EP4622909A1

EP4622909A1 - Beverage dispensing unit for a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages

Info

Publication number: EP4622909A1
Application number: EP23809573.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mickael Ferrand; Damien WYTTENBACH; François PREVOTAT
Original assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA; Nestle SA
Current assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA; Nestle SA
Priority date: 2022-11-22
Filing date: 2023-11-21
Publication date: 2025-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2043-11-21
Also published as: EP4622910B1; EP4622909C0; KR20250114002A; EP4622910A1; WO2024110419A1; WO2024110420A1; JP2025536655A; EP4622910C0; CN120225458A; JP2025536656A; EP4622909B1; CN120202164A; KR20250114003A

Abstract

A beverage dispensing unit (10) for dispensing beverages comprising a nozzle (12) and an alcove (16) provided with a nozzle protective body (26) comprising a protective wall (28), to substantially prevent a user from moving a container (C) in a way as to bring it (C) into contact with the nozzle (12), and a beverage dispensing passage (32). A lower portion (38) of the 5 protective wall (28) comprises an outer surface (40) comprising a plurality of raised or recessed elements (42) for preventing a tight contact between a mouth (C1) of the container (C) and the nozzle protective body (26).

Description

BEVERAGE DISPENSING UNIT FOR A MACHINE FOR PREPARING AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES, AND MACHINE FOR PREPARING AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES COMPRISING

SAID DISPENSING UNIT

Field of the invention

The present invention concerns a beverage dispensing unit for a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, as well as a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising said dispensing unit.

In particular, the present invention relates to a machine for the preparation and dispensing of beverages and, in particular, a machine that can be inserted in an automatic beverage distribution system. This machine can be used to prepare a wide range of beverages. Such beverages usually consist of water (cold, ambient, still or sparkling ...), or water and at least one beverage additive, such as syrups, flavourings, etc.

Background of the invention

Known machines for preparing and dispensing beverages comprise a beverage dispensing unit provided with a nozzle connected to pipes in which said beverage and/or the ingredients for making said beverage flow, and an alcove defining a seat adapted to hold a container into which the beverage and/or the ingredients for making said beverage, dispensed through said nozzle, flow.

The known machines have been used for a long time and are not subject to particular problems, if used correctly. However, in the event of improper uses of the machine, critical issues may arise.

It happens, for example, that the users of these machines do not correctly place the container in its seat in the alcove, but bring said container into contact with the nozzle which is usually provided in the upper part of the alcove. This happens, for example, when a bottle is used as a container to be filled with the beverage dispensed by the machine. It happens that the mouth of the bottle is pushed into contact with the nozzles during the dispensing of the beverage. In this case it may happen that the bottle overflows and the excess beverage comes into contact with the nozzle.

It also happens that the users touch the nozzle while placing the container in the alcove or while waiting for the drink to be dispensed. The contact of the container and/or users' hands with the nozzle can lead to hygiene and/or contamination issues. There is thus a need to provide a beverage dispensing unit for a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, as well as a machine for preparing and dispensing such beverages which resolves these hygiene and/or contamination issues, especially in the case of improper use of the machine.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a beverage dispensing unit for a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, as well as a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising said dispensing unit, which solve the aforementioned hygiene and/or contamination issues of the prior art in a simple, economical and functional way.

To this end, the invention is in a first aspect directed towards a dispensing unit and a machine provided with this dispensing unit, provided with a nozzle connected to pipes in which said beverage and/or the ingredients for making said beverage flow, an alcove defining a seat adapted to hold a container into which the beverage and/or the ingredients for making said beverage, dispensed through said nozzle, flows, wherein the alcove comprises also a nozzle protective body.

