WO2024157292A1

WO2024157292A1 - Cooling machine and protective device for a discharge pipe of the same

Info

Publication number: WO2024157292A1
Application number: PCT/IT2024/050011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivan TEODORANI; Marco CALIERI; Davide Bianconi; Gianluca Gallo
Original assignee: Celli S.P.A.
Priority date: 2023-01-24
Filing date: 2024-01-19
Publication date: 2024-08-02

Abstract

A cooling machine (1), particularly for cooling beverages and the like, comprising a containment casing (2), having a side wall (21), a tank for containing a coolant liquid, arranged in said containment casing, a discharge pipe (4) of the liquid contained in said tank, arranged on said side wall (21), and a protection device (1) of said discharge pipe (5), wherein said protection device (3) comprises a protection element (32) for the protection of said discharge pipe (4), and coupling means (31) configured to couple said protection element (32) to said wall (21), and said protection element (32) can be rotated by means of said coupling means (31) between a closed configuration, wherein said protection element (32) covers at least a part of said discharge pipe (4), and an open configuration.

Description

COOLING MACHINE AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR A DISCHARGE PIPE OF THE SAME

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The present invention concerns a device for protective for a discharge pipe of a beverage dispensing machine. The present invention also concerns a beverage dispensing machine equipped with a protection device for a discharge pipe.

Field of invention

More specifically, the invention concerns a device of the aforementioned type, designed and realized in particular for refrigerating and beverage dispensing machines, but which can be used for any beverage dispensing machine, or for any cooling machine, of which protection is necessary for the discharge pipe and easy access to it.

In the following, the description will be directed to the refrigerating and beverage dispensing machine, but it is clear that it should not be considered limited to this specific use.

Prior art

As is well known, current beverage dispensing machines usually comprise a cooling system, which is generally arranged in correspondence with the dispensing device, or in a position of the machine remote from the dispenser.

The cooling system is used for cooling the beverage to be dispensed by cooling at least part of the beverage dispensing circuit. In particular, the cooling system is used for cooling water, or a cooling liquid, contained in a tank, using coilshaped evaporators, inserted in the tank itself and connected to a cooling circuit.

A part of the beverage dispensing circuit, in the form of coils, is also inserted into the tank, so as to be in contact with the water or the cooling liquid. In this way the beverage itself is cooled.

In the following, the term water or cooling liquid or liquid will be used without distinction, to indicate the means which, through contact with a part of the dispensing circuit, cools the beverage to be dispensed, without in any way limiting the scope of protection of the invention described here.

Currently, before starting the cooling process, the tank is filled with water by an operator. The tank typically has a so-called "overflow" opening, i.e. an opening located in correspondence with the maximum level of water that can be contained inside the tank itself, and with the purpose of allowing any excess water introduced by the operator to escape from the dispensing machine. The "overflow" opening therefore puts the inside of the tank in fluid-dynamic communication with the outside of the dispensing machine.

Furthermore, for maintenance, repair, or movement of the beverage dispensing machine, it may be necessary to empty the tank of the water contained in it. Therefore, the tank has a discharge pipe, located at the base of the tank and with the purpose of allowing all the water contained in the tank to get out from the dispensing machine. The discharge pipe also puts the inside of the tank in fluiddynamic communication with the outside of the dispensing machine.

Among other things, current dispensing machines can be mobile or placed near counters, or in limited spaces for maneuvering and movement. The discharge pipe is generally kept in a rest position, which is generally vertical when it is not being drained. It is necessary to protect this discharge pipe from accidental blows, which could risk altering its normal functioning and that of the dispensing machine itself.

Currently, there are cladding elements or parts fixed to the outside of the containment wall of the cooling tank using screws.

Although a fixed cover, such as those of the prior art, allows the pipe to be maintained and protected in the vertical position at the same time, this solution presents several drawbacks, especially when it is necessary to drain the liquid from the tank. In fact, in such circumstances it is necessary to unscrew some screws to disassemble the cover, thus freeing the pipe, so that it can be rotated from its vertical rest position, generally with the free end facing upwards, to the discharge position, in which it is possible to make the water coming out of the pipe itself flow into a collection container.

It is clear that this procedure is time-consuming and inefficient. In fact, this procedure requires the operator to always have tools, such as a screwdriver, to remove the screws and free the discharge pipe. Furthermore, it could happen that the operator could lose one of the fixing screws in often small or impractical work spaces, preventing the correct reassembly of the fixed cover.

