EP2085353A1 - Drinks dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The dispenser has a refrigerator arranged in housing and cooperating with a cooling region of the housing. A beverage reservoir (16) is arranged in the housing. An output unit is arranged below the reservoir. A stirring device has a metal rod (74) and an electric motor (60) that is arranged in the housing below the reservoir. The motor is provided with pivotable magnets (66, 68), and drives the metal rod using adjusted magnetic field, where the metal rod is inserted into the reservoir, and is formed from a ferromagnetic material.

Description

The invention relates to a beverage dispenser according to the specified in the preamble of claim 1 Art.

Such a beverage dispenser is from the DE 195 01 238 C1 known and includes a beverage storage container, which is arranged on a housing. The beverage reservoir sits on a cooling source integrated in the housing and can be removed from the housing. The bottom of the beverage storage container is formed by a metal plate, whereas the side walls are predominantly made of plastic. Between the bottom of the beverage storage container and the cooling source located only in the bottom region, a water film is formed in a nonwoven carrier. The water film freezes during operation and ensures good heat transfer from the bottom of the beverage storage container to the cooling source. The ice formed by the frozen water film has a very good thermal conductivity. The known beverage storage container has centrally a stirrer, which is mounted on a connected to the beverage storage container metallic guide rod and is driven by a non-contact with the agitator, arranged in the housing drive.

Furthermore, the beverage storage container is connected to an output unit below the beverage storage container. The cooling source is part of a refrigeration unit comprising an evaporator and a compressor.

Such beverage dispensers store in the beverage storage container a beverage in ready-mixed form to be taken cooled as needed by a user can. For example, the beverage may consist of one part of concentrate and nine parts of water, which is entered into the beverage dispenser accordingly. By means of the cooling source, the drink is cooled down. A thermostat ensures a predetermined desired temperature.

Thus, a uniform temperature in the liquid in the beverage storage container is set and then maintained and on the other hand so that the pulp-containing parts do not separate from the liquid, the drink is kept continuously agitated by the agitator and stirred.

The well-known beverage dispenser has the disadvantage that it builds for a very high and thus the installation options are limited. On the other hand, it requires a lot of energy to ensure a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, the problem is the surrounding around the beverage storage container forming moisture, which is an undesirable source of germs and bacteria. Furthermore, the structure, in particular of the beverage storage container, very expensive, since this consists of a variety of parts, which is necessary by the seals on the one hand and by the wet cooling principle on the other side.

The object of the invention is therefore to develop a beverage dispenser according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 such that this works simpler while avoiding the disadvantages mentioned and above all works more economically.

This object is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Further advantages and developments of the invention form the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the finding that considerably reduces the production cost and improves the efficiency of the cooling by a one-piece design of the beverage storage container.

According to the invention, therefore, the beverage storage container is integrally formed of the same material.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing has a receptacle which is adapted to the beverage storage container and surrounds it at least partially laterally. As a result, the beverage dispenser can be designed to be small in construction since the beverage storage container projects into the housing and thus partially surrounds the housing of the beverage storage container.

Preferably, the dispensing unit is arranged in the front area, wherein the housing has a height on the side of the dispensing unit - front - in the region of the beverage storage container, which is at least partially lower than the height of the housing of the front side remote side - back. As a result, the user can easily detect the level of the beverage storage container from the front side at any time, since the beverage storage container is designed in particular transparent.

In this case, the contour can be recessed to form the lower height of the housing on the front U-shaped.

Furthermore, the invention is based on the finding that the cooling surface can also be arranged on the side regions of the beverage storage container, thereby providing the largest possible area for cooling. The cooling works more efficiently. The cooling area is therefore arranged according to a preferred embodiment of the invention laterally from the beverage storage container. In addition, the cooling area can also be arranged below the beverage storage container.

According to one embodiment, the cooling area is arranged both laterally and below the beverage storage container. As a result, a large-area cooling is possible. The performance of the cooling unit comprising at least one compressor and an evaporator can thus be designed smaller and work the cooling unit more economically.

In particular, the cooling area is an integral part of the housing and forms a common surface with the housing. This prevents moisture from accumulating and germination or bacteria formation.

The evaporator of the cooling unit extends substantially over the entire cooling area. This optimizes the effective cooling surface.

To protect the evaporator against damage and to increase the design possibilities of the beverage dispenser, this is arranged behind a housing wall.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the evaporator is arranged in the housing and embedded at least with the side facing away from its effective surface side in thermal insulation. This prevents that the inside of the housing is cooled, which would reduce the efficiency of the device.