According to the invention, the nozzle protective body comprises: a protective wall provided in the alcove and below a lower end of the nozzle, said protective wall being shaped and dimensioned so as to substantially prevent a user from moving a container in the alcove in such a way as to bring it into contact with said nozzle and/or to prevent the user to touch said nozzle, preferably said protective wall being shaped and dimensioned so as to at least partially surround said nozzle, and a beverage dispensing passage for the outflow of the beverage from said nozzle to a lower portion of the alcove through said protective wall. A lower portion of the protective wall comprises an outer surface facing the lower portion of the alcove, wherein said outer surface comprises a plurality of raised or recessed elements for preventing a tight contact between a mouth of the container and the nozzle protective body, if said mouth of the container is pushed into contact with said outer surface. In this way, if the container is overfilled, most of the excess drink flows along the outside of the container and towards a lower portion of the alcove and not towards the nozzle: this eliminates, or at least reduces, the risk of contamination of the nozzle. Moreover, as the amount of beverage flowing along the outside of the bottle is maximized, users understand that they are not operating the dispensing unit properly and will remove the container, or they will stop the dispensing of the beverage. A dispensing unit and a beverage preparation machine comprising this dispensing unit so configured is advantageous in that it prevents hygiene and/or contamination issues of the nozzle in the event of incorrect positioning of the container and/or an improper use of the machine.

In an embodiment, the dispensing unit comprises connecting members for removably connecting the nozzle protective body to the alcove. In this way the protective body of the nozzle can be removed from the alcove, so that, for example, it can be cleaned periodically.

In an embodiment, the beverage dispensing passage of the nozzle protective body comprises a through hole for the outflow of the beverage, which is delimited by a lower portion of the protective wall.

In an embodiment, said lower portion of the protective wall comprises a first outer surface facing the lower portion of the alcove, wherein said first outer surface is concave with concavity facing the lower portion of the alcove, with the through hole provided at the bottom of said concave first outer surface. This makes the through hole less visible to users and prevents them from touching it.

In an embodiment, said lower portion of the protective wall comprises a collector tray which faces said nozzle and which is separated from said nozzle. This collector tray allows to collect any beverage spills that may occur between the nozzle and said protective wall, for example beverage spills that can occur if the mouth of a container is pressed in tight contact with the nozzle protective body and if the container is overfilled.

In an embodiment, the lower surface of the collector tray is tilted towards an evacuation passage to facilitate the evacuation of the collected beverage spills.

In an embodiment, the dispensing unit comprises locking means having a locking and an unlocking operative position, for allowing the removal of the nozzle protective body from the alcove, only when said locking means are in said unlocking operative position, wherein said locking means comprise: a first fixed element, which is fixed to the nozzle protective body, a second fixed element, which is fixed to the alcove, and a movable element, interacting with said first fixed element and said second fixed element and comprising an operating portion for moving said movable element within a first position, wherein it prevents the removal of the nozzle protective body from the alcove, and a second position, wherein it allows said removal. These locking means may be used to prevent the nozzle protection body from being removed from the alcove by a machine user and to allow such removal only by specialized personnel who have access to the movable element, for example to clean it periodically.

In an embodiment, the operating portion of the movable element of the locking means is positioned in an inner part of the alcove, preferably an inner part which is not visible by a user, in order to avoid unauthorized uses of this movable element.

In an embodiment, the protective wall of the nozzle protective body comprises a gripping element, preferably a hollow and open part at the bottom, to facilitate handling of the protective body, for example when it must be removed from the alcove.

In an embodiment, the nozzle protective body is provided with connecting members for removably connecting the nozzle protective body to the alcove, which comprise connecting elements departing from the protective wall of the nozzle body, and comprising a head configured in such a way as to be able to be coupled in a removable and sliding way in a respective guide element provided in an upper wall of the alcove, wherein when said head and said guide element are coupled together, the nozzle protective body is movably connected to the alcove and at least partially surrounds said nozzle, and only when said head and said guide element are uncoupled the nozzle protective body can be removed from the alcove. This type of connection guarantees both a reliable and simple connection of the nozzle protective body to the alcove, as well as an easy and fast removal of said body from the alcove, for example when it needs to be cleaned.

In an embodiment, the protective body has substantially the shape of a drawer and its protective wall comprises a front part substantially perpendicular to a lower part, with said lower part comprising the beverage dispensing passage. This form of the nozzle protective body is simple and guarantees good rigidity and resistance to the stresses to which the body itself can be subjected.

