WO2013050392A1

WO2013050392A1 - Apparatus for dispensing hot drinks

Info

Publication number: WO2013050392A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/069500
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enrico Grampassi
Original assignee: S.P.M. Drink Systems S.P.A.
Priority date: 2011-10-06
Filing date: 2012-10-02
Publication date: 2013-04-11
Also published as: ITBO20110078U1

Abstract

The apparatus for dispensing drinks comprises, inside a cover (2), a heating boiler for water; one or more containers for soluble products; mixing means for dosed quantities of water and of a said soluble product; a dispenser device for the so-prepared drink, placed at the front zone of said cover (2). The cover (2) carries a command keyboard (10) with touch-sensitive capacitive keys for controlling the functions of the apparatus.

Description

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING HOT DRINKS

Technical Field

[01 ] The present invention concerns an apparatus for dispensing drinks, in particular hot drinks such as for example coffee, hot malt drink resembling coffee, chocolate, tea, cappuccino and the like.

Background Art

[02] Nowadays apparatuses which allow to prepare and dispense hot drinks, in particular drinks made through the mixing of soluble products with water in pre-established doses are known.

[03] Such known apparatuses generally comprise a boiler for heating water, one or more containers for soluble products and a mixing device for dosed quantities of water and soluble product. A dispensing device, arranged at a front zone of the apparatus, allows to dispense the so-prepared hot drink.

[04] Depending on the different possible uses, the apparatus is set for dispensing one or more hot drinks. Moreover it is often possible to set a pre-established quantity of product, for example for dispensing drinks in a small or in a big cup. The setting of the drink and possibly of the dose to be dispensed can be operated through relative buttons.

[05] A problem existing in the specific field concerns the necessity of making the control of the different functions of the apparatus easier for the user, in particular in order to have the possibility to set in an easy and intuitive manner the numerous functional parameters which determine the different characteristics of the products. As a matter of facts, currently such apparatuses are generally managed through a keyboard which offers a pre- established and relatively limited choice of commands with respect to the functions to be controlled. Vice versa it is required by users a more direct interfacing between man and machine.

[06] Moreover it is often claimed that common keyboard, when frequently used, become soon dirty and consumed.

Disclosure

[07] The task of the present invention is that of solving the aforementioned problems, devising an apparatus which allows to prepare and dispense a wide range of hot drinks, in particular enabling an easy control of different functions through an interface of intuitive use.

[08] Within such task, a further scope of the present invention is that of providing an apparatus having commands which are easily cleanable and have considerable endurance.

[09] Another scope of the present invention is that of providing an apparatus for dispensing hot drinks having a simple conception, a securely reliable functioning and versatile use, as well as relatively economic costs.

The cited scopes are attained, according to the present invention, by the apparatus for dispensing hot drinks according to claim 1 .

According to the present invention, the apparatus for dispensing hot drinks comprises a command keyboard with touch-sensitive capacitive keys for controlling the functions of the apparatus.

Description of Drawings

Details of the invention shall be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing hot drinks according to the invention, illustrated for indicative purposes in the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for dispensing hot drinks.

Best Mode

With particular reference to such figure, the apparatus for dispensing hot drinks, such as for example coffee-based, barley-based hot drinks and the like, is indicated in its entirety with 1 .

The apparatus 1 comprises a cover 2 of prism-shaped profile, mounted on support feet 3. From the cover 2 a box-shaped body 4 frontally protrudes, under which a dispensing means for the product, known per se and not illustrated, protrudes. The body 4 extends above a support base 5 for the container provided for receiving the hot drink, for example a glass or a cup.

Inside the cover 2, a boiler for heating water, one or more containers for soluble products and a relative mixing device for dosed quantities of water and soluble product are arranged in known manner.

At a lateral side of the cover 2 a command keyboard 10 with touch-sensitive capacitive keys is mounted for controlling the functions of the apparatus. The capacitive keyboard 10 interfaces with an electronic card for the control of the apparatus.

The functioning of the apparatus for dispensing hot drinks is easy to understand from the preceding description.

The user can easily select through the lateral capacitive keyboard 10 the kind and the characteristics of the drink to be dispensed, as well as the mode of functioning of the apparatus. In fact, the graphic interface of the capacitive keyboard 10 enables the user to interact with electric control means of the different functions of the apparatus, such as for example the kind of drink, the quantity of product to be dispensed, the preparing cycle and the specific temperature for each drink to be dispensed, as well as the weekly maintenance of the functioning of the apparatus.

The apparatus for dispending hot drinks attains the scope of dispensing a wide range of products allowing to control and to easily change the characteristics of the drink to be dispensed through an interface between man and machine of simple and intuitive use. In fact, the capacitive keyboard 10 can be easily operated through a simple touch or light glazing of the active zones which constitute the keys, which are displayed so as to be really simple to recognise. A micro-controller which can be programmed surveys the capacitive variation at said keys, when touching or when lightly grazing with one's fingers, activating the relative functions. Therefore the keyboard does not comprise mechanical parts in motion, with obvious advantages for resistance and endurance.

A feature of the cited keyboard is that of externally having a glass cover, made by a glass panel of suitable thickness which, on the one hand, is not subject in practice to the wearing out and thus keeps a long lasting agreeable look, and on the other hand, it allows an easy cleaning.

Another advantage offered by the cited capacitive keyboard is that of enabling a suitable backlighting, extended either to the whole surface of the keyboard or only to the keys zone. This allows to make the commands easy to see also in bright environments.

A further advantage offered by the cited capacitive keyboard is that of being easily customizable according to the exigencies of single users, for example by changing shape and size of keys as well as the functions to be controlled.

The apparatus described for indicative purpose is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants according to the different exigencies.

In practice, the embodiment of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and dimensions, may vary depending on the requirements.

Should the technical characteristics mentioned in each claim be followed by reference signs, such reference signs were included strictly with the aim of enhancing the understanding the claims and hence they shall not be deemed restrictive in any manner whatsoever on the scope of each element identified for exemplifying purposes by such reference signs.

Claims

Apparatus for dispensing hot drinks, comprising, inside a cover (2), a boiler for heating water; one or more containers for soluble products; mixing members for dosed quantities of water and at least a said soluble product; a dispending device for the so-prepared product, placed at the front zone of said cover (2) characterized in that it comprises a command keyboard (10) with touch-sensitive capacitive keys for controlling the functions of the apparatus.

Apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said command keyboard (10) with capacitive keys is mounted on a lateral side of said base body (6).

Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said command keyboard (10) with capacitive keys externally has a glass covering panel.

Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said command keyboard (10) with capacitive keys is backlit.