From the viewpoint of a good heat-conducting property on the one hand and a simple production on the other hand, it is advantageous to form the beverage storage container made of plastic, in particular polycarbonate.

To prevent the foreign body from entering the liquid in the beverage storage container, the beverage storage container is provided with a detachable lid. In particular, the lid and the beverage storage container are connected to one another via a bayonet closure. About this bayonet lock the lid should be secured against unintentional loosening. To release the lid now first the lid must be pressed downwards, ie in the direction of the beverage storage container, in order to be able to be solved by a rotational movement. Such safety bayonet locks are known from medical technology and the packaging means for pharmaceutical products, but not in connection with beverage dispensers.

The production can be simplified and while the nucleation can be kept as low as possible, if the output unit is made in one piece. In this case, the output unit comprises a line from the beverage storage container to the dispensing opening and means for opening and closing the line under the dispensing opening.

Simple cleaning is also made possible by the fact that the dispensing unit is made of stainless steel. It also ensures durability over a long period of time.

For filling or cleaning the beverage reservoir can be removed from the housing. However, in order for the dispensing opening of the beverage storage container to be readily connected to the dispensing unit during insertion, the beverage storage container and the receptacle of the housing have associated centering means. The beverage storage container can be introduced in a simple manner.

According to one embodiment, the beverage storage container is secured in the housing. For this purpose locking means are provided, which are arranged in particular on the housing and cooperate with correspondingly assigned locking means on the beverage storage container.

The housing of the housing for the beverage storage container may have a bottom with a drain for liquid, such as condensation. This ensures that the possibly formed by the cooling condensation is dissipated. It is prevented that it comes to permanently moist areas, which promote the germ and bacteria formation.

Preferably, below the dispensing unit a, in particular removable from the housing, collecting tray is provided. Drops falling out of the discharge port of the dispensing unit, liquid from overflowing beverage containers and the like are readily collected in this drip tray. By removing it can be emptied easily.

It is expedient here, if the drain for the condensate from the bottom of the receptacle of the housing opens into the drip tray.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the drip tray has a lateral guide, which leads laterally to a container to be filled during insertion below the dispensing unit. In this case, the drip tray in particular has a stop which stops the container to be sensed below the dispensing unit during insertion of the container. This allows a simple way of aligning the container below the output unit.

Preferably, the beverage dispenser is provided with a stirrer. The agitator is formed by a metal rod and arranged below the beverage reservoir in the housing drive. The drive is provided with at least one rotatable via the drive magnet that drives the introduced in the beverage storage metal rod. In a simple way, this achieves that, on the one hand, an agitator is provided and, on the other hand, the design of the beverage storage container for this agitator does not have to be changed. Thanks to the non-contact drive, there are no sealing problems and no problems with hygiene. Forgotten to bring in the metal rod, it is now sufficient to simply give the metal rod in the beverage storage container with the liquid. The metal rod then aligns itself and stirs the liquid as intended. An intervention in the liquid to mount the agitator, as was the case several times in the past, is eliminated. The hygienic conditions improve considerably.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a plurality of beverage storage containers may be provided in a housing. The beverage storage containers can be separated from each other by lateral cooling areas. Otherwise, all the above features can also be realized in this embodiment.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the embodiment shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht von schräg oben auf den Getränkedispenser nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht von schräg oben ohne Getränkevorratsbehälter auf den Getränkedispenser

Fig. 3

eine Querschnittsansicht des Getränkedispenser von Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine Detailansicht der Ausgabeeinheit des Getränkedispensers einer alternative Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 5

eine Detailansicht im Querschnitt der Ausgabeeinheit des Getränkedispensers von Fig. 1, und

Fig. 6

eine Detailansicht des Rührwerks des Getränkedispensers.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawing. In the description, in the claims, the abstract and in the drawing, the terms and associated reference numerals used in the list of reference numerals recited below are used. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view obliquely from above of the beverage dispenser according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view obliquely from above without beverage reservoir on the beverage dispenser

Fig. 3

a cross-sectional view of the beverage dispenser of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4

a detailed view of the dispensing unit of the beverage dispenser of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5

a detailed view in cross section of the output unit of the beverage dispenser of Fig. 1 , and

Fig. 6

a detailed view of the stirrer of the beverage dispenser.

