ITAN20120164A1 - MULTIFUNCTION APPLIANCES AND RELATED METHOD OF USE - Google Patents

Description

TITLE of the INVENTION:

MULTIFUNCTIONAL APPLIANCE AND RELATIVE METHOD OF USE

DESCRIPTION of the INVENTION

A) Motivations, aims and prior state of the technique

The present invention proposes to realize an innovative multifunction household appliance (1), powered by electricity, resting on the shelves of the kitchens of homes (or elsewhere) and able to supply, at the user's choice, separately or jointly, water purified still, purified sparkling water, purified hot water, espresso coffee prepared with purified water, cappuccino prepared with purified water and steam, hot drinks such as tea, chamomile, herbal teas, chocolate, punch, prepared with purified water and steam. In this way, with a single appliance (to be placed on the kitchen top of a house or other), the final consumers will obtain the following advantages: - the water to be purified will not be supplied under pressure, but will be inserted manually, so there will be no obligation to carry out any hydraulic connection work with the water network,

- there will be two different phases of water purification, the first through a filtering system and the second through a bactericidal system,

- obtain, with a single appliance, drinks of different types and also at different temperatures, i.e. at room temperature and / or hot, - obtain optimal drinks, as they are prepared with purified water,

- obtain purified water (still or sparkling) and espresso (or cappuccino or other hot drinks) even at the same time, or at the same time,

- obtain economic savings and a reduction in overall dimensions (an important aspect as the kitchen tops always need space), since with a single appliance it is possible to use 6 different functions, since it will no longer be necessary to equip the module for the espresso coffee of its own, bulky and expensive, tank and since it will no longer be necessary to waste time and spend money to periodically descale the various internal parts of the espresso module as purified water will be used and therefore free of limescale . In the state of the art, there are no systems similar to the present invention.

B) Description and operation

The present invention (see figure n.1) mainly proposes to realize an innovative multifunction household appliance (1), with relative operating method. This appliance (1) has small dimensions, is electrically powered, is placed on the shelves of the kitchens of homes (or other) and is able to provide, at the user's choice, separately or jointly:

- purified smooth water,

- purified sparkling water,

- purified hot water,

- espresso coffee prepared with purified water,

- cappuccino prepared with purified water and steam,

- hot drinks such as tea, chamomile, herbal tea, chocolate, punch, prepared with purified water and steam.

This multifunctional household appliance (1) therefore provides final consumers with the following advantages:

- the water to be purified will not be supplied `` under pressure '', but will be inserted manually, through a special door (10) and tank (12), so there will be no obligation to carry out any hydraulic connection work with the network water,

- there will be two different phases of water purification, the first by means of a filtering system and the second by means of a bactericidal system, - to obtain, with a single appliance, drinks of different types and also at different temperatures, i.e. at room temperature and / or hot, - obtain optimal drinks (especially espresso coffee), as they are prepared with purified water,

- obtain purified water (still or sparkling) and espresso (or cappuccino or other hot drinks) even at the same time, or at the same time,

- obtaining economic savings and a reduction in overall dimensions in the kitchen countertops, since 6 different functions can be used with a single appliance, since it will not be necessary to make any invasive and expensive connection to the water network, as it will no longer be necessary equip the espresso module with its own, bulky and expensive tank, as it will no longer be necessary to waste time and spend money to periodically descale the various internal parts of the espresso module as purified water will be used and therefore free of limescale. In detail, the multifunction household appliance (1) includes at least the following characteristics and components (see figure n.1):

a) a module (11) for water purification, consisting of two different purification phases:

- first purification phase obtained by means of a water filtering system (111), consisting of activated carbon and / or ion exchange resins and / or other suitable microfiltration systems;

