EP0400253B1 - Device for dispensing beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

This device is constituted by a support frame 10, comprising, in its upper portion, a hopper 20 for locating containers 30. A piercing plate 40 comprises means capable of piercing the containers so that the liquid flows into a tank 56 limited at the bottom by a plate 50 comprising traversing channels for the passage of the liquid to intermediate thermal treatment reservoirs 70. The means for controlling the dispensing of the beverage are combined together in the reference 60. The invention also extends to the use of the device. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention is in the field of liquid distribution and more specifically relates to a beverage dispensing device.

Such devices are known for the distribution of tap water, with or without the addition of cooling or heating elements allowing the consumption of either cooled water or hot water, intended for preparing for example infusions or soups.

Staff in offices, factories, administrations and local communities are increasingly turning away from running water in favor of mineral water. As a result, desks, workbenches, tables and other work places are cluttered with bottles, mostly open, lukewarm and without hygienic protection.

There are already known, in America for example, fountains for distributing mineral water receiving 20-liter containers, as described in patent US-3,811,294. Some of these devices also include systems for cooling and heating the liquid, as described in US Pat. No. 3,698,603.

In Europe, according to certain national laws, mineral water should never be stored in quantities exceeding 1 or 1.5 liters.

For hygienic reasons, the laws also prohibit the stagnation of mineral water in a container or a conductor in the open air, and finally standardize the storage in metal or plastic containers made of so-called "food" materials.

Document US Pat. liquid distribution.

The aim of the present invention is to improve the systems making it possible to store and distribute mineral water, refreshed or heated, from a fountain into which the containers containing the mineral water are introduced closed, and this while keeping account for food standards. It offers in particular a tank in two parts so as to facilitate its cleaning.

The invention relates to a beverage dispensing device capable of dispensing a liquid previously contained in at least one closed container and comprising a reservoir, the upper face of which has at least one passage comprising in its upper part means capable of piercing the container. closed, and the underside of which has one or two through channels connected to liquid distribution conduits.

It is characterized in that said tank is constituted by two independent plates and joined in a sealed manner, the opposite faces of which have a recesses constituting said tank.

The invention also extends to the use of such a beverage dispensing device.

The appended drawing represents, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a front view of a beverage dispensing device according to the invention, the front part of which is partially cut away to reveal internal components.

Figure 2 is a section along II-II in Figure 1, showing a piercing plate in a first embodiment.

Figure 3 is a section on III-III in Figure 2 showing the piercing plate superimposed on a sealing plate.

Figure 4 is a section corresponding to that of Figure 3, in another embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a water distribution fountain is shown diagrammatically composed respectively of a frame 10 comprising, in its upper part, a hopper 20 for positioning the bottles 30 of mineral water. The bottles 30 are arranged with the neck downwards on a piercing plate 40 secured to a sealing plate 50. The means for controlling the dispensing of beverages are grouped together under reference 60 and will be detailed below. The frame 10 contains two intermediate reserves 70 intended for the thermal treatment of the water distributed above a tray 80, connected by a discharge tube to a retention enclosure 90.

The control means 60 for the distribution of beverages comprise on the front face 11 of the frame 10 a general switch 61 of electrical supply as well as two pushers 62 and 63 for controlling solenoid valves 64 and 65 arranged along the conduits 66 and 67 for supplying the liquid to the heat treatment reserves 71 and 72. It will be noted that the conduits 66 and 67 open into the lower part of the reserves 71 and 72, corresponding respectively to the intermediate reserves of cold and hot water of the device according to the invention. These reserves 71 and 72 communicate with the outside by two swan necks 73 and 74 ensuring the distribution of the liquid on the front face 11 of the fountain according to the invention, the inner part of the conduits 73 and 74 opening into the upper part of the heat treatment reserves 71 and 72.

As is known to those skilled in the art, the heat treatment reserves 71 and 72 are part of traditional type refrigeration and heating installations, intended to bring the liquid contained in the reserves 71 and 72 to temperatures of approximately 5 ° on the one hand, and approximately 50 to 60 ° on the other. Reserves 71 and 72 will be made of stainless steel to guarantee all the values of mineral waters.

The plate 80 is connected by a discharge duct 81 to the retention enclosure 90, so as to recover any unexpected overflow of liquid. The enclosure 90 is also connected by a conduit 91 to a passage 41 provided in the piercing plate 40, to allow the recovery of the liquid possibly escaping from the bottles when they are opened.

