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(11) | EP 1 531 143 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Illuminated dispenser for chilled beverages |
| (57) A beverage dispense head is provided with a chamber 7 for circulating coolant to
cause condensation or ice to form on an outer surface 2 and with a light source 6
for illuminating a portion of the outer surface 2 via a light transmitting insert
5. The condensation or ice forms on the outer surface 2 around the insert 5 and may
extend across all or part of the insert 5. |
[0001] This invention concerns improvements in or relating to beverage dispense and in particular, but not exclusively, to apparatus for dispensing beverages in which the apparatus includes a dispense head provided with a dispense tap for dispensing a beverage and with cooling means for creating condensation or ice on an external surface of the dispense head. The invention also includes a method for dispensing a beverage using the apparatus.
[0002] Alcoholic beverages such as beer, lager, cider etc are typically delivered to a dispense head such as a font mounted on a bar top for dispense from a tap. Arrangements for presenting a visual effect to the customer by cooling an outer surface of the dispense head to cause condensation or ice to form on the outer surface to create the impression of dispensing a cooled beverage are described in our co-pending UK patent applications 0304947.5 filed 5 March 2003, 0306680.0 filed 22 March 2003 and 0319736.5 filed 22 August 2003.
[0003] The present invention seeks to provide further improvements in the dispense of beverages. More especially, the invention aims to provide visual effects that the customer may find interesting and which may be used to present information to the customer relating to the beverage being dispensed. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention may be employed in the apparatus described in our aforementioned UK patent applications to enhance further the visual effects created by the formation of condensation and/or ice on an external surface of the dispense head.
[0004] Thus, embodiments of the invention may provide arrangements for illuminating an external surface of a dispense head separately or in combination with the formation of condensation or ice on the external surface of the dispense head to create interesting visual effects.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a dispense head provided with a dispense tap, the dispense head having an outer surface, means for illuminating a portion of the outer surface, and means for forming condensation or ice on a portion of the outer surface.
[0006] The illuminated portion of the outer surface may present information to the customer representative of the beverage to be dispensed. For example, the illuminated portion may represent a logo, slogan or brand name appropriate to the beverage. Alternatively or additionally, the illuminated portion may be decorative, for example a picture, shape or pattern that is presented to the customer.
[0007] Preferably, the condensation or ice is formed on the outer surface adjacent to the illuminated portion and may surround the illuminated portion. The condensation or ice may form on or extend over part of the illuminated portion. In some cases, the ice may extend over the whole of the illuminated portion.
[0008] Advantageously, the illuminated portion is provided by an insert of low thermal conductivity material such as plastics received in a window in a panel of higher thermal conductivity material and the panel is arranged to be cooled to cause condensation or ice to form on the panel around the window. The panel may be made of metal such as aluminium or non-metal such as plastics or a composite material having a higher thermal conductivity than the insert so that condensation and/or ice is initially formed on the outer surface of the panel.
[0009] Preferably, the window is illuminated by a light source arranged within the dispense head behind the window and spaced from the panel. Any suitable source of lighting may be employed such as cold cathode lighting or LEDs. The insert and/or light source may be coloured. The light source may be arranged to enable the colour of the emitted light to change. For example, the light source may comprise an array of differently coloured LEDs that are illuminated in sequence. The operating sequence may be regular or random. Alternatively, a source of white light may be employed with one or more filters to change the colour of the light transmitted by the insert.
[0010] Advantageously, insulation is provided to inhibit heat from the light source being absorbed by the panel and transmitted to the outer surface. In this way, the illumination does not have a noticeable adverse affect on the formation of condensation and/or ice on the outer surface of the panel. The insulation may also result in more efficient cooling of the panel to form the condensation and/or ice such that the required cooling load may be reduced providing further improvements and benefits for the user.
[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, we provide a method of dispensing a beverage comprising the steps of providing a dispense head with a dispense tap for dispensing a beverage, providing a panel with a chamber and a window, circulating coolant through the chamber to cause condensation or ice to form on an external surface of the panel, arranging a light guide in the window and illuminating a portion of the outer surface of the panel through the light guide.
[0012] According to a third aspect of the present invention, we provide apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a dispense head provided with a dispense tap for dispensing a beverage, a chamber for circulating coolant to cause condensation or ice to form on an outer surface of the dispense head, a light guide, and a light source for illuminating a portion of the outer surface of the dispense head through the light guide.
[0013] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, we provide apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a dispense head having a dispense tap for dispensing a beverage, a light guide, and a light source within the dispense head for illuminating a portion of the outer surface of the dispense head through the light guide.