- second purification phase, obtained by means of a bactericidal system (112) consisting of a tube (metal or quartz, preferably positioned on a slight slope so that the water can flow slowly, allowing adequate treatment at a bacteriological level), within which A UV (ultraviolet) ray bactericidal lamp is mounted and inside of which passes the already filtered still water (by means of a filtering system (111)) to be then treated also at a bacteriological level, and being, said system bactericidal (112), equipped with two outlet conduits / purified water, the first outlet channel (113) being purified water connected with the dispensing module (17) of purified smooth water which will then be poured into an underlying bottle o glass, and the second purified water outlet channel (114) being connected to the module (13) for the preparation and delivery of espresso coffee and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks;

b) a door (10) used for the manual introduction (by jug or other container) of the water to be purified, mounted upstream of said two-phase water purification module (11); as an alternative to the door (10), a lid (10) that can be opened and closed by the user can be used to manually introduce the water to be purified;

c) a tank (12) (preferably of the extractable type for periodic cleaning and washing), used to manually receive the water to be purified from the outside by opening said door (10), mounted and connected between said filtering system (111) and said bactericidal system (112), and containing smooth water filtered by means of said filtering system (111) which will be used, after having flowed down, into said bactericidal system (112), to be then drunk through connection with the purified still water dispensing module (17) and / or to be carbonated manually by connecting to the carbonation module (15) and / or to be sent to the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of coffee © espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks, and having, said tank (12), a water outlet duct (121) directly connected to the inlet of said bactericidal system (112) and a duct (122 ) of excess water return o coming from the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks;

d) a module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks, whose conduit for the inlet of purified water is directly connected to the second outlet channel -water purified (114) by said bactericidal system (112), and being also equipped, said module (13), also with a channel (122) for the return of excess water which will be sent back (preferably by means of a pump), to the € ™ inside the tank (12);

e) a small boiler (132), mainly equipped with a heating system with electric resistance and thermostats and used to heat the purified water which will then be used by the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso coffee and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks and by the module (131) for dispensing purified hot water and steam, and being said boiler (132) directly connected to said module (13) for the preparation of espresso coffee;

f) a module (131) for the supply of purified hot water, mainly equipped with a steam or hot water supply system (e.g. a heat exchanger and / or boiler block (132) with 2 thermostats, one for control the temperature of the water for coffee and the other to control the temperature of the steam for cappuccino and / or other hot drinks and / or for hot water), of the control knob and of the nozzle / delivery spout, and said module (131) being directly connected with said boiler (132) of module (13);

g) a manual carbonation module (15) for the already purified water, consisting of a CO2 (carbon dioxide) cylinder, a screwing module for the bottle already full of purified still water to be carbonated, a button / tap and a supply of CO2;

h) a module (17) for dispensing purified smooth water, connected, through said bactericidal system (112), with said two-phase water purification module (11) and mainly composed of a button / dispensing tap with spout rotatable / rotatable manually, and, if necessary, also from the suction / delivery pump of the water which will then be poured into an underlying bottle to be drunk or to be carbonated by connecting with said carbonation module (15) ;

i) keys (18) for selecting the functions to be performed (e.g. if you want to obtain an espresso coffee and a glass of purified still water at the same time, simply press both the still water dispensing button, is the key relating to the delivery of espresso coffee);

l) an electronic controller module (19), used to control and manage the various functions of the appliance (1), including the execution of two or more functions at the same time, such as, for example, preparing and dispensing, at the same time, espresso coffee and purified still water. The module (13) for the preparation and dispensing, using purified water, of espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks, has no own tank and is mainly composed of a pump, boiler (132) with heating system consisting of electric resistance, thermostats, solenoid valves, pipes, steam generation module, housing for the insertion and removal of the capsule or pod of coffee powder and / or other beverage.

The tank (12), inserted â € œin the middleâ € of the purification module (11), or between the filtering system (111) and the bactericidal one (112), can also be mounted â € œupstreamâ € of the purification module ( 11), or upstream of the two systems (111) and (112), or be mounted â € œdownstreamâ € of said module (11); for reasons of better treatment of the water from a bacteriological point of view (any bacteria that proliferate in the tank (2) will then be killed when they pass inside the underlying bactericidal system (112)) and of a shorter drainage time ™ water towards the modules (13) and / or (17) (water already purified from the filtering system (111) will flow from the tank (2)), it is considered preferable to install said tank (2) â € œin the middleâ € of the purification (11).

