FR2624844A1 - Apparatus for producing beverages consisting of mixtures of ingredients, particularly cocktails - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for producing cocktails, comprising containers 4 containing different liquid ingredients involved in the composition of a certain number of cocktails, means 10 for removing measures of liquid ingredients corresponding to the composition of a cocktail to be made from the said containers 4, a dispensing member 8 connected to the removal means and arranged above a station for filling a glass 17 intended to contain the said cocktail and means for selective control of the said removal means. The control means include a microcomputer 22, a memory 100 in which information relating to the mixtures of ingredients which the apparatus is capable of producing is stored, a keyboard 23 for inputting data corresponding to the desired type of cocktail, a screen 24 for checking the data keyed in by means of the keyboard, and an electronic circuit 25 for selective control of the means 10 for removing measures from the said containers 4 as a function of the information relating to the composition of the cocktail contained in the memory 100.

Description

 The present invention relates to apparatus for making beverages formed from mixtures of liquid ingredients such as cocktails or the like.

 Apparatuses of this type are known which comprise several containers respectively containing liquid ingredients used in the composition of a certain number of cocktails. means for withdrawing from said containers doses of liquid ingredients corresponding to the composition of a cocktail to be made, a dispensing member connected to the withdrawal means, a module for selective control of said withdrawal means and means for selecting the nature of the cocktail to be made associated with the order module.

 The known devices of the aforementioned type are generally devices of the semi-automatic type, the control module of which operates for example using punched cards on which the compositions of the mixtures of ingredients to be produced are stored.

 These devices have the drawback of allowing only a limited number of cocktails to be made, in particular because of the complexity of the circuits of the control module which would lead to an increase in the number of cocktails to be made.

 The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the devices of the prior art by creating an apparatus for making drinks such as cocktails. Which, while being of a relatively simple construction, allows a much larger number of cocktails to be produced than that which can be obtained with conventional devices.

 It therefore relates to an apparatus for making beverages formed from mixtures of liquid ingredients. notably cocktai3 comprising containers respectively containing liquid ingredients used in the composition of a certain number of cocktails. means for sampling from said containers of doses of liquid ingredients corresponding to the composition of a cocktail to be made, a dispensing member connected to the sampling means and disposed above a filling station for a glass intended to contain said cocktail and selective control means of said sampling means, characterized in that said control means comprise a microcomputer or a microprocessor system, a memory in which is stored the information relating to mixtures of ingredients that the appliance is capable of making, and the operating programs of the device, a data entry keyboard corresponding to the type of cocktail desired, a screen for monitoring the data entered by the keyboard. and an electronic circuit for selective control of the means for taking doses from said containers as a function of the information relating to the composition of the cocktail contained in said memory.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which
- Fig.l is a schematic view in pers pectin, with partial cutaway of an apparatus for making cocktails according to a first embodiment of the invention;
- Fig.2 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment r; apparatus for making cocktails according to the invention;
- Fig.3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the apparatus of Fig.1;
- Fig.4 is a block diagram of a circuit. of the apparatus of FIG. 2; and
- Fig.5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the apparatus of Fig.2.

 The apparatus for making cocktails shown in Fig.1 mainly comprises a frame t comprising at its upper part a compartment 2 for containers containing various ingredients used in the composition of a number of cocktails. In the present example, the compartment 2 is divided into several boxes 3 each containing a bottle 4 arranged in the inverted position.

 Next to compartment 2, there is a refrigerator 5 intended to keep fresh a certain number of bottles which it contains and in which are contained ingredients requiring refrigerated storage.

 In the bottom 6 of the compartment 2 are housed housings 7 for the necks of the corresponding bottles 4.

 Each of the housings 7 is placed in communication with a funnel 8 for receiving the ingredients contained in the bottles 4, by the intermediary of a conduit 9 in which is interposed a metering pump 10. At each metering pump 10 is associated with a pipe 10a for venting the corresponding container 4, connected between the pump 10 and the container 4 and provided at its free end with a non-return valve 10b.

 The funnel 8 is advantageously located below the compartment 2 containing the bottles 4.

 In the axis of the funnel 8 is arranged a paddle stirrer 11 mounted on a support 12 movable vertically between a low working position and a high rest position on rods 13 by means of a motor actuating device diagram shown in Fig. 3.

