EP3854750A1 - Distributeur de boissons et procédé de distribution de boissons - Google Patents

Distributeur de boissons et procédé de distribution de boissons Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3854750A1
EP3854750A1 EP20153865.9A EP20153865A EP3854750A1 EP 3854750 A1 EP3854750 A1 EP 3854750A1 EP 20153865 A EP20153865 A EP 20153865A EP 3854750 A1 EP3854750 A1 EP 3854750A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning
sterilizing
container
sensor
beverage
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Withdrawn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
EP20153865.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Cristian ANDREATO
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.)
Sidel Participations SAS
Original Assignee
Sidel Participations SAS
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 Sidel Participations SAS filed Critical Sidel Participations SAS
Priority to EP20153865.9A priority Critical patent/EP3854750A1/fr
Publication of EP3854750A1 publication Critical patent/EP3854750A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/07—Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
    • B08B9/28—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/46—Inspecting cleaned containers for cleanliness
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0003—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid
    • B67D1/0004—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0888—Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D2210/00002—Purifying means
    • B67D2210/00013—Sterilising means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a beverage dispenser which allows the user to refill a reusable container guaranteeing an optimal cleaning of the same already used container, and to a method for refilling a container with beverage achieving this objective.
  • a dispenser according to any of the appended dispenser claims achieves that object.
  • Another object of the present description is to provide a method for administering a beverage with an already used container, with a better outcome in terms of cleanliness of the refilled container with respect to the prior art.
  • the dispenser is configured to carry out the method.
  • the method is specially adapted to be carried out by the dispenser.
  • the dispenser 1 comprises a receiving unit 2.
  • the receiving unit 2 is configured for carrying out a receiving phase. During the receiving phase, an already used container B is received from a user.
  • the dispenser 1 comprises a cleaning and sterilizing unit 3.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is schematically shown also in figures 3 and 4 .
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is configured for carrying out a cleaning and sterilizing phase.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing phase comprises a cleaning subphase, during which the container B is cleaned, and a sterilizing subphase, during which the container B is sterilized.
  • the dispenser 1 comprises an electronic control unit 5.
  • the control unit 5 is in in communication at least with the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 to control the cleaning and sterilizing phase.
  • the dispenser 1 comprises a communication system 7 by means of which the control unit 5 is in communication with the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3.
  • the communication system 7 can be of any type, including a wired system and/or wireless system.
  • the dispenser 1 comprises a filling unit 4.
  • the filling unit 4 is configured for carrying out a filling phase.
  • the received container B is filled with a specific beverage.
  • the filling phase can be considered from a certain point of view as a refilling phase, because the container 3 is already used. Therefore, it can be said that, during the filling phase, the container B is refilled with the specific beverage.
  • the dispenser 1 comprises a transporting system 6 configured to transport automatically the received container B at least between the receiving unit 2 and the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3.
  • the specific beverage can be of any kind.
  • the filling unit 4 can be at least a part of the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3, and vice versa.
  • the filling unit 4 and the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 can also be embedded in the same unit.
  • the control unit 5 is in in communication, by means of the communication system 7, at least with the filling unit 4 to control the filling phase.
  • the dispenser 1 is configured for carrying out, by means of the control unit 5, an obtaining phase. During the obtaining phase, at least a geometric feature of the container B is automatically obtained. This geometric feature can include at least a shape and/or at least a size of the container B. The dispenser 1 is configured so that said geometric feature is obtained by means of a reading element 22.
  • the container B can comprise a storage element S.
  • the storage element S stores at least a first information indicative of the geometric feature.
  • the dispenser 1 is configured so that, during the obtaining phase, the reading element 22 interacts automatically with the storage element S to read the abovementioned information, and automatically communicates this information to the control unit 5 by means of the communication system 7.
  • the control unit 5 is in communication, by means of the communication system 7, with the reading element 22, to obtain the geometric feature.
  • the dispenser 1 could be configured for allowing a user to insert the geometric feature in the control unit 5 by means of an interface 111 of the dispenser 1.
  • the dispenser 1 comprises a sensor 311.
  • the sensor 311 is configured for carrying out a detecting phase. During the detecting phase, the cleanliness state of the received container B is automatically detected.
  • the cleanliness state can be considered for example a contamination state of the container B.
  • the dispenser 1 is configured so that, by means of the control unit 5, the cleaning and sterilizing phase is automatically correlated to the detected cleanliness state.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing phase can be tailored or adjusted automatically in relation to the detected cleanliness state. Therefore, the dispenser allows for saving cleaning and/or sterilizing material and/or energy, and/or in general the costs associated to the cleaning and sterilizing phase. In fact, the higher is the cleanliness state, the less intense the cleaning and sterilizing phase can be.
  • the control unit 5 is in communication, by means of the communication system 7, with the sensor 311 to get the detected cleanliness state, so that the cleaning and sterilizing phase can be correlated to the detected cleanliness state.
  • the sensor 311 is a part of the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3, in the sense that the dispenser 1 is configured so that the sensor 311 operates in the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 comprises a chamber 32 for defining a cleaning and sterilizing position of the container B in the chamber 32.
  • the container B is in dashed line and adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is configured to generate a movement of the sensor 311 relative to the chamber 32.
  • the movement of the sensor 311 is between an extracted operative position of the sensor 311 and a retracted not operative position of the sensor 311.
  • the sensor 311 adopts the retracted not operative position and the container B adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position.
  • the sensor 311 adopts the extracted operative position and the container B adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position.
