Title of Invention	METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SERVING AND/OR STORING PRODUCTS, PROVIDED WITH TRANSPONDERS
Abstract	A method for serving a beverage provided in a container, for example keg using at least one serving device and on the basis of beverage-specific parameters involves the tapping or serving process taking account of data which are stored on a beverage specific basis in at least one RFID-TAG provided on the respective container.

Full Text

Method and device for serving and/or storing products, particularly beverages The invention concerns a method according to the generic term in patent claim 1 or 3 as well as to a device according to the generic term in patent claim 7 or 9. Devices or serving units for serving products and/or beverages are known both as stationary and as mobile units in different designs, whereby the product which can be served is usually made available thereby in barrels and/or kegs. Further, it is also known to equip kegs with transponders, in which data are stored, which however exclusively serve to identify the type of the product filled in each case and to improve the handling of the kegs (DE 199 48 471 C2, DE 44 46 203). The object of the invention is to present a method, with which the handling of the product and particularly the tapping or serving process and/or the storing process for the respective product can be controlled and/or affected in optimal manner. A method is developed for the resolution of this task according to the patent claim 1 or 3. A device for serving and/or storing of products, in particular beverages is the subject of the patent claim 7 or 9. In the invention, the tapping- or serving process and/or the storing process of the respective product takes place depending on the product-specific parameters controlled and/or affected by the data stored in the respective transponder. Here, the product- specific parameters are for example directly stored in the respective transponder, e.g. as code word of several characters or a product specific identification is stored in the respective transponder. With this identification, then e.g. a product-specific influence and/or control of tapping- or serving process and/or storing process for example by invoking a program stored in a control unit or by recalling or activating the product- specific parameters stored in the control unit assigned to the specific product, which then serve for the control and/or graffecting the tapping or serving process and/or storing process. The reading of the data from the respective transponder takes place with a contact-less reading device';- The respective transponder is for example a so-called RFID-TAG, i.e. an electronic component, which essentially consists of a structure working as antenna and of electronic unit exhibiting a data storage device in the form of an integrated circuit. In the memory device, among other things, the product-specific parameters or the product- specific identification are stored. The electronic unit is so designed that it itself generates supply voltage necessary for the operation from a radio- and/or a HF-signal received by means of the antenna structure of the reading unit (electromagnetic waves) and facilitates a wireless and contact-less data transfer with the reader unit in particular also for reading the product-specific parameters or identification. Such data- and/or information medium are known for example also as "Smart Cards". The controlling of storage temperature during storage takes place with the product- specific parameters and the controlling of the serving temperature in case of tapping- or serving process, i.e. the temperature with which the product and/or beverage concerned is brought into a drinking container, e.g. drinking glass or jug, and an optimum drinking temperature is ensured, for example, a drinking temperature of approx. 7 °C in case of beer. The pressure relief of CO2-containing products of the pressure prevailing in the barrel or keg, at the ambient temperature present at the mouth of a tapping point, e.g. tapping cock is controlled with the product-specific parameters, and namely with at least a throttle in a product line for the product to be served by at least one throttle unit controlled or adjusted depending on product-specific parameters. Thus, for example, in a keg filled with beer, an internal pressure of 3.0 to 3.5 bar prevails, which corresponds to the saturation pressure in case of a CO2-content of 4.5 gr/l. At the mouth of the tapping point, i.e. of the tapping cock, the pressure amounts to approximately 1 bar. The pressure difference is carefully reduced with the help of throttle unit controlled by the product-specific parameters, so that it does not lead to degassing of CO2 from the product and to any undesirable foaming in the product line connecting the keg with the tapping point, whereby however a certain foaming is usually allowed and desired for producing a froth crest on the beverage. With this invention, the faults impairing the quality of taste of the respective product are avoided during the tapping- or serving process as well as during the storage process. The tapping unit according to the invention is for example a stationary plant in a catering enterprise. The invention offers special advantages however in case of such tapping plants, which are operated under changing ambient conditions and are subjected in particular to changing environmental influences at short notice, for example, in case of mobile tapping units and/or in case of tapping units, which are used in outdoor events etc. Products in the context of the invention are in particular beverages of different type, like e.g. mineral or drinking water, soft drinks, fruit juices, wine, beer etc., in addition, other liquid products. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the sub-claims. The invention is described in detail in the following with the help of the figures of embodiments. Fig. 1 A schematic functional- or block diagram of a serving unit according to the invention with only one tapping mechanism; Fig. 2 A schematic representation of a serving unit with several tapping mechanisms for several different products and/or beverages. In the Figure 1, generally a serving unit for a CO2-containing product and/or beverage, for example for beer is indicated with 1. A barrel or a keg 2 serves for the supply of the product, which contains this product under pressure, for example, beer with a pressure between 3.0 and 3.5 bar. At least the keg 2 in use is placed in a cooled storage space 3 for cooling the product, which for example is a cooled building area, also cellar area, or the inside space of a cooling equipment, for example a refrigerator. The keg 2 in use is connected by means of a product line 4 with a tapping mechanism 5, which exhibits among other things tapping cock 6 forming the tapping point for controlled, i.e. in the represented embodiment for manually controlled delivery of the product into the respective drinking container 7 as well as in the liquid connection to the tapping cock 6, at least one adjustable throttle unit 8 exhibiting a throttle and a heat exchanger 9 through which the product passes. The throttle unit 8 serves essentially for achieving a careful pressure drop between the pressure prevailing in keg 2 and the ambient pressure by an appropriate adjustment of throttle, with which the product from the tapping cock 6 flows to the drinking container 7, in order to avoid in particular a degassing of CO2 within the tapping mechanism 5 and/or within the product line 4, without losing the desired froth crest in the respective drinking container 7 during tapping of beer. The adjustment of the throttle unit 8 depends thereby on product-specific parameters, among other things on the type of the product, on specific CO2-content of the product, on storage temperature provided and recommended for this product, i.e. on the temperature of the cooled storage space 3, on the pressure inside the keg 2 used, i.e. e.g. on the CO2-saturation pressure of the respective, CO2-containing product etc. The heat exchanger 9 serves essentially to after-cool this product flowing in case of opened tapping cock, as long as its temperature lies above the desired and/or recommended drinking temperature, or to heat up, as long as the product temperature is below the desired and/or recommended drinking temperature. For this, the heat exchanger 9 is connected with a control- and a supply unit 10 connected, which provides a transporting medium cooling or heating the product to the heat exchanger 9, and namely controlled by a sensor 11 measuring the product temperature. Further, a refrigerator for cooling the storage space 3 is indicated with 12. The characteristic of the serving unit 1 consists now of the fact that the adjustable throttle unit 8, which heat exchangers 9 and/or its control- and supply unit 10 and in the represented embodiment also the cooling system 12 and thus the tapping- or serving process and the storage process depending on product-specific parameters are controlled. For this, the data necessary for controlling the tapping- or serving process are stored in the form of product-specific parameters in the memory of a transponder 13 (RFID-circuit or RFID-TAG), which is fastened in an appropriate way to the respective keg 2, where this transponder is protected against damages during handling of the keg 2, for example below an upper protection ring 2.1 or below a bottom ring 2.2 surrounding the keg fitting. For the selection of the data, a reader unit 14 is provided, which is a component of a control unit 15 in the storage space 3, which depending on the respective beverage or product-specific parameters controls the throttle unit 8, the control- and supply unit 10 as well as by means of the cooler 12 also the temperature of the storage space 3 and thus the product temperature within the keg 2. The data selected by the transponder 13 are stored for example in a data storage unit 16 of the control equipment 15 and with these data the adjustment of the throttle unit 8 takes place then e.g. immediately after connecting a keg 2 to the serving unit 1 and during the running serving operation constantly considering the product temperature measured by the temperature sensor 11, the controlling of the heat exchanger 9 by means of the control- and supply unit 10. The Figure 2 shows a serving unit 1a, which exhibits several tapping mechanisms 5 for serving different products, which corresponds to the tapping device 5 of the serving unit 1. A keg 2 is connected to each tapping device 5 by means of the product line 4 for the relevant product. By means of a common control equipment 15a, the tapping devices 5 control individually product- and/or beverage-specific parameters, for example again by product-specific adjustment of the throttle unit 8 and/or by a product-specific adjustment of the product temperature by means of the heat exchanger 9 and the associated control- and supply unit 10. For this, the control unit 15a is connected with several reader units 14, which work in each case with a transponder 13 at the relevant keg 2. Even in this embodiment, the product-specific parameters for each product, selected with the reader devices 