 The output shaft 14 of the agitator 11 passes through the funnel 8 and the pallets 15 which it carries at its free end are always below the funnel.

 The apparatus further comprises a grid 16 for supporting a glass 17 intended to contain the mixture of ingredients coming from a certain number of bottles 4 depending on the composition of the cocktail requested, the pallets 15 of the agitator 11 being intended to be near the bottom of the glass 17 when 1 agitator is in the low working position.

 Below the grid 16 is provided a manifold 18 for discharging the rinsing water from the apparatus, this manifold being connected to a flow conduit 19.

 In the funnel 8 also opens a water supply conduit 20 into which a solenoid valve 21 is arranged.

 In a compartment adjacent to the funnel a, the apparatus comprises a microcomputer 22 comprising a keyboard 23 allowing the storage in the computer of the data relating to the various types of cocktails to be made and of data concerning the operation of the device as well as the entry by a server or a consumer of codes corresponding to the cocktail he wants to obtain.

 The microcomputer is completed by a display device constituted by a screen 24.

 Alternatively, the microcomputer can be replaced by a microprocessor system.

 The microcomputer 22 is associated with an interface circuit for controlling the metering pumps 9, the solenoid valve 21 connected to the water supply circuit, the agitator displacement motor and that for driving said actuator. rotating agitator.

 The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is made on the same principle as that of Fig. 1, but it has a number of additional functions with respect to it which make it particularly well suited for direct use by consumers or by very few service personnel.

 This device comprises a cabinet 30 forming a bar shown in phantom.

 In the cabinet 30 is arranged a frame 33 shown partially for clarity.

 Immediately below the upper tray 34 of the cabinet is arranged a compartment 35 for containers 36 such as bottles, respectively containing ingredients used in the composition of cocktails to be produced.

 Part 35a of this compartment constitutes a refrigerator of containers containing ingredients such as fruit juices which must be kept fresh while another part 35b contains ingredients such as alcohols which do not require refrigeration for their storage.

Each of the receptacles 36 is associated with a metering pump 37 connected by a conduit 38 to a dispensing funnel 39 disposed at the lower left part of the cabinet 30. Each metering pump 37 is associated with a venting duct 37a free from the corresponding container 36, connected between the pump 37 and the container and provided at its free end with a non-return valve 37b. As in the apparatus of the
Fig.1, the funnel 39 is crossed by the rod 40, a paddle stirrer 41 fixed to the frame> 33 by a support 42.

 In the funnel 39 also opens a pipe 43 for supplying rinsing water into which a solenoid valve 44 is inserted and which is connected to a water inlet pipe 45 which carries at its upper end a tap 46 located above above a sink 47 arranged in the upper plate t34 of the cabinet 30 in the left-hand part thereof.

 Next to the tank 47 is placed an apparatus 48 for producing crushed ice which comprises a discharge duct 49 also leading into the funnel 39.

 At the end of the cabinet 30 opposite the sink 47 is mounted a microcomputer 50 disposed under the upper plate 34 and retractable below it.

 The microcomputer 50 is hidden under the plate 34 by means of a hatch 51.

It is mounted on the chassis 33 by means of a hinge 52 and it is movable between a retracted rest position and a working output position by means of a rack 53 meshing with a pinion 54 wedged on the output shaft d an electric motor 55 carried by the frame 33, said light rack being vertically movable and carrying a crank 56 engaged in a lateral groove 57 formed in a part 58 fixed to the wall of the case of the mid
computer 50.

 The microcomputer 50 comprises a keyboard 59 and a control and display screen 60.

 It is connected by a sheet of conductors 61 to an electronic interface circuit 62 for controlling the various functions of the device.

In the lower part of the cabinet 30, the
chassis 33 carries a plate 63 forming a shelf for storing glasses 64.

 At the locations intended to receive the glasses, shallow recesses or cells 65 are provided in the plate 63.

 In the present example, there are three rows of cells in which are arranged glasses of three different capacities.

Above the plate 63 is mounted displaceable in three perpendicular directions a device 66 for transporting the glasses between said plate 63 is a filling station 67 located below
1 funnel 39.

