GB2160178A - Fresh milk hot drink vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A drink vending machine includes a supply (10) of refrigerated fresh milk for dispensing into hot drinks produced by the machine. To prevent spoiling of milk in pipework (15, 16) leading from the supply (10) to milk dispensing nozzles (13, 14), the replaceable pipework (15, 16) passes through reversible peristaltic pumps (11, 12) and the nozzles (13, 14) have hot water connections (23, 24) controlled by valves (25, 26). During dispensing of a hot drink containing milk one of the pumps (11, 12) is first run forwardly to dispense the required volume of milk, and then in reverse to withdraw milk in the pipework to the supply 10. Finally the associated one of the valves (25, 26) is operated so that hot water washes milk from the nozzle into the cup. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drink vending machine This invention relates to a drink vending machine intended to dispense hot beverages containing fresh milk.

Where the use of fresh milk is envisaged particular care must be taken to ensure that the fresh milk does not become spoiled and whilst it is relatively easy to maintain a bulk supply of milk at a low temperature it is necessary to ensure that no milk is left in pipework through which it is carried from the supply to the vending point.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a drink vending machine including a fresh milk refrigeration means, in which the problem of keeping the milk pipework free of milk is overcome.

A drink vending machine according to the invention comprises refrigeration means for receiving a quantity of fresh milk for storage, at least one nozzle for dispensing milk into a cup, a pump for delivering milk from the refrigeration means to the nozzle through pipework, said pump being of reversible, hot water supply means for supplying hot water for use in making solutions or infusions for dispensing, a valve providing a connection between the hot water supply means and the milk nozzle and control means whereby in use, when a hot drink containing milk is demanded by a user, the pump is run forward to dispense a dose of milk into a cup, and then in reverse to withdraw milk from said pipework, and then said valve is operated so that the nozzle is flushed with hot water which enters the same cup.

An example of a drink vending machine according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing which is a block diagram of the machine.

The machine includes a refrigerator for a carton 10 of fresh milk. Two pumps 11, 12 are provided for pumping milk from the carton 10 to milk dispensing nozzles 13, 14 respectively. The pumps 11, 12 are reversible peristaltic type pumps so that continuous plastic pipework 15, 16 connecting the carton to the nozzles can be removed and replaced as part of the regular servicing of the machine.

The machine also includes a beverage maker 17 of the known type in which measured quantities of powders are dissolved in hot water in a suitable flask to make coffee and chocolate drinks and in which tea is made by infusion of tea leaves in hot water over a filter paper. The beverage maker 17 draws hot water from a water heater 18 and dispenses the mixed drink into a cup provided by an automatic cup dispenser 19.

The nozzles 13, 14 are provided with hot water entry ports 23, 24 to which hot water can be supplied under the control of two valves 25, 26 respectively.

A control circuit 20 which has inputs from the usual coin receptor 21 and selector 22 controls all the machine functions and, in the case of the milk dispensing unit causes the following sequence of operations to be carried out when a drink containing milk has been demanded.

(1) One of the pumps 11, 12 is driven forwardly for a sufficient time for the required dose of milk to be dispensed via the associated one of the nozzles 13, 14 into the cup.

(2) The pump is then run in reverse for an interval to draw the milk in the pipework back into the carton to ensure that it is kept cold.

(3) After the beverage maker has operated to dispense the selected drink into the cup, the appropriate one of the valves 25, 26 is energised for a short time so that additional hot water flushes any milk left in the nozzle 13, 14 into the cup.

In this way all parts of the milk supply system are maintained fresh and clean so that deterioration of the milk is not experienced.

The use of two pumps 11, 12 and nozzles 13, 14 etc provides two separate channels for the milk supply. On each servicing operation (when fresh milk and new pipework is installed) the control circuit is set to select one pipe 11 (and the associated valve 25) for the next twelve hour period and then to select the other pump 12 and valve 26 for the following period. The control circuit may include a timer to prevent milk supply after, say 26 hours.

1. A drink vending machine comprising refrigeration means for receiving a quantity of fresh milk for storage, at least one nozzle for dispensing milk into a cup, a pump for delivering milk from the refrigeration means to the nozzle through pipework, said pump being reversible, hot water supply means for supplying hot water for use in making solutions or infusions for dispensing, a valve providing a connection between the hot water supply means and the milk nozzle and control means whereby in use, when a hot drink containing milk is demanded by a user, the pump is run forward to dispense a dose of milk into a cup, and then in reverse to withdraw milk from said pipework, and then said valve is operated so that the nozzle is flushed with hot water which enters the same cup.

2. A drink vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said pipework incorporates one or more lengths of flexible plastic pipe.

