EP1445234A1

EP1445234A1 - An apparatus for dispensing drinks

Info

Publication number: EP1445234A1
Application number: EP03425066A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Conserve Italia SOC.COOP.A.R.L. Luzzini
Original assignee: CONSERVE ITALIA SCARL; Conserve Italia Soc Coop Arl
Current assignee: CONSERVE ITALIA SCARL; Conserve Italia Soc Coop Arl
Priority date: 2003-02-04
Filing date: 2003-02-04
Publication date: 2004-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-04
Also published as: EP1445234B1; DE60308633D1; ITMI20030507U1; ITMI20030507V0; ATE340760T1

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing beverages is disclosed, the apparatus being based on the idea of distributing, by gravity, a beverage contained in a vessel (13) which is held upright within a casing (9) and is provided with a flexible distribution conduit (14), on which an interception valve (15) is provided and controlled by a PLC (16), electrically connected with a token-machine (22) for its activation.

Description

Field of Application

The present invention broadly relates to an apparatus for automatically dispensing measured up quantities of loose food products, with such a consistency to be pumpable, such as fluid, creamy products, fruit juice, squashed fruits and vegetables, infusions, tisanes, beverages in general and the like.
Although not limited to, the invention relates in particular to an apparatus as above, which includes a PLC arranged to activate and control the beverage-measurement, as well as a token machine for activating the PLC, this apparatus to be advantageously used in small communities, such as public and private offices, schools, meeting halls and similar rooms.

Prior Art

It is known in the field of the automatic distribution of beverages that one of the major needs to be met is that of ensuring a constant, high hygiene level of the apparatus employed for such a purpose. This is particularly critical when said beverages are dispensed "loose", in measured up amounts. In particular, strict observance of such hygienic criteria involves periodical, accurate sanitization of the whole apparatus by specialized health workers, as well as the use of suitable controlling devices, e.g. "disinfecting" devices, for all the components of the apparatus, especially of those coming into contact with the beverages to be dispensed.
As a result, known vending-machines are quite complex as for structure and operation and their keeping is expensive. Despite precautionary measures, moreover, these apparatus do not always ensure the desired level of hygiene, so that preservatives are widely applied to "loose", measured up beverages.