In an embodiment, the through hole of the nozzle protective body, for the outflow of the beverage, is delimited by an upper edge and the distance of this upper edge from a lower end of the nozzle is between 0.2 cm and 5 cm and, more preferably, it is between 0.5 cm and 3 cm. This spacing helps prevent all or at least most beverage spills from reaching the nozzle if, for example, the mouth of a container is pressed in tight contact with the nozzle protective body and if the container is overfilled.

The invention is also directed towards a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising: a main casing which is provided with at least one front wall, wherein said main casing encloses an internal volume designed for housing at least one beverage preparation apparatus, which is designed for preparing and dispensing beverages, and a beverage dispensing unit connected to said beverage preparation apparatus, wherein said beverage dispensing unit is provided at said front wall in said at least one side wall of the main casing.

According to the invention, the beverage dispensing unit is a beverage dispensing unit according to one or more of the embodiments and preferable features discussed above.

This machine has the same advantages discussed above with regard to the dispensing unit.

In an embodiment, the main casing of the machine for preparing and dispensing beverages is provided with at least one side wall and at least one opening which defines a door compartment, wherein the at least one front wall of the machine is a door, which is provided with an outer surface and an inner surface turned towards the internal volume of said main casing, wherein said door is hinged to said main casing at a hinging axis and is configured to close said door compartment in the machine operating configuration; wherein the beverage dispensing unit is connected to said door and the opening for the insertion of a container of the seat of the alcove is provided in said outer surface of said door.

This embodiment allows to have the alcove of the dispensing unit housed in a part of the machine, preferably the outer surface of the door, that is easily reachable by a user, and to have a rear part of the dispensing unit which is instead housed and protected inside the machine, and which cannot be reached by a user, but only by specialized and authorized personnel.

This allows, for example, to protect the components of the dispensing unit that must not be operated by users of the dispensing unit, but only, for example, by authorized personnel who are able to operate these components only when the door of the machine is open. In this way, for example, it is possible to prevent the user of the machine from operating the locking means which allow the removal of the protective body of the nozzle from the alcove. Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the description of the presently preferred embodiments which are set out below with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front perspective view of a dispensing unit according to the invention;

Figure 2 is schematic front perspective view of a dispensing unit according to the invention, wherein one of its components is in an inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a partial and schematic top perspective view of the dispensing unit;

Figure 4 is a schematic vertical cross-section, along a central vertical plane, of the upper part of the dispensing unit;

Figures 5 and 6 are schematic top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of a component of the dispensing unit;

Figure 7 is a schematic front perspective view of a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising the dispensing unit shown in figures 1-6; and

Figure 8 is a schematic front perspective view of the machine of figure 7, shown in an open configuration.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the above figures, a preferred embodiment of a beverage dispensing unit 10 for a machine 100 for preparing and dispensing beverages, according to the present invention, is shown. The beverage dispensing unit 10 comprises: a nozzle 12 (figures 2 and 4) connected to pipes 14 (schematically shown in figure 8) in which said beverage and/or the ingredients for making said beverage flow, and an alcove 16 defining a seat 18 to hold a container C (shown in figure 7) into which the beverage and/or the ingredients for making said beverage, dispensed through said nozzle 12, flows.

The alcove 16 comprises: an opening 20 for the insertion of the container C in the seat 18 of the alcove 16 itself, an upper portion 22, wherein said nozzle 12 is at least partially provided, and a lower portion 24 for supporting the container C, provided substantially below said nozzle 12.

According to the invention, the alcove 16 comprises a nozzle protective body 26 comprising: a protective wall 28 provided in said alcove 16 and below a lower end 30 (figure 4) of said nozzle 12, with said protective wall 28 shaped and dimensioned so as to at least partially surround said nozzle 12 to substantially prevent a user from moving the container C in the seat 18 of the alcove 16 in such a way as to bring the container C into contact with said nozzle 12 and/or to prevent the user to touch said nozzle 12.