 The transport device 66 comprises a clamp 68 formed by two brackets 69 which can be displaced in translation relative to one another by means of an endless screw 70 driven by a small electric motor 71.

 The assembly constituted by the brackets 69, the endless screw 70 and the motor 71 is carried by a support piece 72 vertically movable in translation on the guide rods 73 which pass through it, by means of an endless screw 75 driven by a electric motor 76 carried by a support 77 also crossed by the guide rods 73.

 The support 77 is in turn mounted movable in translation in the transverse direction of the cabinet 30, on guide rods 78 carried at their ends by sliders 79. It is driven by an endless screw 80 journalling in the sliders 79 and actuated by an electric motor 81.

 The bucket grouts 79 are mounted displaceable in the longitudinal direction on bars 82 carried by the chassis 33, one of the slides 79 cooperating with an endless screw 83 parallel to the bars 8? and driven by an electric motor 84.

 The apparatus is completed by an elevator device 85 intended to receive the glasses containing cocktails ready to be served, to bring them to the upper tray 34 of the cabinet 30.

 This lifting device comprises a belt 86 extending in a vertical direction between the proximity of the filling station 67 and the upper plate 34 of the cabinet 30, said belt 86 carrying a plate 87 intended to support a glass 64 and passing over a driving pulley 88 fixed to the lower part of the chassis 33 and driven by an electric motor 89 and a driven pulley fixed below the upper plate 34 in which is formed an opening 91 for the passage of the plate 87 in order to allow the glass carried by the latter to be made available to the consumer on the upper shelf 34.

 Below the funnel 39 for receiving the ingredients from the containers 36 is arranged a grid 92 for discharging the rinsing water.

We will now describe with reference to the
Fig.3, the control circuit of the device in Fig.1.

 This circuit includes the microcomputer 22 with which the keyboard 23 and the monitor 24 are associated.

The microcomputer 22 includes a memory 100 for storing information relating to the composition of a certain number of cocktails.

 The microcomputer 22 is connected to the interface circuit 25 which is in turn connected to the metering pumps 9 and to the solenoid valve 21 for controlling the water supply.

 The interface circuit 25 also controls an electric motor 101 for translational movement of the paddle stirrer 11 by means of a rack 102 and the electric motor of the paddle stirrer 11 itself.

 On one of the guides 13 of the support 12 of the agitator 11 are arranged limit switch contactors 103, 104 defining the upper and lower positions of the agitator 11 respectively.

 A glass presence detector 105 is provided near the filling station.

 The contactors 103 and 104 and the glass presence detector 105 are connected to the interface circuit 25.

 The control circuit of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 will now be described with reference to Fig. 4.

 This circuit has the same basic elements as that of Fig.3 but it is supplemented by elements making the operation of the device shown in Fig.2 automatic.

 The microcomputer 50 associated with its keyboard 59 and its screen 60 includes a memory 110 for storing information relating to the composition of different cocktails.

 It is connected to the interface circuit 62 which includes outputs for controlling the dosing pumps 37, the water supply solenoid valve 44, the paddle stirrer 41, the motor 89 of the lifting device 85 and the motors 71, 76, 81 and 84 of the device 66 for transporting glasses.

 Alternatively, the interface circuit 62 can control the agitator without the intervention of the microcomputer.

 The interface circuit 62 is also connected to sensors 111, 112 of the position of the glass support plate 87 and to a sensor 113 of the presence of a glass at the filling station 67.

 Finally, the interface circuit is connected to a photoelectric cell 114 for detecting the presence of glasses 64 at the locations of the plate 63 forming a shelf, said cell 114 being carried by the clamp 68 and more particularly by its support piece 72 .

 The various movements of the clamp 68 to take the glasses 64 according to their type and their location are ensured by an appropriate program also contained in the memory 110 of the microcomputer.

 The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig.1 will now be described with reference to the circuit in Fig.3.

 First of all, the keyboard 23 is used to enter into the memory 100 the information relating to the compositons of the various cocktails which it is desired to be able to make on demand.

 Still using the keyboard 23, the microcomputer is programmed so that all the data relating to the operating time of the various metering pumps 10, as a function of the quantity of each ingredient to be delivered for each cock tail in the composition of which it between and of its viscosity, of the time for excitation of the solenoid valve 21 for water supply, the instants for starting and stopping the motor 101 for moving the paddle agitator 11, and for starting and stopping the agitator 11 proper are stored in the random access memory of the microcomputer.

