WO2014037456A1

WO2014037456A1 - Water dispensing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2014037456A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/068395
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serge Joseph BUENO
Original assignee: Sparkling Drink Systems Innovation Center Ltd; SPARKLING DRINK SYSTEMS - INNOVATION CENTER Srl
Current assignee: Sparkling Drink Systems Innovation Center Ltd; SPARKLING DRINK SYSTEMS - INNOVATION CENTER Srl
Priority date: 2012-09-05
Filing date: 2013-09-05
Publication date: 2014-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-05
Also published as: ITMI20121479A1

Description

WATER DISPENSING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a water dispensing machine.

The present invention lies in the field of devices for adding gas to water in order to render it fizzy.

The above-cited devices, also known as carbonation devices, are constituted generally by turrets that comprise a receptacle into which an adapted bottle of water is to be inserted so that the neck of the bottle, and in particular the opening hole of the bottle, engages firmly, for example by screw coupling or bayonet fixing, an element for dispensing gas or another substance.

In the turret of these devices of the known type there is also a receptacle for gas cartridges, so that the gas that exits from said cartridges passes through the dispensing element so as to enter the bottle, following an activation of the device by the user.

These known types of carbonation device are not free from drawbacks, which include the fact that they require adapted bottles to be accommodated hermetically in the turret itself, in order to ensure a dispensing of the gas in the water of the bottle that is safe and effective.

These known types of device also have the limitation that they require complete filling of the bottle of water, after the dispensing of gas or other substance. In this manner, however, the water thus carbonated, if it is not consumed within a certain time, tends to lose its fizziness characteristics.

Another drawback of these known types of carbonation devices resides in the fact that in these devices of the known type it is not possible to adjust the desired degree of fizziness.

A further drawback consists in the fact that the volume of water to be carbonated in the bottles used in these devices of the known type is generally not larger than 1 liter and it is therefore necessary to repeat rather frequently the operations for filling the bottle with water, screwing it onto the carbonation device and dispensing the gas in order to have carbonated water.

Other systems for filtering, cooling and carbonating the water are also known. These known systems are constituted generally by a purifying system, optionally also assigned to cooling the water and to adding carbon dioxide, which is installed under a sink and connected to a faucet provided with a mixer at one end and to the domestic water system at the other end.

These systems of a known type also are not free from drawbacks, including the fact that they are particularly bulky and therefore can be installed only in certain places, such as for example under a sink.

Moreover, these systems of the known type require specialized personnel for installation and continual maintenance.

Moreover, even in these known types of systems it is not possible to adjust the degree of fizziness of the water.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a water dispensing machine that obviates the drawbacks of known types of carbonation devices, making it possible to obtain carbonated water in a manner that is immediate and directly usable for the user.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a water dispensing machine that allows varying its degree of fizziness.

Another object of the invention is the possibility to carbonate quantities of water that can be consumed directly by the user without the necessity of continually performing the operations for filling the bottle, screwing it onto the carbonation device, and dispensing the gas.

Another object of the invention is to avoid the need for interventions by specialized personnel for installation.

A further object of the invention is to integrate in a single machine a plurality of functions such as the choice of the degree of fizziness, the possibility to create a soft drink, the choice between chilling the water or not.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbonation device that is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water dispensing machine that is easy to provide and economically competitive in comparison to the background art.

This aim, these objects and others that will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a water dispensing machine, characterized in that it comprises a water container which is connected, by pump means, to a carbonation container adapted to receive a quantity of water from said water container, and a gas container, which is connected to said carbonation container, for dispensing gas into the quantity of water contained in said carbonation container, said carbonation container being connected to a dispensing device, for dispensing said quantity of water into an external container adapted to be accommodated at said dispensing device.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a water dispensing machine, illustrated by way of non- limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a first perspective view, partially in phantom lines, of a water dispensing machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a second perspective view, partially in phantom lines, of the machine of Figure 1 according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a lateral sectional view of the machine of Figure 1 according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a front sectional view of the machine of Figure 1 according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a front view of the machine of Figure 1.

With reference to the figures, a water dispensing machine, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a box-like element 10 for containing the internal components. According to the invention, the machine 1 comprises a water container 2 that is connected, by pump means 3, to a carbonation container 4 that is adapted to receive an amount of water that originates from the water container 2. The machine 1 comprises furthermore a gas container 5 that is connected to the carbonation container 4 in order to dispense gas into the quantity of water contained in said carbonation container 4. The carbonation container 4 is furthermore connected to a dispensing device 6 in order to dispense the quantity of water contained in the carbonation container 4 into an external container 7, such as for example an ordinary glass, which is adapted to be accommodated at the dispensing device 6 and in particular under a nozzle 60 for the discharge of the carbonated water. The external container 7 does not need to be fixed by sealing means to the dispensing device 6. The external container 7 is in fact adapted to be supported at the dispensing device 6 so that the mouth of the external container 7 is located at the nozzle 60 for output of the water from the water dispensing machine 1.

The water dispensing machine 1 comprises advantageously means 7 for controlling the quantity of gas dispensed from the gas container 5 into the carbonation container 4 that contains the water to be carbonated. These control means 7 comprise preferably a magnetic valve for controlling the dispensing of gas.

The carbonation container 4 can comprise a sensor for the level of the water contained therein.