  • the extracted operative position is such that, as the container B adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position, the sensor 311 is internal relative to the container B.
  • the container B comprises a main body B' and an outlet provided for example at the top of the main body B'.
  • the container B can be for example a bottle.
  • the outlet B" is provided at the top of the neck of the bottle B.
  • the container B can be a receptacle of any kind.
  • the retracted not operative position of the sensor 311 is such that, as the container B adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position, the sensor 311, with respect to the extracted operative position, is closer to an outlet B" of the container B.
  • the dispenser 1 is configured so that, by means of the control unit 5, the movement of the sensor 311 is automatically controlled as a function of the obtained geometric feature. In this way the operative position of the sensor 311 can be optimized in relation to the geometric feature of the container B.
  • the movement of the sensor 311 allows for starting the detecting phase while the sensor 311 is moving, in order for the sensor 311 to capture more information regarding the cleanliness state.
  • the movement of the sensor 311 allows to adjust automatically the operative position of the sensor 311 as a function of the geometric feature.
  • the detection of the cleanliness state of the container B is improved. This allows also for the cleaning and sterilizing phase to be furtherly tailored to the actual cleanliness state of the container B.
  • the senor 311 is external relative to the container B adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position.
  • the dispenser 1 is configured so that, during the obtaining phase, the type of beverage previously used in or for the container is automatically obtained.
  • the dispenser 1 is configured so that said type of beverage previously used is obtained by means of the reading element 22.
  • the storage element S stores a second information regarding the type of beverage previously used.
  • the reading element 22 interacts with the storage element S to read the above mentioned second information, and communicates this second information to the control unit 5 by means of the communication system 7.
  • the control unit 5 is in communication, by means of the communication system 7, with the reading element 22, to obtain the type of beverage previously used.
  • the dispenser 1 is configured so that, by means of the control unit 5, the cleaning and sterilizing phase is automatically correlated also to the type of beverage previously used.
  • the dispenser 1 is configured to carry out, by means of the control unit 5, a selecting phase during which the type of specific beverage, by which the container will be refilled during the filling phase, is selected automatically as a function of the obtained type of beverage previously used, such that the type of specific beverage is the same as the type of previously used beverage.
  • the specific beverage can be selected manually by the user by means of the interface 111 which is in communication with the filling unit 4 by means of the communication system 7.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 comprises a sterilizing element 312.
  • the sterilizing element 312 is configured for carrying out the sterilizing subphase.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 comprises a supporting element 33.
  • the sensor 311 is carried by the supporting element 33.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is configured so that the movement of the sensor 311 is caused by and/or corresponds to a corresponding movement of the supporting element 33.
  • the sterilizing element 312 is carried by the supporting element 33 in such a way to be integral with the movement of the sensor 311. This improves the compactness and lowers the mechanical complexity of the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3.
  • the sensor 311 is carried by the supporting element 33 with the mechanical interposition of the sterilizing element 312, in order to facilitate the manufacturing phase of the cleaning and sterilizing unit 312. In fact, for example the sensor 311 is more likely to be smaller than the sterilizing element 312.
  • the movement of the sensor 311 can comprise at least a translational component along the container axis, for example in the case the container B is a bottle. This improves the detecting phase in the case the detecting phase starts while the sensor 311 is still moving.
  • the container axis is the axis going from the bottom of the container to the outlet of the container B. In the case the container B is a bottle, the axis is to be considered that going from the bottom to the neck of the bottle.
  • the chamber 32 extends along an extension axis X.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is configured so that, with the container B adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position, the axis of the container B coincides with the axis X of the chamber 32.
  • the supporting element 33 could be a rod.
  • the rod extends at least mainly along the axis X of the chamber 32, in order to optimize the energy for the movement of the sensor 311 and the sterilizing element 312.
  • the sensor 311 and the sterilizing element 312 are positioned at an end of the rod. This makes easier the manufacturing method of the dispenser, especially in the case the sensor 311 is carried by the supporting element 33 with the mechanical interposition of the sterilizing element 312.
  • the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 comprises a cleaning system.
  • the cleaning system is configured for carrying out the cleaning subphase.
  • the cleaning system comprises a first conduit 313.
  • the cleaning system comprises a second conduit 314.
  • the first conduit 313 opens out in the chamber 32 with a first opening 313a located at a first height along the axis X of the chamber 32.
  • the second conduit 314 opens out in the chamber 32 with a second opening 314b located at a second height along the axis X of the chamber 32.
  • the second height is different from the first height.
  • the first conduit 313 and the second conduit 314 can be used to clean different parts of the container B, respectively, and in particular different parts of the neck of the bottle, respectively, in the case the container is a bottle.
  • a closure C of the container B is cleaned and/or sterilized, while the closure C adopts a cleaning and/or sterilizing position of the closure C in the chamber 32.
  • the different heights of the openings 313a and 314a allows to use the first conduit 313 and the second conduit 314 to clean different parts of the closure C, respectively.
  • Those different parts of the closure C can be for example a screw and a rib of the closure C.
  • Fig. 5 shows the closure C adopting the cleaning and/or sterilizing position.
  • the dispenser 1 comprises a box having a front wall 11.
  • the receiving unit 2 opens in the front wall to allow a user to insert the container B in the receiving unit 2.
  • the receiving unit 2 has an internal wall 21 delimiting a space for receiving the container B.
  • the method comprises the receiving phase.
  • the method comprises the detecting phase.
  • the method comprises the cleaning and sterilizing phase.
  • the method comprises the filling phase.
  • the method comprises the obtaining phase.
  • the method comprises the movement of the sensor 311.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
EP20153865.9A 2020-01-27 2020-01-27 Distributeur de boissons et procédé de distribution de boissons Withdrawn EP3854750A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20153865.9A EP3854750A1 (fr) 2020-01-27 2020-01-27 Distributeur de boissons et procédé de distribution de boissons

