WO2016157124A1

WO2016157124A1 - Water dispenser with a probe housing uv radiation means

Info

Publication number: WO2016157124A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/051846
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro GARINI; Mauro ZAPPA
Original assignee: Garini Alessandro; Zappa Mauro
Priority date: 2015-04-02
Filing date: 2016-03-31
Publication date: 2016-10-06
Also published as: ITUA20162182A1

Abstract

A water dispenser taken by gravity from an interchangeable bottle, comprises a support body (2), a bottle (3) supported by said support body (2) for containing the water to be dispensed, valve means (8) for controlling the dispensing of water from the bottle (3) and channelling means (9) for conveying the water from the bottle (3) to the valve means (8); advantageously a UV-C lamp (13) is inserted in the bottle (3) to emit a UV-C radiation with which to treat the water directly inside said bottle (3).

Description

WATER DISPENSER WITH A PROBE HOUSING UV RADIATION MEANS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a drinks dispenser in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, in particular a conditioned water dispenser, in which the beverage to be dispensed is tapped or taken by gravity from an interchangeable bottle.

In the present invention, the term beverage is used to distinguish water, soft drinks and the like, for example, but not exclusively, carbonated water, water conditioned and/or enriched with additives, flavourings, etc..

For the sake of simplicity of explanation,^' in the rest of the present description reference will be made, in a non-limiting way, to a conditioned water dispenser, the term conditioned water meaning a water that firstly is subjected to steps of disinfection, micro-filtration and/or purification through reverse osmosis treatment, and then is subjected to re- mineralisation and sanitizing steps, to then be bottled, in general in sanitized bottles capable of containing many litres of water. Dispensers of the type considered above are now increasingly common at locations such as offices, public places and homes in which drinkable water is needed but there is no connection to the water mains or, if the quality of the water dispensed by the water mains is not suitable for drinking.

The aforementioned water dispensers allow easy positioning in any room, providing the various users with the possibility of taking one or more glasses of drinking water without having to resort to bottled mineral water.

The aforementioned bottles generally are of a size such as to contain about twenty litres of water, thus ensuring a substantial reserve of water before it becomes necessary to replace an empty bottle with a full bottle.

It is worth emphasising that, starting from an initial condition of perfectly sanitized bottles, such containers are filled with a conditioned water or with a spring water to then be closed/sealed. The environment in which the filling and closing of the bottles is carried out is a microbiologically controlled environment, just as the bottling lines are also ^'controlled,^■ so as to prevent the water with which each bottle is filled from being able to undergo contamination and/or pollution from the outside.

Starting from a microbiologically controlled initial condition, the storage of the closed and sealed bottles does not pose particular conservation problems, provided that during transportation and, particularly, during storage the aforementioned bottles are kept away from heat sources and from light.

On the other hand, once opened, the aforementioned bottles are no longer able to ensure prolonged conservation of the water contained inside both due to the prolonged exposure to light, which is the sources of proliferation of algae, and due to the microbiological contamination of the water inside the container. Purely as an example, it should be highlighted how each time water is dispensed from the bottle necessarily corresponds to an entry of air from the outside into the bottle itself.

The need to be satisfied is to make the aforementioned water dispenser free from the aforementioned problems, ensuring the correct storage of the water contained in the bottle even after a long time period from the first time the bottle itself was opened .

In order to counteract the bacterial/microbiological contamination of the water dispensed by the dispenser, it has been proposed, for example in EP 1270501-A1, to implement a UV-C lamp in the dispenser, in order to treat the air that is. introduced into the bottle during the dispensing of water with UV-C.

Although such a solution is advantageous with respect to dispensers without UV-C lamps, it is worth emphasising how such a solution does not in any way allow the problem of the proliferation of algae inside the bottle to be avoided, since such proliferation is as a result of the prolonged exposure to light of the bottle while it is installed/positioned on the dispenser .

The proliferation of algae inside the bottle during the consumption of water is especially undesired since, moreover, it causes a greenish colour of the water itself that is perceived negatively by users, to the point of resulting in early replacement of the bottle with a new bottle before all of the water inside the bottle has run out.

