WO2013124778A1

WO2013124778A1 - Dispenser for refrigerated liquids for human consumption

Info

Publication number: WO2013124778A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/051306
Authority: WO
Inventors: Moshe Nash ABRAMOV
Original assignee: K Europe S.R.L.
Priority date: 2012-02-21
Filing date: 2013-02-18
Publication date: 2013-08-29
Also published as: ITVR20120027A1

Abstract

A dispenser for liquids for human consumption, comprising a vessel (2) for containing a food liquid (100) with associated means for cooling the food liquid (100) and means for drawing the food liquid (100) from the vessel (2); the cooling means comprise at least one pre-cooled cooling body (3), which can be positioned removably in a heat exchange relationship with the food liquid (100).

Description

DISPENSER FOR REFRIGERATED LIQUIDS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

The present invention relates to a dispenser for refrigerated liquids for human consumption.

As is known, devices are already present on the market for dispensing water, for domestic or professional use, which dispense and treat cold water.

In particular, dispensers already exist which are capable of producing carbonated water at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature.

Dispensers of this type that are currently known use apparatuses for cooling the water which are constituted by traditional cooling circuits powered by a compressor or by Peltier cells.

However, the aforementioned cooling apparatuses are very expensive, take a relatively long time to lower the temperature of the water, and have a rather high energy consumption.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a solution to the problems of the known art, by providing a dispenser for liquids for human consumption which enables a rapid cooling of the food liquid to be dispensed with limited energy consumption.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for liquids for human consumption which ensures a homogeneous cooling of the food liquid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for liquids for human consumption which is capable of ensuring an appropriate level of hygiene of the liquid to be dispensed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for liquids for human consumption which offers the highest guarantees of reliability and safety of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for liquids for human consumption which can be easily provided by way of elements and materials that are readily available on the market so as to be also competitive from a purely economic viewpoint.

This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are all achieved by a dispenser for liquids for human consumption according to the invention, as defined in claim 1.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the dispenser of liquids for human consumption according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line III-III in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a possible variation of embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention;

Figure 5 is another exploded perspective view of the variation of embodiment in Figure 4, with some parts omitted for the sake of simplicity;

Figure 6 is a perspective view from below of a component of the variation of embodiment in Figure 4.

With reference to the figures, a dispenser for liquids for human consumption according to the invention, generally designated with the reference numeral 1, comprises a vessel 2, conveniently in the form of a vat, which is, preferably, open at the top and is designed to contain a food liquid 100, which can be constituted, for example, by water, fruit juice or another beverage.

In particular, the vessel 2 is associated with means of cooling the food liquid 100.

The dispenser according to the invention is, likewise, provided with means for withdrawal which make it possible for the user to withdraw the food liquid 100 from the vessel 2 for its consumption. In general, such means for withdrawal can, for example, comprise means for pumping, of any conventional type, the intake of which is connected to the vessel 2 and the delivery to a nozzle for dispensing the food liquid 100, or a faucet valve, associated with the vessel 2, by means of which it is possible, by way of gravity, to draw the food liquid 100 from the vessel 2.

The particularity of the invention consists in the fact that the means of cooling the food liquid 100 comprise one or more pre-cooled cooling bodies 3, which can be arranged, detachably, in a relationship of heat exchange with the food liquid 100 contained in the vessel 2, in order to ensure the cooling thereof.

Advantageously, means are provided for relative movement of the aforementioned pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 with respect to the food liquid 100 contained in the vessel 2, so as to create a turbulence in the food liquid 100 which makes it possible to homogenize the temperature of the food liquid 100 throughout the vessel 2.

Conveniently, the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 can be made from traditional "cooling bars" or the like, which are commonly constituted by a container containing a eutectic liquid which can be frozen in a freezer, before use.

Alternatively, the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 can also be constituted by single-use "instant ice bags", which are typically constituted by a flexible wrapping containing substances that are adapted to react with an endothermic reaction, following their mixing which is obtained by pressure on the housing. It should be noted that the use of such instant ice bags, instead of cooling bars, enables an easy use of the dispenser according to the invention for camping or sailing, as well as for general free time activities, and at picnics, in particular, since it does not require the use of a freezer and, thus, of an electric power supply.