According to the invention, the nozzle protective body 26 comprise a beverage dispensing passage 32 for the outflow of the beverage from the nozzle 12 to the lower portion 24 of the alcove 16 through the protective wall 28.

The alcove 16 has substantially a conventional shape and will therefore not be described in detail. This alcove 16 comprises a body 1, preferably of elongated shape and provided with lateral walls 2, an upper wall 3 and a lower wall 4. Also, the seat 18 provided in the lower part 24 of the alcove is of conventional shape and will not be described in detail. This seat 18 comprises a collector element 5, for example shaped like a drawer, configured for collecting the excess beverage that does not flow into a container, and is equipped with an outflow passage 6 for the outflow of this excess drink from the alcove 16.

The alcove 16 is preferably dimensioned such as to allow the use of conventional refillable bottles, for example of the type having a volume of between 0.5 I and 1 1.

Preferably, the alcove 16 is shaped and dimensioned to completely surround the container C when said container C is inserted in the alcove seat 18, apart for a portion of the container C facing the opening 20, which remains visible. The upper wall 3 further comprises usual connection elements 8, 9 for removably connecting the nozzle 12 to said upper wall 3, and/or a usual feeding member 11 for feeding the beverage and/or its ingredients to the nozzle 12 through one or more of the pipes 14 (figure 1).

The alcove 16 also comprises conventional connection means for connecting said alcove 16 to a usual seat provided in a wall 104 of the machine 100 for preparing and dispensing beverages and, in particular, to the door 105 of this machine 100.

Preferably, the dispensing unit 10 comprises connecting members 34, 35 for removably connecting the nozzle protective body 26 to the alcove 16, in order to allow removal of the nozzle protective body 26 from the alcove 16 to be able to periodically clean said nozzle protective body 26.

Preferably, the connecting members 34, 35 comprise connecting elements 34' departing from the protective wall surface 28A facing the nozzle 12. Said connecting elements 34' comprise a head 37 shaped in such a way as to be able to be coupled in a removable and sliding way in a respective guide element 35' provided in an upper wall 3 of the alcove 16, wherein when said head 37 and the respective guide element 35' are coupled together, the nozzle protective body 26 is movably connected to the alcove 16 and at least partially surrounds the nozzle 12 (as shown in figure 4). Therefore, only when the head 37 and the respective guide element 35' are uncoupled the nozzle protective body 26 can be removed from the alcove 16 (as shown in figure 2).

Preferably, the connecting members 34, 35 are bayonet coupling connecting members.

Preferably, the connecting elements 34' are two pillar shaped elements and the head 37 is shaped with a slit 37A provided below an upper portion of this head 37 that reduces the transverse dimension of the head 37, while the guide elements 35' are two elongated through holes having a first portion 35A', having substantially the same transversal dimension of said heads 37, and a second portion 35B', having substantially the same transversal dimension of the portions of connecting elements where the slits 37A are provided.

Thanks to this shape of the connecting elements 34' and the guide elements 35', it is possible to connect the nozzle protective body 26 to the upper portion 22 of the alcove 16, by first inserting the upper portions of the heads 37 into the first portion 35A' of the guide elements 35', with the slit 37A engaged in the second portion 35B' of the guide elements 35', and then pushing the nozzle protective body 26 towards the nozzle 12, until said heads 37 reach the end of said second portions 35B' of the guide elements 35' (as shown in figure 3).

Preferably, the connecting elements 34' are provided with an end-stroke portion 39 (figure 6) that acts as an end of stroke for the heads 37 so that, when the end of stroke of the connecting elements 34' is reached, the slits 37A' are correctly positioned at the second portions 35B' of the guide elements 35'.

Preferably, the nozzle protective body 26 comprises also a stabilizing element 40A departing from the protective wall surface 28A facing the nozzle 12, and preferably positioned at an inner side 28B of said protective wall 28, which remains closer to the interior surface 2A of the lateral walls 2 of the alcove 16 farthest from the opening 20 of the alcove 16 itself. The upper edge 40B of this stabilizing element 40A is adapted to come into contact and to slide along a rear portion of the flat internal surface 3B of the upper wall 3 of the alcove body 1. The stabilizing element 40A avoids tilting of the protective body 26 when it is connected or removed from its seat in the alcove 16.