The housing for inserting and removing the pod or capsule of ground coffee and / or other beverage is preferably a drawer that can be opened and closed from the front in which to insert and remove the pod / capsule; in this way it will be possible to save further space, especially when using paper pods that do not require a storage tank for used coffee (or other) capsules / pods.

A certain amount of water always remains inside the tank (12) in order to allow a quick and more convenient preparation of one or more consecutive espresso coffees, all of which is obtained by automatically closing said water outlet duct (121 ) by means of a special electro-controlled system for controlling the minimum water level (123).

To avoid making two water outlet holes in the bactericidal system (112), a diverter valve with one inlet and two outlets can be used, thus requiring only one water outlet hole in the bactericidal system (112) .

The still water dispensing module (17):

- has a tap for dispensing purified still water with the water outlet spout that can be rotated / rotated manually, thus obtaining greater ease of use and above all a further reduction of the overall dimensions above the kitchen tops as said spout, to dispense purified smooth water in an underlying bottle or glass, can be approached by the user (thus saving space for housing the bottle above the kitchen top) to the bottle screwing of the manual carbonation module (15), from which it will then be removed once the water in the bottle has been dispensed; in this way it will not be necessary to provide two distinct areas / zones, one to house the bottle which will then have to be filled with purified still water and the other to house the bottle of water which will then have to be carbonated, but it will be sufficient (thanks to said rotatable / rotatable spout) provide a single area that can be used to house both types of bottles (still water and sparkling water);

- has the opening and closing of the dispensing tap which is preferably controlled by a solenoid valve;

- preferably also includes a pump for suction / delivery of the water which will then be poured into an underlying bottle to be drunk or to be carbonated by connection with said manual carbonation module (15).

The appliance (1) also includes two mobile shelves, used for collecting residual drops and for placing bottles, glasses, cups and other containers, being applied, said mobile platforms, under the base of the appliance (1), one in correspondence with the water dispensing spout and the other in correspondence with the coffee dispensing spout, not in a fixed way but in a "retractable" the outside, one or both of these movable shelves, only when the appliance (1) is used and therefore when containers for water, coffee or other beverages must be used, and instead being closed towards the inside of the base appliance (1), disappearing when the appliance (1) is switched off, thus obtaining a further reduction of the overall dimensions above the kitchen tops.

The appliance (1) will also be equipped with other connections (electrical, hydraulic and mechanical), any suction and delivery pumps and valves and / or solenoid valves (managed by the controller (19) of the appliance (1)) placed to control the inlet / outlet water pipes.

The method of use and operation of the multifunction household appliance (1) includes at least the following main steps:

a) selection by the user, using special keys / buttons (18), of one or more functions to be performed, even simultaneously, i.e. dispensing of purified still water and / or dispensing of purified sparkling water and / or dispensing of coffee © espresso using purified still water and / or preparation of cappuccino using purified still water and steam and / or preparation of other hot drinks such as tea, chamomile, herbal teas, chocolate, punch, using purified smooth water and steam;

b) manual insertion, in the appliance (1), of a certain quantity of water to be purified, by opening said water inlet door (10);

c) the water inserted manually into the appliance (1), will be purified by means of said two-phase purification module (11), consisting of a filtering system (111) (1st purification phase) and a bactericidal system ( 112) (2nd purification phase), and stored inside said tank (12) to be then sent, via control solenoid valves and after passing inside the bactericidal system tube (112), to the module (13) for preparing and dispensing espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks and / or module (17) for dispensing purified still water; d) if the user chooses, by means of the appropriate key / button (18), to prepare purified still water, the already purified still water will automatically flow into the first outlet channel (113) of said purification module. two phases (11), being connected, said first channel (113), with the module (17) for dispensing purified smooth water which will then be poured into an underlying bottle or glass;