Purpose of the invention

In light of the above, it is, therefore, the aim of the present invention to solve the described problems presented by current beverage dispensing machines, providing a protection device for a discharge pipe of a dispensing machine capable of guaranteeing rapid and easy access to the tank itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a beverage dispensing machine comprising a discharge pipe and a protection device thereof.

Object of the invention

These and other results are achieved according to the invention with a beverage cooling machine equipped with a protection device for a discharge pipe.

It is, therefore, specific object of the present invention a cooling machine, particularly for cooling beverages and the like, comprising a containment casing, having a side wall, a tank for containing a coolant liquid, arranged in said containment casing, a discharge pipe of the liquid contained in said tank, arranged on said side wall, and a protection device of said discharge pipe, wherein said machine is characterized in that said protection device comprises a protection element for the protection of said discharge pipe, and coupling means configured to couple said protection element to said wall, and in that said protection element can be rotated by means of said coupling means between a closed configuration, wherein said protection element covers at least a part of said discharge pipe, and an open configuration.

Always according to the invention, said coupling means may comprise at least one hinge and in that said at least one hinge comprises a first plate, which can be coupled to said wall, by means of coupling members, a second plate, and a rotary coupling, for the rotational coupling between said first plate and said second plate.

Still according to the invention, said protection element comprises a first portion, coupled to said coupling means, and a second portion, shaped so as to house at least a portion of said discharge pipe.

Advantageously according to the invention, said protection element may comprise a third portion, and an opening tab attached to, or obtained from said third portion, or a thickening.

Further according to the invention, said first portion may be coupled to said second plate.

Always according to the invention, said second portion of said protection device may have a longitudinal concave housing to house at least a portion of said discharge pipe.

Still according to the invention, said protection device may comprise a magnet coupled to said side wall, and said protection element may be at least partially made of metal or ferromagnetic material, so as to be coupled to said magnet when said protection device is in said closed configuration.

Further according to the invention, said protection device may comprise a magnet coupled to said protection element, and said wall may be at least partially made of metal or ferromagnetic material, so as to be coupled to said magnet when said protection device is in said closed configuration.

Advantageously according to the invention, said discharge pipe may be arranged, when not in use, in a vertical position, with the open end facing upwards and adjacent to said tank, so as to detect the level of the liquid in said tank, and said protection element of said protection device may have an opening or window arranged in correspondence with the portion of said discharge pipe which indicates a level of the liquid in said tank.

Preferably according to the invention, said protective element may have a first end, and a second end, wherein said first and said second ends may be arranged so that, when said protection device is in closed configuration, said first or said second end protrudes relative to one end of said discharge pipe.

It is also object of the present invention a protection device for an discharge pipe of a cooling machine having a side wall, from which said discharge pipe comes out, characterized in that is comprises a protection element for the protection of said discharge pipe, and coupling means configured to couple said protection element to said wall, and in that said protection element, when coupled to said wall through said coupling means, is rotatable by said coupling means between a closed configuration, wherein said protection element covers at least a part of said discharge pipe, and an open configuration.

Always according to the invention, said coupling means may comprise at least one hinge.

Still according to the invention, each of said hinges may comprise a first plate, which can be coupled to said wall, by means of coupling members, a second plate, and a rotary coupling, for the rotational coupling between said first plate and said second plate.

Further according to the invention, said protection element may comprise a first portion, coupled to said second plate, a second portion, shaped so as to house said discharge pipe, a third portion, and an opening tab attached to, or obtained from said third portion, or a thickening. Advantageously according to the invention, said protection element may have an opening or window.

Brief description of the figures

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a machine for cooling beverages comprising a device for protecting the discharge pipe of the machine itself, in a closed configuration; figure 2 shows a front view of the machine in figure 1 ; figure 3 shows a front view of an embodiment of the protection device; figure 4 shows a perspective view of the protection device in the open position; figures 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the protection device in closed configuration; and figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view of the protection device in open configuration; figure 7 shows a perspective view of the machine of figure 1 , object of the present invention, in which the device is in an open configuration; figure 8 shows a front view of the machine of figure 7; figure 9 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the protection device in open configuration; and figure 10 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the protection device in open configuration.

Detailed description

In the various figures the similar parts will be indicated with the same numerical references.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, a machine 1 for dispensing beverages is observed, essentially comprising a containment casing 2, which contains a cooling system (not visible in the figure), a discharge pipe 4 to let out liquid from the tank, and a protection device 3 of the discharge pipe 4.

