Method and apparatus for manual dispensing from discrete vessels with electronic system control and dispensing data generation on each vessel, data transmission by radio or interrogator, and remote data recording

A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising

• a) a plurality of individual remote dispensing heads, each head having a pouring spout, connector means for connecting the head to a single individual bottle, a battery, means for electronically identifying and distinguishing the head, dispensing data means for providing dispensing data, and an electrical dispensing switch for connecting the battery to the data means during dispensing from the bottle;
• b) bottle reader electronic means for identifying the beverage, bottle connected to each head;
• c) a remote receiver operatively connected to said bottle reader electronic means and having means for receiving electronic head distinguishing identification and electronic dispensing data from each head;
• and
• d) means connected to said receiver for computing and providing dispensing data on each head and each beverage.

A dispensing apparatus comprising

• a) a body with a bottle connector, a liquid pouring bore through said connector, and an air vent through said connector, said body being invertible together with a bottle connected thereto;
• b) programmable electronic control means secured to said body for providing a signal to stop dispensing through said bore;
• and
• c) a remote central data center having means for uniquely programming an identity and the function of said control means to signal a dispensing stop upon a predetermined quantity of liquid having been dispensed through said bore during inversion of the head and bottle.

A method of dispensing beverage comprising the steps of

• a) connecting a plurality of discrete dispensing heads, one each to a plurality of discrete beverage bottles;
• b) electronically reading each bottle and identifying the specific beverage therein;
• c) electronically coding each head for identification of dispensing of the specific beverage therefrom;
• d) electronically transmitting coded identification and dispensing event data from all the connected bottles and heads to a remote data center;
• and
• e) providing a record of dispensing data for each head and each specific beverage.

Beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising

• a) a head having a body with a bottle connector, a liquid pouring bore through said connector and an air vent through said connector, said head being manually invertible together with a connected bottle for dispensing of beverage therefrom;
• b) electronic identification means on said head for identifying the head from other similar heads;
• and
• c) electronic means remote from said head for electronically coding said head identification means.

A method of dispensing liquid from bottles comprising the steps of:

• a) connecting a plurality of individual remote dispensing heads one each to a plurality of normally upright individual bottles;
• b) sensing a start of manual dispensing from each individual bottle;
• c) transmitting a radio signal from each individual dispensing head to a remote receiver that (1) dispensing has started and (2) identifying the particular head that is dispensing;
• d) sensing termination of manual dispensing from the dispensing individual head;
• e) transmitting a second and discrete radio signal from the individual dispensing head to the receiver that (1) dispensing has been terminated, and (2) identifying the individual head;
• and
• f) providing a data record of the dispensing frequency and duration of each individual and remote head.

A beverage dispensing system comprising

• a) a plurality of individual remote dispensing heads, each head having a pouring spout, means for connecting of each head to a single bottle, an electrical switch for sensing dispensing through the head, a battery, and means for sending a first radio signal indicating a start of dispensing and identity of the particular head, and a second and discrete radio signal indicating termination of dispensing and identity of the particular head, said sending means being silent between the first and second signals;
• b) a remote receiver for receiving the radio signals;
• and
• c) remote means connected to the radio receiver for identifying dispensing occurances and time periods of dispensing for each individual head.

A liquid dispensing system comprising

• a. a dispensing head having a normally open pouring spout, means for connecting the head to a normally upright bottle, and a normally open latched valve for closing the spout and stopping dispensing;
• b. a remote dispensing data center;
• c. means for sensing inversion of said head and bottle into a pouring position;
• d. means for sending a start signal to the data center that the head has started pouring of liquid, for electronically closing said valve and stopping dispensing, and for sending a signal to the data center that the head has stopped pouring;
• e. means in said data center for determining and recording the quantity of liquid dispensed;
• and
• f. means in said head for re-latching said valve in the normally open position when the bottle and head are returned to the normal upright position.

A method of dispensing liquid comprising the steps of

• a. connecting a normally open dispensing head to a bottle of liquid;
• b. inverting the connected head and bottle and free-pouring liquid therefrom;
• c. sending a start signal to a data center that pouring has started;
• d. timing out a pouring period after inversion of the bottle;
• e. electronically closing a normally open valve in the head upon conclusion of the pouring period;
• f. sending a stop signal to the data center that pouring has stopped;
• g. determining and recording at the data center of the quantity of liquid dispensed;
• and
• h. latching the valve open immediately upon reversion of the bottle and head to a normally upright position.

