EP2475610A1

EP2475610A1 - Machine for multiple beverage dispensing, particularly for coffee and/or still water and/or hot and/or chilled beverages

Info

Publication number: EP2475610A1
Application number: EP10747233A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Davide Basso; Giancarlo Tonon; Francesco Cervellin
Original assignee: Vovo Srl
Current assignee: Vovo Srl
Priority date: 2009-09-09
Filing date: 2010-08-31
Publication date: 2012-07-18
Also published as: IT1395421B1; WO2011029747A1; ITTV20090174A1

Abstract

An machine (1) for multiple beverage dispensing, particularly for coffee and/or still or carbonated water and/or hot and/or chilled beverages, comprising a container of water (2), which can be associated with a box-like support (3), to which a first tank (9) for water at room temperature and a contiguous second refrigeration tank (10) are connected, respectively to a first duct (11) and to a second duct (12). The second duct (12) is connected to means for carbonating the water and downstream of the first duct (11) for the selective dispensing of water at room temperature or chilled water. The first duct (11) is further connected, by way of a third duct (22), to means for the selective dispensing of hot beverages or coffee. The machine (1) allows to combine in a single solution several functions that are currently present in separate devices, achieving high functional versatility, space optimization and reduced transport and packaging costs.

Description

MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE BEVERAGE DISPENSING, PARTICULARLY FOR COFFEE AND/OR STILL WATER AND/OR HOT AND/OR CHILLED BEVERAGES

Technical field

The present invention relates to a machine for multiple beverage dispensing, particularly for coffee and/or still or carbonated water and/or hot and/or chilled beverages.

Background Art

Currently it is known to find beverage dispensing machines in public places with a high density of people, such as stations, universities, offices and professional firms.

These machines substantially consist of water dispensers and hot beverage dispensers.

Gravity or fountain-type water dispensers are composed of a water container or bottle, from which, through a single two-way manifold, water at ambient temperature or chilled water is dispensed.

The water is chilled by conveying the water flow into an accumulation tank, which is crossed by a coil of refrigerating fluid in order to lower its temperature.

Usually, a distinct dispenser of hot beverages, such as coffee, tea or others, is physically placed laterally adjacent to this dispenser.

These last known types of dispenser use coffee which is pre-dosed in pucks or capsules and/or ground and comprise a water container, from which a pump draws and loads into a boiler assembly the correct quantity of liquid.

The drawback of this known method consists in that it is necessary to place both a coffee or hot beverage dispensing machine and a distinct chilled or still water dispensing machine in order to be able to follow and meet the requirements of users.

Finally, if the user wishes to drink carbonated water, it is necessary to purchase it from adapted and distinct vending machines.

In addition to the costs of each individual machine, one must consider that two or more substantially similar machines each occupy a specific space, which reduces the space available in the enclosed spaces: in the case of firms and offices, this is a drawback, because it conflicts with the striving for optimization of interior space.

Moreover, the arrangement of these two or more machines entails a transport, maintenance and packaging cost; moreover, the packaging, once used, must be disposed as a waste, thus increasing the overall management costs.

Furthermore, transporting into a same enclosed space two different machines for dispensing for example water and coffee generally forces the user to resort to two different suppliers, with consequent cost increases. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above noted technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by providing a machine that allows to obtain a dispensing of hot and chilled and still and carbonated beverages, at the same time limiting the volumes occupied and thus allowing to improve the placement and location of the space occupations within the enclosed spaces.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to reduce transport, packaging and disposal costs.

Another object is to obtain a machine that is structurally simple and at the same time easy to use and allows better commercial management of the service provided to the user.

This aim and these objects, as well as others which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a machine for multiple beverage dispensing, particularly for coffee and/or still or carbonated water and/or hot and/or chilled beverages, comprising a container of water at room temperature, which can be associated detachably with a box-like support, characterized in that said container is connected to a first tank for water at room temperature and to a contiguous second refrigeration tank, which are connected respectively to a first duct and to a second duct, said second duct being connected to means for optionally carbonating the water and downstream of said first duct for the selective dispensing of water at room temperature or chilled water, said first duct being connected, by way of a third duct, to means for the selective dispensing of hot beverages or coffee. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagram of the machine;

Figure 3 is a first perspective view of some internal components of the machine;

Figure 4 is a second perspective view of some internal components of the machine;

Figure 5 is a block diagram of the operation of the machine.