e) if the user chooses to prepare purified sparkling water by means of the appropriate button, the bottle containing the purified still water will be screwed onto the manual carbonation module (15) of the water to allow the € ™ addition of carbon dioxide by opening the relative CO2 cylinder controlled by the dispensing tap;

f) if the user chooses, using the appropriate key / button (18), to prepare the espresso or cappuccino or other hot drink, the still purified water will automatically flow into the second channel (114) of outlet of said two-phase purification module (11) to be then introduced and used inside the module (13) to prepare the espresso coffee, and the milk or water being heated, in the case of preparation of cappuccino or other hot drink, by means of the purified steam / hot water dispensing module (131) connected with said boiler (132) of the module (13);

g) if the user chooses to prepare purified hot water by means of a special key / button (18), the still purified water will automatically flow into the second outlet channel (114) of said purification module. two phases (11) to be then introduced and heated inside the boiler (132) of the module (13) and then being supplied, called purified hot water, by means of the steam / hot water dispensing module (131) connected with said boiler (132);

h) if the user chooses, using two keys / buttons (18) pressed, to prepare, at the same time, the espresso (or cappuccino or other hot drink) and also a certain quantity of purified still water to be poured then in the bottle or glass to be drunk, the still purified water (that is, already passed through the two-phase purification module (11) consisting of a filtering system (111) and bactericide (112)) will flow out at the same time, by means of special control solenoid valves, both in the first (113) and in the second (114) outlet channel of said two-phase purification module (11), to be then used both by the module (17) for dispensing purified smooth water, and by the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks.

C) Drawings of the invention

The invention is made up of 1 drawing.

Figure n.1 represents in schematic and exemplary form the main components of the multipurpose household appliance (1).

ATTENTION: it is understood, however, that the invention must not be considered limited to the particular arrangement illustrated so far, which constitutes only an exemplary embodiment thereof, but that various variants will be possible, all within the reach of a technician of the branch, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention itself, as defined by the following claims.

Claims (7)

