EP3698335A1 - Distributeur automatique de boissons - Google Patents

Distributeur automatique de boissons

Info

Publication number
EP3698335A1
EP3698335A1 EP18804122.2A EP18804122A EP3698335A1 EP 3698335 A1 EP3698335 A1 EP 3698335A1 EP 18804122 A EP18804122 A EP 18804122A EP 3698335 A1 EP3698335 A1 EP 3698335A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
supply circuit
temperature
beverage
control unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP18804122.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Alessandro MERATI
Pierangelo VANZULLI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Carimali SpA
Original Assignee
Carimali SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Carimali SpA filed Critical Carimali SpA
Publication of EP3698335A1 publication Critical patent/EP3698335A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/10—Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/44—Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus
    • A47J31/52—Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
    • A47J31/525—Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters
    • A47J31/5253—Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters of temperature
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/44—Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus
    • A47J31/52—Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
    • A47J31/525—Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters
    • A47J31/5255—Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters of flow rate
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/44—Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus
    • A47J31/54—Water boiling vessels in beverage making machines
    • A47J31/56—Water boiling vessels in beverage making machines having water-level controls; having temperature controls
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/06—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to beverage vending machines, in particular to machines for preparing hot beverages from brewable substances brewed with pressurized hot water, such as coffee-based beverages, e.g., espresso coffee, instant coffee, long or fresh-brew coffee, etc., or tea-based beverages, and in particular to the electronic control of beverage vending machines aimed at optimizing delivery temperature of medium to large beverages.
  • coffee-based beverages e.g., espresso coffee, instant coffee, long or fresh-brew coffee, etc.
  • tea-based beverages e.g., tea-based beverages
  • beverage vending machines comprise a water supply circuit to supply hot or cold water to one or more brewing groups to produce brewed beverages from brewable substances that are contained in suitable containers and may be provided in different forms, in particular powder, or powder and grains, as in the case of coffee, or still further leaves, as in the case of tea.
  • the water supply circuit 2 essentially comprises a water pump 3, typically a variable speed pump, having a suction side fluidically connectable, via an appropriate water filter, to a cold water source 4, which may be a water container or mains water, and a delivery side fluidically connectable to an inlet of a water heater 5.
  • a water pump 3 typically a variable speed pump, having a suction side fluidically connectable, via an appropriate water filter, to a cold water source 4, which may be a water container or mains water, and a delivery side fluidically connectable to an inlet of a water heater 5.
  • the water heater may be manufactured with different technologies, and in particular it may be either in the form of a heat exchanger, in which water is heated by exchanging heat with another hot fluid, or in the form of an electromagnetic induction heater, or, more commonly, in the form of an electric boiler, which may be either with a single water heating stage, i.e., with a single water tank and a single electric heater, usually in the form of an electrical resistance, arranged in the water tank, or with two water heating stages, i.e., with two water tanks arranged one inside the other and fluidically series connected, and two electric heaters associated with the two water tanks.
  • a heat exchanger in which water is heated by exchanging heat with another hot fluid
  • an electromagnetic induction heater or, more commonly, in the form of an electric boiler
  • an electric boiler which may be either with a single water heating stage, i.e., with a single water tank and a single electric heater, usually in the form of an electrical resistance, arranged in the water tank, or with two water heating stages, i.
  • the water heating stages may be either of a water storage type, in which a given amount of water is contained in a water tank and heated and maintained at a desired temperature, and when the water boiler is required to deliver a certain amount of hot water to prepare a beverage, the withdrawn amount of water is replenished with fresh water and the water in the water tank is then heated and brought back to the desired temperature, or of a continuous flow type, in which water is heated to a desired temperature while it flows through the heating stage and in response to a beverage selection, i.e., only when water is withdrawn to meet a water demand for a beverage preparation.
  • the single heating stage is typically of the storage type, whereas in dual heating stage electric boilers, both of the water heating stages may be of the storage type, or the first water heating stage, i.e., the upstream one in the direction of the water flow, is of a storage type, whereas the second water heating stage, i.e. the downstream one in the direction of the water flow, is of a continuous water type.
  • the water supply circuit 2 further comprises an electronic control system 6 essentially comprising a sensory system 7 to measure one or more physical quantities of the water supply circuit 2, and in particular, inter alia, temperature and amount of water delivered by the water supply circuit 2, and to output electrical signals indicative of the measured quantities, and an electronic control unit 8 electrically connected to the sensory system 7, the water heater 5 and the water pump 3 to receive electrical signals from the sensory system 7 and control operation of the water pump 3 and the water heater 5 based on the electrical signals received from the sensory system 7.
