TWI846561B - Sterilization device for drink machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A sterilization device for drink machine including an output structure, a fixed module and a sterilizing module is provided. The output structure has a brewing head. The fixed module is disposed on the output structure, and the brewing protrudes from the fixed module. The sterilizing module is detachably connected to the fixed module and covers the brewing head. The brewing head is adapted to output a drink and the drink passes through the fixed module and the sterilizing module in sequence, and the sterilizing module generates a sterilizing light and irradiates the drink.

Description

Sterilization device for beverage machine

The present invention relates to a machine device, and in particular to a sterilization device for a beverage machine.

When making drinks, the existing beverage machine uses a pump and pipeline to transfer water to the boiler for boiling. After the water boils, it flows to the beverage raw material area to brew the drink. The brewed drink flows out of the brewing head into the cup. Since the water used to brew drinks in the beverage machine on the market is generally only heated to about 90°C, tap water must usually reach a boiling point to achieve the effect of sterilization. Therefore, there is a concern that the existing beverage machine does not fully sterilize the tap water. In addition, the pipeline inside the beverage machine is prone to dirt accumulation and bacteria breeding after long-term use. Therefore, developing a beverage machine that can fully sterilize and disinfect beverages has become an important development goal.

The present invention provides a sterilization device for a beverage machine, which performs a sterilization process after the beverage is made, so as to overcome the shortcoming of the existing beverage machine that the beverage is not fully sterilized.

The sterilization device for a beverage machine of the present invention comprises an output structure, a fixed module and a sterilization module. The output structure has a brewing head. The fixed module is arranged on the output structure, and the brewing head protrudes from the fixed module. The sterilization module is detachably connected to the fixed module and covers the brewing head. The brewing head is suitable for outputting a beverage and passing through the fixed module and the sterilization module in sequence, and at the same time, the sterilization module generates a sterilization light and irradiates the beverage.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned fixed module has a first shell, a second shell and a protective shell. The first shell and the second shell are connected to each other to form a accommodating space and a through hole. The protective shell is connected to the first shell and is opposite to the through hole. The protective shell partially surrounds the brewing head and has a plurality of through holes connected to the brewing head.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned fixed module has a plurality of elastic pads, which are arranged in the first shell and the second shell and contact the output structure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned sterilization module has a main body, an unlocking plate, multiple springs, a cover plate and at least one ultraviolet light component. The main body accommodates the protective shell and the brewing head, and the multiple outlets of the main body are connected to the multiple through holes and the brewing head. The unlocking plate is movably arranged on the main body, and the two ends of each spring are respectively connected to the main body and the unlocking plate. The cover plate is arranged on the main body to overlap the unlocking plate. At least one ultraviolet light component is arranged on one side of the main body to connect to an internal space of the main body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the unlocking plate has a push portion and two engaging portions, the push portion protrudes from the main body and the cover plate, and the two engaging portions are respectively engaged with corresponding springs.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned fixed module has a plurality of hooks, which are arranged on the first shell and the second shell and face the sterilization module. The plurality of hooks are passed through the cover plate and are respectively connected to a plurality of engaging parts to connect the fixed module and the sterilization module into one body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned push portion is suitable for moving relative to the main body and the cover, and the multiple engaging portions respectively stretch the multiple springs and unlock the multiple hooks.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one ultraviolet light component has a light-transmitting mirror, a light source and a heat sink fin. The light-transmitting mirror faces a light channel of the main body. The light source is adjacent to the light-transmitting mirror. The heat sink fin accommodates the light source and the light-transmitting mirror and is engaged with the main body. The light source generates sterilizing light and passes through the light-transmitting mirror and the light channel in sequence.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of the at least one ultraviolet light component mentioned above includes two, and the two ultraviolet light components are respectively arranged on two opposite short sides of the main body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned sterilization module has a control panel and a front cover, the control panel is arranged on a long side of the main body and coupled to at least one ultraviolet light component, and the front cover is arranged on the main body and covers the control panel.