With reference to the embodiment shown, the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 are supported by a supporting element 4 which can be arranged in the upper part of the vessel 2, so as to arrange at least one portion of the pre- cooled cooling bodies 3 below the free surface of the food liquid 100 contained in the vessel 2.

For example, the supporting element 4 comprises a plate 4a, which can be rested, along its perimeter, on the upper edge of the vessel 2.

More specifically, the supporting element 4 supports, advantageously, one or more accommodation receptacles 5, into which at least one respective pre-cooled cooling body 3 can be removably inserted and which are designed to be, at least partially, immersed in the food liquid 100 contained in the vessel 2.

More specifically, each accommodation receptacle 5 is, advantageously, delimited laterally by at least one perimeter wall 6, which is designed to come into contact, at its outer surface, with the food liquid 100 placed in the vessel 2, when the supporting element 4 is arranged in the upper part of the vessel 2.

The perimeter walls 6 of the accommodation receptacles 5 thus prevent direct contact between the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 and the food liquid 100 and make it possible, moreover, to achieve a controlled heat exchange in the vessel 2.

Conveniently, the inner surface of the accommodation receptacles 5 is treated with adapted material, so as to prevent the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 from sticking, due to freezing, to the perimeter walls 6 of the accommodation receptacles 5.

As can be seen in the figures, the accommodation receptacles 5 are, conveniently, accessible, for the insertion or the removal of the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3, from the upper surface of the supporting element 4 and they extend, with their perimeter walls 6, toward the bottom of the vessel 2.

It should be noted that the supporting element 4 and, more specifically, the accommodation receptacles 5 are, conveniently, made of glass or of another heat-conducting material, which is at the same time easily washable and is dishwasher-safe.

Advantageously, above the supporting element 4 an upper closure lid 7 can be positioned which is made, at least partially, of thermally insulating material and which makes it possible to hermetically close the vessel 2, thus preventing exchanges of heat with the outside through the upper opening of the vessel 2.

Conveniently, in the upper closure lid 7 a passage opening 8 can be formed in order to allow the filling of the vessel 2 by the food liquid 100.

In such case, at such passage opening 8 formed in the upper closure lid 7, there is conveniently a through hole 9 that passes through the supporting element 4, in order to allow the food liquid 100 poured through the passage opening 8 to reach the vessel 2 below.

As shown in the figures, the passage opening 8 can be provided for example by a tubular element 8a which is designed to be inserted into the through hole 9, when the cover is placed over the supporting element 4.

Optionally, such passage opening 8 is provided with means for filtering the food liquid 100, not shown, which can be constituted, for example, by a gravity filter.

Advantageously, the passage opening 8 can be closed by a cap 8b.

It should be noted that the vessel 2 can, optionally, also be filled by way of a connection to the water mains.

Advantageously, the aforementioned means of relative movement of the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 with respect to the food liquid 100 in the vessel 2 are structured so as to cause the movement of at least one portion of the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3, with respect to the vessel 2, along a circular path.

More specifically, according to the embodiment shown, the relative movement means comprise a supporting body 10, which supports the receptacles 5 for accommodating the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 and is mounted rotatably, about a rotation axis 10a, on the supporting element 4.

In particular, the supporting body 10 can be moved, on command, in rotation, about the aforementioned rotation axis 10a, by way of motor means 11, which comprise, advantageously, an electric motor 12, which is supported by the upper closure lid 7 and is connected functionally, by means of its own output shaft, to a pinion 13, which is adapted to mesh, when the upper closure lid 7 is placed over the supporting element 4, with a gearwheel 14, which is integral with the supporting body 10 and arranged coaxially with the rotation axis 10a.

The electric motor 12 is preferably of the low or very low voltage type, powered preferably by a rechargeable battery, so that the supporting body 10 can rotate slowly about the rotation axis 10a.

As in the example shown in the figures, the supporting body 10 can be provided by a disk with an axis that coincides with the rotation axis 10a and in which the accommodation receptacles 5 for the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 are integrally formed.

Preferably, as can be seen in the figures, on the supporting body 10 there are a plurality of accommodation receptacles 5 distributed about the rotation axis 10a.