The containment casing 2 is defined by walls 20, on one of which, or in the embodiment shown, on the front wall 21 , the discharge pipe 4 is arranged.

The cooling system contained in the containment casing 2 has a tank for containing water (even in the form of ice) or cooling liquid, and a cooling coil. The cooling system, and in general the machine 1 , is powered by the electric cable 27.

The machine 1 according to the present embodiment is a refrigerating and beverage dispensing machine. Therefore, the machine 1 comprises beverage dispensing means, such as a pumping system and the like, which are not shown in the figures. The beverage is then dispensed via a dispenser 26 fixed on the upper surface 22 of the containment casing 2.

The machine 1 also comprises on its upper surface 22 a plate 22 in which a support base 24 is arranged for containers such as glasses, jugs, bottles or the like.

This plate 23 can contain a drain grate for filtering any liquid spilled outside a container.

The machine 1 comprises, in the embodiment shown, a plurality of wheels 5, fixed underneath the containment casing 2, for moving the machine 1 .

In some embodiments, such as the one shown in figure 1 , the machine 1 can include a door for inserting water into the cooling tank and a hook 25 or other mechanism for opening the door.

Referring to figures 3 and 6, the discharge pipe 4 has a joint 41 (clearly visible in figure 4), which comes out of the machine 1 , through which said discharge pipe 4 connects to the internal tank.

The discharge pipe 4 is rotatable, in particular through the joint 41 according to the double arrow A, and is made of silicone, or another flexible material.

Since the discharge pipe 4 is in fluid dynamic communication with the inside of the tank, when this is in the rest position, i.e. in a vertical position, with the open end 42 facing the plate 23, due to the effect of the communicating vessels, the level of liquid present inside the discharge pipe 4 is the same as the level of liquid present inside the internal tank itself.

The discharge pipe 4 in a preferred embodiment is at least partially transparent, to facilitate viewing the level reached by the liquid present in the discharge pipe 4 itself, and therefore in the tank.

The vertical arrangement of the discharge pipe 4 is particularly advantageous when the length of the discharge pipe 4 is sufficient to cover the height of the tank and/or when it is necessary to keep the cooling liquid in the tank, since having the draft at the lower end of the pipe 4 and in communication with the tank, for example the lower part of said tank, the discharge pipe 4 cannot fill until the liquid fills the tank. In fact, as mentioned, the liquid inside the discharge pipe 4 reaches the same level (level or height) as that of the liquid inside the tank.

As anticipated, the arrangement of the discharge pipe 4 is preferably vertical when said discharge pipe 4 is in a rest condition, so that when it is not necessary to empty the tank, the vertical position favors the liquid not leaking from the discharge pipe 4 itself.

The protection device 3 of the discharge pipe 4 comprises (see also figures 5 and 6) three hinges 31 , each having a first plate 311 , which can be coupled to said wall 21 , using coupling members, such as screws and the like indicated with the numerical reference 314, a second plate 312, and a rotary coupling 313, for the rotational coupling between said first plate 311 and said second plate 312.

Said protection device 3 also comprises a protection element 32, having a first portion 321 , coupled to said hinges 31 , and in particular to said second plate 312, by means of screws and the like, a second portion 322, coupled to said first portion 321 and shaped so as to house said discharge pipe 4, and a third portion 323, coupled to said second portion 322, whose function can be defined below, but which in general is suitable for coupling said protection element 32 to said wall 21. Said protection element 32 also comprises an opening tab 324 made as a fold of the third portion 323.

In some embodiments, the opening tab 324 can be a protrusion or can be made as a thickening greater than the thickness of said third portion 323, thus facilitating grip by a user.

Furthermore, the opening tab 324 can extend along the entire longitudinal length of the protection device 3, or only for a part, preferably the central part or one end.

The protection device 3 is capable of assuming an open position (see figures 4 and 6), in which the discharge pipe 4 is free to move, and a closed position (see figures 3 and 5), in which the discharge pipe 4 is constrained in the rest position (i.e. , it is arranged vertically with the open end 42 facing upwards). In said position, the discharge pipe 4 is housed in said second portion 322.

In the protection device 3, the protection element 32 passes from said closed and open position according to the double arrow B. Said protection device 3 can pass from said open position to said closed position and vice versa, by rotating the protection element 32 thanks to the hinges 31 . The hinges 31 , as mentioned, allow the rotation of the protection element 32 so as to cover at least part of the discharge pipe 4.