In Fig. 1 is shown in a perspective view obliquely from above a drink dispenser 10 according to the invention. The beverage dispenser 10 consists of a housing 12 which has a receptacle 14 for a beverage storage container 16. The beverage storage container 16 is integrally formed of the same material of polycarbonate. Furthermore, the beverage storage container 16 is provided with a cover 18 which can be closed by means of a bayonet closure. The lid 18 is secured on the beverage reservoir 16 so that it is first pressed down to open must be and then only according to the bayonet guide can be rotated. This prevents unintentional opening.

In the housing 12, a removable from the housing 12 drip tray 20 is introduced in the lower region. The drip tray 20 has a perforated plate 22, which closes the drip tray 20 upwards. The perforated plate 22 extends over the area below an output unit 24, see Fig. 3 , the beverage dispenser 10. The perforated plate 22 rests on a arranged in the drip tray 20 pads, not shown here. Below the perforated plate 22, the drip tray 20 serves as a collection container for liquids, which are caused by condensation, resulting from an overflow from a filled container, by incorrect operation of the output unit and the like.

The receptacle 14 of the housing 12 for the beverage reservoir 16 has a bottom 42 with a drain 42a for liquid, such as condensation. The drain 42 a is connected to a line 42 b, which opens into the drip tray 20. This ensures that the possibly formed by the cooling condensation is dissipated. It is prevented that it comes to permanently moist areas, which promote the germ and bacteria formation.

Again Fig. 2 it can be seen, a power switch 26 is provided laterally on the housing 12, which mainly a stirrer 28, see Fig. 3 , And a cooling unit 30 connects via a power plug with a mains voltage and thereby activated. Further control switching can be provided to activate individual electrical functions of the beverage dispenser 10.

The cooling unit 30 includes a compressor 12 inserted in the housing 32 below the receptacle 14 and the walls 42 and 44 of the receptacle 14 for the beverage reservoir 16 introduced evaporator 34. The evaporator 34 is both in the side wall 44 of the receptacle 14 in the bottom 42 of Recording 14 introduced. About lines not shown here, the evaporator 34 is connected to the compressor 32. The evaporator 34 extends over almost the entire surface of the housing 12 adjacent to the beverage storage container 16 mounted in the housing 12. As a result, the cooling range for the beverage storage container is optimized and enables efficient cooling.

How the particular Fig. 2 can be seen, the housing 12 is recessed in the form of U-shaped in the front. The recess is provided with the reference numeral 36.

In addition, a recess 38 is placed in the bottom 42 of the receptacle 14, which is adapted to a recess 40 in the bottom of the beverage storage container 16. With introduction of the beverage storage container 16 in the receptacle 14, this centered thus centered on the stirring drive 28th

The receptacle 14 of the housing 12 consists essentially of vertically extending side walls 44 and a horizontally extending bottom 42. The evaporator 34 is introduced on the beverage storage container 16 side facing in the side wall 44 and in the bottom 42. This is followed by an insulating layer 46, to prevent heat from the environment to the beverage storage tank 16 or the evaporator 34 passes.

The output unit 24 is provided adjacent to the U-shaped recess 36 in the housing 12 and penetrates the bottom 42. With introduction of the beverage reservoir 16 in the receptacle 14 of the housing 12 engages a valve chamber 52 in the corresponding opening in the bottom 42 of the receptacle 14 of the housing.

The dispensing unit 24 is made of stainless steel and is introduced into the beverage storage container 16. The output unit 24 is formed by a liftable via a lever 50 valve stem 48 which is slidably mounted in the valve chamber 52. The lever 50 is rotatably mounted on the housing 12. The valve stem 48 is inserted into the beverage reservoir 16 in the downwardly cylindrical valve chamber 52. The valve stem 48 is located in the valve chamber 52 on a shoulder 52a.

When the lever 50 is pushed in the direction of the arrow 54, the lever 50 lifts the valve stem 48 upwards and the outlet port 56 is moved out of the valve chamber 52. Now, liquid can flow through the outlet port 56 and through the valve stem 48 to the lower opening 58 of the dispensing unit 24. The lever 50 is biased by a spring, not shown here against the opening movement illustrated by the arrow 54. As soon as the opening force decreases in the direction of arrow 54, the lever 50 moves due to the applied spring force back to its original position and thus also the valve stem 48 back into the valve chamber 52. The valve stem 48 is then back on the shoulder 52a. The output unit 24 is then closed again.