Prior art document WO2014/136332 Al describes a water dispenser equipped with a pump for drawing water from inside a deformable bag. Inside the aforementioned bag a water drawing nozzle is inserted inside which a UV lamp is arranged, suitable for treating the water contained inside the drawing nozzle but not also the water contained in the bottle outside of the nozzle.

The problem at the basis of the present invention is to devise a water dispenser that has structural and functional characteristics such as to satisfy the aforementioned requirement, at the same time avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks with reference to the prior art. In particular, one of the technical problems to be avoided is that of overcoming the proliferation of algae inside the bottle, especially along the walls of the bottle, during the consumption of the water contained therein.

Such a problem is solved by a drinks dispenser, in particular a water dispenser, in accordance with claim 1, in which the water is taken by gravity from an interchangeable bottle.

The idea for a solution forming the basis of the present invention is to manage to treat the water inside the bottle, also close to the walls of the bottle itself.

According to a further aspect, such a problem is solved by a method in accordance with claim 15.

Further characteristics and advantages of the drinks dispenser according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given for indicating and not limiting purposes, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- figure 1 represents a schematic front plan view of a water dispenser according to the invention;

- figure 2 represents an enlargement of a detail of the dispenser of figure 1;

- figure 3 represents an exploded view of the detail of figure 2 ;

- figure 4 represents a longitudinal section view of a detail of the dispenser spout and of the UV-C lamp of the dispenser according to the invention;

- figure 5 represents a view of the detail of figure 2 during the step of insertion of a new bottle and

figures 6 and 7 represent schematic cross section and top views of the cap 20 for closing a bottle in accordance with the invention.

With reference to the attached figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a drinks dispenser according to the invention, in particular a conditioned water dispenser, in which the water is taken by gravity from an interchangeable bottle. The dispenser 1 comprises:

- a support body 2;

- a bottle 3 supported by said support body 2 for containing an amount of water to be dispensed, or other beverage,

- valve means 8 for controlling the dispensing of water from the bottle 3 and

- channelling means 9 for placing the bottle 3 in fluid communication with the aforementioned valve means 8 and conveying the water from the bottle 3 to said valve means 8.

With reference to the bottle 3 it should be highlighted how, generally, it has a volume such as to be able to contain about twenty litres of water, with bottles of different volumes also being possible.

The aforementioned bottle 3 comprising a bottom 4 and side walls 5 joined to a water dispensing mouth 6 through a joining side walls segment 7.

Preferably, the bottle 3 is a structurally rigid bottle, by this meaning that the bottle is able to maintain its shape to be moved and supported by its dispensing mouth both when it is empty and when it is filled with water.

The aforementioned channelling means 9 comprise a water drawing nozzle 10 projecting vertically upwards from the support body 2, said water drawing nozzle 10 being inserted for a predetermined axial segment in the bottle 3 supported by the support body 2. Specifically, it should be highlighted how the water drawing nozzle 10 is inserted in the bottle 3 through the dispensing mouth 6.

The water drawing nozzle 10 comprises inner channels 11 in communication with water drawing openings 12, through which the water of the bottle 3 is taken (tapped by gravity) from inside the bottle 3 itself to be conveyed towards the aforementioned valve means 8.

As can be seen from the figures, the dispenser 1 develops substantially in height from the support body on which the bottle 3 is positioned inverted, in other words oriented with the dispensing mouth 6 facing downwards and inserted on the water drawing nozzle 10 that, as described, projects vertically upwards from the support body 2.

The valve means 8 are positioned in front of the support body 2. By acting on such valve means the user can cause the desired amount of water (or other beverage) contained in the aforementioned bottle 3 to be dispensed. Basically, the water (or other beverage) is tapped by gravity (however, with it also being possible to use a pump or other extraction/suction device) from the bottle 3 through the aforementioned water drawing openings 12, from which through the aforementioned inner channels 11, as well as through the remaining channelling means 9, it is conveyed to the valve means 8.