The dispensing device 6 may further comprise a receptacle 8 for inserting a cartridge or pod of a substance to be dispensed into the external container 7 together with the quantity of water that is present in the carbonation container 4. This substance can be for example a concentrated syrup.

The receptacle 8 of the cartridge or pod can be accessed from the outside of the machine by means of an extractable drawer 80 or by means of a door for opening a channel for the insertion of said cartridge.

The dispensing device 6 can comprise advantageously automatic means 11 for piercing the cartridge or pod of the substance to be dispensed into the external container 7.

In the preferred embodiment, the water dispensing machine 1 comprises also a cooling device 9 that is interposed between the water container 2 and the carbonation container 4 in order to cool the water that enters the carbonation device 4. Advantageously, the water from the water container 2 passes into the cooling device 9 by gravity and from there is pumped by the pump means 3 into the carbonation container 4. The cooling device 9 also can be provided with a sensor for the level of the water that is present therein.

The water dispensing machine 1 advantageously comprises also one or more safety valves, such as the safety valve 40 applied to the carbonation container 4 or the safety valve 50 applied to the gas container 5 or an additional valve for controlling the pressure of the gas that is present in the machine 1.

Advantageously, the water container 2 has a capacity of at least 2.5 liters and preferably of approximately 3 liters, while the carbonation container 4 has a capacity comprised in the range between 300 and 400 milliliters, which substantially corresponds to the capacity of a glass, or of an ordinary can (333 milliliters).

The gas container 5, such as for example a cylindrical cartridge of carbon dioxide under pressure, can be inserted in the machine 1 by means of a snap-acting quick insertion system.

The water container 2 can be extractable, in order to be filled, or it can have a filling channel that can be accessed for example by means of an external door.

Figure 5 is a view of the front panel of the water dispensing machine 1, illustrating: - the power-on button 100;

- the optional button for cooling water 101 ;

- the water dispensing button 102;

- the button 103 for dispensing still water, i.e., water into which gas has not been dispensed from the gas container 5;

- the buttons 104 for selecting the desired degree of fizziness of the beverage.

The operation of the water dispensing machine according to the invention is described hereafter:

- the container of water 2 is filled beforehand with still water, for example from the faucet or mineral water;

- the glass (external container 7) is placed below the water dispensing nozzle 60;

- the power-on button 100 is pressed;

- (optional) the button for cooling the water 101 is pressed;

- if a soft drink or fragranced beverage is desired, the pod of syrup is inserted in the adapted receptacle 8, for example by means of the removable drawer 80;

- one of the buttons 104 is pressed depending on the desired degree of fizziness;

- the button 102 is pressed in order to dispense the beverage into the glass.

At this point the sparkling water and any syrup are dispensed into the glass.

In particular, if the pod or cartridge of syrup has been inserted, the operating mechanism of the machine is as follows: upon pressing of the water dispensing button 102, part of the water contained in the water container 2 is transferred by the pump means 3 into the carbonation container 4, optionally passing through the cooling device 9. The perforation means 1 1 are activated and descend and at the same time the gas contained in the gas container 5 is introduced in the carbonation container 4; the perforation means 11 continue their descent, while the excess gas is released, until the pod of syrup is perforated completely. After this, the water, which is now carbonated, and the syrup are dispensed simultaneously into the glass.

In practice it has been found that the water dispensing machine according to the present invention achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows dispensing water at different degrees of fizziness, optionally cold and/or fragranced, directly into a glass, in a quantity that can be consumed directly by the user, such as for example the quantity of water contained in a glass.

Another advantage of the invention resides in the fact that it is safe and reliable.

Another advantage of the invention resides in the fact that it integrates in a single solution a plurality of functions that can be combined with each other in various ways. Thus, the consumer is allowed to choose the desired degree of fizziness of the beverage, to create a soft drink, carbonated or still, chilled or at ambient temperature, all by means of a single machine.

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

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2012A001479 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

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

Claims

1. A water dispensing machine (1), characterized in that it comprises a water container (2) which is connected, by pump means (3), to a carbonation container (4) adapted to receive a quantity of water from said water container (2), and a gas container (5), which is connected to said carbonation container (4), for dispensing gas into the quantity of water contained in said carbonation container (4), said carbonation container (4) being connected to a dispensing device (6), for dispensing said quantity of water into an external container (7) adapted to be accommodated at said dispensing device (6).

2. The water dispensing machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (7) for controlling the quantity of gas dispensed by said gas container (5) into said carbonation container (4).

3. The water dispensing machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said control means (7) comprise a magnetic valve.

4. The water dispensing machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said carbonation container (4) comprises a sensor for the level of the water contained therein.

5. The water dispensing machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dispensing device (6) comprises a receptacle (8) for inserting a cartridge of a substance to be dispensed into said external container (7) together with said quantity of water of said carbonation container (4).

6. The water dispensing machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dispensing device (6) comprises automatic means (11) for perforating said cartridge of said substance to be dispensed into said external container (7).

7. The water dispensing machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cooling device (9) which is interposed between said water container (2) and said carbonation container (4) to cool the water that enters said carbonation device (4).

8. The water dispensing machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said carbonation container (4) comprises a first safety valve (40).

9. The water dispensing machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gas container (5) comprises a second safety valve (50).

10. The water dispensing machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water container (2) has a capacity of at least 2.5 liters and said carbonation container (4) has a capacity comprised in the range between 300 and 400 milliliters.