SELF-SERVICE BEVERAGE BOARD OR TABLE

Technical Area

This invention is concerned to rotating saloon equipment located on self-service tables within refreshment furnishings.

State of the Art

At present, many different types of self-service beverage boards or tables exist, e.g. such board or table is described within Slovak industrial utility no. 3782 which deals with a mobile device for mortising of drinks and consists of the stand where an extension piece is located and over that a roll is sited, while the role is equipped with a scrimpy stopper and an appropriate outlet tap whilst the roll top is equipped with ventilation tap. The document denoted as US 913454 describes a device for spreading of drinks which is considered to be a self-service one and controlled with the use of a computer activated by the customer via his/her credit card. A similar device for spreading of drinks activated and controlled via customer's credit card is described in the document denoted as US 5291004. The actual state of the art also contains further distribution self-service systems described within documents denoted as FR 2759073, WO 9936347 or KR 207130. All of the above-mentioned systems are implemented and operated in order to provide a service for one customer only.

However, such types of devices are known which may be utilized by small consumers, as well, while their volume is from five up to ten litters and a producer mounted an outlet nozzle to this device which enables a direct taping of drink by the customer. A need of extra taping device or a small case volume for a single use causes the higher price of drink and is considered to be their disadvantage.

Invention Basic Principles

A solution described in the invention enables removing of the above-mentioned shortcomings, while the invention is based on these principles that a self-service board contains at least one unit for spreading of drinks, which is considered to be a taping device rotating round a vertical axle and contains at least one blocking elements together with switchers for terminating, blocking and setting some of the positions closely related to the spreading device, while a selected position is equipped with an appropriate customer's display.

A self-service board or table also contains an automatic unit for process control interconnected to a sales point, equipped with a display and cash-desk, while a wireless interconnection, may be applied for these purposes and the automatic unit is connected to blocking elements with switches and customer's displays, flow-meter with foam detector and electronic control valve, applied for measuring and blocking of drink flow through heat exchanger and spreading unit. A customer may pre-determine a drink volume and he/she is entitled to tap it into his/her glass or other vessel via self-service board or at the table directly. The drink-spread unit is able to provide drink only in the case that appropriate blocking elements and switches are set in the adequate position

and pre-paid credit or a pre-determined drink volume together with remaining drink volume is displayed. A drink spread is blocked after having reached the set or predefined credit or volume values. One distribution unit is able to provide service for more customers, at the self-service board or table, while they are informed about the drinks, which they bought, via appropriate displays. The automatic unit may be interconnected with a central computer which provides further a data processing or a control of drink distribution.

Overview of Drawing Images

A layout o f the self-service board or table is shown in Fig. 1. A block diagram closely related to wiring of electronics for the self-service board or table is shown in Fig. 2., Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 deals with the drawing concerned to a disposal solution for the self- service board or table. A suitable and advantageous implementation of the self-service board or table is shown in Fig. 5.

Invention Implementation Example

The self-service board or table JJ_ contains ant least one drink distribution unit I in form of a taping device rotating round a vertical axe and contains at least two blocking elements with switches 2 for setting, blocking and changing the position within unit J_, while the position is equipped with an appropriate customer's display 3. The self- service board or table JJ_ also contains an automatic unit 4 which provides a control process closely related to a drink spread which is connected to the sales point 5 _. equipped with display and cash-desk and the interconnection may be implemented as the wireless one, while the automatic unit 4 is also connected to the blocking elements with switches 2, customer's displays 3, flow-meters 6_with a foam detector and electronic control valve 7, which are applied for measuring and blocking of a drink flow from the drink container S_ through heat exchanger 9, to distribution unit J_. A customer will pre-determine a dink quantity, at the sail point 5 and he/she is allowed to tap it into his/her vessel, as for instance, via unit I, at the self-service board or table 11, in an appropriate position. Unit j_ is able to provide a drink spread only in a position with blocking elements with switches 2 and a pre-paid credit for distribution of an appropriate drink amount, while a credit and/or distributed drink amount and remaining drink amount is displayed at the position with adequate blocking elements with switches 2 and corresponding customer display_3. The drink distribution is blocked after having reached the set credit or amount values. More customers may apply for services of the self-service board or table JJ_ via distribution unit j_ and they may be informed about the drink which they bought via individual customer's displays. The automatic unit may be interconnected to a central computer JO which provides further data processing or a control process concerned to the drink distribution.

List of related Marks

1 distribution unit

2 blocking elements with switches

3 customer's display

4 automatic unit

5 sales point

6 flow-meter with foam detector

7 electronic control valve

8 drink container

9 heat exchanger

10 central computer

11 self-service board or table