3. A drink vending machine as claimed in claim 2 in which said pump is a peristaltic pump through which said flexible plastic pipe extends continuously.

4. A drink vending machine as claimed in claim 3 in which there are two of said pumps, two of said nozzles and two of said valves arranged in two separate channels, said control means operating to select one channel for use for a first predetermined period following servicing and to select the other channel for a further predetermined period following said first predetermined period.

5. A drink vending machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Drink vending machine This invention relates to a drink vending machine intended to dispense hot beverages containing fresh milk. Where the use of fresh milk is envisaged particular care must be taken to ensure that the fresh milk does not become spoiled and whilst it is relatively easy to maintain a bulk supply of milk at a low temperature it is necessary to ensure that no milk is left in pipework through which it is carried from the supply to the vending point. Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a drink vending machine including a fresh milk refrigeration means, in which the problem of keeping the milk pipework free of milk is overcome. A drink vending machine according to the invention comprises refrigeration means for receiving a quantity of fresh milk for storage, at least one nozzle for dispensing milk into a cup, a pump for delivering milk from the refrigeration means to the nozzle through pipework, said pump being of reversible, hot water supply means for supplying hot water for use in making solutions or infusions for dispensing, a valve providing a connection between the hot water supply means and the milk nozzle and control means whereby in use, when a hot drink containing milk is demanded by a user, the pump is run forward to dispense a dose of milk into a cup, and then in reverse to withdraw milk from said pipework, and then said valve is operated so that the nozzle is flushed with hot water which enters the same cup. An example of a drink vending machine according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing which is a block diagram of the machine. The machine includes a refrigerator for a carton 10 of fresh milk. Two pumps 11, 12 are provided for pumping milk from the carton 10 to milk dispensing nozzles 13, 14 respectively. The pumps 11, 12 are reversible peristaltic type pumps so that continuous plastic pipework 15, 16 connecting the carton to the nozzles can be removed and replaced as part of the regular servicing of the machine. The machine also includes a beverage maker 17 of the known type in which measured quantities of powders are dissolved in hot water in a suitable flask to make coffee and chocolate drinks and in which tea is made by infusion of tea leaves in hot water over a filter paper. The beverage maker 17 draws hot water from a water heater 18 and dispenses the mixed drink into a cup provided by an automatic cup dispenser 19. The nozzles 13, 14 are provided with hot water entry ports 23, 24 to which hot water can be supplied under the control of two valves 25, 26 respectively. A control circuit 20 which has inputs from the usual coin receptor 21 and selector 22 controls all the machine functions and, in the case of the milk dispensing unit causes the following sequence of operations to be carried out when a drink containing milk has been demanded. (1) One of the pumps 11, 12 is driven forwardly for a sufficient time for the required dose of milk to be dispensed via the associated one of the nozzles 13, 14 into the cup. (2) The pump is then run in reverse for an interval to draw the milk in the pipework back into the carton to ensure that it is kept cold. (3) After the beverage maker has operated to dispense the selected drink into the cup, the appropriate one of the valves 25, 26 is energised for a short time so that additional hot water flushes any milk left in the nozzle 13, 14 into the cup. In this way all parts of the milk supply system are maintained fresh and clean so that deterioration of the milk is not experienced. The use of two pumps 11, 12 and nozzles 13, 14 etc provides two separate channels for the milk supply. On each servicing operation (when fresh milk and new pipework is installed) the control circuit is set to select one pipe 11 (and the associated valve 25) for the next twelve hour period and then to select the other pump 12 and valve 26 for the following period. The control circuit may include a timer to prevent milk supply after, say 26 hours. CLAIMS

1. A drink vending machine comprising refrigeration means for receiving a quantity of fresh milk for storage, at least one nozzle for dispensing milk into a cup, a pump for delivering milk from the refrigeration means to the nozzle through pipework, said pump being reversible, hot water supply means for supplying hot water for use in making solutions or infusions for dispensing, a valve providing a connection between the hot water supply means and the milk nozzle and control means whereby in use, when a hot drink containing milk is demanded by a user, the pump is run forward to dispense a dose of milk into a cup, and then in reverse to withdraw milk from said pipework, and then said valve is operated so that the nozzle is flushed with hot water which enters the same cup.

2. A drink vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said pipework incorporates one or more lengths of flexible plastic pipe.

3. A drink vending machine as claimed in claim 2 in which said pump is a peristaltic pump through which said flexible plastic pipe extends continuously.

4. A drink vending machine as claimed in claim 3 in which there are two of said pumps, two of said nozzles and two of said valves arranged in two separate channels, said control means operating to select one channel for use for a first predetermined period following servicing and to select the other channel for a further predetermined period following said first predetermined period.

5. A drink vending machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.