FR2839655A1 - Liquid extractor for drinks dispenser has heater to cause evaporation of drained fluid overspill from filling platform on dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The liquid extractor for a spillage catch tub in a beverage dispenser has heaters (10) to cause evaporation of the liquid. The heaters raise the liquid to a temperature less than boiling point, between forty and ninety degrees Celsius. The heaters can heat the walls of the tub, and preferably its base.

Description

about twenty pounds (9jO8 kilograms).

DEVICE FOR EVACUATION

OF LIQUID FROM A RECYCLING BIN

  The present invention relates to a device for discharging liquid contained in a recovery tank, and more particularly a recovery tank for liquid distributors, and in particular of the type known under the

name of water fountain.

  Distributors of liquid, hot drinks (coffee, chocolate or equivalent) or cold (water), wind configured in the shape of a substantially cylindrical vertical column, incorporating a container of liquid and / or a set of preparation of hot drinks. A front opening is provided and gives access to a hollow volume delimited in particular by a horizontal flat support plate, on which rests the cup capable of receiving the dispensed liquid. The plate is made up of a grid, it is allowed ['evacuation, by gravity, of the liquid in overflow or dispensed in [' absence of cup, towards a recovery tank placed under the plate / grid support. These distributors are subject to regular maintenance, supply and maintenance operations. However, the evacuation or

  emptying the recovery tanks raises problems.

  The maintenance operations are of interest to be relatively space for economic reasons. However, between two operations, the recovery tank can be filled and overflow, with the damaging consequences that one can imagine, from a hygienic, commercial point of view (aspect not very engaging for the clientele), and the operational safety of the

  device (presence of liquid in an electrically operated medium).

  In known manner, a first solution has been proposed to overcome the recovery tank, and according to which the liquid, which should be disposed of, is discharged directly through a pipe connected to the usual means of liquid evacuation, any down the drain. This provision is expensive to install, maintain, and further assumes that the distributor is

  has close to a sewage disposal network.

  Another possible solution is to increase the volume of the recovery tank. However, the increase in volume leads to a distributor having a large footprint. In addition, storage for a relatively long period of stagnant liquid can generate odors and is a source of

  microbial or bacterial pollution.

  We are therefore led to increase the frequency of maintenance operations to empty this recovery tank. However, this has annoying economic consequences due to the obligation to move a technician more often, and all the more so since emptying the tank means that the dispenser has to be partially dismantled, further creating discomfort for

the operator and the clientele.

  The present invention remedies these drawbacks and proposes a device allowing the evacuation of the liquid contained in a recovery tank, and in particular of liquid dispensers, more particularly of drinks.

  hot or cold intended for consumption.

  To this end, according to the invention, the device for the evacuation of liquid from a tank, in particular for recovery, is characterized in that it comprises means

  apt to cause evaporation of said liquid.

  In particular, the wind evaporation means consist of heating or temperature raising means, either directly from the liquid or from the tank. The heating means are quick to bring about a rise in temperature in the tank, at a temperature below the boiling temperature, preferably between 40 ° C. and 90 ° C., and even more preferably, around 60 ° C. More specifically, the means of heating wind able to heat the walls

  of the tank, and in particular the bottom thereof.

  Said wind heating means consisting of an electrical resistance,

  preferably placed on the bottom of the tank, outside of it.

  The electrical power of the electrical resistance is between 10 W and 100 W. preferably of the order of 30 W. for a supply of 220 volts. The heating means are vented, so as to evacuate a

  amount of liquid of the order of 1 liter per 24 hours.

  The invention will be clearly understood in the light of the description which follows,

  illustrative title only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic overall perspective view showing a

  example of a liquid dispenser, in the form of a water fountain.

  Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the recovery tank,

  dispensers of Figure 1, and the associated heating means.

  Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom wall of the tank of the

figure 2.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the container of FIG. 2.

  Figure 5 is a plan view of the electrical resistance constitute the

heating means.

  The present invention is now described with reference to an example of implementation, in ['application to a liquid dispenser, specifically

  cold drinks, of the type known as the water fountain.