 The compartment 2 of the device (Fig. 1) is supplied with containers 4 containing the ingredients used in the compositions of cocktails stored in memory 100.

The device is then ready for operation
The keyboard 23 is used to call into memory 100 a cocktail chosen from the cocktails available in it.

 The designation of a determined cocktail causes the microcomputer 22 to trigger a cocktail-making program as soon as the holder 105 detects the presence of a glass 17 at the filling station.

 The metering pumps 10 corresponding to the ingredients used in the composition of the cocktail to be obtained are then started under the control of the microcomputer 22 by the interface circuit 25 and put the containers 4 into communication with the funnel 8 which receives appropriate amounts of said ingredients. The operating time of the pumps 10 is a function of the quantities of ingredients to be delivered and their flow rate materialized by their viscosity, this operating time can be determined by prior calibration operations.

 When the dosing operation of the various ingredients is finished, the interface circuit 25 controls the downward movement of the paddle stirrer 11 using the motor 101 to a low position defined by the contactor 104 which causes stopping the engine 101 and transmitting corresponding information to the microcomputer 22.

 This then controls the rotation of the agitator 11, the paddles 15 of which are in the mixture of ingredients contained in the glass 17, for the time necessary to obtain a homogeneous mixture.

 After stopping the agitator 11, the interface 25 controls its movement upwards to a position defined by the detector 103.

 The glass containing the cocktail can then be removed from the filling station and served.

 The rinsing of the funnel is periodically associated by the triggering of the solenoid valve 21, the rinsing water flowing through the grid 16 in the collector 18 and the discharge duct 19.

 The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig.2 will in turn be described with reference to the circuit in Fig.4 and the flowchart in Fig.5.

 The keyboard 59 is used, as in the case of the circuit of FIG. 3, to enter into memory 110, the data relating to the compositions of the various cocktails to be made using the apparatus, as well as to store in the memory with direct access to the microcomputer all the subroutines relating to the functioning of the mobile organs involved in its construction.

This is how one enters the icro-computer 50 a subroutine for controlling the operation of the glass transport device which in turn comprises
a subroutine for longitudinal displacement of the clamp 68 according to whether it must be displaced between its rest position and the position of a determined lens in a longitudinal row of lenses, that it must be displaced, after taking of a glass to the filling station or even that it must, after the end of the filling operation, remove the full glass from the filling station to place it on the tray 87 of the lifting device 85;
a subroutine for transverse displacement of the clamp 68 according to whether it must fetch an empty glass of a given capacity in a determined row and then place itself in a position of longitudinal displacement;
- a sub-program for moving the clamp 68 downwards and upwards, with a view to ensuring that its jaws come into position for taking a lens or allowing it to move freely above the lenses stored on shelf 63;
- a clamping sub-program of the clamp 68.

 There is furthermore entered into the microcomputer 50 an operating subroutine of the lifting device 85 for controlling the lifting of the glasses, a subroutine for controlling the paddle stirrer 41, a subroutine for actuating the metering pumps 37 and a sub-program for distributing crushed ice by the apparatus 49 as well as a safety reading sub-program.

The device having been programmed appropriately, it is ready to operate according to the flowchart in Fig. 5
First of all, during the phase 120, the cocktail to be made is chosen by entering, by means of the keyboard 59, the information necessary for identifying the cocktail chosen, from memory 110.

 The choice of cocktail is visualized during phase 121.

 During phase 122, it is possible to modify, still using the keyboard 59, the proportions of certain ingredients entering into the composition of the chosen cocktail.

 During phase 123,., Determines the number of cocktails and the names of the various cocktails selected.

 During phase 124, a password is introduced for the execution of the main program for operating the device, composed of the various subroutines mentioned above.

 During phase 125, the main machine operating program takes place.

 During this process, the various cocktails selected are made by the device, their numbers corresponding to the numbers established during phase 123.

 During phase 126, a test is carried out to determine whether the last cock and the established bed have been made.

 If this is not the case, we return to phase 125. If on the contrary, the last cocktail is finished or returns to the departure phase and the device is ready to accept a new order.