[0014] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a front view of part of a dispense head embodying the invention; and
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
[0015] Before describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a general description of apparatus for dispensing a beverage such as beer, lager, cider or the like will first be given followed by a description of the application of the present invention thereto. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to such apparatus. Furthermore, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the dispense of alcoholic beverages such as beer, lager, cider or the like and has application to other types of beverages dispensed from a dispense head, for example non-alcoholic beverages such as colas as well as other carbonated and non-carbonated beverages.
[0016] The dispense apparatus typically includes a dispense head (not shown) in the form of a font to be mounted on a counter top such as a bar. The dispense head is provided with a dispense tap (not shown) for dispensing the beverage. The dispense tap may be of any suitable type and include a valve operable either manually, for example by a handle, or electrically, for example a solenoid operated valve operated by a push button or the like. The dispense tap is connected to a remote source of the beverage, for example a keg located in a cellar or cold room for storing the beverage at low temperature, for example of the order of 12°C.
[0017] A supply line (not shown) extends from the keg to the vicinity of the dispense head and a branch line (not shown) extends from the supply line to the tap. The supply line may deliver beverage to a plurality of dispense heads at different locations and may be passed through one or more remote coolers, for example ice bank coolers or thermoelectric coolers to reduce the temperature of the beverage prior to dispense.
[0018] The supply line typically passes from the cooler(s) along a "python" (not shown) provided with a re-circulation loop for circulating a coolant such as chilled water to maintain the temperature of the beverage as it passes along the supply line. The python may contain several supply lines for the same or different beverages and the dispense head may have more than one tap for dispensing a range of beverages.
[0019] The beverage may be delivered in the python to the dispense head at the required dispense temperature, for example of the order of 2°C to 10°C. Alternatively, additional cooling may be provided at the point of dispense for cooling the beverage to the required temperature immediately prior to dispense, for example, when dispensing beverages at lower temperatures to prevent the beverage freezing in the supply line. It will be understood that these temperatures are exemplary only and the invention is not limited thereto.
[0020] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a panel 1 forming part of the dispense head. The panel 1 has a front or outer surface 2 that in use faces the customer. A through hole or window 3 is arranged at the centre of the panel 1 and extends from the front surface 2 to a rear surface 4.
[0021] An insert 5 of light transmitting material, for example plastics such as acrylic or polycarbonate, is received in the window 3 and is illuminated by a light source 6 located behind the window 3 within the font. In this embodiment, the light source 6 comprises cold cathode lighting but it will be understood that other types of lighting may be employed.
[0022] The panel 1 is provided with a chamber 7 having an inlet and an outlet (not shown) for connection to supply and return lines 8,9 of a re-circulation loop) for circulating a cooling medium 10 such as water or a mixture of water and ethylene glycol through the chamber 7 as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.
[0023] The re-circulation loop may pass through a remote cooler (not shown) such as an ice bank cooler or thermoelectric cooler for cooling the cooling medium 10 to a temperature of the order of 0°C to 2°C where the coolant is water or -2°C or lower where the coolant is a mixture of water and ethylene glycol. It will be understood that these temperatures are exemplary only and the invention is not limited thereto.
[0024] In use, cooling medium 10 is circulated through the chamber 7 and cools the outer surface 2 of the panel 1 causing moisture to condense on the outer surface. The moisture (water droplets) may freeze to form ice crystals that build a layer 11 of ice on the outer surface 2.
[0025] The formation of condensation and/or ice on the outer surface 2 of the panel 1 provides an interesting visual effect that enhances the "theatre" of dispense for the customer as well as creating the impression that the beverage is being dispensed at low temperature - "ice cooled".
[0026] In addition, light from the light source 6 is transmitted through the insert 5 which acts as a light guide to create an illuminated feature on the outer surface 2 of the panel 1 surrounded by the condensation and/or ice formed on the outer surface 2 which adds to the visual effect and further enhances the "theatre" of dispense for the customer.
[0027] The rear surface 4 and side surfaces 12 of the panel 1 are covered with insulating material 13, for example polystyrene, to prevent the panel 1 being heated by the light source 6. In this embodiment, cold cathode lighting is employed to keep any heat generated by the light source 6 to a minimum. In addition, the insulation improves the cooling efficiency and may reduce the cooling load required to form the condensation and/or ice on the outer surface 2 of the panel 1.
[0028] As will be appreciated, condensation and/or ice forms on the outer surface 2 of the panel 1 in preference to the insert 5 due to the cooling effect of the cooling medium 10 and the higher thermal conductivity of the panel 1 compared to the insert 5. As a result, the insert 5 is substantially free of condensation and/or ice but it will be understood that condensation and/or ice could form on the insert 5. In particular, buildup of ice on the panel 1 may cause the ice to spread (grow) over the edge regions of the insert 5 as shown in Figure 2 and this could result in interesting visual effects due to light transmitted through the insert 5 also being transmitted through the ice.