Based on the above, the sterilization device for a beverage machine of the present invention is equipped with a sterilization module, which surrounds the outside of the brewing head. When the brewing head outputs beverages, the sterilization module simultaneously generates sterilization light to irradiate the beverages for sterilization, thereby overcoming the shortcoming of existing beverage machines that the beverages are not fully sterilized.

100: Sterilization device for beverage machine

110: Output structure

111: Brewing head

120: Fixed module

121: First shell

122: Second shell

123: Protective shell

124: Elastic pad

125: Hook

130: Sterilization module

131: Subject

132: Unlock board

1321: Promotion Department

1322: snap-fit part

133: Spring

134: Cover plate

135: UV light components

1351: Translucent mirror

1352: Light source

1353: Heat sink fins

136: Control panel

137: Front cover

L: Sterilizing light

H:Through hole

W: Drinks

AS: Accommodation space

IS:Inner space

OC: Optical Channel

P1: Beverage export

P2: Export

S1: Long side

S2: Short side

TH: Perforation

Figure 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a sterilization device for a beverage machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the components of the sterilization device for a beverage machine in FIG. 1A .

FIG. 1C is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the sterilization device for the beverage machine in FIG. 1A from another angle.

FIG1D is a schematic diagram of the components of the sterilization device for a beverage machine in FIG1C.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the component breakdown of the sterilization module of Figure 1B.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sterilization device for a beverage machine in Figure 1A along the A-A line segment.

Figures 4A to 4B are schematic diagrams of the unlocking process of the sterilization device for the beverage machine in Figure 1A.

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a sterilization device for a beverage machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the components of the sterilization device for a beverage machine of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the sterilization device for a beverage machine of FIG. 1A from another angle. FIG. 1D is a schematic diagram of the components of the sterilization device for a beverage machine of FIG. 1C.

Referring to Figures 1A to 1D, a sterilization device 100 for a beverage machine of the present invention includes an output structure 110, a fixed module 120, and a sterilization module 130. The output structure 110 has a brewing head 111, wherein the brewing head 111 has a plurality of beverage outlets P1, and the plurality of beverage outlets P1 are used to output a variety of different beverages such as coffee, milk, hot water, and tea. The fixed module 120 is disposed on the output structure 110, and the brewing head 111 of the output structure 110 passes through and protrudes below the fixed module 120. The sterilization module 130 is detachably connected to the fixed module 120 and covers the brewing head 111.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the components of the sterilization module of Figure 1B. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the sterilization device for the beverage machine of Figure 1A along the AA line segment.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the brewing head 111 is suitable for outputting at least one beverage W and sequentially passing through the fixed module 120 and the sterilization module 130. At the same time, the sterilization module 130 generates a sterilization light L and irradiates the beverage W.

1B and 1D , the fixed module 120 has a first shell 121, a second shell 122, a protective shell 123 and a plurality of elastic pads 124. The first shell 121 and the second shell 122 are connected to each other to form a receiving space AS and a through hole TH. Specifically, the first shell 121 and the second shell 122 are engaged with each other through concave-convex fitting and are locked into one body through a plurality of screws. The protective shell 123 is connected to the first shell 121 and is located opposite to the through hole TH. The protective shell 123 partially surrounds the brewing head 111 and has multiple through holes H connected to multiple beverage outlets P1 of the brewing head 111, so that the beverage W is suitable for flowing through the corresponding through holes H from each beverage outlet P1. With reference to Figures 1B and 3, multiple elastic pads 124 are arranged in the first shell 121 and the second shell 122 and contact the output structure 110. Through the abutment of the multiple elastic pads 124, the output structure 110 is stably engaged with the first shell 121 and the second shell 122.

Referring to FIG. 1B, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the sterilization module 130 has a main body 131, a lock plate 132, a plurality of springs 133, a cover plate 134 and at least one ultraviolet light component 135.

