Beverage dispensing machine provided with a receiving chamber cover for closing a beverage container such as a keg

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage dispensing machine (1) comprising a receiving chamber (3) for receiving a beverage cartridge (4), a lid (10) movable between an open position and a closed position, a latch (21) movable between a retaining position, in which the latch cooperates with a recess (26) to retain the lid in the closed position, and a release position, in which the latch extends out of said recess to allow the lid to move to the open position, a reset member (23) for resetting the latch to the retaining position, a handle (15), and a decoupling member (34). The handle and the decoupling member are movable between an active position, in which the decoupling member moves the lid away from the receiving chamber to move the latch to the release position against the reset member, and a rest position, in which the decoupling member does not act on the lid or the receiving chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing machine, which specifically includes a receiving chamber for receiving beverage containers (such as beer kegs) and a lid that allows the receiving chamber to be opened and closed in order to position or remove the beverage container in the open position.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention aims to develop a system for opening and closing a lid. Background Technology

[0003] Beverage dispensing machines are known to those skilled in the art. In particular, these beverage machines include a body and a lid, the body defining a receiving chamber for receiving beverage containers (e.g., buckets) forming beverage refills, the lid being movable relative to the body between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the beverage container can be installed in or removed from the receiving chamber; in the closed position, the beverage container is in place in the receiving chamber, and the beverage can be dispensed. An opening and closing system is arranged between the lid and the body of the machine to lock and unlock the lid relative to the body, thereby allowing the lid to be moved to the open position when unlocked, and conversely, holding the lid in the closed position when locked.

[0004] The applicant is aware that patent application EP1298088A9 describes such a beverage dispensing machine. More specifically, patent application EP1298088A9 discloses a beer machine having a cooling chamber in which a beer keg can be placed, the cooling chamber being closed by a lid. The lid is closed by pressing a handle extending through a cam into the lid, the cam having two teeth that engage in opening and closing the lid by pressing against a latch arranged on the lid. The latch engages with a recess arranged on the machine body to move to a locked or unlocked position. When the handle is lifted, i.e. pulled outwards from the lid, the first tooth activates the latch in the unlocked position, thereby allowing the lid to be opened and approach the cooling chamber. When the handle is lowered, i.e. pushed against the lid, the second tooth activates the latch in the locked position, thereby ensuring that the lid remains in the closed position of the cooling chamber.

[0005] When using the beer dispenser according to patent application EP1298088A9, once the lid closes the cooling chamber, the handle must be operated in the lowered position so that the latch moves into the recess in the locked position via the second tooth of the cam. Therefore, during the closing process, the lid does not immediately remain in the closed position in the receiving chamber; the handle must be operated. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to ensure that once the lid is moved to the closed position, it immediately remains in the closed position within the receiving chamber. Another purpose is to reduce the force applied to the handle when opening the lid. Another purpose is to facilitate the use of the beverage dispenser when changing beverage containers. Yet another purpose is to simplify the design of the lid opening and closing system implemented on the beverage preparation machine.

[0007] These objectives can be achieved by the present invention, which relates to a beverage dispensing machine comprising a receiving chamber for receiving a beverage container (particularly a barrel) forming a beverage refill, and a lid movable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the beverage container can be installed in or removed from the receiving chamber; in the closed position, the beverage container is in place and the beverage can be dispensed. Furthermore, the beverage dispensing machine includes at least one latch movable between a holding position and a releasing position. In the holding position, the at least one latch engages with at least one receiving recess to hold the lid in the closed position; in the releasing position, the at least one latch extends beyond the at least one receiving recess to allow the lid to move to the open position. According to the invention, the beverage dispensing machine includes a reset member for returning at least one latch to the holding position, a handle, and a separation member. Furthermore, the handle and the separation member are movable between an active position and a rest position. In the active position, the separation member removes the lid from the receiving chamber against the reset member moving the latch to the release position; in the rest position, the separation member does not act on the lid or the receiving chamber.

