초록 ▼

A multi-head drinks-dispensing apparatus having a group of drinks-dispensing heads each arranged for supply with drink ingredients through fluid control valves. A keypad has a first group of keys for selecting the type of drink and the dispensing head to be used, and a second group of keys for selec

A multi-head drinks-dispensing apparatus having a group of drinks-dispensing heads each arranged for supply with drink ingredients through fluid control valves. A keypad has a first group of keys for selecting the type of drink and the dispensing head to be used, and a second group of keys for selecting the quantity of drink to be dispensed. Signals from those groups of keys are processed in a micro-processor, which energizes the relevant pair of valves to commence delivery of the selected drink without any delay. Dispensing of the selected drink is initiated at the earliest moment, while other drinks are being selected, so that selected drinks can be dispensed from the dispensing heads in a serial, overlapping manner. This facilitates the dispensing of a customer's multi-drink order in the shortest possible time. The processor stores data concerning the various drinks that are dispensed in a non-volatile memory, and this data can be transferred to a data collection unit via an infrared link, and then to a drinks management system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] Multihead drinks dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced locations each arranged to receive a respective cup, a drinks dispensing head at each location for dispensing drink into the cup, each head including (i) a nozzle for supplying ingredients different to the ingred

[ I claim:] [1.] Multihead drinks dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced locations each arranged to receive a respective cup, a drinks dispensing head at each location for dispensing drink into the cup, each head including (i) a nozzle for supplying ingredients different to the ingredients supplied by any other head and (ii) associated control valve means for controlling the flow of drink ingredients under pressure from ingredient supply means to the nozzle for mixing there and delivery into the waiting cup, a common control array for said heads, said control array including (a) first selection means for selecting a drink to be dispensed and thus the dispensing head to be used, (b) a second selection means for selecting the quantity of drink to be delivered irrespective of which head is selected, said first and second selection means being arranged, when operated in association, to emit respective first and second selection signals representative of the selected drink and selected quantity of the selected drink, (c) memory means for storing at least temporarily each pair of associated first and second selection signals, and (d) logic circuit means arranged to receive said pairs of associated first and second selection signals and in response to each such pair of signals to provide a valve control signal for effecting energisation of the control valve means of the selected dispensing head for a period sufficient to deliver the selected quantity of the selected drink, whereby by operating the first and second selection means to produce two or more pairs of first and second selection signals in quick succession two or more drinks may be dispensed simultaneously at different said locations in a serial but over-lapping time relationship.