AT524828A1 - beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the invention, a beverage dispensing device (1) comprises at least one cup dispensing element (2), at least one cup holding element (3) and at least one cup filling element (4) that can be moved between a rest position and a filling position, the cup filling element (4) being a tube (10) with a Opening (11), provided, wherein the cup filling element (4) is designed such that the opening (11) of the tube (10) is arranged in the filling position between the cup dispensing element (2) and the cup holding element (3).

Description

has a tube with an opening.

Various beverage dispensing devices for filling vessels such as cups with different beverages are known from the prior art. These devices are used to fill at least the same number of vessels and/or less in a shorter time than when drinking vessels are filled purely by hand

requiring human labor.

For this purpose, a dispensing device is known, for example from GB 2313357 A, in which a large number of dispensing tubes are arranged parallel to one another in one plane. A platform is arranged below the dispensing tubes, on which containers can be placed, it being possible for a container to be assigned to each dispensing tube. The platform is then raised using a manually operated lever so that the dispensing tubes are submerged in the containers and the containers are filled through the dispensing tubes. After filling, the platform is lowered again and the containers can be removed. This device has the advantage that several containers can be filled at the same time by a single operator. However, it is disadvantageous that an operator must be provided who, for example, places the containers on the platform, lifts the platform and then removes the containers from the device again

away.

of larger quantities of drinks is very time-consuming.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a beverage dispensing device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art are at least partially eliminated. In particular, a beverage dispensing device is to be provided that allows a quick filling of a cup and at the same time a simple and

has a compact structure.

According to the invention, a beverage dispensing device of the type mentioned is provided, wherein the cup filling element is designed such that the opening of the tube is arranged in the filling position between the cup dispensing element and the cup holding element. This arrangement allows one mug to be placed after

of the output by the cup-dispensing element does not become one

simplified and space requirements reduced.

The tube is preferably designed in such a way that, in the filling position, it can be inserted into one on the cup-holder element

to protrude arranged cup.

In the filling position, the opening of the tube is therefore in a movement path of a cup between the cup dispensing element and the cup holding element. A cup dispensed by the cup dispensing element would collide with the pipe opening or the pipe during transport to the cup holding element, as a result of which this transport cannot take place properly. In the rest position, on the other hand, the opening of the tube is not located between the cup dispensing element and the cup holding element

to allow the cup to be dispensed to the cup holding member.

Within the scope of the invention, a cup is understood to be any vessel that can be used for drinking. The cups can be, for example, disposable or reusable products and

e.g. have a filling volume of 0.25L to 0.5L.

In the filling position, the tube opening is preferably located close to the bottom of a cup in order to prevent liquid from foaming up when the cup is being filled

impede.

The tube of the cup filling element is designed to

supplying liquid to a beaker through the opening and

to optimize the introduction of liquid into the cup.

It is preferably provided that the imaginary extension of the tube in the rest position dips into the area between the cup dispensing element and the cup holding element. The imaginary extension of the tube preferably dips into a cup arranged on the cup holding element. With this design, the tube can by a substantially purely translational movement along the imaginary extension of the tube from the waiting position to the filling position or from the filling position in the

be brought to a waiting position.

In order to provide a particularly compact arrangement of several cup dispensing elements and cup holding elements or cup filling elements assigned to them, it is preferably provided that a large number of cup dispensing elements, cup holding elements and cup filling elements are provided, which are preferably each arranged in a ring shape when viewed from above. Particularly preferably, the cup holding elements, the cup filling elements and the cup dispensing elements are each arranged substantially uniformly along a respective circle, with the circles preferably being arranged concentrically. In particular, this makes it possible to fill several cups at the same time, which means that the preparation and dispensing of several cups can be carried out quickly. Preferably 6-16, particularly preferably about 10 cup holding elements, as well as a corresponding number of cup dispensing elements and cup filling elements are provided, with each

A cup holding element and a cup dispensing element

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the cup dispensing element and the cup holding element are designed in such a way that a cup is guided along a, preferably essentially vertical, transport axis from the cup dispensing element to the cup holding element. The cups are, for example, held stacked one on top of the other in the cup dispensing element and, if necessary, the bottom cup is released so that it falls onto the cup holding element by gravity. For this purpose, the cup dispensing element preferably has a release device in order to selectively hold or release a cup. In order to ensure good guidance of the cups in the direction of the cup holding element, guide means are also preferably provided which serve to guide the cups at least in sections from the cup dispensing element to the cup holding element and

For example, are tubular.

It is preferably provided here that the tube of the cup filling element runs at least in sections along a filling axis which is arranged at an angle to the transport axis. The filling axis preferably encloses an acute angle with the transport axis. This makes it possible in a simple manner to move the tube from the rest position to the filling position or from the filling position

to move to the rest position.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the tube is designed to move between the rest position and the filling position essentially in a translatory manner along the filling axis

to be postponed. In addition or as an alternative, this can

will.

In order to ensure that a cup stands securely in the cup holding element, it is preferably provided that the cup holding element has a receiving opening which is designed to receive a cup. The opening can be, for example, a continuous opening or a blind hole. Alternatively, the cup holding element can also have elevations for holding the cup, for example, or be smooth

tray be trained.

Provision is preferably made for the cup holding element to be arranged such that it can be moved between a first and a second position, preferably in a translatory manner. As a result, a cup arranged on the cup holding element can be moved after filling, for example dispensed from the beverage dispensing device. For this purpose, the beverage dispensing device has, for example, a housing opening that can be optionally opened or closed with the aid of a door or a flap. The cup holding element is preferably arranged on a plate, which can be guided from the first to the second position, particularly preferably with the aid of guide means. The means of guidance

can, for example, be designed as rails.