Furthermore, the machine M can comprise an overflow opening 6, preferably arranged on the front wall 21 , and configured to evacuate the excess liquid from the tank.

In the embodiment at issue, the protection device 3 also comprises a magnet 33, fixed to said wall 21 , intended to retain the protection element 32 in the closed position when this is made of metallic or ferromagnetic material.

Furthermore, the protection element 32 is preferably equipped with a window or opening 329, arranged, when the protection device 1 is closed, in correspondence with the portion of the discharge pipe 4 close to the open end 42, i.e. the level of safety of the liquid in the tank, beyond which the tank must be emptied.

The operation of protection device 3 is as follows.

At the beginning of the operation of the machine 1 , the protection device 3 is in a closed configuration and the tank is, or has been, filled with refrigerant liquid and, consequently to the formation of ice inside the tank, the water, if not adequately controlled, it can leakage from the tank itself. Excess water can be evacuated by opening the overflow 6.

The operator, when filling the tank with water, can keep the level of the liquid inside the tank under control by observing the liquid inside the discharge pipe 4, without the need to open the protection device 3 and without the use of screwdrivers or other tools. In fact, the operator can see the level of the tank by examining the level on the discharge pipe 4 through the window 329.

If it is necessary to empty the tank, for maintenance or repair reasons, or to move the dispensing machine (which would be too heavy to be moved due to the water contained in the tank), the operator can open the protection device 3 so as to rotate the discharge pipe 4 and allow the liquid to be emptied. In other words, when the discharge pipe 4 is in the rest position and the protection device 3 is closed, in the event that the water or liquid in the tank exceeds a safety threshold, as mentioned, for the principle of communicating vessels, the level of the liquid itself in the discharge pipe 4 also rises. Therefore, it is possible to check this level using the window 329.

In this case, the operator can open the protection device 3 by acting on the opening tab 324 and decoupling the protection element 32 from the magnet 33.

The protection element 32, still following the arrow B, passes from the closed position to the open position (see figures 7 and 8), allowing the operator to access the discharge pipe 4 and carry out the draining operations of the machine 1 internal tank. In particular, the operator can rotate the discharge pipe 4 according to the arrow A, so as to empty the tank through the open end 42.

Once the tank draining operations have been completed through the discharge pipe 4, the operator can place said discharge pipe 4 again in a vertical position, with the open end 42 facing upwards, and close the protection element 32 until it comes into contact with the magnet 33, bringing it from the open position the closing one, always according to arrow B.

Referring to figures 9 and 10, further embodiments of said device 1 can be observed.

In particular, referring to figure 9, the length of the protection device 3 does not correspond to the length of the discharge pipe 4, therefore the device 1 , in closed configuration, does not cover the entire length of the pipe, which protrudes above. In this way, it is possible to position the window 329 of the protection element 32, so as to detect the desired emergency or safety level of the discharge pipe 4.

In figure 10, however, the protection device 3 is fixed to the wall 21 of the protection casing 2 of the machine 1 , so as to protrude below the tank, i.e. the joint 41 . In this way, thanks to the concave shape of the second portion of the protection element 32, it is possible to open the protection device 3, or to pass the protection element 32 from the closed to the open position, simply manually, by operating the aforementioned protection element 32 with a finger.

In some embodiments, the protection device 3 can be made as a single piece that comprises the hinges 31 , or the second plate 321 , and the protection element 32.

As mentioned, the protection element 32 of the protection device 3 can have a longitudinal and concave housing 326 obtained in the second portion 322, which extends from an upper end to a lower end to cover and house at least a part of said discharge pipe 4.

Said housing 326 of the second portion 322 can extend vertically from a first end, for example upper, to a second end, for example lower, so as to cover the discharge pipe 4 along its extension, avoiding risks of tightening the pipe itself. In particular, the housing 326 which forms the housing for the pipe can have a rectangular, trapezoidal, semicircular, or other shape, such that the discharge pipe 4 is positioned in the section of said housing 326. In this way, the tank 4 is not crushed against the wall 21 of the machine by the protection device 3, when the latter is in a closed configuration.

Furthermore, in other embodiments, the housing 326 may have a variable depth along its length. In fact, the depth of said housing 326 near one end, for example, the second end 328 (indicated, for example, in figure 8) of the protection device 3 is greater than the depth of said housing 326 near the first end 327. In this way, the manual opening of the device 1 by an operator can be simplified.