It is worth emphasising that the water (or other beverage) tapped from the bottle 3 arrives directly at the valve means 8 or, alternatively, it can first transit in a collection and accumulation tank where it can be treated (for example cooled, heated, carbonated, added with sugar or other powdered or granular substances) before being sent to the valve means 8. This is schematically depicted in figure 1, where it is possible to see the collection and accumulation tank marked with reference numeral 24 and two channels 9 connected to two distinct valve means acting in parallel to one another: the valve means 8 positioned on the left in figure 1 are directly fed by the water tapped by gravity from the bottle 3, whereas the valve means 8 positioned on the right in figure 1 are fed by the water of the collection tank 2 .

It is worth highlighting that the collection tank 24 is capable of containing an amount of water (or other beverage) generally equal to two or three cups, so that its consumption is generally quick and the sitting time in the collection tank is quite short, generally less than twenty four hours.

Advantageously, the dispenser 1 comprises a UV-C lamp (or other structurally and/or functionally equivalent means) marked with reference numeral 13 in the figures, which is suitable for emitting a UV-C radiation and is directly inserted inside the bottle 3 for a predetermined axial segment L to directly carry out a sanitizing treatment on the water contained in the bottle 3 and suitable for counteracting the proliferation of algae, in other words before such water comes out from the bottle 3 through the dispensing mouth 6. This allows the water (or other beverage) contained in the bottle to be treated while it sits in the bottle itself, so as to preserve the initial microbiological state thereof, if not actually improve it if the water (or other beverage) contained in the bottle has not been conserved correctly.

From experimental tests carried out, it has been possible to see how a treatment with UV-C radiation emitted by the aforementioned UV-C lamp inserted in the bottle completely has eliminated the problem of algae present in a bottle and has prevented further proliferation.

In particular, based on tests carried out starting from a laboratory bottle in which water not free from microorganisms has been introduced and which has been left exposed to light for many days, until the water present inside it takes on a greenish colour due to the formation of algae, it was found that after exposure even just of twenty four hours of such water with the radiation emitted by the aforementioned UV-C lamp inserted in the bottle, the water went back to being perfectly transparent without giving rise to the further formation of algae, furthermore having an improved microbiological situation .

Preferably, the aforementioned lamp 13 projects from the support body 2 of the dispenser and inserts into the bottle 3 through the dispensing mouth 6.

The UV-C radiation emitted by the aforementioned

UV-C lamp hits at least a first segment of the walls of the bottle 3 to prevent the proliferation of algae at said segment of walls. Preferably, said first segment of the walls of the bottle 3 extends from the dispensing mouth 6 for a segment having a height substantially equal to the predetermined axial segment L for which the aforementioned UV-C lamp 13 extends inside the bottle 3.

Preferably, the aforementioned lamp 13 is housed in protected position inside an axial seat formed inside the aforementioned water drawing nozzle 10.

For this purpose, the ^'water drawing nozzle 10 comprises an axial seat defined by a tubular wall, in which :

- the axial seat comprises a closed end, which is distal from the support body 2, as well as an opposite open end to allow the insertion of the lamp 13 in the axial seat;

- the aforementioned inner channels 11 are formed in the thickness S of the aforementioned tubular wall and

the aforementioned drawing openings 12 are formed in the outer part of the aforementioned tubular wall and/or in the wall of the aforementioned closed distal end.

In order to avoid the water drawing nozzle 10 being able to constitute a screening filter for the UVC radiation emitted by the UVC lamp 13 housed in said water drawing nozzle 10, the portion of said water drawing nozzle 10 surrounding said UV-C lamp 13 is preferably made from a material with high transmittance^{^} capability with regard to UVC radiation and/or with an open structure that does not screen UVC radiation emitted by said UVC lamp 13, for example a basket, mesh, perforated plate and similar type of structure .

Preferably, the aforementioned portion of said water drawing nozzle 10 surrounding said UV-C lamp 13 is made from a quartz glass, so as to have a high transmittance capability with regard to UVC radiation emitted by said lamp UVC 13, so as not to create shaded areas in the UVC radiation emitted by the lamp UVC towards the walls of the bottle 3.