[0008] In other words, due to the presence of a reset member that brings the latch back to the locked position, the latch can move to both the locked and unlocked positions, with the locked position being implicitly defined as unconstrained. In the locked position, and when the lid is in the closed position, the latch is in a holding position, where it engages with a receiving recess to maintain the closed position. When the handle is activated to open the lid, the handle interacts with a release member to apply a counterforce between the lid and the machine body, allowing the lid to be pushed away from the machine body. Once this counterforce exceeds the reset force of the reset member, it forces the latch to the unlocked position, i.e., the released position outside the receiving recess, and then the counterforce forces the lid to the open position. The interaction between the lid and the release member allows for force multiplication, providing a counterforce greater than the reset force of the reset member. Therefore, the user does not need to apply a large pulling force on the handle to overcome the reset force of the reset member and move the latch to the unlocked position to move the lid to the open position. Once the lid is in the open position, the latch naturally returns to the locked position under the action of the reset member. Conversely, when the handle is not activated, there is no interaction between the handle and the release member. Without this interaction, once the push manually applied to the lid during its movement to the closed position is sufficient to overcome the reset force of the reset member and thus move the latch to the unlocked position, the lid can move to the closed position. Once the closed position is reached, the reset member ensures that the latch naturally returns to the locked and held position placed in the recess.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the beverage dispenser, the handle is rotatable and the separating component is translatable. In the active position, the handle is in a raised position and the separating component is in an extended position. In the rest position, the handle is in a folded position and the separating component is in a retracted position. Rotation of the handle in the raised position allows action on the separating component to ensure its translation in the extended position, and once the resetting force of the resetting member is overcome, this counterforce is generated between the cap and the body, forcing the cap open. Conversely, rotation of the handle in the folded position allows the separating component to return to the retracted position to close the cap.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the beverage dispenser, the dispenser includes a return spring for resetting the dispensing component to a rest position. Therefore, under the action of the spring, the dispensing component naturally returns to the rest position, which simultaneously ensures that the handle also returns to the rest position.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the beverage dispenser, the handle and separation component are arranged on the lid. This arrangement is advantageous for the implementation of the beverage dispenser. However, a variation in which the handle and separation component are arranged on the body of the machine instead of the lid is also possible.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the beverage dispenser, the separating component includes at least one lug supported on the receiving chamber. Preferably, two lugs are provided for better force distribution.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the beverage dispenser, at least one latch is arranged on the lid, and at least one receiving recess is arranged on the receiving chamber. However, according to an alternative embodiment, the reverse is also possible. Preferably, according to this embodiment, at least one latch is radially translatable on the lid.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the beverage dispensing machine, the reset member for returning at least one latch to the holding position is a spring. Variations of the reset member are possible, such as a flexible sheet that naturally pushes the latch into the holding position (locked position).

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the beverage dispenser, the receiving chamber has an upper opening, and the lid is rotatably movable between an open and closed position. Specifically, this embodiment allows a vertically extending beverage container to be placed in the receiving chamber. The lid pivots relative to the machine body to facilitate opening and closing. Variations are conceivable, wherein the lid is arranged on the front or rear side of the receiving chamber, particularly for inserting a horizontally extending beverage container into the receiving chamber from the front or rear. According to this preferred embodiment, the beverage dispenser includes an extraction device for extracting the beverage contained in the beverage container, the extraction device being arranged near the upper opening. Preferably, according to this embodiment, a handle is arranged near the beverage extraction device, which facilitates opening the lid from the front of the beverage dispenser, with the beverage extraction device facing the user. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description based on the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 An overall view of a beverage dispenser according to a preferred and non-limiting embodiment is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 The two latches installed in the cover are shown in particular;

[0019] Figure 3 Specifically, the pivotal connection of the handle relative to a fixed support member arranged in the cover is shown;

[0020] Figure 4 A front view shows the latch, handle, and release mechanism arranged in the cover;

[0021] Figure 5 The presence of two receiving recesses on the main body of the machine is highlighted, in which the latch is housed;

[0022] Figure 6 The first position of the handle and the detachable component is shown, with the cover in the closed position;

[0023] Figure 7 Highlighted according to Figure 6 The position of the latch in the receiving recess at the first position;

[0024] Figure 8 The second position of the handle and the separating component is shown, where the cover is ready to be moved to the open position;

[0025] Figure 9 Highlighted according to Figure 8 The second position of the latch is located in the receiving recess. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the following description, unless otherwise stated, the term "machine" is used to refer to the beverage dispensing machine that is the subject of this invention.

[0027] The terms “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc., used in this specification refer to the normal position of the machine’s components in the working configuration on a horizontal support plane, with the machine’s extraction device facing the user.