TITLE of the INVENTION: MULTIFUNCTIONAL APPLIANCE AND RELATIVE METHOD OF USE R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1) Multifunction household appliance (1) with small dimensions, to be placed on the countertops of the kitchens and able to provide, at the user's choice, separately or jointly: - purified smooth water, - purified sparkling water, - purified hot water, - espresso coffee prepared with purified water, - cappuccino prepared with purified water and steam, - hot drinks such as tea, chamomile, herbal tea, chocolate, punch, prepared with purified water and steam, thus providing, called multifunctional household appliance (1), to final consumers, the following advantages: - the water to be purified will not be supplied â € œunder pressureâ €, but will be inserted manually, through a special door and tank, so there will be no obligation to carry out any hydraulic connection work with the water mains, - there will be two different phases of water purification, the first by means of a filtering system and the second by means of a bactericidal system, - to obtain, with a single appliance, drinks of different types and also at different temperatures, i.e. at room temperature and / or hot, - obtain optimal drinks, as they are prepared with purified water, - obtain purified water (still or sparkling) and espresso (or cappuccino or other hot drinks) even simultaneously, i.e. at the same time, - obtain economic savings and a reduction in overall dimensions in the kitchen countertops, since six different functions can be used with a single appliance, since it will not be necessary to make any invasive and expensive connection to the water network, as it will no longer be necessary equip the espresso module with its own, bulky and expensive tank, as it will no longer be necessary to waste time and spend money to periodically descale the various internal parts of the espresso module as purified water will be used and therefore free of limescale, and being characterized in that it comprises, said multifunction household appliance (1), at least the following characteristics and components: a) a module (11) for water purification, consisting of two different purification phases: - first phase of purification, obtained by means of a water filtering system (111) composed of activated carbon and / or other suitable microfiltration systems; - second purification phase, obtained by means of a bactericidal system (112) consisting of a tube inside which a UV (ultraviolet) ray bactericidal lamp is mounted and inside which the already filtered still water passes (by means of a filtering (111)) to be then treated also at a bacteriological level, and being, said bactericidal system (112), equipped with two outlet conduits / purified water, being the first outlet channel (113) of purified water connected with the module (17) for dispensing purified still water which will then be poured into an underlying bottle or glass, and the second outlet channel (114) for purified water connected to the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of coffee espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks; b) a hatch (10) used for the manual introduction of the water to be purified, mounted upstream of said two-phase water purification module (11); c) a tank (12), used to manually receive the water to be purified from the outside by opening said door (10), mounted and connected between said filtering system (111) and said bactericidal system (112), and containing filtered smooth water (by means of said filtering system (111)) which will be used, after having flowed out, descended, inside said bactericidal system (112), to be then drunk through connection with the module (17) of dispensing of purified still water, and / or to be carbonated manually through connection with the carbonation module (15), and / or to be sent to the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks, and having, said tank (12), a water outlet duct (121) directly connected with the inlet of said bactericidal system (112) and a duct (122) for returning water in excess coming from the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of coffee espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks; d) a module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks, whose conduit for the inlet of purified water is directly connected to the second outlet channel -water purified (114) by said bactericidal system (112), and being also equipped, said module (13), also with a channel (122) for the return of excess water that will be sent back, inside the tank (12); e) a small boiler (132), mainly equipped with a heating system with electric resistance and thermostats and used to heat the purified water which will then be used by the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso coffee and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks and by the module (131) for dispensing purified hot water and steam, and being said boiler (132) directly connected to said module (13) for the preparation of espresso coffee; f) a module (131) for dispensing purified hot water, mainly equipped with a steam / hot water dispensing system, a regulation knob and a lance / dispensing spout, and being said module (131) directly connected with said boiler (132) of the module (13); g) a manual carbonation module (15) for the already purified water, consisting of a CO2 (carbon dioxide) cylinder, a screwing module for the bottle already full of purified still water to be carbonated, a button / tap and a supply of CO2; h) a module (17) for dispensing purified smooth water, connected, through said bactericidal system (112), with said two-phase water purification module (11), and having a dispensing tap with a rotating spout / manually rotatable, thus obtaining a further reduction of the overall dimensions above the kitchen tops and greater ease of use; i) keys (18) for selecting the functions to be performed; l) an electronic controller module (19), used to control and manage the various functions of the appliance (1), including the execution of two or more functions at the same time such as, for example, that of preparing and delivering, at the same time, espresso coffee and purified still water. 2) Multifunction household appliance (1), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said module (13) for the preparation and dispensing, by means of purified water, of espresso coffee and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks, is without its own tank and is mainly composed of a pump, boiler with heating system consisting of an electric resistance, thermostats, solenoid valves, pipes, steam generation module, housing for the insertion and removal of the capsule or coffee pod and / or other beverage. 