The main body 131 accommodates the protective shell 123 and the brewing head 111, and the plurality of outlets P2 of the main body 131 are connected to the plurality of through holes H and the plurality of beverage outlets P1 of the brewing head 111 to form a flow path for the beverage W. The unlocking plate 132 is movably disposed at the top of the main body 131 near the fixed module 120. Each spring 133 is disposed in the main body 131 and the two ends of each spring 133 are respectively connected to the main body 131 and the unlocking plate 132. Each spring 133 is used to limit the unlocking plate 132 to an initial position in the main body 131 so that the sterilization module 130 is engaged with the fixed module 120. The cover plate 134 is disposed on the main body 131 to overlap the unlocking plate 132 and the surface of the cover plate 134 contacts the first shell 121 and the second shell 122. At least one ultraviolet light component 135 is disposed on one side of the main body 131 and connected to an internal space IS of the main body 131. A part of the internal space IS accommodates the brewing head 111 and the protective shell 123, and another part of the internal space IS constitutes an optical channel OC.

Referring to FIG. 1C and FIG. 2 , the unlocking plate 132 further comprises a pushing portion 1321 and two engaging portions 1322 . The pushing portion 1321 protrudes from the main body 131 and the cover plate 134 . The two engaging portions 1322 are respectively engaged with corresponding springs 133 .

In addition, the sterilization module 130 has a control panel 136 and a front cover 137. The control panel 136 is disposed on a long side S1 of the main body 131 and coupled to at least one ultraviolet light component 135, and the front cover 137 is disposed on the main body 131 and covers the control panel 136. The control panel 136 is suitable for activating at least one ultraviolet light component 135 under specific conditions, so that at least one ultraviolet light component 135 generates sterilizing light L.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the number of at least one ultraviolet light component 135 includes two, and the two ultraviolet light components 135 are respectively arranged on the two opposite short sides S2 of the main body 131 , thereby achieving two-way irradiation of the optical channel OC to enhance the sterilization effect on the beverage W.

2 and 3, each ultraviolet light assembly 135 has a light-transmitting mirror 1351, a light source 1352, and a heat sink fin 1353. The light-transmitting mirror 1351 faces the optical channel OC of the main body 131, wherein the light-transmitting mirror 1351 can be used to focus, filter, or limit the propagation range of the sterilizing light L. The light source 1352 is adjacent to the light-transmitting mirror 1351. The heat sink fin 1353 accommodates the light source 1352 and the light-transmitting mirror 1351 and is engaged with the main body 131. The heat sink fin 1353 is used to absorb the waste heat generated by the operation of the light source 1352 and dissipate the waste heat into the air through heat conduction. The light source 1352 generates sterilizing light L and passes through the transparent mirror 1351 and the light channel OC in sequence to illuminate the multiple drinks W output from the multiple drink outlets P1 of the brewing head 111.

Figures 4A to 4B are schematic diagrams of the unlocking process of the sterilization device for the beverage machine in Figure 1A.

Referring to FIG. 1D and FIG. 4A , the fixed module 120 has a plurality of hooks 125 disposed on the bottom surface of the first shell 121 and the second shell 122 and facing the cover plate 134 of the sterilization module 130. The plurality of hooks 125 are passed through the cover plate 134 and are respectively engaged with the plurality of engaging portions 1322 of the unlocking plate 132 to connect the fixed module 120 and the sterilization module 130 as a whole. Specifically, when the plurality of hooks 125 pass through the cover plate 134 and the unlocking plate 132, the elastic force of the plurality of springs 133 pulls the plurality of engaging portions 1322 to engage with the plurality of hooks 125 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4B , the push portion 1321 of the unlocking plate 132 is adapted to move relative to the main body 131 and the cover plate 134, so that the multiple engaging portions 1322 respectively stretch the multiple springs 133 and unlock the multiple hooks 125 of the fixed module 120. Then, the sterilization module 130 is removed from the fixed module 120, so that the cover plate 134 and the multiple engaging portions 1322 are separated from the multiple hooks 125.