Furthermore, the beverage dispensing device preferably has a control element which can be connected to the cup holding element or elements, the cup dispensing elements, the cup filling elements and, if necessary, is connected to a sliding plate and controls it if necessary, so that

poured a drink into a mug and then

to pay for drinks.

A sensor for detecting the cups in the cup holding elements is particularly preferably provided, which is connected, for example, to the control element in such a way that the cup holding element(s) or the plate is moved back through the housing opening into the beverage dispensing device as soon as there are no more cups in the cup(s). . the

Cup holding elements is detected.

The cup filling elements are connected, for example, to a tank that is filled with a liquid that is to be filled into the cups. The tank is preferably arranged in the beverage dispensing device and is surrounded by a common housing together with the other elements. Furthermore, several tanks are preferably provided, which can each be filled with different beverages and can optionally be connected to a cup filling element, so that different beverages can be filled into the cups and a cup can be filled with two or more liquids one after the other. If several cup-filling elements are provided, each of the cup-filling elements can preferably be connected to one or each tank, as a result of which different beverages can be filled into several cups at the same time

becomes.

Main memory to be started.

Furthermore, the beverage dispensing device preferably has one or more pumps and valves in order to pump the liquids from the tank, the cup filling element and the cup

to supply

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawing. 1 shows a side view of a beverage dispensing device according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a top view of the beverage dispensing device according to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a front view of the beverage dispensing device according to FIG. 1, FIG 5 shows a second sectional view of the device according to the invention

Beverage dispensing device according to Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, a beverage dispensing device according to the invention is denoted by 1, with some components being omitted for the sake of clarity. The beverage dispensing device is in the rest position and comprises a large number of cup dispensing elements 2, a large number of cup holding elements 3, a large number of cup filling elements 4 and a tank 5. The beverage dispensing device 1 also has a housing 6,

in which the above components are arranged.

13 of the tube 10 extending filling axis an acute angle

a.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the beverage dispensing device according to FIG. 1 in a rest position. Guide rails 15 are provided to move the plate 8 between a first position (solid line) inside the housing 6 and a second position (dashed line) outside the housing 6. Furthermore, several tanks 5 are provided, each of which can contain different drinks. The cup holding elements 2, the cup filling elements 4 and the (not shown) cup holding elements 3 are each arranged uniformly along a circle, where

the circles are arranged substantially concentrically.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the beverage dispensing device according to FIG. 1, with the cup filling elements 4 being in the rest position

condition.

In Fig. 4, the beverage dispensing device according to FIG. 1 is shown in a first sectional view, in which

the housing 6 is cut open.

In FIG. 5, the beverage dispensing device according to FIG. 1 is shown in a second sectional view, with the sectional plane running through the cup holding elements 3. In the illustrated filling position, the tubes 10 of the cup filling elements 4 are immersed in the cups 12, with the pipe openings 11 between the cup dispensing element 2 and the cup holding element 3 and in the vicinity of the

Cup bottoms are arranged.

During operation, e.g. after an order has been placed using a control element attached to the outside of the housing 6 of the beverage dispensing device 1, the cup dispensing element(s) 2 is activated via a control device, as a result of which they release the corresponding number of cups, so that the cups 12 are guided into the cup holding elements 3. The respective cup filling elements 4 are then activated, as a result of which the pipe or pipes 11 are moved from the rest position (e.g. FIG. 4) to the filling position (FIG. 5). In the filling position, the cup or cups 12 is filled with a liquid from the tank 5 . After filling is complete, the tube(s) 10 is/are moved back into the rest position and the plate 8 moves out of the beverage dispensing device 1 through the opening 9 with the aid of the guides 14 , as a result of which the filled cups 12 can be removed from the cup holding elements 3 . Finally, the plate 8 is brought back into the housing 6 in the original position and a

further filling can take place.

Claims (8)

Patent Claims: 1. Beverage dispensing device, comprising at least one cup dispensing element (2), at least one cup holding element (3) and at least one cup filling element (4) movable between a rest position and a filling position, wherein the cup filling element (4) comprises a tube (10) with an opening (11) having, characterized in that the cup filling element (4) is designed such that the opening (11) of the tube (10) in the filling position between the cup dispensing element (2) and the Cup holding element (3) is arranged. 2. Drinks dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the imaginary extension (13) of the tube (10) in the rest position in the area between the cup dispensing element (2) and the cup holding element (3) immerses. 3. Drinks dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of cup dispensing elements (2), cup holding elements (3) and cup filling elements (4) is provided, which is preferred Each are arranged in a ring shape in plan view. 4. Beverage dispensing device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cup dispensing element (2) and the cup holding element (3) are designed in such a way that a cup (12) moves away from the cup dispensing element along a preferably substantially vertical transport axis (14). (2) led to the cup holding element (3). becomes. 5. Beverage dispensing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the tube (10) of the cup filling element (4) runs at least in sections along a filling axis which is oblique to the Transport axis (14) is arranged. 6. Beverage dispensing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the tube (10) is designed to translate between the rest position and the filling position substantially along the filling axis to be postponed. 7. Drinks dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cup holding element (3) has an opening for receiving a cup (12) is formed. 8. Drinks dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cup holding element (3) between a first and a second position, is preferably arranged in a translatory, movable manner.