Apparatus for controlling flow of beverage

A tap head, comprising:

• a hollow member having a tap head housing first end, a tap head housing second end, a tap head housing third end, and a tap head housing fourth end, wherein:
• the tap head housing first end subtends the tap head housing second end so as to form a tap head longitudinal axis running from the tap head housing first end to the tap head housing second end;
• the tap head housing third end subtends the tap head housing fourth end so as to form a tap head latitudinal axis running from the tap head housing third end to the tap head housing fourth end;
• the tap head housing first end has a hand lever aperture configured to receive a portion of a hand lever;
• and
• the tap head housing second end has a stem aperture configured to receive a portion of a stem;
• a magnetic field generator located at or near the tap head housing fourth end;
• a slide located at or near the tap head housing third end, wherein:
• the slide has a top surface and a bottom surface;
• the slide has a slide track formed in or on the bottom surface, the slide track being along the tap head latitudinal axis;
• and
• the slide has a first opening formed in the top surface and a second opening formed in the bottom surface, the first opening being in-line with the hand lever aperture and the second opening being in-line with the stem aperture;
• a rod configured to slide along the slide track, the rod further configured to move along the tap head longitudinal axis when the rod is slid to be aligned with the hand lever aperture and the stem aperture, wherein:
• the rod comprises magnetic material;
• the rod being aligned with the hand lever aperture and the stem aperture forms an alignment position;
• and
• the rod not being aligned with the hand lever aperture and the stem aperture forms a mis-alignment position;
• a spring element configured to bias the rod to the mis-alignment position;
• wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to generate a magnetic field to cause the rod to slide towards the alignment position;
• wherein:
• in the alignment position, the rod serves as a cantilever to facilitate mechanical engagement and transfer of motion between the hand lever and the stem;
• and
• in the mis-alignment position, the hand lever does not mechanically engage the stem.

A beverage dispensing system, comprising:

• a dispensing unit comprising a tap dispenser, the dispensing unit configured to disburse beverage from a beverage container via operation of the tap dispenser, the tap dispenser comprising:
• connection lines to facilitate fluid connection from the beverage container to a port of the dispensing unit;
• and
• a stem configured to facilitate actuation of a disc for selective obstruction of the port;
• a tap head configured to attach to the tap dispenser and receive a portion of the stem and receive a portion of the hand lever, the tap head comprising a switching apparatus configured to cause a rod to facilitate mechanical engagement and transfer of motion between the hand lever and the stem when the switching apparatus is activated, wherein:
• when the switching apparatus is activated, actuation of the hand lever acts upon the stem;
• and
• when the switching apparatus is not activated, actuation of the hand lever does not act upon the stem.

A tap, comprising:

• a tap dispenser, comprising:
• connection lines to facilitate fluid connection from a beverage container to a port of a dispensing unit;
• and
• a stem configured to facilitate actuation of a disc for selective obstruction of the port;
• and
• a tap head comprising:
• a push-button configured to activate a gear assembly, the gear assembly in mechanical connection with the stem;
• a switch configured to selectively make an electrical connection facilitating activation of the gear assembly when the push-button is activated;
• and
• wherein the switch makes the electrical connection based on marker information transmitted to the switch from a reader.