In a liquid dispensing system having a plurality of dispensing heads, means for connecting each head to an individual bottle of liquid, a pour spout on each head, a battery in each head, means in each head for providing electronic dispensing data, and a remote data center for receiving and recording the data, the dispensing head improvement comprising:

• a) a normally open liquid valve in each head;
• b) permanent magnetic means for magnetically holding the valve open during inversion of the bottle and head to a pouring position;
• and
• c) electronic means for electrically neutralizing said permanent magnetic means for releasing said valve and effecting valve closing while the bottle and head are pouring, to terminate dispensing.

A method of pouring and recording generally identical quantities of liquid from a bottle comprising the steps of

• a) connecting a dispensing head to a normally upright bottle having liquid therein;
• b) manually inverting the bottle and attached head to an inverted pouring position;
• c) pouring a plurality of consecutive quantities from the inverted bottle and attached head during a single inversion of the bottle and head, the quantities being generally identical;
• d) electrically timing and annunciating for each poured quantity;
• e) providing a longer time period for a first poured quantity so that the first poured quantity is generally identical to subsequent poured quantities;
• f) providing data on the start and then on the stop of the pouring to a remote data center;
• and
• g) determining the true quantity of poured liquid.

Apparatus for dispensing and recording a plurality of generally identical quantities of liquid poured from an inverted bottle, comprising

• a) a dispensing head having a pouring spout, means for connecting the head to a bottle of liquid, a switch for sensing dispensing from the bottle, and a source of electronic power;
• b) a timer connectible by said switch to said electronic power, said timer having means for repetitively timing pouring periods one after another;
• c) a pouring period annunciator operatively connected to said timer;
• d) means in said timer for providing an additional unit of time in the first pouring period, so that the first poured quantity is generally equal to subsequent poured quantities in a single inversion of the head and bottle attached thereto;
• e) a remote pouring data center;
• f) means in said head for providing pouring start and pouring stop data to said data center;
• and
• g) means in said apparatus for factoring the additional unit of time and for determining the true quantity of liquid poured.

A method of dispensing and recording a quantity of liquid, comprising the steps of

• a) pouring a quantity of liquid and sending a coded signal that pouring has started;
• b) receiving the signal at a remote data center;
• c) stopping the pouring of liquid and sending a coded signal that pouring has stopped;
• d) coding both signals with data for identifying and distinguishing the specific liquid;
• and
• e) determining and recording in the data center the identity and quantity of liquid dispensed, solely on the basis of said two signals.

A method of dispensing liquid, comprising the steps of

• a) free-pouring liquid from an open-spouted free-pour dispensing head, and manually stopping the dispensing pour regardless of specific time or quantity;
• b) pouring subsequent liquid from a fixed volumetric dispensing head having a valve in a spout of the dispensing head, and automatically controlling the quantity of liquid per pour;
• c) providing dispensing data from both heads to a remote dispensing data center;
• and
• d) using an identical data code system with both the free-pour head and the fixed volumetric head.

A liquid dispensing system having

• a) a plurality of dispensing heads that each have means for being connected to a bottle, said heads being comprised of a mix of
• 1) a first type being free-pour, and
• 2) a second type having volumetric control;
• b) a remote dispensing data center;
• c) means for providing dispensing data from said heads to said data center;
• and
• d) a single and common data code system in both the first and second type of dispensing heads.

A liquid dispensing system comprising

• a) a plurality of individual remote dispensing heads, each head having a pouring spout, means for connecting the head to a bottle of liquid, a battery, electronic means for identifying and distinguishing the head, dispensing data means for providing dispensing data on the heads activities, and an electrical dispensing switch for connecting the battery to the data means upon dispensing from the bottle;
• b) a remote data center having a receiver having means for receiving electronic identification and dispensing data from each head, and means for collecting and providing dispensing data on each head and liquid;
• c) means in said head data means for sending a single coded pulse start signal from the head upon initiation of dispensing from the head, for silencing said head data means after the single signal and during dispensing, and for then sending a single coded pulse stop signal from the head upon termination of dispensing from the head, both the start signal and the stop signal containing a head identification code;
• d) means in said data center for calculating the identity and quantity of liquid dispensed in the time interval between the start and stop signals;
• and
• e) said heads being any one, or any combination of the following types of pouring heads:
• 1) free-pour,
• 2) volumetrically controlled with a valved start and a valved stop, and
• 3) volumetrically controlled with a free-pour start and valve stop.