Summary of the Invention

The underlying technical problem of this invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically dispensing beverages in measured up quantities, having appropriate structural and functional features so as to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, i.e. a greatly simplified apparatus as for the number and operability of its components, which is easier to be kept and especially able to ensure constant hygiene high levels for the beverages to be dispensed, to such an extent that the use of preservatives can be eliminated.
The solving idea of the invention is that of dispensing, by gravity, measured up quantities of a pre-selected beverage out of its relevant container.
On the basis of this idea, the above technical problem is solved by an apparatus of this invention, comprising a casing or housing, preferably a self-supporting one, whose interior defines a closed hollow which can be accessed from outside said casing, the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises:
at least one vessel for a pre-selected beverage, removably held within said hollow in a suitable position to allow distribution of said beverage through gravity;
a distributing conduit, of non-toxic, pliant, elastically deformable material, associated with said vessel and having at least an end section extending out of said hollow;
valve means active on said distributing conduit for timed closing and opening thereof when distributing a measured up quantity of said beverage;
a control device for said valve means;
a token machine for activating said control device.
Advantageously, said vessel and relevant distributing conduit are formed integrally with the same non-toxic, pliant, elastically deformable material.
Preferably, the control device for said valve means comprises an electronic controller selected from a PLC, a load cell, a microprocessor, and the like, which are programmed to hold the distributing conduit of said vessel open for a time duration that is correlated with the amount of beverage distributed.
Features and advantages of the invention should become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of an apparatus according to the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given for convenience of illustration only.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:
Figure 1 schematically shows a standard apparatus for dispensing and distributing beverages, according to the prior art;
Figure 2 schematically shows an apparatus for dispensing and distributing measured up quantities of beverages, according to the invention;
Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic view of a detail of Figure 2;
Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views showing an apparatus of the invention in two different operating conditions;
Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2;
Figure 7 is an enlarged schematic view of another detail embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 2.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figure 1, a standard apparatus of the prior art for dispensing measured up quantities of a beverage, specifically fruit juices, comprises a self-supporting casing 1, a tank 2 for said beverage, which is removably supported at the bottom 1a of said casing, and a pump 3 for flowing, delivering and measuring up the beverage.
In particular, the extraxtor line of the pump 3 is in fluid communication with the tank 2, through a fixed supply circuit (represented by a conduit 4 in Figure 1), and a control valve 5 for distributing the beverage from the tank itself. The valve 5 is removably associated with the supply conduit 2a of the beverage from the tank 2.
The delivery line of the pump 3 is in fluid communication with a nozzle 6 to distribute a measured up quantity of the selected beverage.
In general, a coil 7 is provided between the pump 3 and said distributing nozzle 6 for quickly chilling the beverage, while it is to be remembered that an apparatus of the previously considered kind usually includes a refrigerating system (not shown) mounted within the casing 1.
By reason of possible stagnation of the beverage at the free end of the distributing nozzle 6, and so of possible fermentation phenomena inside the beverage itself, the apparatus is usually equipped with a steam system 8 for disinfecting said nozzle 6, the system comprising basically a steam generator and relevant circuitery to supply the steam generated thereby to a suitable ejector 6a.
With reference to Figures 2, 3, an apparatus according to this invention for automatically dispensing and mesuring up "loose" beverages, in particular fruit juices, comprises a substantially cabinet-like casing 9 which is preferably of the self-supporting type. Inside the casing a hollow 10 is defined, which can be accessed from outside through a front door 10a, preferably with proper perimetric sealing gasket. The hollow 10 is suitably cooled by a refrigerating system, shown schematically with 11 and known per se, which is supported by a wall of said casing 9, preferably the backrest 9a thereof.
A plurality of compartments 12 are defined in the top portion of said hollow 10, the compartments being of suitable size and structure to receive and hold in a substantially upright position respective vessels 13 of one or more beverages to be dispensed.
In particular, according to a feature of this invention, said vessels 13 have respective distributing conduits 14 made of a non-toxic, pliant, elastically deformable material.
Preferably, also vessels 13 are formed with the same non-toxic, pliant, elastically deformable material used for the distributing conduits 14. Better still, each vessel (bag) 13 is formed integrally with its relevant conduit 14, such as by moulding proper plastics for food products.
It should be noted that the vessels 13 are set in the compartments 12, in such a way that the conduits 14 are substantially vertical to allow the beverage to flow down by gravity in accordance with another feature of the invention.
For this purpose (Figures 2 and 5), and to ensure that the entire beverage in a vessel 13 can be used up, each vessel 13 is provided, at the opposite side with respect to the conduit 14, with a hooked portion 13a apt to engage a peg support 8a mounted at the top of each compartment 8. Preferably, also said hooked portion 13a is formed integrally with the respective vessel 13.
It should be further noted that the end sections 14a of said conduits 14 are open above respective shelves 17a, within the hollow 10 and meant to hold glasses 17 or similar vessels for the pre-selected beverage use convenience. The glasses 17 on the shelves 17a can be accessed from outside the casing 1 through suitably sized, preferably transparent small doors 18 associated with respective openings formed in the front door 10a. Trays 19 (Figure 5) for draining and collecting liquids are provided on the same front door 10a below said openings.
A measuring up valve, shown schematically at 15 in Figure 5, is active in each distributing conduit 14 to "open and close" the conduit itself at preset times that will vary, for example, according to the current value of the liquid (beverage) head inside the relevant vessel 13.
In this case, the valves 15 are controlled by a small electronic controller 16, such as a PLC or even a microprocessor (or similar electronic devices), which is programmed to hold said valves 15 in the "open" state for a suitable length of time to distribute a preset quantity of a selected beverage.
In accordance with a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment (Figures 2, 3), the valves 15 are made of devices comprising essentially jaw- like means 20, 21, which, while closing, press against the distributing conduits 14, and get away from them for their opening when the selected beverage is being dispensed.
To activate the electronic control device 16, a token machine 22 is electrically connected thereto in a conventional, not shown way. The introduction of a coin (or token) activates said electronic device and so the timed opening of said jaw-like means 20, 21 and so the timed distribution of the beverage. The token machine 22 is housed in a shaped hollow 22a whose top is defined in the front door 10a and where a light source 22b (Figure 5) is provided.
A plurality of shelves 23 is provided at the bottom of the hollow 10 for stowing a "stock" of vessels 13 and any accessory devices or complement of the inventive apparatus.
By operating on a gravity dispensing principle, the apparatus of this invention can overcome all the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, and attain various advantages.
In particular, no beverage pumping system, no fixed conduits (suction and distribution conduits), and no istantaneous chilling coil are used. Accordingly, the risk of beverage stagnation in the above components and of unacceptable relevant fermentation is overcome. Also obviated is the need for planned upkeep for periodical sanitization of the apparatus. Moreover no disinfection (by steaming or otherwise) of the distributing nozzle is required.
In essence, being greatly simplified both as for structure and operation with respect to the prior art, the apparatus of the invention ensures a high degree of hygiene in the automatical dispensing of any of the beverages considered here, along with the significant advantage that no preservatives need to be added to the beverages.
The invention as described can be conveniently modified by a person skilled in the art. For example (Figure 7), the electronic device for controlling the opening of the jaw- like means 20, 21 can be made, in certain cases, of a load cell 24 effective to control the closing of said means and so of the distributing conduit, when a given weight of a beverage has been dispensed.
In this case, the electronic control device program of the inventive apparatus is programmed to control the opening of the distributing conduit and to keep it open for a time duration which is related to the weight of the amount of beverage both distributed and not at the current liquid head value inside the beverage vessel, as the aforesaid PLC would do.
According to another embodiment of the invention, for use especially when the beverage to be dispensed is significantly viscous, in the apparatus the flexible vessel can undergo a certain, continous pressure in order to make the dispensation easier. This may be achieved quite simply by having a preset, proper weight, removably laid on said vessel.
Also the materials used for the manufacturing of the inventive apparatus, as well as its dimensions, may also vary according to specific needs, without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