The main program begins, after the end of the selection phase of the types of cocktails to be made and their number, by gripping the clip 68 of the carrier with a glass 64 suitable for the cocktail chosen
The glass taking operation is ensured by a longitudinal displacement and a stop of the clamp 68 opposite a position of the shelf 63 occupied by an appropriate empty glass.

 In the present example, the glasses 64 are arranged in three rows.

 There are therefore for clamp 68 three corresponding positions for taking glass.

 an.t the start of each worm-taking operation, the clamp 68 is in a raised rest position located on the left side of the shelf 63, near the filling station 67.

 When the choice of the type of glass to be used is determined by the nature of the cocktail to be made, the clamp 68 first undergoes a transverse movement so as to be placed on the appropriate row of glasses 64.

 Then, the clamp 68 is subjected to a vertical downward movement so that the horizontal parts of its branches 69 are above the clamp 63 at a height suitable for ensuring the grip of a glass 64 of the selected row.

 Then the clamp 68 undergoes a longitudinal displacement along the axis of the chosen row until its photocell 114 detects the presence of the first glass 64 of the row encountered, and commands the clamp to stop.

 Then. the clamping sub-program of the clamp 68 takes place in order to make a correct glass taking.

 when a glass 64 has been taken by the clamp 68, the latter is moved upwards to lift the glass.

 The tongs are then moved in a longitudinal direction towards the filling station 67 and then transversely to allow the glass 64 to be below the funnel 39.

 When the presence of a glass at the filling station is detected by the detector 113 (FIG. 4), the microcomputer 50 transmits to the interface 62 control instructions for the dosing pumps 37 which must deliver the ingredients entering the composition of the cocktail to make.

 The pumps 37 take the appropriate doses of ingredients from the containers 36 to which they are connected and deliver them via the conduits 38 to the funnel 39 from which they flow into the glass 64 held at the filling station by the clamp 68 .

 When the filling phase is finished, the transport device is again actuated to lift the glass 64 containing the cocktail ingredients in contact with the paddle of the mixer 41.

 This is started for the time necessary to obtain an appropriate mixture of the ingredients.

 Then, if necessary, the device 48 is actuated to dispense into the glass 64 a dose of crushed ice.

 This operation can also be carried out before starting the paddle stirrer 41.

 The transport device is again actuated so that the clamp 68 deposits the glass 64 containing the ready cocktail on the tray 87 of the lifting device 85 and the clamp 68 is returned to its starting position.

 The lifting device is triggered to bring the glass 64 to the upper plate 34 of the cabinet 30.

 The cocktail glass is then available to the consumer.

 The rinsing of the funnel 39 is periodically controlled by the actuation of the solenoid valve 44, the rinsing water flowing through the eva-cuation grid 92 to a collector not shown.

 The rinsing of the ingredient supply circuits can be carried out by replacing the receptacles 36 containing the ingredients with receptacles containing 1 water and by operating the apparatus using a rinsing program introduced for this purpose in the microcomputer.

Claims (18)

