 in view of the customer to the tilted, raised position at the back of the tower 104 out of sight of the customer.

On reaching the raised, tilted position, the outlet 102 is positioned inside the glass 106 adjacent to the inclined side of the glass 106 below the rim.

The motor 115 is stopped and dispense of the beverage started as described previously by actuation of microswitches or the like to open the valve (not shown) controlling flow of the beverage into the glass 106.

The valve may be an on/off valve or a modulating valve.

The beverage impinges on the inclined side of the glass 106 and runs down the side to the bottom. While the beverage is being dispensed, the motor 115 is re-started to rotate the lead screw 114 in the opposite direction to move the sleeve 113 back down the lead screw 114 and return the glass 106 to the original upright, lowered position.

The return movement is timed so that the dispense of the beverage is completed with the glass 106 below the outlet 102 as it approaches the upright, lowered position bringing the glass 106 back into view of the customer. It will be appreciated, however, that the movement of the lifting arm 108 and position of the outlet 102 could be arranged so that the glass 106 is below the outlet 102 in the upright, lowered position for completion of the dispense.

The above operation is readily understood from Figures 9 and 10 which show the glass 106 at several intermediate positions as well as the raised and lowered positions. As will be appreciated this embodiment combines up and down movement of the glass with angular movement around the tower 104 to position the glass 106 under the outlet 102 in the raised, tilted position. This provides an alternative visual effect to the previous embodiment which can also add to the theatre of dispense.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the above- described embodiments and that various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the principle or concept of the invented apparatus.

For example, any suitable drive mechanism may be employed to raise and lower the glass accompanied by tilting of the glass in the raised position for initial dispense of the beverage to reduce frothing.

Likewise, any suitable lifting arm may be employed to locate and support the glass and the lifting arm may be capable of accommodating different sizes and/or shapes of glasses. For example pint and half pint glasses which may be designed to fit the apparatus for dispense of different volumes.

The dispense of different volumes, eg pint and half pint, may be achieved by changing the speed of action to match the dispense according to the selected volume. For example, separate push buttons may be provided for selecting pint or half pint dispense.

The apparatus may include means such as a contactless sensor to detect the presence of a glass and prevent operation if no glass is present. In this way, the dispense of beverage is prevented until a glass is present to receive the beverage. This may facilitate line cleaning.

Where, dispense of different volumes is permitted, the glass sensor may also detect the presence of the correct size of glass for the selected dispense. In this way, dispense of a pint into a half pint glass may be prevented.

The apparatus may include means to permit selection between automatic or manual positioning of a glass under the dispense tap. For example, a switch may be provided to disable the drive mechanism and allow beverage to be dispensed into a glass held manually under the dispense tap during dispense. This may also facilitate line cleaning.

Other changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it will be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Thus, any feature of the embodiments may be employed separately or in combination with any other features of the same or different embodiments to provide glass tilting apparatus for dispensing beverages.