Ways of carrying out the Invention

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a machine for multiple beverage dispensing, which comprises a water container 2 or a bottle which can be associated detachably on top of a box- like support 3, which is optionally arranged within an adapted bottle cover 4,

The water container 2 is preferably cylindrical, is used upside down and has, at a first end 5, a first opening 6, which can be opened and is provided with a first coupling valve 7.

The end 5 can be positioned at a first seat formed in the upper end 8 of the box-like support 3.

The water container 2 is preferably shaped, at the first end 5, like the neck of a bottle to facilitate the outflow of the water at room temperature and the connection to the box-like support 3.

The container 2 is connected to a first tank 9 for water at room temperature and to a contiguous and connected second refrigeration tank 10, both of which are connected respectively to a first duct 1 1 and to a second duct 12.

The first tank 9 is preferably cylindrical and is divided internally by an adapted partition 13, which defines a contiguous, underlying and connected second tank 10.

The latter is a refrigeration tank, since an adapted coil 14 is provided coaxially and externally thereto and is connected to adapted refrigeration means, which are not shown.

The partition 13 is constituted for example by a disc of plastics, whose outside diameter is smaller than the inside diameter of the second tank 10, so as to allow passage of the water from the first tank 9.

As an alternative, the partition 13 can be of the porous type.

The first duct 1 1 is connected directly to the first tank 9 and allows, by means of an adapted first faucet or valve 15, the dispensing of water at room temperature by means of a first nozzle 16.

The second duct 12 protrudes directly at the bottom 17 of the second tank 10 and is connected to means for carbonating water; such means are constituted by second valves 18, which are connected to a third tank 19 for carbonated water and to a first pump 20 for carbonating water, which are mutually connected.

The third tank 19 is further connected to an adapted bottle 21 of carbon dioxide, which is required in order to carbonate the water.

The circuit related to the means for carbonating the water has an interconnection to the first nozzle 16 for dispensing cold water or carbonated cold water.

It is also possible to dispense water at room temperature from the first nozzle 16.

The first duct 1 1 is connected, upstream of the first faucet or valve

15, to a third duct 22 for emitting water at room temperature to means for the selective dispensing of hot beverages or coffee.

Such means are constituted by a second pump 23 for a first dry exchange assembly 24, which is adapted to allow the dispensing of hot water, for example for infusions, or, by way of adapted means, the dispensing of coffee.

Such means for dispensing coffee can be adapted during assembly of the machine in order to be able to operate with ground coffee or with coffee which is pre-dosed into pucks or capsules according to the commercial requirements of the user.

A fourth duct 25 and a fifth duct 26 are further provided, respectively for dispensing coffee by means of an adapted second nozzle 27 and for dispensing hot water and/or infusions, optionally with the interposition of a second faucet or valve 28, by way of a third nozzle 29.

The box-like support 3 preferably is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped, with a first compartment 30 which is provided at the front surface 31 proximate to the upper end 8.

The first compartment 30 has a height and a depth that are adapted to allow the placement/removal of cups (not shown in the figures), which can be stored in adapted magazines 32 and of jugs, which are not shown. The first nozzle 16, the second nozzle 27 and the third nozzle 29 all protrude at the first compartment 30.

The box-like support 3 further has a second compartment 33 for loading any capsules and a third compartment 34 for the optional discharge of the used capsules.

The second compartment 33 and the third compartment 34 can be modified for the use of pucks or ground coffee.

Further, a fourth compartment 35a is advantageously provided on the front surface 31 and can be accessed by means of adapted openable doors 35b, 35c, and is adapted to contain for example also the bottle 21 protected by an adapted net 35d.

One or more adapted drawers 36 or further auxiliary compartments are also provided.

Of course, there is an adapted region 37 provided with the controls for the activations of the various means for dispensing water at room temperature, cold water, carbonated cold water, coffee and hot water for example for infusions.

Finally, the machine has, proximate to the bottle cover 4, a seat 38 for a removable tray 39.

A folding table 40 is instead hinged laterally to the box-like support 3 and a door 41 is pivoted laterally to such support for access to an inspectable waste compartment.