Preferably, the connecting members 34, 35 are bayonet coupling connecting members shaped in such a way so as to allow movements of the nozzle protective body 26 coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the alcove 16 only in a first position of these two connecting members 34, 35, i.e., for example when the heads 37 are inserted in the first portions 35A' of the guide elements 35', and then allow movements of the nozzle protective body 26 perpendicular to said longitudinal axis only when these two connecting members 34, 35 are in a second position, i.e., for example when the heads 37 are inserted in the second portions 35B' of the guide elements 35'.

Preferably, the beverage dispensing passage 32 comprises a through hole 36 for the outflow of the beverage. Said through hole 36 is delimited by a lower portion 38 (figure 5) of the protective wall 28. Said lower portion 38 comprises an outer surface 40 facing the lower portion 24 of the alcove 16 that comprises a plurality of raised or recessed elements 42, here represented as concave recessed elements, for preventing a tight contact between a mouth Cl (figure 7) of the container C and the nozzle protective body 26 if said mouth Cl of the container C is pushed into contact with said outer surface 40, and so as to ensure that an overfilling of the container C flows along the outside of the container C and towards the lower portion 24 of the alcove 16 and not towards the nozzle 12.

The purpose of the recessed elements 42 is to prevent tightness in case a mouth bottle is brought in direct contact with the nozzle cover. It therefore let some water go through these recessed elements 42 and run around the bottle, so that the user can detect that there is an overspill and that he should remove its bottle. In absence of recessed elements 42, a tightness may occur between the mouth Cl of the container C and the nozzle protective body 26, the water may go inside the nozzle cover without the user noticing the over-spilling.

Preferably, the outer surface 40 of the protective wall 28 is concave with concavity facing the lower portion 24 of the alcove 16, with the through hole 36 provided at the bottom of said concave outer surface 40, such as to make said through hole 36 less visible to users and prevent them from touching said through hole 36.

Preferably, the lower portion 38 of the protective wall 28 comprises a collector tray 44 which faces said nozzle 12 and which is separated from said nozzle 12, for collecting any beverage spills that may occur between the nozzle 12 and the protective wall 28. The collector tray 44 comprises:

- a lower surface 46 facing the nozzle 12;

- a first inner wall 48, departing from said inner surface 46, extending towards the nozzle 12 and comprising an upper edge 50 which delimits said through hole 36; and - a second inner wall 52, departing from said inner surface 46, extending towards the nozzle 12 and provided externally with respect to said first inner wall 48.

The lower surface 46 is tilted towards an evacuation passage 54 for the evacuation of the beverage spills collected in the tray 44.

Preferably, the distance Z2 (figure 4) of the upper edge 50 delimiting the through hole 36 for the outflow of the beverage, measured from a lower end 30 of the nozzle 12, is between 0.2 cm and 5 cm and, more preferably, said distance is between 0.5 cm and 3 cm. This spacing helps prevent all or at least most beverage spills from reaching the nozzle 12 if, for example, the mouth of a container C is pressed in tight contact with the nozzle protective body 26 and if the container C is overfilled.

Preferably the through hole 36 of the beverage dispensing passage 32 is coaxial with the corresponding outflow opening 40C of the nozzle 12 (when the nozzle protective body 26 is connected to the alcove 16) and is larger (at least 10% larger) than this outflow opening 40C.

Preferably, the nozzle protective body 26 comprises locking means 56 having a locking (Pl) and an unlocking (figure 2) operative position, for allowing the removal of the nozzle protective body 26 from the alcove 16, only when said locking means 56 are in said unlocking operative position. Preferably, the locking means 56 comprise:

- a first fixed element 56A, which is fixed to the nozzle protective body 26, for example at the inner surface 28A of the protective wall 28;

- a second fixed element 56C (figure 4), which is fixed to the alcove 16; for example, this second fixed element 56C is a part of the upper wall 3 of the alcove 1; and

- a movable element 56B, interacting with said first fixed element 56A and said second fixed element 56C and comprising an operating portion 56D for moving said movable element 56B within a first position (Pl, figure 4), wherein it prevents the removal of the nozzle protective body 26 from the alcove 16, and a second position, wherein it allows said removal.

