GB2366361A

GB2366361A - Beverage dispenser illumination device

Info

Publication number: GB2366361A
Application number: GB0020258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rodney Adams; David Peter Carter
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 1999-09-01
Filing date: 2000-08-17
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-17
Also published as: GB2366361B; GB9920617D0; GB0020258D0

Abstract

A device to illuminate the flowing stream of a beverage as it passes from a dispense point into a receptacle, e.g. a glass, comprising an illumination device suitable for use in a beverage system wherein the beverage is dispensed in a stream into a receptacle. The device comprising a plurality of LED illumination sources (78), a housing (80) for the plurality of illumination sources, each of said sources being adapted to provide a light beam extending in the direction of the stream, at least some of the illumination sources (78) providing beams directed to strike the moving stream, and control means to switch the beams on and off in a predetermined sequence.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> ILLUMINATION DEVICE This invention relates to illumination devices. It is particularly concerned with illumination devices which may be used in conjunction with the dispensing of beverages in liquid or partly-frozen condition. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved illumination device which illuminates the flowing stream of beverage as it passes from the dispense point into a receptacle into which it is being dispensed.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide an illumination device suitable for use in a beverage system wherein the beverage is dispensed in a stream into a receptacle, the device comprising a plurality of LED illumination sources, a housing for the plurality of illumination sources, each of said sources being adapted to provide a light beam extdnding in the direction of said stream, at least some of said illumination sources providing beams directed to strike the moving stream, and control means to switch the beams on and off in a predetermined sequence.

In another aspect the invention provides a beverage dispense apparatus, the apparatus comprises an outlet through which a stream of the beverage can be dispensed, means to propel the beverage from a source thereof to the outlet, a plurality of LED illumination sources mounted in a housing therefor whereby each source can provide a light beam extending in the direction of said stream, at least some of said illumination sources providing beams directed to strike the stream of beverage, means to open and close the outlet to start and to stop flow of the beverage stream and control means to switch the beams on and off in a predetermined sequence.

The device may comprise a housing for the LED illumination sources, which is shaped such that it can be fitted around the dispense outlet.

Typically the housing is annular in shape.

The positioning of the illumination sources in the housing may be such that they have an axis substantially parallel to the direction of the moving stream The light beams may be provided by a plurality of discrete LED illumination sources located on the stream side of the housing.

The control means may be remote from the housing. The control means may be programmed to provide a sequence in which one or more of the LED illumination sources is illuminated in turn and may also be programmed to switch the beams on and off in conjunction with the opening and closing of the outlet to start and to stop flow of the beverage.

The housing may comprise an annular waterproof module, in which the LED illumination sources are embedded in a solid plastics material such as an acrylic resin. Alternatively, they may be set in an annular ring, e.g. of metal, to be attached around the outlet.

The apparatus may, if desired, additionally include a further source of illuminationpositioned beneath the outlet to provide illumination of the beverage in a receptacle positioned beneath the outlet. Such further illumination may conveniently also be provided by LEDs.

The illumination sources may be, for example, so-called white light LEDs. The beams may typically have an included angle of less than 20 , preferably less than 18 and may be less than 10 . As LEDs can operate at low voltage and give off relatively little heat, their use does

not have a noticeable effect on the temperature of the dispensed beverage. Moreover, they can withstand repeated on-off use and have very long life. They can very conveniently be adapted to be fitted unobtrusively into the beverage dispense apparatus.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of an illumination device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the device of Figure 1 viewed in the direction of arrow A; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of one beverage dispense apparatus of the invention; and Figure 4 is a sectional view through the dispense head/outlet region of the apparatus of Figure 3.

Illumination device 10 comprises annular segments 12, 13, 14 and 15 which together form a one-piece annular housing 11.

Housing 11 is typically made as a single moulding or casting of acrylic plastics material. In use, housing 11 is mounted around a dispense outlet for a liquid or partly-frozen beverage with the beverage stream exiting the hollow control region 17 of the annular housing under gravity. In Figure 1, the direction of stream flow is indicated by arrow B, which will normally be vertical, and the perimeter of region 17 is indicated schematically by a dashed line.

Six light emitting diodes (LEDs) of the type known as "white light" LED lamps are shown by numeral 20 and are equally spaced around segment 14 on the side of segment 14 facing the direction of arrow B whereby the axis of the light source placement is substantially

parallel to the direction of the flowing liquid stream. These LEDs are ones having a relatively narrow beam angle of about 18 . The beam angle and the radial position of the ring of LED lamps is selected so that the edges of the beams cover at least the edge of the falling beverage stream on its path between the dispense outlet and the receptacle (e.g. glass or jug) placed below the dispense point and the illumination device.

LEDs 20 are connected via input wires 21 to a digital control circuit (not shown). The circuit is designed to provide control outlets which can switch LEDs 20 on and off in a predetermined sequence. The sequence may be such as to illuminate each LED in turn giving a moving circular effect to the illumination of the stream. Alternatively or additionally, groups of LEDs (there may be more than six) may be switched on or off to provide other types of effect on the moving beverage streams and in the beverage e.g. a transparent beverage, as it fills the receptacle.

In Figure 3 is shown a beverage dispense apparatus 30 having a dispense head 32. Dispense head 32 is shown in section in Figure 4.