 1. Apparatus for making drinks formed from mixtures of liquid ingredients, in particular cocktails, comprising containers (4; 36) respectively containing liquid ingredients used in the composition of a number of cocktails, means [ 10; 37) for sampling from said containers (4; 36) doses of liquid ingredients corresponding to the composition of a cocktail to be made, a dispensing member (8; 39) connected to the sampling means and disposed at the above a station for filling a glass (17; 64) intended to contain said cocktail and means for selective control of said sampling means, characterized in that said control means comprise a microcomputer (22; 50) or a microprocessor system, a memory (100 ;; 110) in which are stored the information relating to the mixtures of ingredients that the appliance is capable of making, and the operating programs of 1 appliance, a keyboard (23; 59 ) input d e data corresponding to the type of cocktail desired, a screen (24; 60) for controlling data entered by the keyboard, and Ur circuit selected; control unit (25; 62) for selective control of the means (10:37) for taking doses from said containers (4; 36) as a function of the information relating to the composition of the cocktail contained in said memory.  2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said dispensing member (8; 39) consists of a funnel which leads to conduits (9; 38) of liaisor ^ sampling means (10; 37) with said member> * + goal scorer.  3. Apparatus according to one of the claims  t or 2, characterized in that said means, (10; 37)  for taking ingredients from said containers  (4; 36) are constituted by metering pumps controlled by the electronic control circuit (25;  62) from instructions from the micro-computer  tor (22; 50) relating to the operating time of  each of the pumps (10; 37) depending on the quantity  each (ingredient in the composition of a  cocktail as well as the viscosity of said ingredient.  4. Apparatus according to one of claims  1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a  agitator device (11:41) intended to ensure the mé  change of cocktail ingredients after the end of  the filling operation.  5. Apparatus according to claim 4, ca  characterized in that the agitator (11; 41) is controlled  by the electronic control circuit (25; 62) independently or from micro-gold instructions  dinator (22; 50).  6. Apparatus according to one of claims  4 and 5, characterized in that said device agitated  tor (11) is mounted vertically movable between a  low working position and a high position of  rest.  7. Apparatus according to claim 6, ca  characterized in that the vertical displacements of the a  agitator are provided by an electric motor  (101) driving a worm (102) which cooperates  with L'- support (12) of the agitator (11) and  that it provided sensors (103, 104) for the position of the mixer (11) placed in the high and low positions of  this last.  8. Apparatus according to one of claims  4 to 7, characterized in that said agitator (11; 41)  is a paddle agitator whose rod (14; 40)  extends axially through the member (8; 39) of  distribution of ingredients.  9. Apparatus according to one of claims  1 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises  lenses (63) for storing glasses (64) intended for  contain cocktails to make, a device  (66) for transporting the glasses (64) between their locations  ment on the storage means and a storage station  pleating (67) located below the distri  bution (39), and between said filling station and a  lifting device (85) intended to transfer the  glasses containing the cocktails ready to a tray  (34) of said device to make them available for  consumers.  10. Apparatus according to claim 9, ca  characterized in that the worm transport device  res includes a clip (68) for taking glasses,  means (70,71) for actuating said clamp,  means (75,76) of vertical displacement, means  (75,77,81) transverse displacement and means,  (79,83,84) of longitudinal displacement of said clamp  above the means (63) for storing glasses 164).  11. Apparatus according to claim 10,  characterized in that the means for clamping and removing  vertical, transverse and horizontal placement of the  gripper include electric motors 'correspondingly drive' (71,76,81,84) controlled by the  electronic control circuit (62) from ins  extracts from a contained operating program  in the microcomputer (50) or the microcomputer system  processor.  12. Apparatus according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the lens storage means consist of a shelf (63) carried by a frame (33) for supporting the device for transporting the glasses, and in that the locations of the glasses on the shelf (63) are materialized by cells (65) formed in the upper surface of the shelf.  13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the glasses (64) are stored on the shelf (63) by rows of glasses of capacities adapted to different cocktails to be made.  14. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5 and 8 to 13, characterized in that it is arranged in a cabinet (30) and in that the microcomputer (50), its keyboard (59) and its screen of con trolle (60) constitute a retractable unit in the cabinet (30) and movable between its retracted position and its position taken out of work by a mechanism (53, 54,56,57,58) driven by an electric motor ( 55),  15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 8 to 14, characterized in that it comprises in addition a device (48) for making crushed ice connected by a conduit (49) to the gold - distributor valve (39) and controlled by the electronic control circuit (62) independently or from instructions contained in the microcomputer (50) or the microprocessor system.  16. Apparatus according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that the lifting device. of glasses (85) comprises a plate (87) for receiving a glass (64) coming from the clamp t68) of the transport device (66), said plate being fixed to a belt (66) passing over a driving pulley (881 driven by an electric motor (89) controlled by the electronic control circuit (62) under the action of instructions from the microcomputer (50) or the microprocessor system and on a driven pulley (90) placed at near the plate (34) of said device, which constitutes the upper plate of the cabinet (30).  17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it further comprises the means (21; 44) for supplying water to said distribution member (8; 39), said supply means being constituted by a solenoid valve controlled by the electronic control circuit (62) independently or from instructions from the microcomputer (50) or from the microprocessor system.  18. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it further comprises a refrigeration compartment (5; 35a) in which are housed storage containers for ingredients to be kept cool.