The movable element 56B is for example a pin with a shaped head 56E (figure 2) that may be engaged/disengaged from a seat 56F, suitably shaped, of the first fixed element 56A, for example by rotating and/or pul li ng/pushi ng said pin in said seat 56F.

Preferably, the operating portion 56D of the movable element 56B of the locking means 56 is positioned in an inner part Z1 of the alcove 16 that is not visible, preferably at the upper wall 3 of the alcove 16 and in a more internal position with respect to the alcove opening 20.

Preferably, the protective wall 28 comprises a gripping element 60, preferably a hollow and open part at the outer surface of this protective wall 28 (facing the lower portion 24 of the alcove 16), to facilitate handling of the protective body 26.

Preferably, the protective wall 28 has substantially the shape of a drawer and it comprises a front wall portion 28C substantially perpendicular to a lower wall portion 28D that comprises the beverage dispensing passage 32.

In figures 7 and 8 it is shown a machine 100 for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising: a main casing 101 which is provided with at least one front wall 102, wherein said main casing 101 encloses an internal volume V designed for housing at least one beverage preparation apparatus 103, that is designed for preparing and dispensing beverages, and a beverage dispensing unit 10 connected to said beverage preparation apparatus 103. The beverage dispensing unit 10 is provided in the front wall 102 of the main casing 101.

According to the invention, the beverage dispensing unit 10 is a beverage dispensing unit 10 as disclosed above.

Preferably, the the main casing 101 is provided with at least one side wall 114 and at least one opening 115 which defines a door compartment. Preferably, the at least one front wall 102 is a door 116, which is provided with an outer surface Z3 accessible by a user of the machine 100 and an inner surface Z4 turned towards the internal volume V of the machine 100. The door 116 is preferably hinged to the main casing 101 of the machine 100 at a hinging axis A and is configured to close the door compartment in the machine 100 operating configuration.

Preferably, the beverage dispensing unit 10 is connected to said door 116 and the opening 20 for the insertion of a container C of the seat 18 of the alcove 16 is provided at said outer surface Z3 of said door 116. Preferably, the beverage dispensing unit 10 is fixed to the door inner surface Z4 in a manner usual for the skilled in the art.

Advantageously, the pin 56B of the locking means 56 is provided in the part of the beverage dispensing unit 10 which is located in the inner surface Z4 of the door 116, so that it can only be moved when the door 116 is open (as in figure 8) and therefore only specialized personnel, and not a normal user of the machine, can come into contact with this pin 56B. Therefore, the nozzle protective body 26 may not be moved from its normal position (figure 7), in which it is housed inside the alcove 16, by users of the machine, but only by specialized personnel.

In figure 8 the back of the beverage dispensing unit 10 is protected by a shell 10' fixed to the inner surface Z4 of the door 116. Although the invention has been described with reference to the above illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention as claimed is not limited in any way by these illustrated embodiments.

Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.

As used in this specification, the words "comprise", "comprising", and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean "including, but not limited to".

List of references

10: beverage dispensing unit;

10': shell of the beverage dispensing unit;

12: nozzle;

14: pipes;

16: alcove;

18: alcove seat;

20: alcove opening;

22: alcove upper portion;

24: alcove lower portion;

26: nozzle protective body;

28: protective wall of the nozzle protective body;

28A: protective wall surface;

28B: protective wall inner side;

28C: protective wall front portion;

28D: protective wall lower portion;

30: nozzle lower end;

32: beverage dispensing passage of the nozzle protective body;

34, 35: connecting members of the dispensing unit;

34': connecting elements of the connecting members;

35': guide elements of the connecting members;

35A': first portion of the guide elements;

35B': second portion of the guide elements; 36: through hole;

37: head of the connecting elements;

37A: slit of the head;

38: lower portion of the protective wall;

39: end-stroke portion of the connecting elements;