The general dimensions of the installation are such that the pouring spouts 73 and 74, as well as the control means 60 are located facing the user. The frame 10 may further include a reserve of disposable cups, as well as a recovery compartment for these, not shown in the drawing.

A variant of drilling plate 40 is shown in Figures 2 and 3, respectively seen from above and in section. This variant is intended for a device with nine bottles 31. The plate 40 has for this purpose nine openings 42 into which are inserted drilling tubes 43, of diameter less than the internal diameter of the necks 32 of the bottles, which are made of stainless steel and the upper end of which is cut into a whistle 44, as visible in FIG. 3. The necks 32 of the bottles rest against bases 45.

The plate 40 further comprises a baffle tip 46 intended to prevent the introduction of any foreign body and to let the air pass. Note that the lower part of the plate 40 is hollowed out below the nozzle 46, precisely to allow air to escape through the nozzle when the liquid is introduced between the piercing plate 40 and the plate d sealing 50. It should be noted that the lower level of the end piece 46 is situated above the lower level of the openings 42, for reasons given below.

The plate 40 is also provided, as already mentioned, with a passage 41 intended for connection to the conduit 91 and it will be noted that all the paths 47 converge towards this passage 41. It is also possible to provide, on the 'one of the faces of the plate 40, the reinforcing elements 48, shown in dashed lines in the drawing. Finally, the plate 40 has, in its lower part, a flange 49 intended to surround the sealing plate 50, which is fixed to the drilling plate by means of screws 51. A seal, not shown in the drawing, is disposed between the drilling 40 and sealing 50 plates, intended to be brought together according to the arrows F in FIG. 3.

The upper face of the sealing plate 50 has a recess 52 opening into two channels passing through 53 and 54, connected respectively to the conduits 66 and 67 for supplying the liquid to the heat treatment reserves 71 and 72. The sealing plate may include reinforcements 55, intended to cooperate with the underside of the piercing plate.

In the variant of Figure 4, there is the sealing plate 50 and the drilling plate 40 described above, shown here attached to each other. One will thus notice the enclosure 56 of liquid formed by the recess 52 on the upper face of the sealing plate and by the recess provided in the lower part of the plate 40, below the end piece 46.

This device being designed to receive a single bottle, of 20 liters for example, a single piercing tube 43 is disposed in the center of the plate 40, the other openings 42 receiving columns 21 for supporting the central part 22 of the hopper 20 , intended to match the shape of the bottle 33. These columns 21 thus support the conical support 22 while ensuring the tightness of the enclosure 56.

FIG. 4 also shows the conduits 66 and 67 for supplying liquid to the heat treatment reserves ensuring the production of cold and hot liquids as well as the solenoid valves 64 and 65 for controlling the flow rate.

The operation of the installation according to the invention is as follows. Or the bottles 33 or 31 are introduced into the cells of the hopper 20, the neck down. It goes without saying that the shape of the cells of the hopper 20 can be varied as a function of the shape of the bottles, which are generally of round or square section. By pressing on a bottle, the tip 44 of the upper end of the corresponding piercing tube 43 pierces its plastic stopper and the neck 32 is lowered to the base 45 located below. From when the water can flow through the opening 42 in the intermediate reserve 56, until the water level reaches the base of the tube 43. At this time, the air does not can no longer penetrate through the baffle 46 into the bottle or bottles 30, so that the level of the bottles remains constant.

Depending on the flow rate of the installation, it is possible to plan to open several bottles simultaneously. It should be noted that this system avoids losing liquid as in the fountains where the bottles are introduced once decapsulated, which makes lose the value of a glass or two, recovered it is true in the machine, but "at l 'open air', so it cannot be distributed according to standards.

When the installation is put into service, only the part located above the solenoid valves 64, 65 is filled with water. By actuating the pushers 62,63, the corresponding solenoid valves 64,65 are opened and the liquid flows by gravity along the conduits 66,67 into the heat treatment reserves 71,72, air being introduced. with baffle 46 to replace the volume of water drawn in each bottle. As the conduits 66 and 67 for supplying the liquid open into the lower part of the reserves 71 and 72 while the water outlet is done by the swan necks 73 and 74 opening into the upper part of the reserves, these reserves 71 and 72 fill with liquid until water escapes through the spout 73 or 74.