Preferably, the water drawing nozzle 10 comprises a tubular wall made from quartz glass inside which the aforementioned lamp UVC extends .

Considering what is described above, it is clear that the UVC radiation emitted by the UVC lamp 13 is capable of treating the water contained in the bottle outside of the water drawing nozzle 10.

The dispenser 1 according to the invention also comprises electrical means for powering and controlling such a lamp 13 so that it can emit the desired UV-C radiation.

Preferably, the UV-C lamp is inserted in the bottle 3 for a segment of at least 18 cm, preferably at least 20 cm, in such a way that the lamp 13 goes past the dispensing mouth 6.

Preferably, when the bottle 3 is positioned inverted on the support body 2, as described earlier, the axial extension of the lamp is such as to be able to treat at least the entire lower part of the bottle 3, in particular the axial segment of the bottle that comprises the dispensing mouth 6 and the joining side walls segment 7, with the emitted UV-C radiation.

In particular, it has been possible to verify that the proliferation of algae inside the bottle 3 is effectively counteracted when the UV-C lamp treats the entire lower portion of the bottle 3 installed having the walls not vertical, bearing in mind the fact that the bottle 3 is supported by the support body 2 in inverted position, in other words with the dispensing mouth 6 oriented downwards. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an effective effect when the UV-C lamp treats the inner portion of the bottle 3 that goes from the dispensing mouth 6 included up to the height of the bottle from which the substantially vertical side walls 5 extend.

Considering what has been outlined above, it is therefore clear that the dispensing nozzle 10 extends vertically for a substantial segment, so that the replacement of the bottle 3 with another full bottle 3 can be difficult.

In order to avoid running into such a problem, the dispenser 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures comprises supporting and guiding means 14 adapted for guiding the downward movement and insertion of the dispensing mouth 6 of the bottle 3 along the axis X-X of the water drawing nozzle 10 from a free upper end of the water drawing nozzle 10 that is positioned distal from the support body 2.

The aforementioned supporting and guiding means 14 allow the movement of the bottle 3 to be supported and guided between:

- a high end stop position (cf. figure 5), in which said mouth engages only said free upper end of the water drawing nozzle 10, and

- a low end stop position (cf. figures 1 and 2), in which the water drawing nozzle 10 is completely inserted in the bottle 3 through the dispensing mouth 6 up to a stop abutment.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned supporting and guiding means comprise a slider 14 slidably supported by the support body 2 of the dispenser 1 in a direction parallel to the axis X- X of the water drawing nozzle 10.

A first side 14a of the slider 14 facing towards the bottle 3 defines a receiving seat to stably support the bottle itself above the water drawing nozzle 10, with the dispensing mouth 6 facing towards the water drawing nozzle 10 and coaxially aligned with it.

The aforementioned slider 14 comprises a passage 15 which is aligned with the water drawing nozzle 10 to allow such a water drawing nozzle 10 to be inserted into the dispensing mouth 6 of the bottle 3.

Preferably, the side walls 5 of the slider 14 form a shape coupling between profiles matching with the side walls 5 of a seat 16 formed in the support body 2, the water drawing nozzle 10 projecting vertically from the bottom 4 of such a seat 16 of the slider 14 ( cf . figure 5 ) .

Preferably, the dispenser 1 also comprises elastic means 18 acting on the aforementioned supporting and guiding means 14 (i.e. on said slider) and/or on the bottle 3 to push the bottle 3 towards said high end stop position (cf. figure 5) in contrast to the weight force thereof and of the supporting and guiding means 14. The aforementioned elastic means 18 can cause the bottle 3 to progressively lift up to close to the aforementioned high end stop position (cf. figure 5) as the bottle 3 empties of water and its weight decreases.

Preferably, the aforementioned elastic means 18 are sized so that the upward force exerted by them on the supporting and guiding means 14 is such as to allow a partial lifting of such supporting and guiding means 14 and of the bottle 13 positioned on them when the bottle is empty or substantially empty.