14, are separately stored in the data storage device 16 of the control equipment 15a. An adjustment of the throttle unit 8 takes place considering these data then for example after connecting a keg 2 to the associated switching device 5. Further, during the serving operation, a controlling of the heat exchanger 9 by means of the control- and supply unit 10 takes place continuously with the data stored in the storage device 16 considering the product temperature determined by the sensor 11. The invention was described with the help of examples of embodiment. It is clear that numerous changes as well as modifications are possible, without thereby deviating from the basic idea of the invention. Thus, for example, it is proceeded above from the fact that the throttle unit 8 of the respective serving equipment 5 is adjusted once at the beginning of the tapping- or serving process corresponding to the product-specific parameters. In principle, there is also the possibility of a manual adjustment of the throttle and/or an automatic dynamic adjustment of throttle e.g. considering a characteristic typical for the respective product, which shows the pressure within a keg 2 depending on the filling condition of the keg. This characteristic is then for example stored as product-specific parameter in the transponder 13 of the appropriate keg 2. In order to consider the emptying of the respective keg 2 during the serving process, then each serving equipment 5 also exhibits among other things flow meters indicated in the Figure 1 with 17, which supplies an appropriate measuring signal to the control equipment 15, and namely with the desired- and initial filling volume. Further, it is assumed above that the product-specific parameters are stored in the respective transponder 13. For reducing the storage capacity required there as well as for increasing the amount of the product-specific parameter with simultaneous reduction of the data extent considered with the tapping- or serving process and/or storage process, it is also possible to store these parameters in the storage device 16 of the respective control equipment 15 and/or 15a, for example also in typical combinations for products, whereby then in the respective transponder 13, only a beverage- or product- specific identification is stored, with which then the beverage- or product-specific parameters stored in the storage device 16 of the control equipment 15 and/or 15a, or however product-specific programs stored in the storage device 16 for the control of the tapping- or serving process and/or the storage process, are recalled or activated. The invention was described above with an example of embodiment. It is clear that numerous changes as well as modifications are possible, without thereby deviating from the basic idea of the invention. In the context of the present invention, one understand by the terms barrels and kegs all kinds of containers for storing of liquids, which can be connected with a tapping device by means of a preferably detachable connection. Accordingly there are also applications, like known large containers for beverages for use in case of large events, for example with a volume of 3 m3, or also bottle-like containers with a volume of 5 litres made of synthetic material. Patent claims 1. Method for serving products, in particular beverages filled and made available in barrels (2), for example kegs, using at least one tapping mechanism (5) with at least one tapping point (6) and depending on beverage- or product-specific parameters, wherein the serving and/or the tapping- or serving process takes place controlled or affected by data, which are stored product-specific in at least one transponder (13), whereby at least one transponder (13) is provided at the barrel (2) providing the product to be served. 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein even the storage process of at least of the barrel (2) providing the product to be served takes place depending on the data, which are stored in at least one transponder (13) provided at the barrel (2). 3. Method for storing of products, in particular beverages, filled in barrels (2), in particular kegs, depending on beverage- or product-specific parameters, wherein storing and/or the storage process takes place controlled or affected by data, which are stored product-specific in at least one transponder (13), which (transponder) is provided at the barrel (2) containing the product. 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective transponder (13) is a RFID-TAG. 5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data stored in the respective transponder (13) are the beverage- or product-specific parameters. 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data stored in the respective transponder (13) are at least a beverage-specific identification, by means of which the beverage- or product-specific parameters stored in a control unit (15, 15a) and/or beverage- or product-specific program for controlling or influencing the tapping- or serving process and/or of the storage process are activated and/or recalled. 7. Device for serving of products filled in barrels (2), for example kegs, in particular beverages, depending on beverage- or product-specific parameters, with at least one tapping mechanism (5) with at least one tapping point (6), wherein a control equipment (15, 15a), which is developed for controlling the serving and/or tapping- or serving process considering the data, which are stored product-specific in at least one transponder (13) provided at the respective barrel (2). 