[0028] Figure 1 A preferred embodiment of the machine 1 according to the invention is shown, which includes a body 2 that extends vertically and preferably has a generally cylindrical shape. Other shapes of the body 2 can be considered, such as a parallelepiped shape. Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the main body 2 defines a receiving chamber 3 in which a beverage container 4 can be placed. In this case, the beverage container 4 is a keg, such as a beer keg, and the receiving chamber 3 is equipped with a cooling system 5, such as the cooling system already present on a beer tap designed for home use, enabling the production of high-quality draft beer at home while maintaining all the aroma and freshness of the beer packaged in a small keg, such as a 5 or 6-liter keg. Figure 1 As shown, the machine 1 also includes an extraction device 6 equipped with a rod 7 and a pouring port 8. The extraction device 6 is arranged in the upper part 2a of the main body 2, at the height of the upper opening 9 of the receiving chamber 3, through which the beverage container 4 is introduced.

[0029] like Figure 1 , Figure 6 and Figure 8As shown, the machine 1 includes a lid 10 that allows the upper opening 9 of the receiving chamber 3 to be closed. The lid 10 is pivotally mounted relative to the body 2 along axis X1, opposite the extraction device 6, such that the lid 10 can be moved to a closed position that holds the beverage container 4 within the receiving chamber 3 (specifically in the...). Figure 1 , Figure 6 and Figure 8 (as shown in the diagram), or moved to the open position (not shown), in which the receiving chamber 3 is accessible to allow the beverage container 4 to be removed once emptied and replaced with another full container. The lid 10 is positioned relative to the body 2 in... Figure 1 The double arrow 11 shown pivots from front to back along axis X1 or vice versa, which is advantageous for approaching the receiving chamber 3 when facing machine 1.

[0030] The following description details a preferred embodiment of the opening and closing system 12 between the cover 10 and the body 2 on the machine 1.

[0031] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 6 and Figure 8 The lid 10 includes a housing 13, the housing 13 having a cavity 14 on its upper side for accommodating a handle 15. When the lid 10 is in the closed position, the cavity 14 and the handle 15 are adjacent to the extraction device 6, particularly as shown in the image. Figure 1 As shown, when the user is facing the machine 1, this facilitates opening the cover 10 by pulling up the handle 15.

[0032] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 8 The cover 10 includes an inner shell 16, which, in its closed position, closes the upper opening 9 of the receiving chamber 3 via a heat seal 17 disposed at the upper opening 9. The outer shell 13 and the inner shell 16 define a compartment 18. Figures 2 to 5 This allows for a more detailed illustration of some components of the opening and closing system 12 located in compartment 18. For example, in... Figure 2 As shown, the inner housing 16 includes two retainers 19 and 20, in which two latches 21 and 22 are slidably mounted along the X2 and X3 axes, respectively. Figure 2As shown, the two axes X2 and X3 extend radially on the cover 10. Two return springs 23 and 24 are placed in these retainers 19 and 20, between the rear ends 21a and 22a of the latches 21 and 22 and the rear ends 19a and 20a of the retainers 19 and 20. This allows the latches 21 and 22 to be naturally brought back to the locked position, in which the heads 25 and 25' of the latches 21 and 22 protrude from the retainers 19 and 20 and open to the front of the inner housing 16 through two windows 160 and 161 arranged on the contour 162 of the inner housing 16, particularly as Figure 4 As shown.

[0033] Reference Figures 3 to 9 The heads 25 and 25' of latches 21 and 22 each include upper inclined surfaces 25a and 25'a and lower inclined surfaces 25b and 25'b. The body 2 of machine 1 includes two receiving recesses 26 and 27 that receive the heads 25 and 25' of latches 21 and 22 when the cover 10 is in the closed position. These receiving recesses 26 and 27 include... Figures 6 to 9 The upper inclined plane 26a is shown in the diagram. Figures 6 to 9 Only the upper slope 26a of the receiving recess 26 is shown, which is also present in another receiving recess 27. When the cover 10 is lifted upwards and away from the body 2 of the machine 1, the upper slope 26a on the receiving recesses 26, 27 and the upper slope 25a, 25'a on the heads 25, 25' of the latches 21, 22 will facilitate the latches 21, 22 within the retainers 19, 20 to retract to the unlocked position, according to which the springs 23, 24 are compressed, as described below. Figure 5 In the diagram, the upper inclined surfaces 26a of the receiving recesses 26 and 27 are not shown. These upper inclined surfaces 26a are arranged in... Figure 5 On the part 200 of the main body 2 (not shown), the positioning of the heads 25, 25' of the latches 21, 22 in the receiving recesses 26, 27 can be seen; however, the part 200 is... Figures 6 to 9 As shown in the image.