In order to ensure the food liquid 100 contained in the vessel 2 is kept in optimal conditions of hygiene, on the supporting body 10 there can advantageously be one or more elements made of silver 11 which have an antibacterial function, are designed to come into contact with the food liquid 100 and can be, for example, positioned in the lower part of the outer surface of the accommodation receptacles 5.

It should be noted that the effect of the elements made of silver 11 is enhanced by the turbulence produced in the food liquid 100 by the rotation of the supporting body 10 with respect to the vessel 2, about its rotation axis 10a.

For completeness, it must be said that, if the food liquid 100 is water, then the dispenser according to the invention can optionally be combined with a device for the production of carbonated water 15, which comprises, for example, a pump 16, which draws the cooled water from the vessel 2 in order to load it into a bottle 17, and a bottle of carbon dioxide 18, which is provided with a valve 19 that can be actuated by the user, for injecting the carbon dioxide into the bottle 17.

The use of the dispenser according to the invention is as follows.

Preliminarily, the user places the pre-cooled cooling body or bodies 3 in the freezer, several hours before their use.

Once they are frozen, the user takes the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 out of the freezer and inserts them into the accommodation receptacles 5, after placing the supporting element 4 on the upper edge of the vessel 2.

The number of pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 used will be a function of the desired temperature and of the quantity of food liquid that will be placed in the vessel 2.

After positioning the upper closure lid 7 over the supporting element 4, the user pours, through the passage opening 8 defined in the upper closure lid 7, the desired food liquid 100 into the vessel 2, for example up to a marked level.

At this point, the user activates the electric motor 12 so as to rotate the supporting body 10 in which the receptacles 5 for accommodating the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 are defined, thus creating a turbulence in the food liquid 100 that facilitates the heat exchange between the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 and the food liquid 100, and equalizes the temperature of the food liquid 100 throughout the vessel 2.

Moreover, during the movement of the accommodation receptacles 5 inside the food liquid 100, the elements made of silver 11 make it possible to perform an effective antibacterial function on the food liquid.

The presence of the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 in the accommodation receptacles 5 immersed in the food liquid 100 in combination with the movement thereof with respect to the vessel 2, and possibly with the hermetic closure with thermal insulation ensured by the upper closure lid 7, make it possible to achieve the necessary cooling of the food liquid, for the period of normal use of the dispenser according to the invention, for example during a dinner or a lunch.

The user can optionally extend the production of cold food liquid 100, by substituting the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 with others taken from the freezer.

In practice it has been found that the dispenser according to the invention is capable of fully achieving the set aim and objects, and in particular attention is drawn to the fact that, with respect to the known art, it allows energy consumption abatement and short cooling times.

Moreover, the dispenser according to the invention also has the advantage of being environmentally friendly, since there are no pollutant components, such as, for example, the compressor, to be disposed of.

Another advantage of the invention is that it makes it possible to extend the cooling action with quick and simple operations and that it is easy to clean, since its components are extractable and washable and are dishwasher- safe and the vessel is moreover accessible for cleaning and disinfection, which is not possible in conventional apparatuses.

Likewise it must be noted that the dispenser according to the invention makes it possible to cool the food liquid from inside the vessel, with an evident thermal advantage over conventional apparatuses with compressors, which instead use an evaporator outside the vessel, meaning that approximately an hour is necessary in order to cool the food liquid.

Another advantage of the invention is that it continues cooling until the thermal charge of the pre-cooled cooling bodies is spent, while in conventional apparatuses the machine, which is connected to an electric current, continues to switch itself on and off even if it is not used.

It should be added that the dispenser according to the invention can easily be employed in various fields such as that of automatic or semiautomatic machines for treating and/or dispensing water or for distributing beverages in general, for both domestic and professional use.

All the characteristics of the invention, indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.

The individual characteristics set out with reference to general teachings or to specific embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may substitute characteristics in such embodiments.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Thus, for example, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, according to a possible variation of embodiment, the means of relative movement of the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 with respect to the food liquid 100 contained in the vessel 2 can be provided by mixing means 20 that operate on the food liquid 100 in order to cause a movement thereof with respect to the pre- cooled cooling bodies 3.