The apparatus 30 comprises a tower 34 to be mounted on a counter (not shown) by mounting means 36, 38. The tower 34 contains a conventional vertically-positioned lighting tube 40, which is accessible within the removable curved lens 42 positioned at the front of the tower, i.e. as viewed by prospective customers. A delivery tube 44 for a beverage, which may be of the premix or post-mix types, enters in a conventional manner through the base of the tower 34, passes up inside the tower within an insulating sleeve 46 and exits through the rear face 48 of the tower towards its upper end.

Delivery tube 44 leads into dispense head 32, which is basically of conventional construction but contains illumination sources according to the invention, which are described in more detail below.

At the base of the tower 34 is a drip tray 50 having a perforated upper plate 52 with holes 54 to allow any overflowing beverage to pass through into the drip tray below.

Upper plate 52 also contains a larger hole 56 in which a glass or other receptacle 58 can be placed to receive beverage dispensed from head 32. Hole 56 is, therefore, aligned underneath the outlet 60 (shown in Figure 4) of head 32.

Dispense head 32 has a conventional upper cover 62 above a hollow main body 64 containing a valve body 66. Valve body 66 can be opened and closed to allow and to stop flow of beverage through outlet 60 by movement of lever 68. Beverage flows into the head through tube 44 which is sealed into an annular extension 70 of valve body 66 through the wall of body 64. A bushing 72 mounted on the outlet end of delivery tube 44 is sealed to the extension 70 by annular seals 74.

Two different sets of illumination devices according to the invention are provided in the dispense apparatus.

One device 76 comprises six equi-spaced LEDs 78 mounted in an annular ring 80. Ring 80 is positioned to lie around the tapered lower end 66A of valve body 66 whereby the light beams emitted from the LEDs 78 will illuminate and impinge on a stream of beverage passing through outlet 60 when the valve is opened.

A second illumination device 82 comprises 10 LEDs 84 equi- spaced around a mounting ring 86. Device 82 is located inside drip tray

50, being mounted beneath hole 56 whereby light beams emitted from the LEDs are directed upwardly to illuminate the beverage in glass 58.

One or both of the different sets of illumination devices may be actuated by a sensor, e.g. an infrared sensor connected to the control means, which detects the presence of a receptacle e.g. glass 58 on upper plate 52 and/or below the valve body 66, and causes switching on of the beams of the illumination sources. The sensor on detecting removal of the receptacle can then cause the beams to be switched off.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An illumination device suitable for use in a beverage system wherein the beverage is dispensed in a stream into a receptacle, the device comprising a plurality of LED illumination sources, a housing for the plurality of illumination sources, each of said sources being adapted to provide a light beam extending in the direction of said stream, at least some of said illumination sources providing beams directed to strike the moving stream, and control means to switch the beams on and off in a predetermined sequence.
2. An illumination device according to Claim 1, in which the housing is shaped to be fitted around the outlet of a beverage dispense system.
3. An illumination device according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the housing is annular in shape.
4. An illumination device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the housing is a waterproof module in which the illumination sources are embedded in a solid plastics material.
5. An illumination device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the housing is an annular metal ring in which the illumination sources are set.
6. An illumination device according to any preceding claim, in which the light beams are provided by a plurality of discrete LED illumination sources located on the beverage stream side of the housing.
7. An illumination device according to any preceding claim, in which the LEDs are white light LEDs.
8. An illumination device according to any preceding claim, in which the illumination sources are positioned such that their axis is substantially parallel to the direction of the stream.

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9. An illumination device according to any preceding claim, in which the control means is programmed to provide a sequence in which one or more of the illumination sources is illuminated in turn.
10. An illumination device according to any preceding claim, in which the control means is programmed to switch the beams on and off in correspondence with the starting and stopping of flow of the beverage.
11. An illumination device according to any preceding claim, in which the illumination sources are actuated by a sensor which detects the presence or absence of the receptacle.
12. An illumination device according to any preceding claim, in which the light beams have an included angle of less than 20 .
13. An illumination device according to Claim 12, in which the light beams have an included angle of less than 18 .
14. An illumination device according to Claim 12 or 13, in which the light beams have an included angle of less than 10 .
15. A beverage dispense apparatus, the apparatus comprises an outlet through which a stream of the beverage can be dispensed, means to propel the beverage from a source thereof to the outlet, a plurality of LED illumination sources mounted in a housing therefor whereby each source can provide a light beam extending in the direction of said stream, at least some of said illumination sources providing beams directed to strike the stream of beverage, means to open and close the outlet to start and to stop flow of the beverage stream and control means to switch the beam on and off in a predetermined sequence.
16. A beverage dispense apparatus according to Claim 15, which includes an illumination device according to any one of Claims 2 to 14.

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17. An apparatus according to Claim 15 or 16, which additionally includes a further source of illumination positioned beneath the outlet to provide illumination of the beverage in a receptacle positioned beneath the outlet.
18. An apparatus according to Claim 17, in which the further source of illumination comprises LEDs.
19. An apparatus according to Claim 18, in which the LEDs are mounted in an annular ring located inside a drip tray beneath the outlet.
20. An illumination device according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
21. A beverage dispense apparatus according to Claim 15, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.