[0034] Reference Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 8 A support member 28 is installed in compartment 18 and fixed to outer shell 13 and inner shell 16. The support member 28 includes two side ends 28a, 28b defining two first support members 30a, 31a, which mate with two second support members 30b arranged on the inner surface 29 of outer shell 13. Figure 6 and Figure 8Only the second support member 30b, which mates with the side end 28a of the support member 28, is shown in the diagram; the design of the second support member mates with the other side end 28b of the support member 28 is identical. Figure 6 and Figure 8 Supporting parts 28 are not shown in the diagram to better identify other components of the opening and closing system 12. These first support parts 30a, 31a and second support parts 30b cooperate to receive two cylindrical studs 32, 33 arranged on the sides 15a, 15b of the handle 15 via a pivotal connection along axis X4. These studs 32, 33 of the handle 15 extend from the two sides 14a, 14b of the cavity 14 into the interior of the compartment 18, which receives the handle 15 outside the housing 13. Therefore, the handle 15 can be grasped from outside the cover 10 and pulled upwards by inserting fingers into the cavity 14, causing the handle 15 to pivot along axis X4.

[0035] Reference Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 9 The separating component 34 is placed in the compartment 18 and has two forward-extending and downward-curving lugs 35, 36 at its front. These lugs 35, 36 pass through two corresponding openings 37, 38 arranged on the inner shell 16 to support the upper surface 39a of the flange 39 arranged on the part 200 of the body 2. Figures 6 to 9 Only the lug 35 supported on the flange 39 is shown, and its principle is the same as that of the other lug 36. The rear of the separating component 34 includes two downwardly extending pins 40, 41. These two pins 40, 41 are respectively disposed within the compartment 18 relative to two tubular cavities 42 arranged on the inner shell 16. Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 8 Only one tubular cavity 42 appears in the compartment, and each tubular cavity 42 and corresponding pins 40, 41 allow the reception of springs 43, 44 compressed and mounted between the inner housing 16 and the separating component 34. The tubular cavity 42 receives the lower portion of the springs 43, 44, and the pins 40, 41 engage in the upper portion of the springs 43, 44. The handle 15 includes a front surface 45, the lower edge 46 of which supports two front upper portions 47, 47' of the separating component 34. The support point between the front upper portions 47, 47' and the lower edge 46 is offset forward relative to the pivot axis X4 of the handle 15, and conversely, offset rearward relative to the support point of the lugs 35, 36 on the flange 39 of the part 200 of the body 2. Thus, the separating component 34 is balanced in the compartment 18, as the springs 43, 44 hold the front upper portions 47, 47' supported on the lower edge 46 and the lugs 35, 36 supported on the flange 39.

[0036] In the active position, when the handle 15 is operated and pivots upward along axis X4 in the direction of arrow 48, the lower edge 46 rests on the upper front portions 47, 47'. Since the lugs 35, 36 are supported on the flange 39 of the stationary body 2, the handle 15 is raised due to the resulting lever arm, and consequently, the outer shell 13 and inner shell 16 are raised relative to the body 2. The separating member 34 is thus translated downward along the vertical axis X5 relative to the raised compartment 18, causing the openings 37, 38 of the inner shell 16 to rise relative to the lugs 35, 36 located in these openings 37, 38, as... Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown. In the activated position, lugs 35 and 36 thus enter the protruding position relative to openings 37 and 38, as... Figure 8 As shown. Lid 10 is lifted from body 2, causing latches 21, 22 to move upward until the upper slopes 25a, 25'a of heads 25, 25' rest on the upper slope 26a of receiving recesses 26, 27. This forces latches 21, 22 to move backward along axes X2 and X3 once the lifting force of lid 10 relative to body 2 can overcome the restoring force of springs 23, 24, and are in the retracted position (unlocked position) within retainers 19, 20. Once latches 21, 22 extend from receiving recesses 26, 27 of body 2, lid 10 can move to the open position. Once open, springs 23, 24 then push latches 21, 22 back to the extended position (locked position) from retainers 19, 20. Due to the lever arm applied as described above, the lifting force of lid 10 increases when handle 15 is pulled upward in the direction of arrow 48, which makes it possible to open lid 10 without the user applying a large pulling force on handle 15.