In other embodiments, the magnet 33 can be positioned on the third portion 323 instead of on the wall 21 .

Furthermore, the magnet 3 can have different shapes, such as a strip. Furthermore, in other embodiments, multiple magnets 33 may be provided.

The operation of the machine M described above takes place as follows. Advantages

An advantage of the present invention is given by the possibility of knowing the level of liquid in a discharge pipe of a beverage machine.

Another advantage of the present protection device is the possibility of protecting a discharge pipe of a beverage dispensing machine from accidental blows, for example when moving the machine, which can separate the discharge pipe from the wall of the machine from which it comes out.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims

1. Cooling machine (1 ), particularly for cooling beverages and the like, comprising a containment casing (2), having a side wall (21 ), a tank for containing a coolant liquid, arranged in said containment casing, a discharge pipe (4) of the liquid contained in said tank, arranged on said side wall (21 ), and a protection device (1 ) of said discharge pipe (5), wherein said machine (1 ) is characterized in that said protection device (3) comprises a protection element (32) for the protection of said discharge pipe (4), and coupling means (31 ) configured to couple said protection element (32) to said wall (21 ), and in that said protection element (32) can be rotated by means of said coupling means (31 ) between a closed configuration, wherein said protection element (32) covers at least a part of said discharge pipe (4), and an open configuration.

2. Machine (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said coupling means comprise at least one hinge (31 ) and in that said at least one hinge (31 ) comprises a first plate (311 ), which can be coupled to said wall (21 ), by means of coupling members (314), a second plate (312), and a rotary coupling (313), for the rotational coupling between said first plate (311 ) and said second plate (312).

3. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protection element (32) comprises a first portion (321 ), coupled to said coupling means (31 ), and a second portion (322), shaped so as to house at least a portion of said discharge pipe (4).

4. Machine (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said protection element (32) comprises a third portion (323), and an opening tab (324) attached to, or obtained from said third portion (323), or a thickening.

5. Machine (1 ) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said first portion (321 ) is coupled to said second plate (312).

6. Machine (1 ) according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that said second portion (322) of said protection device (3) has a longitudinal concave housing (326) to house at least a portion of said discharge pipe (4).

7. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protection device (3) comprises a magnet (33) coupled to said side wall (21 ), and in that said protection element (32) is at least partially made of metal or ferromagnetic material, so as to be coupled to said magnet (33) when said protection device (3) is in said closed configuration.

8. Machine (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 -6, characterized in that said protection device (3) comprises a magnet (33) coupled to said protection element (32), and in that said wall (21 ) is at least partially made of metal or ferromagnetic material, so as to be coupled to said magnet (33) when said protection device (3) is in said closed configuration.

9. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said discharge pipe (4) is arranged, when not in use, in a vertical position, with the open end (42) facing upwards and adjacent to said tank, so as to detect the level of the liquid in said tank, e in that said protection element (32) of said protection device (3) has an opening or window (329) arranged in correspondence with the portion of said discharge pipe (4) which indicates a level of the liquid in said tank.

10. Machine (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protective element (32) has a first end (327), and a second end (328), wherein said first (327) and said second (328) ends are arranged so that, when said protection device (3) is in closed configuration, said first (327) or said second (328) end protrudes relative to one end of said discharge pipe (4).

11. Protection device (3) for an discharge pipe (4) of a cooling machine (1 ) having a side wall (21 ), from which said discharge pipe (4) comes out, characterized in that is comprises a protection element (32) for the protection of said discharge pipe (4), and coupling means (31 ) configured to couple said protection element (32) to said wall (21 ), and in that said protection element (32), when coupled to said wall (21 ) through said coupling means (31 ), is rotatable by said coupling means (31 ) between a closed configuration, wherein said protection element (32) covers at least a part of said discharge pipe (4), and an open configuration.

12. Device (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said coupling means comprise at least one hinge (31 ).

13. Device (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each of said hinges (31 ) comprises a first plate (311 ), which can be coupled to said wall (21 ), by means of coupling members (314), a second plate (312), and a rotary coupling (313), for the rotational coupling between said first plate (311 ) and said second plate (312).

14. Device (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said protection element (32) comprises a first portion (321 ), coupled to said second plate (312), a second portion (322), shaped so as to house said discharge pipe (4), a third portion (323), and an opening tab (324) attached to, or obtained from said third portion (323), or a thickening.

15. Device (1 ) according to any one of claims 11 -14, characterized in that said protection element (32) has an opening or window (329).