The machine comprising the described components has been represented in the block diagram shown in Figure 5.

The operation of the machine is as follows. The user can simply select the type of beverage to be consumed and consequently drink, being able to choose among water at room temperature or chilled, still or carbonated water, hot water for infusions and coffee.

In practice it has been found that the machine according to the invention has achieved the aim and objects mentioned above, since it allows to dispense a plurality of beverages, such as natural and/or carbonated and/or chilled and/or hot water for infusions and/or coffee, at the same time having simple operation and easy use.

Moreover, the machine has an efficient arrangement of the various components which limits its occupied volume and thus allows to reduce the space occupation within the enclosed space in which it is placed.

Finally, the machine allows to reduce transport, packaging and disposal costs.

Of course, the materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may be pertinent according to specific requirements.

The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated.

The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2009A000174 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A machine for multiple beverage dispensing, particularly for coffee and/or still or carbonated water and/or hot and/or chilled beverages, comprising a container (2) of water at room temperature, which can be associated detachably with a box-like support (3), characterized in that said container (2) is connected to a first tank (9) for water at room temperature and to a contiguous second refrigeration tank (10), which are connected respectively to a first duct (11 ) and to a second duct (12), said second duct (12) being connected to means for optionally carbonating the water and downstream of said first duct ( 1 1) for the selective dispensing of water at room temperature or chilled water, said first duct (11) being connected, by way of a third duct (22), to means for the selective dispensing of hot beverages or coffee.

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said water container (2) is cylindrical and is used upside down and has, at a first end

(5), a first opening (6), which can be opened and is provided with a first coupling valve (7), which can be positioned at a first seat formed in the upper end (8) of the box-like support (3), said first tank (9) having a cylindrical shape and being divided internally by a partition (13) that forms said contiguous underlying and connected second tank (10), to which at least one coil (14) connected to refrigeration means is associated externally and coaxially.

3. The machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said first duct (1 1) is connected directly to said first tank (9) and allows, by means of a first tap or valve (15), to dispense water at room temperature by means of a first nozzle (16).

4. The machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said second duct (12) protrudes directly at the bottom (17) of said second tank (10) and is connected to means for carbonating the water.

5. The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said means for carbonating the water are constituted by second valves (18), which are connected to a third tank (19) for the carbonated water and to a first pump (20) for carbonating the water, which are mutually connected, said third tank (19) being further connected to a preset bottle (21) of carbon dioxide that is needed in order to carbonate the water.

6. The machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the circuit related to said means for carbonating the water has an interconnection to said first nozzle (16) for dispensing cold water or carbonated cold water, said first nozzle (16) being further able to dispense water at room temperature.

7. The machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said first duct (1 1) is connected upstream of said first tap or valve (15) to a third duct (22) for supplying water, at room temperature, to means for the selective dispensing of hot beverages or coffee, said means being constituted by a second pump (23) for a first dry exchange assembly (24), which is adapted to allow either the dispensing of hot water for infusions or the dispensing of coffee by way of dispensing means.

8. The machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said means for dispensing coffee use either ground coffee or coffee that is pre-dosed into pods or capsules or pucks.

9. The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a fourth duct (25) and a fifth duct (26), respectively for dispensing coffee by means of a second nozzle (27) and for dispensing, optionally with the interposition of a second tap or valve (28), hot water and/or infusions by means of a third nozzle (29).

10. The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said box-like support (3), which is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped, has a first compartment (30) that is provided at the front surface (31) proximate to the upper end (8), said first, second and third nozzles (16, 27, 29) protruding from said first compartment (30), said box- like support (3) having a second compartment (33) and a third compartment (34) for the loading and unloading of pods, a fourth compartment (35a) being provided on said front surface (31), being accessible by means of openable doors (35b, 35c), and being adapted to contain said bottle (21) protected by a net (3 d), and one or more adapted drawers (36) or additional accessory compartments and a region (37) provided with the controls for the activations of the various means for dispensing water at room temperature, cold water, carbonated cold water, coffee and hot water for infusions, proximate to said tank cover (4) there being a seat (38) for a removable tray (39), while a folding table (40) and a door (41) for accessing a waste compartment that can be inspected are instead hinged laterally to said boxlike support (3).