Such mixing means 20 are for example provided by at least one mixing element 21 which is arranged inside the vessel 2 and can be actuated in rotation by motor means 23, which are positioned in the lower part of a base structure 24 onto which the vessel 2 is detachably fitted.

In particular, the mixing element 21 is detachably coupled, for example by way of a prismatic coupling, to a vertical actuation shaft 25 which is functionally connected to the motor means 23.

More precisely, the mixing element 21 conveniently comprises a spiral conical portion 26, which extends about the axis of the actuation shaft 24 and has, advantageously, a plurality of vertical vanes 27, which are distributed uniformly about the axis of the actuation shaft 24.

The rotation movement of the mixing element 21 about the axis of its actuation shaft 25 makes it possible to cause a turbulent motion of the food liquid 100 contained in the vessel 2.

The variation of embodiment in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is completed by a first cover 28 of the vessel 2, which is provided with openings 28a, through which the pre-cooled cooling bodies 3 are inserted into the vessel 2, and by a second, insulating cover 29, which is fitted over the first cover 28.

It should also be added that, in this case, one or more elements made of silver, which are constituted, for example, by silver plates or wires, can be positioned on the mixing means 20 and, more specifically, on the mixing element 21 , which by turning in the food liquid 100 makes it possible to generate, between the elements made of silver and the food liquid 100, a greater exchange of ions than the solution described previously, with a consequent increased antibacterial effect.

In practice the materials employed, as well as the dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements.

Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2012A000027 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and/or signs, those reference numerals and/or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and/or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and/or signs.

Claims

1. A dispenser for liquids for human consumption, comprising a vessel (2) for containing a food liquid (100) with associated means for cooling said food liquid (100) and means for drawing said food liquid (100) from said vessel (2), characterized in that said cooling means comprise at least one pre-cooled cooling body (3), which can be positioned detachably in a heat exchange relationship with said food liquid (100).

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for relative movement of said at least one pre-cooled cooling body (3) with respect to said food liquid (100).

3. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one supporting element (4) which is adapted to support said at least one pre-cooled cooling body (3) and can be arranged in the upper part of said vessel (2), in order to arrange said at least one pre-cooled cooling body (3) at least partially below the free surface of the food liquid (100) contained in said vessel (2).

4. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting element (4) supports at least one accommodation receptacle (5) which is designed to accommodate removably at least one respective pre-cooled cooling body (3) and designed to be immersed at least partially in said food liquid (100), with said supporting element (4) arranged in the upper part of said vessel (2).

5. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said accommodation receptacle (5) is delimited laterally by walls (6) for separation from said food liquid (100).

6. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an upper closure lid (7), which can be arranged above said supporting element (4) and is made at least partially of thermally insulating material.

7. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a passage opening (8) for filling said vessel (2) is formed in said upper closure lid (7).

8. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said passage opening (8) is provided with means for filtering said food liquid (100).

9. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said relative movement means are adapted to move at least one portion of said at least one pre-cooled cooling body (3) with respect to said vessel (2) along a circular path.

10. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said relative movement means comprise a supporting body (10) for said at least one receptacle (5), which is connected, so that it can rotate about a rotation axis (10a), to said supporting element (4), motor means being provided which can be actuated on command to turn said supporting body (10) with respect to said supporting element (4) about said rotation axis (10a).

11. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said motor means comprise an electric motor (12), which is supported by said upper closure lid and is connected functionally, by means of its own output shaft, to a pinion (13) which is adapted to mesh with a gearwheel (14) which is integral with said supporting body (10) and is arranged coaxially with said rotation axis (10a), with said upper closure lid (7) arranged above said supporting element (4).

12. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of accommodation receptacles (5) are provided in said supporting body (10) and are distributed around said rotation axis (10a).

13. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said relative movement means comprise mixing means (20) that are adapted to operate on said food liquid (100) in order to cause a movement of said food liquid with respect to said pre-cooled cooling bodies (3)·

14. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one pre-cooled cooling body (3) comprises a container which contains a eutectic liquid which can be frozen or a flexible container which contains substances suitable for reacting with an endothermic reaction.

15. The dispenser according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one element (11) made of silver which has an antibacterial function and is intended to come into contact with said food liquid (100) contained in said vessel (2) and supported by said supporting body (10) or by said mixing means (20).