40: outer surface of the lower portion of the protective wall;

40A: stabilizing element of the nozzle protective body;

40B: upper edge of the stabilizing element;

40C: outflow opening of the nozzle;

42: raised or recessed elements;

44: collector tray;

46: lower surface of the collector tray;

48: first inner wall of the collector tray;

50: upper edge of the first inner wall;

52: second inner wall of the collector tray;

54: evacuation passage;

56: locking means of the nozzle protective body;

56A: first fixed element of the locking means;

56B: movable element of the locking means;

56C: second fixed element of the locking means;

56D: operating portion of the movable element;

56E: shaped head of the movable element;

56F: seat of the first fixed element;

60: gripping element of the protective wall;

1: alcove body;

2: alcove lateral walls;

2A: interior surface of the lateral walls;

3: alcove upper wall;

3B: flat internal surface of the upper wall;

4: alcove lower wall;

5: collector element of the seat;

6: outflow passage of the seat; 8, 9: connection elements of the alcove upper wall;

11: feeding member of the alcove upper wall;

100: beverage dispensing machine;

101: machine main casing;

102: machine front wall;

103: beverage preparation apparatus;

104: machine wall;

105: machine door;

114: side wall of the main casing;

115: opening of the main casing;

116: machine door;

A: hinging axis of the door;

C: container;

Cl: mouth of the container;

V: internal volume of the main casing;

Zl: inner part of the alcove;

Z2: distance of the upper edge of the first inner wall;

Z3: outer surface of the door;

Z4: inner surface of the door.

Claims

1) A beverage dispensing unit (10) for a machine (100) for preparing and dispensing beverages, the beverage dispensing unit (10) comprising:

- a nozzle (12) connected to pipes (14) in which said beverage and/or the ingredients for making said beverage flow,

- an alcove (16) defining a seat (18) to hold a container (C) into which the beverage and/or the ingredients for making said beverage, dispensed through said nozzle (12), flows, said alcove (16) comprising:

- an opening (20) for the insertion of said container (C) in said seat (18),

- an upper portion (22) wherein said nozzle (12) is at least partially provided,

- a lower portion (24) for supporting the container (C), provided substantially below said nozzle (12), wherein said alcove (16) comprises a nozzle protective body (26) comprising: a) a protective wall (28) provided in said alcove (16) and below a lower end (30) of said nozzle (12), said protective wall (28) being shaped and dimensioned so as to substantially prevent a userfrom moving the container (C) in said seat (18) in such a way as to bring the container (C) into contact with said nozzle (12) and/or to prevent the user to touch said nozzle (12), b) a beverage dispensing passage (32) for the outflow of the beverage from said nozzle (12) to said lower portion (24) of the alcove (16) through said protective wall (28), wherein a lower portion (38) of the protective wall (28) comprises an outer surface (40) facing the lower portion (24) of the alcove (16), wherein said outer surface (40) comprises a plurality of raised or recessed elements (42) for preventing a tight contact between a mouth (Cl) of the container (C) and the nozzle protective body (26) if said mouth (Cl) of the container (C) is pushed into contact with said outer surface (40), and so as to ensure that an overfilling of the container (C) flows along the outside of the container (C) and towards the lower portion (24) of the alcove (16) and not towards the nozzle (12).

2) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein it comprises:

- connecting members (34, 35) for removably connecting the nozzle protective body (26) to the alcove (16), in order to allow removal of the nozzle protective body (26) from the alcove (16) to be able to periodically clean said nozzle protective body (26). 3) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the beverage dispensing passage (32) comprises a through hole (36) for the outflow of the beverage, said through hole (36) being delimited by said lower portion (38) of the protective wall (28) .

4) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to any claims 1 to 3, wherein said lower portion (38) of the protective wall (28) comprises a first outer surface (40) facing the lower portion (24) of the alcove (16), wherein said first outer surface (40) is concave with concavity facing the lower portion (24) of the alcove (16), with the through hole (36) provided at the bottom of said concave first outer surface (40), such as to render said through hole (36) less visible to users and prevent them from touching it.

5) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to any claims 1 to 4, wherein said lower portion (38) of the protective wall (28) comprises a collector tray (44) which faces said nozzle (12) and which is separated from said nozzle (12), for collecting any beverage spills that may occur between said nozzle (12) and said protective wall (28), wherein said collector tray (44) comprises:

- a lower surface (46) facing the nozzle (12),

- a first inner wall (48), departing from said inner surface (46), extending towards the nozzle (12) and comprising an upper edge (50) which delimits said through hole (36), and

- a second inner wall (52), departing from said inner surface (46), extending towards the nozzle (12) and provided externally with respect to said first inner wall (48).

6) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to claim 5, wherein said lower surface (46) is tilted towards an evacuation passage (54) for the evacuation of the collected beverage spills.

7) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to claim 2, wherein it comprises locking means (56) having a locking and an unlocking operative position, for allowing the removal of the nozzle protective body (26) from the alcove (16), only when said locking means (56) are in said unlocking operative position, wherein said locking means (56) comprise:

- a first fixed element (56A), which is fixed to the nozzle protective body (26),

- a second fixed element (56C), which is fixed to the alcove (16), and

- a movable element (56B), interacting with said first fixed element (56A) and said second fixed element (56C) and comprising an operating portion (56D) for moving said movable element (56B) within a first position, wherein it prevents the removal of the nozzle protective body (26) from the alcove (16), and a second position, wherein it allows said removal.

8) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to claim 7, wherein the operating portion (56D) is positioned in an inner part (Zl) of the alcove (16) which is not visible by a user.

9) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to any claims 1 to 8, wherein the protective wall (28) comprises a gripping element (60), preferably a hollow and open part at the bottom, to facilitate handling of the protective body (26).

10) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to claim 2, wherein the connecting members (34, 35) for removably connecting the nozzle protective body (26) to the alcove (16) comprise connecting elements (34') departing from the protective wall surface (28A) facing the nozzle (12) and comprising a head (37) configured in such a way as to be able to be coupled in a removable and sliding way in a respective guide element (35') provided in an upper wall (3) of the alcove (16), wherein, when said head (37) and said guide element (35') are coupled together, the nozzle protective body (26) is movably connected to the alcove (16) and at least partially surrounds said nozzle (12), and only when said head (37) and said guide element (35') are uncoupled the nozzle protective body (26) can be removed from the alcove (16).

11) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to any claims 1 to 9, wherein the protective wall (28) has substantially the shape of a drawer and it comprises a front wall portion (28C) substantially perpendicular to a lower wall portion (28D) that comprises the beverage dispensing passage (32).

12) The beverage dispensing unit (10) according to claim 3, wherein the through hole (36) for the outflow of the beverage is delimited by an upper edge (50) and the distance (Z2) of said upper edge (50) from a lower end (30) of the nozzle (12) is between 0.2 cm and 5 cm and, more preferably, it is between 0.5 cm and 3 cm.

13) A machine (100) for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising: - a main casing (101) which is provided with at least one front wall (102), wherein said main casing (101) encloses an internal volume (V) designed for housing at least one beverage preparation apparatus (103), which is designed for preparing and dispensing beverages; and

- a beverage dispensing unit (10) connected to said beverage preparation apparatus (103), wherein said beverage dispensing unit is provided at said front wall (102), wherein said beverage dispensing unit (10) is a beverage dispensing unit according to one or more of claims 1-12.

14) The machine (100) according to claim 13, wherein the main casing (101) is provided with at least one side wall (114) and at least one opening which defines a door compartment,

- wherein the at least one front wall (102) is a door (116), which is provided with an outer surface (Z3) and an inner surface (Z4) turned towards the internal volume (V) of the machine (100), wherein said door (116) is hinged to said main casing (101) at a hinging axis (A) and is configured to close said door compartment in the machine (100) operating configuration; - wherein the beverage dispensing unit (10) is connected to said door (116) and the opening

(20) for the insertion of a container (C) of the seat (18) of the alcove (16) is provided in said outer surface (Z3) of said door (116).