3) Multifunction household appliance (1), as claimed in claim 2, characterized by the fact that said housing for the insertion and removal of the pod or capsule of coffee powder and / or other beverage is preferably an openable drawer and frontally lockable in which to insert and remove the pod / capsule. 4) Multifunction household appliance (1), as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that a certain amount of water always remains inside said tank (12) so as to allow a quick and more convenient preparation of one or more coffees © expressed consecutively, obtaining all this by automatically closing said water outlet duct (121) by means of a special electro-controlled system for controlling the minimum water level (123). 5) Multifunction household appliance (1), as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said still water dispensing module (17): - it has a tap for dispensing purified smooth water with the water outlet spout that can be rotated / rotated manually, thus obtaining greater ease of use and a further reduction in size as said spout, to dispense purified smooth water into an underlying bottle or glass, can be brought closer, thus saving space for housing the bottle, to the bottle screw hole of the manual carbonation module (15) from which a the dispensing of the water in the bottle has been completed; - has the opening and closing of the dispensing tap which is preferably controlled by a solenoid valve; - it preferably also includes a pump for suction / delivery of the water which will then be poured into an underlying bottle, to be drunk or to be carbonated by connection with said manual carbonation module (15). 6) Multifunction household appliance (1), as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that it also comprises two movable platforms, used for collecting residual drops and for placing bottles, glasses, cups and other containers, being applied, said movable platforms, under the base of the appliance (1), one in correspondence with the water dispensing spout and the other in correspondence with the coffee dispensing spout, not in a fixed way but â € œa retractableâ €, that is, a â € œdrawerâ € type can be opened and closed, by being extracted, i.e. pulled outwards, one or both of these mobile platforms, only when the appliance (1) is used and therefore when containers for water, coffee or other beverages must be used, and instead being closed towards the inside of the appliance base (1), disappearing when the appliance (1) is switched off, thus obtaining a further reduction in overall dimensions. you were on the kitchen countertops. 7) Method of use and operation of multifunctional household appliance (1) capable of supplying, at the user's choice, separately or jointly, purified still water, purified sparkling water, espresso coffee prepared with purified water, cappuccino and / or others hot drinks prepared with purified water and steam, as claimed in the preceding claims, characterized in that said method comprises at least the following main steps: a) selection by the user, using special keys / buttons (18), of one or more functions to be performed, even simultaneously, i.e. dispensing of purified still water and / or dispensing of purified sparkling water and / or dispensing of coffee © espresso using purified still water and / or preparation of cappuccino using purified still water and steam and / or preparation of other hot drinks such as tea, chamomile, herbal teas, chocolate, punch, using purified smooth water and steam; b) manual insertion, in the appliance (1), of a certain quantity of water to be purified, by opening the water inlet door (10); c) the water, manually inserted into the appliance (1), will be purified, by means of said two-phase purification module (11), consisting of a filtering system (111) and a bactericidal system (112), and stored in the Inside of said tank (12) to be then sent, via control solenoid valves and after passing inside the bactericidal system tube (112), to the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks, and / or to the dispensing module (17) of purified still water; d) if the user chooses, by means of the appropriate key (18), to prepare purified still water, the already purified still water will flow into the first outlet channel (113) of said purification module (11) to two phases, said first channel (113) being connected with the dispensing module (17) of purified smooth water which will then be poured into an underlying bottle or glass; e) if the user chooses to prepare purified sparkling water by means of the appropriate button (18), the bottle containing the purified still water will be screwed onto said manual carbonation module (15) to allow the addition of carbon dioxide by opening the relative CO2 cylinder controlled by a dispensing tap; f) in the event that the user chooses, using the appropriate key (18), to prepare the espresso or cappuccino or other hot drink, the still purified water will flow into the second outlet channel (114) of said two-phase purification module (11), to be then introduced and used inside the module (13) to prepare espresso coffee, and the milk or water is also heated, in the case of cappuccino preparation or of another hot drink, by means of a purified steam / hot water dispensing module (131) connected to said boiler (132) of the module (13); g) if the user chooses to prepare purified hot water by means of the appropriate key (18), the still purified water will flow into the second outlet channel (114) of said purification module (11) to two phases, to be then introduced and heated inside the boiler (132) of the module (13), and then being supplied, called purified hot water, by means of the steam / hot water dispensing module (131) connected with said boiler (132); h) if the user chooses, using two keys (18) pressed, to prepare, at the same time, the espresso (or cappuccino or other hot drink) and also a certain quantity of purified still water to be poured into bottle or glass to be drunk, the water already purified (that is, already passed through the two-phase purification module (11) consisting of filtering system (111) and bactericide (112)) will flow out at the same time, by means of special control solenoid valves , both in the first (113) and in the second (114) outlet channel of said purification module (11), to be then used both by the module (17) for dispensing purified smooth water, and by the module (13) for the preparation and dispensing of espresso and / or cappuccino and / or other hot drinks.