  • an electronic control system 6 essentially comprising a sensory system 7 to measure one or more physical quantities of the water supply circuit 2, and in particular, inter alia, temperature and amount of water delivered by the water supply circuit 2, and to output electrical signals indicative of the measured quantities
  • an electronic control unit 8 electrically connected to the sensory system 7, the water heater 5 and the water pump 3 to receive electrical signals from the sensory system 7 and control operation of the water pump 3 and the water heater 5 based on the electrical signals received from the sensory system 7.
  • the sensory system 7 may for example comprise one or more temperature sensors 9 associated with the water heater 5 to measure temperature of the water in one or different areas of the water heater 5, and a volumetric flow meter 10, which may be arranged either upstream from or downstream of the water heater 5 to measure the amount, by volume, of water delivered by the water supply circuit 2, and is typically of the turbine type, in which the water is caused to flow through a small hydraulic turbine whose rotation speed is proportional to the water flow rate and is measured by means of a magnet which is inserted in the turbine to be caused to passed in proximity of a suitable magnetic sensor that outputs an electric pulse per revolution of the turbine.
  • EP 1 827 180 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for on demand heating a liquid for use in the preparation of beverages, where the heating is dynamically variable based on an applicable beverage profile.
  • the apparatus comprises a heating unit, an electronic controller, and detection devices.
  • a water tank feeds the heating unit via a water pump controlled by the electronic controller, which also controls the heating unit.
  • Feedback control loops provide control data to the electronic controller to optimize the liquid temperature for a given type of beverage in accordance with predetermined beverage profiles.
  • the Applicant has found that when a medium to large beverage, i.e. a beverage with a water requirement higher than a given threshold, is delivered, the control strategies implemented by the electronic control units of the prior art beverage vending machines may unsatisfactorily maintain the beverage temperature at the desired values.
  • the water boiler has a maximum flow rate, expressible in cc/min, up to which the water boiler is able to maintain its performance, and beyond which it inevitably fails to bring enough heat to the water contained therein, so resulting in the temperature of the delivered beverage falling as the required water flow increases.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a beverage vending machine, which is improved compared to the known ones as regards the optimization of the delivery temperature of medium to large beverages.
  • the electronic control unit 8 is programmed to control the water supply circuit 2 to optimize the delivery temperature of medium to large beverages by implementing a control strategy based on the idea of increasing the maximum flow rate of the water heater 5 imposed by physics (cc/min) without changing the components, enhancing them, and taking better advantage of what is already available, synchronizing the processes in the best way.
  • control strategy implemented by the electronic control unit 8 essentially comprises:
  • volumetric flow rate the variance or variation rate of the amount of water (volumetric flow rate) supplied by the water supply circuit 2 based on the electrical signal supplied by the volumetric flow meter 10,
  • a medium to large beverage i.e. a beverage whose preparation requires a medium to high amount of water, i.e. water requirements higher than a given threshold
  • a first intervention on the water heater 5 to adjust the thermal power thereof based on the temperature of the water supplied by the water supply circuit 2
  • the delivery of a medium to large beverage and a negative variation rate of the temperature of the water supplied by the water supply circuit 2 are determined to persist for a given period of time
  • starting a second intervention on the water pump 5 to adjust the water flow rate thereof
  • the variance or variation rate of the quantity of water supplied by the water supply circuit 2 is determined by first determining the amount of water supplied by the water supply circuit 2 from the moment in time in which the delivery of water has started for the preparation of a selected beverage based on the electrical signal supplied by the volumetric flow meter 10, and then determining the variation rate of the amount of water supplied by the water supply circuit 2, which represents the volumetric flow rate of the water delivered, as the difference between the amounts of water delivered, determined in two successive moments in time, in relation to the time interval in which this difference occurred.
  • the variance or variation rate of the temperature of the water supplied by the water supply circuit 2 is determined by first determining the temperature of the water supplied by the water supply circuit 2 based on the electrical signal supplied by the temperature sensor 9, and then determining the variance or variation rate of the temperature of the water supplied by the water supply circuit 2 as the difference between the temperatures of the water delivered, determined in two successive moments in time, in relation to the time interval in which this difference occurred.
  • the beverage being delivered is identified based on the variation rate of the water supplied by the water supply circuit 2, and in particular by comparing the variation rate of the water supplied by the water supply circuit 2 with one or more thresholds, and then determining the delivery of a medium to large beverage when the variation rate of the water supplied by the water supply circuit 2 satisfies a predetermined relationship with the threshold value(s), e.g., when the variation rate is higher than a given threshold.