There are two uses of the aforementioned elastic means 18 :

- at the moment of positioning of a new bottle 3 full of water on top of the supporting and guiding means 14, the elastic means 18 allow the speed of descent of the supporting and guiding means 14 to be slowed down from the high end stop position (figure 5) towards the low end stop position (figures 1 and 2), slowing down the insertion of the dispensing mouth 6 on the water drawing nozzle 10 and making it smoother and

- once the water content of the bottle 3 has been entirely or almost entirely consumed, the elastic means 18 allow the supporting and guiding means 14 and the bottle 3 positioned on them to be pushed towards the aforementioned high end stop position (figure 5), or at least allow the force that the user must apply to withdraw the finished bottle 3 from the water drawing nozzle 10 to be reduced.

Preferably, the dispenser 1 further comprises locking means 19 able to be actuated between a locked condition (cf . figure 5) , in which said locking means 19 act on the supporting and guiding means 14 to keep the aforementioned bottle 3 in said high end stop position, and an unlocked condition (cf. figures 1 and 2) in which said locking means 19 allow downward movement to said low end stop position (cf. figures 1 and 2) of the supporting and guiding means 14 and of the bottle 3 positioned on them.

In relation to the bottle 3, it should be highlighted how, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it comprises a cap 20 associated in closure with its dispensing mouth 6. Such a cap is not illustrated in figures 1 to 5 for the sake of simple representation .

As illustrated in figures 6 and 7, the cap 20 comprises :

an inner axial passage 21 for allowing the insertion of the water drawing nozzle 10 in the bottle 3 and

- a mobile throttle valve 22 hingeably connected to the remaining portion of the cap 20, preferably at an end of the aforementioned inner passage 21 facing towards the inside of the bottle 3.

The aforementioned throttle valve 22 is reversibly mobile between:

- a closed position, in which the throttle valve 22 sealably abuts against a corresponding shutter seat of the cap 20 to prevent water from leaking out from the bottle 3 through the inner passage 21 and

- an open position (cf. figure 6), in which the throttle valve 22 is away from the aforementioned shutter seat allowing the passage of water through the dispensing mouth 6.

When the bottle 3 is oriented with the mouth facing downwards, the pressure of the water in the bottle 3 acts on the throttle valve 22 to push it towards the aforementioned closed position, whereas the insertion of the water drawing nozzle 10 in the inner passage 21 of the cap 20 causes the reversible movement of the throttle valve 22 from the closed configuration to the open position.

Furthermore, the dispenser 1 comprises gasket means 23, preferably an O-Ring, housed in the aforementioned inner axial passage 21 of the cap 20 to ensure a sealed coupling with the water drawing nozzle 10 while such a nozzle is inserted in the aforementioned inner passage 21, as illustrated in figures 1 and 2.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for dispensing microbiologically controlled drinks from an interchangeable bottle 3 through a dispenser, comprising the steps of:

- providing a bottle 3 containing the beverage to be dispensed, said beverage being inside the aforementioned sanitized and microbiologically controlled bottle 3;

- providing a drinks dispenser 1 from bottles;

- arranging the aforementioned bottle 3 on the aforementioned dispenser 1 so that the beverage of the bottle 3 can be dispensed through the dispenser 1;

inserting a UV-C lamp inside the bottle 3 arranged on the dispenser 1 and

- treating the beverage contained inside the bottle 3- through exposure to UV-C rays emitted by said UV-C lamp before such a beverage is dispensed from the bottle 3, so as to prevent the proliferation of algae inside the bottle 3 itself.

As can be appreciated from what has been described, the drinks dispenser according to the present invention makes it possible to satisfy the aforementioned requirement and at the same time to overcome the drawbacks referred to in the introductory part of the present description with reference to the prior art. Indeed, exposure to UV-C rays of the drink and of the inside of the bottle makes it possible to avoid the proliferation of algae inside the bottle itself and to make the algae possibly present regress, moreover improving the microbiological aspect of the beverage itself.