8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the control equipment (15, 15a) is developed for controlling the storage process of the respective product, for example for cooling of the product, depending on the data, which are stored in at least one transponder (13) provided at the respective barrel (2). 9. Device for storing of products filled in barrels (2), for example kegs, in particular beverages, depending on beverage- or product-specific parameters, wherein a control equipment (15, 15a), which is developed for controlling the storage process considering data, which are stored product-specific in at least one transponder (13) provided at the respective barrel (2). 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a cooling- or a storage space (3) is provided for at least one barrel (2) with a cooling (12) controlled by the control equipment (15, 15a). 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective transponder (13)isaRFID-TAG. 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data stored in the respective transponder (13) are beverage- or product-specific parameters. 13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data stored in the respective transponder (13) are at least a beverage-specific identification, by means of which the beverage- or product-specific parameters stored in a control unit (15, 15a) and/or beverage- or product-specific program for controlling the tapping- or serving process and/or of the storage process are activated and/or recalled. 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the product flowing through at least a throttle unit (8) provided at least in a tapping mechanism (5), which is controlled by the control unit (15, 15a) depending on the product-specific parameters, and namely for the reduction of pressure in the barrel ( 2) to a tapping pressure. 15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the means (9, 10) at least one tapping mechanism (5) is provided in the flow path of the product controlled by the control unit (15, 15a) depending on the product-specific parameters for the regulation or controlling of the product temperature at the tapping point (6). 16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein several, in each case tapping mechanisms (5) forming a tapping point (6), which are controlled by a control unit (15, 15a) depending on the product-specific parameters assigned to respective product. 17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is developed as a stationary serving unit (1, 1a). 18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, it is developed as a mobile serving unit. A method for serving a beverage provided in a container, for example keg using at least one serving device and on the basis of beverage-specific parameters involves the tapping or serving process taking account of data which are stored on a beverage specific basis in at least one RFID-TAG provided on the respective container.

Documents:

1367-KOLNP-2009-(10-10-2014)-ANNEXURE TO FORM 3.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(10-10-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(10-10-2014)-FORM-1.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(10-10-2014)-FORM-2.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(10-10-2014)-OTHERS.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(10-10-2014)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-ABSTRACT.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-ANNEXURE TO FORM 3.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-CLAIMS.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE-1.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-DRAWINGS.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-FORM-1.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-FORM-2.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-OTHERS.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-(16-07-2014)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-abstract.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-claims.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-CORRESPONDENCE 1.2.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-correspondence.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-description (complete).pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-drawings 1.1.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-drawings.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-ENGLISH TRANSLATION.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 1-1.1.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 1.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-FORM 13.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 18.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 2-1.1.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 2.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 3-1.1.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 3.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 5-1.1.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-form 5.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-gpa.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-INTERNATIONAL EXM REPORT.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-international publication.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-international search report.pdf

1367-KOLNP-2009-OTHERS 1.1.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-pa.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-pct request form.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-specification.pdf

1367-kolnp-2009-translated copy of priority document.pdf

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