  The water fountain 1 has the general shape of a cylindrical column, placed on the ground, and has a vertical cylindrical wall 2, a base (not shown) and a flat upper wall 3. The vertical cylindrical wall 2 comprises, in the upper part, an opening 4 of generally quadrangular shape and opening onto a hollow volume 5 which is substantially cylindrical. The volume 5 is delimited by a cylindrical wall in an arc of a circle whose open concavity faces the user (on the side of the opening 4), an upper wall (not shown) and a flat bottom 6 consisting of an openwork plate or in the form of a grid, on which is able to rest a

cup 7.

  At least one liquid distribution nozzle (not shown) is provided in the upper part of the hollow volume 5, at the base of which is

has said cup 7.

  In known manner, any mass of liquid which is not recovered by the cup 7, and falling from the louse, passes through the grid plate 6 and must

be recovered or disposed of.

  To this end, the water fountain 1 described comprises a recovery tank (not shown in Figure 1) disposed under the grid plate 6, and described below

  in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recovery tank 8 is made up of a container of generally parallelized shape, and comprising an upper opening. The upper part of the tank 8 comprises fixing means, in the form of steps 9 known in themselves. The tank 8 is for example made of metal, preferably stainless steel. For example, the wind dimensions

  cm (height) x 16 cm (depth) x 17 cm (width).

  Heating means, in the form of an electrical resistance wind provided and associated with the tank, in particular at the bottom thereof, and visible more

in detail in Figures 3 and 4.

  The heating means, intended to evaporate the liquid contained in the tank, wind constituted by an electrical resistance in the form of a heating plate 10 (known in itself) square or rectangular and fixed, by any known means such as bonding for example , on the outside of the bottom of the tank 8

(see figures 3 and 4).

  The heating plate 10 is connected to means for supplying electrical energy (not represented and known in themselves), by an electric wire connection 11, designed so as to avoid any risk linked to the presence of

liquid or moisture.

  Figure 5 shows a plan view and in detail of the heating plate 10, and part of the wire connection 11, as well as an electrical connection pad 12

  between the heating plate 10 and the wire connection 11.

  The heating plate 10 has an electrical power of between W and 100 W. and preferably of the order of 30 to 50 W. and by way of example

  preferred, 28 W. for a 220 volt power supply.

  In general, the heating means of the invention are designed so as to allow the evacuation of approximately one liter of liquid in the tank, by

  24 hours. This evacuation rate can be modified as required.

  The parameters of the hot plate and the device of the invention in general, concentric wind, used so as to heat the water of the liquid contained in the recovery tank 8, to a temperature below the boiling temperature of the liquid, usually water. Preferably, the liquid in the tank 8 is heated to a temperature of the order of 60 C. It is understood that the invention makes it possible to solve the problems of the art.

  mentioned in the preamble.

  Indeed, it is not necessary to connect the water fountain to the waste water evacuation network, while allowing to maintain space maintenance and upkeep visits. These visits do not require the partial disassembly of the fountain to access or bin to empty it, disassembly necessary according to prior art. In addition, the invention allows

  prevent the liquid from stagnating in the recovery tank.

Claims (7)

  1. Device for discharging liquid from a tank (8), in particular for recovery, characterized in that it comprises means (10) which are   cause evaporation of said liquid.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaporation means (10) wind constituted by heating or elevation means of   temperature, either liquid or container.   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the heating means (10) wind able to cause the temperature rise in the tank (8), at a temperature below the boiling temperature, preferably between 40 C and 90 C, and even more preferably, around 60 C.   4. Device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that   that the heating means (10) are able to heat the walls of the tank (8), and in particular the bottom of it.   5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that   that said wind heating means constituted by an electrical resistance   (10), preferably disposed on the bottom of the tank, outside of it.   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the electrical power of the electrical resistance (10) is between 10 W and 100 W.   preferably around 30 W. for a 220 volt supply.   7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in   that the evaporation means (10) are designed, so as to evacuate a