A further advantage of the drinks dispenser according to the present invention, as well as of the method for dispensing beverages according to the invention, is the possibility of treating the beverage contained inside the bottles before it is dispensed, inhibiting microbe ■ and algae proliferation and allowing the expiry date to be greatly extended beyond the twelve months that can usually be guaranteed.

A further advantage that can be obtained through the drinks dispenser according to the present invention, as well as through the method for dispensing beverages according to the invention, is the fact that reduction substantially to zero of the formation or proliferation of algae in the beverage contained inside the bottle makes it possible to reduce the need to intervene periodically on the distributors with sanitizing interventions.

A yet further advantage of the method for dispensing beverages according to the invention is the possibility of being implemented in a simple and effective manner, with few modifications and adaptations, also on standard dispensers already on the market.

Of course, those skilled in the art can bring numerous modifications and variants to the drinks dispenser described above, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, all of which are in any case covered by the scope of protection of the^- invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Drinks dispenser (1), in particular for dispensing water, in which the water is taken by gravity from an interchangeable bottle, comprising:

- a support body (2)

- a bottle (3) supported by said support body (2) for containing water to be dispensed, said bottle (3) comprising a bottom (4) and side walls (5) joined to a water dispensing mouth (6);

- valve means (8) for controlling the dispensing of water from said bottle (3) ,

- channelling means (9) for placing said bottle (3) in fluid communication with said valve means (8) and conveying the water from said bottle (3) to said valve means (8),

wherein said channelling means (9) comprise a water drawing nozzle (10) supported by said support body (2) so as to project vertically upwards, said water drawing nozzle (10) being inserted for a predetermined axial segment in said bottle (3) through said dispensing mouth (6) and being equipped with inner channels (11) in communication with drawing openings (12) through which the water of the bottle (3) is drawn from inside the bottle (3) itself to be conveyed towards said valve means (8), characterised in that it comprises a UV-C lamp (13) to emit UV-C radiation directly inserted in said bottle (3) for a predetermined axial segment (L) to directly carry out a sanitizing treatment on the water contained in said bottle (3) that is suitable for counteracting the proliferation of algae before such water comes out from said bottle (3) through said dispensing mouth (6) .

2. Dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein said UV-C lamp (13) projects from said support body (2) and is inserted into said bottle (3) through said dispensing mouth (6) .

3. Dispenser (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

said UV-C lamp (13) is housed in protected position inside an axial seat formed inside said water drawing nozzle (10) and

- the portion of said water drawing nozzle (10) surrounding said UV-C lamp is made from a material with high transmittance capability with regard to UVC radiation_/ preferably a quartz glass, and/or with an open structure that does not screen UVC radiation emitted by said UVC lamp, in order to allow the UVC radiation emitted by said UVC lamp (13) to treat the water contained in the bottle (3) outside of the water drawing nozzle (10).

4. Dispenser (1) according to claim 3, wherein said water drawing nozzle (10) comprises an axial seat defined by a tubular wall, wherein:

- said axial seat comprises a closed end that is distal from said support body (2) and an opposite open end through which to allow the insertion of said UV-C lamp (13) in said axial seat;

said inner channels (11) are formed in the thickness (S) of said tubular wall and

- said drawing openings (12) are formed in the outer part of said tubular wall and/or of said closed distal end.

5. Dispenser (1) according to claim 3 or 4, comprising supporting and guiding means (14) for guiding the downward movement and insertion of the dispensing mouth (6) of said bottle (3) along the axis (X-X) of said water drawing nozzle (10) from an upper free end of said water drawing nozzle (10) distal from said support body (2), said supporting and guiding means (14) supporting and guiding the movement of said bottle (3) between:

- a high end stop position, in which said mouth only engages said free upper end of said water drawing noz zle ( 10 ) , and

- a low end stop position in which said water drawing nozzle (10) is completely inserted in said bottle (3) through said dispensing mouth (6) up to a stop abutment .