  • This mechanism allows so-called long or short beverages to be discriminated, distinguishing them based on the low or high water requirements thereof and independently of the recipe or of the predetermination of the type of beverage that will be delivered.
  • the recipes are often composite, with several steps, and have behaviours that consume a lot of water, but with low flow rates that can be fully managed by normal operating logics.
  • the first intervention on the water heater 5 essentially comprises carrying out a first feedback control of the water temperature (controlled quantity) in the water heater 5 by controlling a control quantity (actuator) represented by the thermal power of the water heater 5.
  • the first feedback control is designed to cause the thermal power of the water heater 5 to increase to cause the temperature of the water in the water heater 5 either to assume a target value or to follow a target profile.
  • the first feedback control may be designed to perform an on/off control or a proportional control.
  • the on/off control comprises only switching on and off all the electric heaters in the electric boiler, whereas the proportional control comprises selectively switching on and off the electric heaters in the electric boiler and possibly also adjusting the electrical power absorbed by each of the electric heaters.
  • the second intervention on the water pump 3 comprises carrying out a second feedback control of the water temperature (controlled quantity) in the water heater 5 by controlling a control quantity (actuator) represented by the flow rate of the water pump 3.
  • the second feedback control is designed to cause the flow rate of the water pump 3 to decrease to cause the temperature of the water in the water heater 5 either to assume a target value or to follow a target profile.
  • the second feedback control is designed to cause the rotation speed of the water pump 3 to decrease to cause the flow rate thereof to decrease to such an extent to allow the water temperature in the water heater 5 to catch up.
  • the second feedback control is designed to cause the rotation speed of the water pump 3 to decrease up to a predetermined lower, non-zero limit, and as long as a change in the above-described conditions is identified, or until the end of the beverage delivery is determined. Then, when the water temperature in the water heater 5 has once again reached the target temperature, and, hence, the variance of the water temperature in the water heater 5 is no longer negative, the rotation speed of the water pump 3 is again increased as long as this condition persists and until complete return to the initial rotation speed of the water pump 3 or at the end of the beverage delivery.
  • this period of lime may be determined empirically for each type of water heater 5 by determining the time (in seconds or tenths of a second) during which the water temperature in the water heater 5 decreases in response to the withdrawal of a number of cc higher than its capacity.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un distributeur automatique de boissons (1) comprenant un circuit d'alimentation en eau (2) comprenant une pompe à eau (3) et un chauffe-eau (5), un système de détecteurs (7) pour délivrer en sortie des signaux électriques qui permettent à la température et à la quantité d'eau délivrée par le circuit d'alimentation en eau (2) d'être déterminées, et une unité de commande électronique (8) connectée électriquement au système de détecteurs (7) pour recevoir les signaux électriques émis par celle-ci, et à la pompe à eau (3) et au chauffe-eau (5) pour fournir des signaux de commande électrique à celle-ci. L'unité de commande électronique (8) est configurée pour déterminer le taux de variation de la quantité d'eau fournie par le circuit d'alimentation en eau (2), déterminer le taux de variation de la température de l'eau fournie par le circuit d'alimentation en eau (2), identifier la boisson qui est distribuée sur la base du taux de variation de la quantité d'eau fournie par le circuit d'alimentation en eau (2), lorsqu'une boisson moyenne à grande est déterminée comme étant délivrée, démarrer une première intervention sur le chauffe-eau (5) pour ajuster sa puissance thermique sur la base de la température de l'eau fournie par le circuit d'alimentation en eau (2), et lorsque la distribution d'une boisson moyenne à grande et un taux de variation négative de la température de l'eau fournie par le circuit d'alimentation en eau (2) sont déterminés pour persister pendant une période de temps donnée, démarrer une seconde intervention sur la pompe à eau (5) pour ajuster le débit d'eau de celle-ci.
EP18804122.2A 2017-10-19 2018-10-19 Distributeur automatique de boissons Withdrawn EP3698335A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17197402 2017-10-19
IT201700137414 2017-11-29
PCT/IB2018/058151 WO2019077574A1 (fr) 2017-10-19 2018-10-19 Distributeur automatique de boissons

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3698335A1 true EP3698335A1 (fr) 2020-08-26

Family

ID=64332132

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18804122.2A Withdrawn EP3698335A1 (fr) 2017-10-19 2018-10-19 Distributeur automatique de boissons

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3698335A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2019077574A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7401545B2 (en) * 2004-11-09 2008-07-22 Nestec S.A. Method and apparatus for optimizing variable liquid temperatures
ATE536785T1 (de) * 2006-07-11 2011-12-15 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Verfahren zur steuerung des betriebs einer vorrichtung zur ausgabe heisser flüssigkeiten
ES2773173T3 (es) * 2010-05-31 2020-07-09 Tuttoespresso Srl Dispositivo y procedimiento para la preparación de bebidas con diferentes gustos
CN105722441B (zh) * 2013-10-18 2019-09-03 卡里马里股份公司 用于受控饮料分配的设备和工艺

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2019077574A1 (fr) 2019-04-25

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