System for indicating and controlling dispensing of beverages

Enelow et al.

[45] Dec. 2, 1980

[54] SYSTEM FOR INDICATING AND CONTROLLING DISPENSING OF BEVERAGES

[75] Inventors: Michael R. Enelow, Miami Lakes;

Michael Levy, Plantation; William P.
Porter, Coral Springs, all of Fla.

[73] Assignee: M.R.E. Enterprises, Inc., Miami
Lakes, Fla.

[21] Appl. No.: 950,810

[22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1978

[51] Int. CI.1 G06F 15/20; B67D 5/06

[52] U.S. CI 364/465; 222/23;

222/129.3; 340/618; 364/479; 364/509;

364/900

[58] Field of Search 364/465, 509, 510, 200,

364/900, 479; 222/129, 129.1, 129.2, 129.3, 129.4, 23, 25-28; 235/92 FL; 340/612, 618,

711, 177 R

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

2,648,058 8/1953 Breedlove 340/618

3,261,506 7/1966 Chenoweth et al 222/134

3,267,436 8/1966 Alpert et al 364/900

3,370,753 2/1968 Yingst et al 222/129.1

3,599,833 8/1971 Reichenberger 222/23

3,629,858 12/1971 Hayakawa et al 364/900

3,656,145 4/1972 Proops 222/30

3,675,820 7/1972 Newberry et al 222/129.4

3,688,947 9/1972 Reichenberger 222/129.3

3,814,285 6/1974 Craig 222/2

3,858,758 1/1975 May 364/465

3,920,149 11/1975 Fortino et al 222/129.3

3,940,019 2/1976 Kross et al 222/30

3,949,207 4/1976 Savary et al 364/510

4,036,403 7/1977 Barnes et a) 222/23

4,075,460 2/1978 Gorgens 364/465

4,107,777 8/1978 Pearson et al 364/521

Primary Examiner—Errol A. Krass

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Lowe, King, Price and

Becker

[57] ABSTRACT

The amount of beverage dispensed from each of a plurality of reservoirs in units at a plurality of remote locations, such as hotel rooms, is controlled and indicated. A central console, such as a hotel front desk, includes a keyboard for deriving data and command signals, as well as a data processor that responds to the data and command signals to derive addressing and command signals for the units. A display at the central console responds to the keyboard data and command signals to display the keyboard data signals, as well as data signals derived from addressed units. At each of the units, a liquid flow controller for each reservoir responds to an output of a data processor at the unit. The unit data processor responds to a customer input and command signals from the console to activate the flow controller. In response to a unit being addressed by the console, the unit data processor supplies signals to the console to indicate the amount of beverage dispensed from the reservoirs.

21 Claims, 31 Drawing Figures