[0029] In this embodiment, the panel 1 is made of metal such as aluminium having a higher thermal conductivity than the plastics material of the insert 5 to promote formation of condensation and/or ice on the outer surface 2 of the panel 1 in preference to the insert 5 as described above. It will be understood, however, that the desired effect may be achieved using other materials for the panel 1 that have a higher thermal conductivity than the material of the insert 5.
[0030] Additionally, in this embodiment, the insert 5 is in the form of a diamond but it will be understood the insert 5 may be of different shapes, for example circular, oval, triangular etc. Alternatively or additionally, the insert 5 may be arranged to form a logo, slogan or brand name appropriate to the beverage being dispensed. Likewise, the panel 1 is of rectangular shape but may be of any other shape, for example circular, oval, triangular etc.
[0031] The panel 1 may be a separate part mounted on the dispense head or it may be formed integrally with the dispense head, for example the dispense head may be a metal casting. The panel 1 may be employed to provide additional cooling of the beverage immediately prior to dispense, for example, the panel 1 may be arranged in heat exchange contact with the beverage supply line delivering the beverage to the tap. Alternatively, the panel 1 may have a further chamber through which the beverage is passed to the tap.
[0032] Although the panel 1 is shown with one insert 5, it will be understood that more than one insert 5 may be provided to present a decorative pattern and/or information to the customer. For example, inserts could be provided in the form of indicia such as letters or numerals.
[0033] The light source 6 may emit white light or coloured light. For example the light source may comprise coloured LEDs that emit, for example, red, green, blue light etc. The light source 6 may comprise an array of lights operated together or in sequence to provide any desired lighting effect. The light source 6 may be switched on in response to actuation of a dispense and switched off at the end of the dispense.
[0034] The colour and/or intensity of the light transmitted by the insert 5 may change during dispense of the beverage and/or the light may be transmitted continuously or intermittently during dispense. For example, light source 6 may switch between differently coloured LEDs and/or a filter may be provided between the light source 6 and the insert 5 to change selectively the colour of the light. The power to the light source may be varied to alter the intensity (brightness) of the emitted light. Changes in the emitted light may be regular or random. Other arrangements providing different lighting effects may be employed as will be familiar to those skilled in the art.
1. Apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a dispense head provided with a dispense
tap, the dispense head having an outer surface (2), means (6) for illuminating a portion
(3) of the outer surface (2), and means (7) for forming condensation or ice on a portion
of the outer surface.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the illuminated portion of the outer surface (2) can be decorative, for example a
picture, shape or pattern that is presented to the customer and/or present information
to the customer representative of the beverage to be dispensed, for example, a logo,
slogan or brand name appropriate to the beverage.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the condensation or ice is formed on the outer surface (2) adjacent to the illuminated
portion (3), for example the condensation or ice may surround the illuminated portion
(3) and/or form on or extend over all or part of the illuminated portion (3).
4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the illuminated portion (3) is provided by an insert (5) of low thermal conductivity
material such as plastics received in a window (3) in a panel (1) of higher thermal
conductivity material so that condensation and/or ice is initially formed on the outer
surface (2) of the panel (1) around the window (3), for example the panel (1) may
be made of metal such as aluminium or non-metal such as plastics or a composite material
having a higher thermal conductivity than the insert (5).
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterised in that the window (3) is illuminated by a light source (6) arranged within the dispense
head behind the window (3) and spaced from the panel (1), for example the light source
(6) may comprise cold cathode lighting or LEDs.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 characterised in that the insert (5) and/or light source (6) may be coloured and the light source (6) may
be arranged to enable the colour of the emitted light to change, for example, the
light source (6) may comprise an array of differently coloured LEDs that are illuminated
in sequence or a source of white light with one or more filters to change the colour
of the light transmitted by the insert (5).
7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterised in that insulation (13) is provided to inhibit heat from the light source (6) being absorbed
by the panel (1) and transmitted to the outer surface (2).
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the means (7) for forming condensation or ice on the outer surface of the dispense
head comprises a chamber (7) for circulating coolant, and the means (6) for illuminating
a portion of the outer surface (2) comprises a light source (6) within the dispense
head and a light guide (5) for transmitting light from the light source (6) to the
outer surface (2).
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that the chamber (7) and light guide (5) are provided by a panel (1) mounted on or integral
with the dispense head, and the panel (1) is preferably arranged to provide additional
cooling of beverage prior to dispense.
10. A method of dispensing a beverage comprising the steps of providing a dispense head
with a dispense tap for dispensing a beverage, providing a panel (1) with a chamber
(7) and a window (3), circulating coolant through the chamber (7) to cause condensation
or ice to form on an external surface (2) of the panel (1), arranging a light guide
(5) in the window (3) and illuminating a portion of the outer surface (2) of the panel
(1) through the light guide (5).