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20153865.9A EP3854750A1 (fr) 2020-01-27 2020-01-27 Distributeur de boissons et procédé de distribution de boissons

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3854750A1 true EP3854750A1 (fr) 2021-07-28

Family

ID=69326417

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20153865.9A Withdrawn EP3854750A1 (fr) 2020-01-27 2020-01-27 Distributeur de boissons et procédé de distribution de boissons

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3854750A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023046618A1 (fr) * 2021-09-24 2023-03-30 Krones Ag Nettoyage de récipients dans une installation de traitement de récipients

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994006547A1 (fr) * 1992-09-17 1994-03-31 J. Vogel Premium Water Co. Systeme de purification et de distribution d'eau
US7571586B1 (en) * 2008-04-01 2009-08-11 Morales Manuel A Method and apparatus for refilling a container with a fluid
WO2012047916A2 (fr) * 2010-10-04 2012-04-12 Revive Station, Llc Appareil, système et procédé de distribution, de réception, de nettoyage et/ou de remplissage de contenant

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994006547A1 (fr) * 1992-09-17 1994-03-31 J. Vogel Premium Water Co. Systeme de purification et de distribution d'eau
US7571586B1 (en) * 2008-04-01 2009-08-11 Morales Manuel A Method and apparatus for refilling a container with a fluid
WO2012047916A2 (fr) * 2010-10-04 2012-04-12 Revive Station, Llc Appareil, système et procédé de distribution, de réception, de nettoyage et/ou de remplissage de contenant

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023046618A1 (fr) * 2021-09-24 2023-03-30 Krones Ag Nettoyage de récipients dans une installation de traitement de récipients

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