In Fig. 4 an alternative embodiment having a larger valve lifter 48 is shown. Otherwise, the function of the output unit 24 is described as above.

In Fig. 5 is the output unit of Fig. 3 from the other side in a sectional view shown in detail.

In Fig. 6 the stirring drive 28 is shown in detail. The stirring drive 28 comprises an electric motor 60 whose output shaft 62 is non-rotatably connected to a disk 64. On the disk 64 two magnets 66 and 68 are each arranged with different polarity. The disk 64 on the output shaft 62 is disposed in a recess 70 in the bottom 42 below the recess 38 of the receptacle 14 of the housing 12. The recess 38 is formed by an introduced into the recess 70 insulating cap 72. In the beverage storage container 16, a metal rod 74 is introduced.

The magnets 66, 68 are located below the ends of the metal rod 74. The length L of the metal rod 74 may correspond approximately to the distance a of the central axis of the magnets 66, 68, see Fig. 6 , or be smaller, z. B. correspond to the inner distance b of the magnets.
As soon as the electric motor 60 moves the disk 64 with the magnets 66, 68, the metal rod is erected upwards and moved in a circle due to the self-adjusting, constantly changing magnetic field. The metal rod moves at a predetermined distance to the bottom of the beverage storage container. About the movement of the metal rod 74 and the liquid in the beverage reservoir 16 is moved and thus stirred.

The beverage reservoir 16 is fixed in the housing 12 via locking means, not shown here.

According to an embodiment of the invention not shown here, the drip tray 20 has a lateral guide, which leads to a container to be filled during insertion below the output unit 24 side. In this case, the drip tray 20 in particular a stop, which stops the container to be sensed below the output unit 24 during insertion of the container. As a result, an alignment of the container below the output unit 24 is made possible in a simple manner.

The invention is characterized by a simple and compact construction. Due to the one-piece material-uniform structure, the production can be considerably simplified. moreover This results in further possibilities for more effective cooling, in particular if the beverage storage container 16 is cooled from the side and also from below. By integrating the beverage storage container 16 into the housing 12, the beverage dispenser 10 now builds considerably smaller.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Drink dispenser

12

casing

14

admission

16

Drinks reservoir

18

cover

20

drip tray

22

perforated sheet

24

output unit

26

power switch

28

stirring drive

30

cooling unit

32

compressor

34

Evaporator

36

recess

38

Deepening of the recording 14

40

Depression in the beverage storage container 16

42

ground

42a

procedure

42b

management

44

sidewall

46

insulating

48

tappet

50

lever

52

valve chamber

52a

Paragraph in the valve chamber 52nd

54

arrow

56

outlet

58

lower opening

60

electric motor

62

output shaft

64

disc

68

magnet

68

magnet

70

recess

72

insulating

74

metal rod

Claims (15)

Beverage dispenser (10) having a housing (12), a cooling unit (30) arranged in the housing (12) cooperating with a cooling area of the housing (12), a beverage storage container (16) arranged adjacent or adjacent to the cooling area in the housing (12) ), and an output unit (24) below the beverage storage container (16), characterized in that the beverage storage container (16) is integrally formed of the same material. Drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (12) has a receptacle (14) which is adapted to the beverage storage container (16) and this at least partially surrounds laterally. Drink dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the dispensing unit (24) in the front region of the housing (12) is arranged. Drink dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing (12) on the side of the dispensing unit (24) - front - in the region of the beverage storage container (16) has a height which is at least partially lower than the height of the housing (12) the side away from the front - back. Beverage dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the contour for forming the lower height of the housing (12) on the front recessed in a U-shape (recess 36). Beverage dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling region is arranged laterally from the beverage storage container (16). Drink dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling region is arranged below the beverage storage container (16). Drink dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling region is an integral part of the housing (12). Drink dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling unit (30) comprises a compressor (32) and an evaporator (34). Drink dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that the evaporator (34) extends substantially over the entire cooling region. Drinks dispenser according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the evaporator (34) in the housing (12) is arranged behind a housing wall. Beverage dispenser according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the evaporator (34) in the housing (12) and at least with the side facing away from its effective side side in thermal insulation means (46) is embedded. Beverage dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beverage storage container (16) consists of plastic, in particular polycarbonate. Beverage dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beverage storage container (16) is provided with a detachable lid (18). Drinks dispenser according to claim 14, characterized in that the lid (18) and the beverage storage container (16) are connected to each other via a bayonet closure.

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