As soon as the pushers 62 or 63 are no longer actuated, the circulation of liquid is stopped.

The installation can then be used normally, as soon as the heat treatment blocks have respectively cooled and reheated the content of the intermediate reserves 71 and 72.

As soon as the user wants mineral water, either cold or hot, he presents a cup in front of the pouring spout 73 or 74 and presses the pusher 62 or 63 to open the solenoid valve 64 or 65. By gravity, the cup fills, lowering the level of the block 71 or 72, which itself lowers the level of the reserve 56, in turn producing the flow of water from the bottles until the quantity is replaced. consumed.

When the bottles are empty, only the reserves of blocks 71 and 72 remain, and it suffices to remove the empty bottles from the hopper and replace them with full bottles, as described above.

It will be noted that the intermediate reserve 56 like the heat treatment reserves 71 and 72 are inside the device described, in order to comply with food storage standards. To avoid keeping mineral water in an amount greater than the authorized 1.5 liters, the airtight intermediate reserve and the heat treatment reserves will be of a capacity less than this value. For example, the intermediate reserve 56 will have a capacity of 0.8 liters, while the heat treatment reserves 71 and 72 will be of the order of 0.6 liters, an amount allowing it to be refrigerated or reheated within a period of time. in short.

Provision may be made to equip the fountain according to the invention with indicator lights indicating the presence or absence of liquid in the enclosure 56 and the intermediate reserves 71 and 72, indicating that it is necessary to replenish full bottles.

In the preceding description, the liquid mentioned is mineral water, but it is of course possible to use the fountain according to the invention for other liquids, such as fruit juice or milk.

The beverage dispensing device described so far allows the distribution of a single liquid, but it is possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, to provide a double device allowing at will to obtain water or milk, hot or cold.

As a variant, the bottles can be replaced by any other type of closed container, such as disposable packaging, in the form of cartons or bricks for example.

Claims (11)

1. Drinks dispenser capable of distributing a liquid which was previously contained in at least one closed container and including a reservoir whose upper face has at least one passage (43) including, in its upper part, means (44) capable of piercing the closed container, and whose lower face includes one or two through passages (53, 54) connected to pipes (66, 67) for distributing the liquid, characterized in that the said reservoir (56) consists of two independent plates (40 and 50) connected together in a sealed manner, the opposite faces of which have a hollowing constituting the said reservoir.
2. Drinks dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said plates include reinforcements (48, 55).
3. Drinks dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper face (40) includes a baffle (46) capable of allowing air to pass and of preventing the introduction of any foreign body into the reservoir (56), the lower level of the said baffle being located above the lower level of the passage or passages (43).
4. Drinks dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper face (40) includes a passage (41) connected to a pipe (91) capable of pouring the liquid out into a retaining enclosure (90).
5. Drinks dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the number of passages (43) corresponds to the number of closed containers.
6. Drinks dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that it includes a hopper (20) for supporting containers (30) located in the upper part of a frame (10) containing the reservoir (56).
7. Drinks dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said pipe (66, 67) for distributing the liquid includes a tap.
8. Drinks dispenser according to Claim 7, characterized in that the said tap consists of a solenoid valve (64, 65) which is opened by means of a push button (62, 63) located on the front face (11) of the frame (10).
9. Drinks dispenser according to Claim 1 or 7, characterized in that the said pipe (66, 67) opens out at the base of a reserve (71, 72) for heat treatment, provided in its upper part with a pouring spout (73, 74).
10. Use of a drinks dispenser capable of distributing a liquid which was previously contained in at least one closed container, according to Claim 1, according to which this closed container is located inside a hopper (20), a pressure is exerted towards means (44) capable of piercing this container so that the liquid fills a reservoir (56) located below the container as well as that part of the pipes (66, 67) situated above a tap, characterized in that the tap of the pipe (66, 67) is made to open in order to make the liquid contained in the reservoir (56) descend by means of gravity, which liquid then flows out through the pouring spout (73, 74) into a cup offered up by the user.
11. Use of a device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the tap of the pipe (66, 67) is made to open in order to make the liquid contained in the reservoir (56) pass by means of gravity into the reserve (71, 72) for heat treatment before the latter flows out via the pouring spout (73, 74), the reservoir (56) at the same time filling up with liquid escaping from the closed container or containers (30) located above.

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