GB2314832A

GB2314832A - A fully automated retail liquor measurement system

Info

Publication number: GB2314832A
Application number: GB9610614A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Plimley
Original assignee: INNLINE Ltd
Current assignee: INNLINE Ltd
Priority date: 1996-05-21
Filing date: 1996-05-21
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-21
Also published as: GB2314832B; GB9610614D0; WO1999036347A1

Abstract

A dispense measurement system which is fully automated by virtue of the fact that it will continuously monitor beer flow without the need for manual input of any form. The essential component part in this product is the electronic sensor which directly detects the presence of beer, and distinguishes it from any other medium which may be present in that working environment, be it cleaning fluid, water, beer gas or air. The electronic sensor is specific to its intended working environment in that it provides information utilising the analysis of a limited light frequency.

Description

A flilly automated retail liquor measurement system This invention relates to a flilly automated retail liquor measurement system The drink/hospitality sector has for some time being using types of till technology which can identify individual product sales. Such till technology can produce theoretical stock levels, however sales registered are not necessarily an accurate measurement of dispense. Stock checks produce a better understanding of where discrepancies exist between sales and dispense. Such stock checks are time consutning, it is a service often provided by outside companies. Due to such cost and time factors the stock check is generally a monthly audit, and as such provides a retrospective understanding of profitability. With regard to draught beer it is often impossible to identify the cause of loss, or to separate waste or spillage from theft. As a consequence losses in the industry are generally accepted to varying degrees.

Current systems exist which provide a separate measurement of dispense but require the cooperation of the on site operator to ensure the information is reliable. The involvement of the operator is required to separate beer dispense from cleaning or flushing procedures. To date there is no system available to provide a flilly automated real time comparison between sales and dispense. Such a total solution for this market sector should be capable of both interfacing with a variety of till systems, and should not require manual input at any point. As a dispense monitoring system is effectively a policing system to ensure stock control it can not operate successftilly unless filly automated.

According to the present invention there is provided a means to separate the amount of metered draught beer by electronically detecting whether beer is present in the line as opposed to cleaning or rushing solution This system provides a complete historical record of both beer dispense and cleaning procedures. This dispense information interfaces with registered sales and displays any discrepancy between these two quantities.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1) Shows the light source and receiver within the beer sensing unit in relation to the section of the tube which acts as the in-line sensing chamber.

Figure 2) Shows the relationship between the measured product, the meter, the sensor, the Till and the PC.

Figure 3) Shows a flow chart illustrating the automatic beer sensor, its interface with the flowmeter and subsequent display on the site PC.

Referring to the drawing of the beer sensor (Figure 1), it comprises of a blue frequency light source of approximately 470 nanometres (A) and light detector (B) which are placed at opposite ends of a length oftube (9 which acts as the measurement chamber. The light sensitive cell varies in output dependant upon light absorbed by the measured liquid in the chamber. Sensitivity may be further enhanced by increasing or decreasing the length (L) of the measurement chamber C This changing analogue output is electronically amplified within the control unit (D)and converted to a digital output to be received as an on/offsignal within the flowmeter.

In (Figure 2) the sensor unit is fitted in the metered beer flow line, and the pre-set digital output is used to switch the micro controller within the Incline flowmeter Q to enable a change of state from beer metering to cleaning/flushing fluid metering, or vice versa Memory of flow volume is retained within both the beer flow and cleaning flow registers (see figure 3) of the flowmeter micro controller, whilst also being transmitted to the on site PC.

The InnLine software programme running on the site PC allows the system user to access information about how much of either fluid was or is being dispensed. Historical information is available and can be accessed to reveal how much of either product was dispensed on any date, between any two dates or on an hourly or part thereof 'data log interval' of the users choice.

An additional interface is provided within the PC software to enable the merge of beer flow data with registered sales from the operators EPOS system (J). This link will provide the system user with a complete current or historical account of profit and loss information for all metered or measured products.

In (Figure 3) a logic how chart is shown illustrating the relationship between the beer sensor, essential components within the flowmeter and the on-site PC.

Claims

1) Awfully automated retail liquor measurement system produces a means to meter draught beer dispense which electronically detects whether beer is present in the line metered as opposed to cleaning solution, flushing solution, beer gas or air.

2) A filly automated retail liquor measurement system as claimed in Claim 1 which detects whether beer is present in the line using a specific light frequency at the blue end of the spectrum4 transmitting at approximately 470 nanometres.

3) A fully automated retail liquor measurement system as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 2 produces an electronic analogue change within a light sensitive cell. The cell output is amplified and switched at a pre-set value to produce an on/off signal to the microprocessor within the Inns ine flowmeter. This change of state information switches the flowmeter processor from its beer flow register into the line cleaning register or vice versa. The change of state information is then transmitted to the Incline data logger and or site PC.

4) A fully automated retail liquor measurement system as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3 is produced by a light source and detector which are placed at opposite ends of a cross section of a rigid food quality tube, and that this tube length is one component part ofthe calibration of the design, in that greater tube length provides increased sensitivity when detecting beers with little colour. The tubing and fittings used are impervious to any external light.

5) A fully automated retail liquor measurement system as claimed in any preceding claim, which provides a complete historical record of both beer dispense and cleaning procedures. The beer dispense information can interface with registered sales and displays any discrepancy between these two quantities.

6) A fully automated retail liquor measurement system as claimed in any preceding claim, and is required to automatically interface with the metering equipment.

7) A filly automated retail liquor measurement system as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.