[0037] In the rest position, when the lid 10 is opened and the handle 15 is released by the user, the springs 43, 44, due to their compression, push the separating member 34 and the inner shell 16. This causes the separating member 34 to translate within the compartment 18 and move closer to the outer shell 13. The upper front portions 47, 47' of the separating member 34 then push the lower edge 46 of the handle 15, causing the handle 15 to pivot along axis X4 back into the cavity 14 on the outer shell 13. The separating member 34 then returns to its equilibrium position in the compartment 18, in which it can neither act on the lid 10 nor on the flange 39 of the body 2. This allows the lid 10 to close again, during which the separating member 34 has no effect on the lid 10 or the flange 39 of the body 2. In this rest position, the lugs 35, 36 thus enter a retracted position relative to the openings 37, 38 of the inner shell 16, as... Figure 6 As shown.

[0038] When the user manually moves the cover 10 to close the receiving chamber 3, the lower slopes 25b and 25'b of the heads 25 and 25' of the latches 21 and 22 are supported on the upper surface 39a of the flange 39 of the body 2. This forces the latches 21 and 22 to return to the interior of the retainers 19 and 20 (unlocked position) once the supporting force applied to the cover 10 is sufficient to overcome the restoring force of the springs 23 and 24. When the cover 10 is in the closed position, the springs 23 and 24 naturally push the latches back into the receiving recesses 26 and 27, in the locked and retained position of the cover 10 closing the receiving chamber 3.

[0039] The above reference Figures 1 to 9 The described implementation is not limiting and various variations are possible. For example, receiving recesses 26, 27 can be arranged on the cover 10, while the retainers 19, 20, springs 23, 24, and latches 21, 22 can be arranged on the body 2. The number of latches can also be varied, for example, one or more than two, thereby including the same number of receiving recesses, retainers, and return springs in the opening and closing system 12. A handle 15 and a separation member 34 can also be arranged on the body 2, with the actuation handle 15 allowing the cover 10 to be pushed to lift it off the body 2, and ensuring that once the lifting force is greater than the return force of the return springs 23, 24, the latches 21, 22 disengage from the receiving recesses 26, 27.

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing machine (1) comprising a receiving chamber (3) for receiving a beverage container (4) forming a beverage refill, and a lid (10) movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the beverage container can be installed in or removed from the receiving chamber (3), and in the closed position the beverage container is in place and beverage can be dispensed, the beverage dispensing machine (1) comprising at least one latch (21, 22) movable between a holding position and a releasing position, wherein in the holding position the at least one latch engages with at least one receiving recess (26, 27) to hold the lid (10) in the closed position, and in the releasing position the at least one latch extends from the at least one receiving recess (26, 27) to allow the lid (10) to move to the open position, characterized in that, The beverage dispenser (1) includes a reset member, a handle (15), and a separation member (34) for resetting the at least one latch (21, 22) to a holding position. The handle (15) and the separation member (34) are movable between an active position and a rest position. In the active position, the separation member (34) removes the lid (10) from the receiving chamber (3) against the reset member moving the at least one latch (21, 22) to the release position. In the rest position, the separation member (34) does not act on the lid (10) or the receiving chamber (3).

2. The beverage dispensing machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handle (15) is rotatable and the separation component (34) is translatable between the active position and the rest position. In the active position, the handle (15) is in the raised position and the separation component (34) is in the extended position. In the rest position, the handle (15) is in the folded position and the separation component (34) is in the retracted position.

3. Beverage dispensing machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The beverage dispenser includes a return spring (43, 44) that returns the separating component (34) to a rest position.

4. Beverage dispensing machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that The handle (15) and the separation component (34) are arranged on the cover (10).

5. The beverage dispensing machine (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The separating component (34) includes at least one lug (35, 36) supported on the receiving chamber (3).

6. The beverage dispensing machine (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The at least one latch (21, 22) is disposed on the cover (10), and the at least one receiving recess (26, 27) is disposed on the receiving chamber (3).

7. The beverage dispensing machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The at least one latch (21, 22) is radially movable on the cover (10).

8. The beverage dispensing machine (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The reset member for resetting the at least one latch (21, 22) to the holding position is a spring (23, 24).

9. The beverage dispensing machine (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The receiving chamber (3) has an upper opening (9), and the cover (10) is rotatable between the open position and the closed position.

10. The beverage dispensing machine (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The beverage dispenser includes an extraction device (6) for extracting the beverage contained in the beverage container (4), the extraction device (6) being arranged near the upper opening (9).

11. The beverage dispensing machine (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The handle (15) is located near the extraction device (6).

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