On the contrary, referring to FIG. 4B to FIG. 4A, the cover plate 134 of the sterilization module 130 is aligned with the multiple hooks 125 of the fixed module 120, so that the multiple hooks 125 pass through the cover plate 134 and push the multiple clamping parts 1322 at the same time, and the multiple clamping parts 1322 stretch the multiple springs 133 to accumulate elastic force until the multiple hooks 125 pass through the multiple clamping parts 1322, and the stretched multiple springs 133 elastically recover to drive the multiple clamping parts 1322 to clamp the multiple hooks 125, so as to install the sterilization module 130 on the fixed module 120.

In summary, the sterilization device for a beverage machine of the present invention is equipped with a sterilization module, which surrounds the outside of the brewing head. When the brewing head outputs beverages, the sterilization module simultaneously generates sterilization light to irradiate the beverages for sterilization, thereby overcoming the shortcoming of existing beverage machines that the beverages are not fully sterilized.

100: Sterilization device for beverage machine

110: Output structure

120: Fixed module

130: Sterilization module

Claims (9)

A sterilization device for a beverage machine comprises: an output structure having a brewing head; a fixed module disposed on the output structure, and the brewing head protrudes from the fixed module; and a sterilization module detachably connected to the fixed module and covering the brewing head, wherein the brewing head is suitable for outputting a beverage and passing through the fixed module and the sterilization module in sequence, and the The sterilization module generates a sterilization light and irradiates the beverage, wherein the fixed module has a first shell, a second shell and a protective shell, the first shell and the second shell are connected to each other to form a containing space and a through hole, the protective shell is connected to the first shell and is located opposite to the through hole, the protective shell partially surrounds the brewing head and has a plurality of through holes connected to the brewing head. As described in claim 1, the sterilization device for a beverage machine, wherein the fixed module has a plurality of elastic pads, which are arranged in the first shell and the second shell and contact the output structure. A sterilization device for a beverage machine as described in claim 1, wherein the sterilization module has a main body, an unlocking plate, multiple springs, a cover plate, and at least one ultraviolet light component, the main body accommodates the protective shell and the brewing head, and the multiple outlets of the main body are connected to the through holes and the brewing head, the unlocking plate is movably arranged on the main body, the two ends of each spring are respectively connected to the main body and the unlocking plate, the cover plate is arranged on the main body to overlap the unlocking plate, and the at least one ultraviolet light component is arranged on one side of the main body to connect to an internal space of the main body. As described in claim 3, the sterilization device for a beverage machine, wherein the unlocking plate has a pushing portion and two engaging portions, the pushing portion protrudes from the main body and the cover plate, and the two engaging portions are respectively engaged with the corresponding springs. As described in claim 4, the sterilization device for a beverage machine, wherein the fixed module has a plurality of hooks, which are arranged on the first shell and the second shell and face the sterilization module, and the hooks are passed through the cover plate and respectively clamped on the clamping parts to connect the fixed module and the sterilization module into one body. A sterilizing device for a beverage machine as described in claim 5, wherein the push portion is adapted to move relative to the main body and the cover, and the engaging portions respectively stretch the springs and unlock the hooks. As described in claim 3, the sterilization device for a beverage machine, wherein the at least one ultraviolet light component has a light-transmitting mirror, a light source and a heat sink, the light-transmitting mirror faces a light channel of the main body, the light source is adjacent to the light-transmitting mirror, the heat sink accommodates the light source and the light-transmitting mirror and is engaged with the main body, the light source generates the sterilization light and passes through the light-transmitting mirror and the light channel in sequence. As described in claim 7, the sterilization device for a beverage machine includes two ultraviolet light components, and the two ultraviolet light components are respectively arranged on two opposite short sides of the main body. A sterilization device for a beverage machine as described in claim 3, wherein the sterilization module has a control panel and a front cover, the control panel is disposed on a long side of the main body and coupled to the at least one ultraviolet light component, and the front cover is disposed on the main body and covers the control panel.

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