An apparatus for automatically dispensing measured up beverages in general, comprising a preferably self-supporting casing (1), defining inside a hollow (10) accessible from outside said casing (1), the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises:

at least one vessel (13) for a preselected beverage, removably held within said hollow (10) in a suitable position for allowing distribution of that beverage by gravity;

a beverage-distribution conduit (14), of non-toxic, pliant, elastically deformable material, associated with said vessel (13), and projecting therefrom for a section of prefixed length;

valve means (15) active on said distribution conduit (14) for timed closing and opening thereof when a measured up quantity of said beverage is being dispensed;

a control device (16) for controlling said valve means (15);

a token-machine (22) electrically connected to said control device (16) to activate it.
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said vessel (13) and its relevant distributing conduit (14) are integrally formed with a non-toxic, pliant, elastically deformable material.
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said at least one vessel (13) is held within said hollow (10) in a position where the relevant distributing conduit (14) is substantially vertical, downward extended.
An apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that said distributing conduit (14) has an end section (14a) open on a corresponding shelf (17a) inside said casing (1), said shelf being adapted to hold glasses (17) or similar vessels for the measured up quantity of the dispensed beverage.
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said valve means (15) are formed with devices comprising an essentially jaw-like means (20,21) movable from a tight position on said distributing conduit (14) for closing it to a moved away position with respect to said conduit (14) for distributing a measured up quantity of the beverage.
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said control device controlling said valve means (15) consists of an electronic controller selected among a PLC, a load cell, a microprocessor and the like, which are programmed to hold the distributing conduit (14) of said at least one vessel (13) open for a time duration correlated with the amount of beverage to be dispensed.
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said control device controlling said valve means (15) comprises a PLC (16) programmed to hold the distributing conduit (14) of said at least one vessel (13) open for a time duration correlated with the current value of liquid head inside the vessel itself.
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said control device controlling said valve means (15) comprises a load cell (24) programmed to hold the distributing conduit (14) of said at least one vessel (13) open for a time duration correlated with the weight of the dispensed beverage.
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of compartments (12) is provided on the top portion of said hollow (10) to removably receive and hold in a substantially upright position a corresponding plurality of said vessels (13) and relevant distributing conduits (14), said position being effective to allow beverages to be dispensed by gravity.
An apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that a peg (8a) is attached to the top portion of each one of said compartment (12) for engagement with a substantially hooked portion (13a) provided in said vessels (13) projecting from the opposite side thereof with respect to the relevant distribution conduit (14).
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of shelves (23) is provided on the bottom portion of said hollow (10) for stowing a stock of vessels (13).
An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a mass of prefixed weight, which is active on said at least one vessel (13) to press on it and make the beverage therein to be easily dispensed.