6. Dispenser (1) according to claim 5, wherein:

- said supporting and guiding means (14) comprise a slider (14) slidably supported by said support body (2) in a direction parallel to the axis (X-X) of said water drawing nozzle (10) and

- a first side (14a) of said slider (14) faces towards said bottle (3) and defines a receiving seat for stably supporting said bottle (3) above said water drawing nozzle (10), with said dispensing mouth (6) facing towards said water drawing nozzle (10) and coaxially aligned with it.

7. Dispenser (1) according to claim 6, wherein said slider (14) comprises a passage (15) that is aligned with said water drawing nozzle (10) to allow said water drawing nozzle (10) to insert into the dispensing mouth (6) of said bottle (3).

8. Dispenser (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein side walls (5) of said slider (14) form a shape coupling between profiles matching with side walls (5) of a seat (16) of said support body (2), from the bottom (4)^' of which said water drawing nozzle (10) proj ects .

9. Dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, comprising elastic means (18) acting on said supporting and guiding means (14) and/or on said bottle (3) to push said bottle (3) towards said high end stop position in contrast to the weight force.

10. Dispenser (1) according to claim 9, wherein said elastic means (18) allow said bottle (3) to be lifted, up to close to said high end stop position, when said bottle (3) is substantially empty, so as to facilitate the removal of the empty bottle (3) from the water dispenser ( 1 ) .

11. Dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 5 to

10, comprising locking means (19) able to be actuated between a locked condition, in which said locking means (19) act on said supporting and guiding means (14) to keep said bottle (3) in said high end stop position, and an unlocked condition in which said locking means (19) allow said supporting and guiding means (14) and said bottle (3) to go down to said low end stop position.

12. Dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 1 to

11, comprising a cap (20) associated in closure with said dispensing mouth (6) of the bottle (3), wherein said cap (20) comprises an inner passage (21) to allow the insertion of said water drawing nozzle (10) in said bottle (3) and a mobile throttle valve (22) hingeably connected to said cap (20) , preferably at an end of said inner passage (21) facing towards the inside of said bottle (3), to be reversibly mobile between :

- a closed position, in which said throttle valve (22) sealably. abuts against a corresponding shutter seat of said cap (20) to prevent water from leaking out from said bottle (3) through said inner passage

(21) of said cap (20), when said bottle (3) is oriented with said mouth facing downwards the pressure of the water in the bottle (3) acts on said throttle valve (22) to push it into said closed position and

- an open position, in which said throttle valve

(22) is away from said shutter seat, the insertion of said water drawing nozzle (10) in said inner passage

(21) of said cap (20) causing the reversible displacement of said throttle valve (22) from said closed configuration to said open position.

13. Dispenser (1) according to claim 12, comprising gasket means (23) , preferably an O-Ring, housed in said inner passage (21) of said cap (20) to ensure a sealed coupling with said water drawing nozzle (10) inserted in said inner passage (21).

14. Dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said UV-C lamp (13) is inserted in said bottle (3) for an axial segment (L) , preferably at least 18 cm, until it goes past said dispensing mouth (6), preferably until it reaches the height from which said side walls (5) of the bottle extend vertically .

15. Method for dispensing microbiologically controlled drinks from an interchangeable bottle (3) through a dispenser, comprising the steps of:

- providing a bottle (3) containing the beverage to be dispensed trough a dispensing mouth (6) of said bottle, the drink being inside said microbiologically controlled bottle (3) ;

- providing a dispenser (1) of drinks from a bottle;

- arranging said bottle (3) on said dispenser (1) so that the drink of said bottle (3) can be dispensed through said dispenser (1),

characterised in that it comprises the steps of :

- inserting a UV-C lamp inside the bottle (3) arranged in said dispenser (1) and

- treating through exposure to UV-C rays emitted by said UV-C lamp the drink contained inside said bottle (3) on at least a portion of the walls of the bottle close to said dispensing mouth (6) before such a drink is dispensed from the bottle (3) , so as to prevent the proliferation of algae in said bottle (3) .

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein said dispenser (1) is a dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 14.