Device for sterile dispensing of beverages

Abstract

Device for the germ-free dispensing of beverages, e.g. still water and / or water enriched or mixed with CO2 or O2, juices, milk, alcoholic or alcohol-containing beverages, etc., with a liquid channel arranged or formed in a housing with a connection for supplying the beverage and a dispensing opening for dispensing the beverage, wherein the dispensing opening or the region of the dispensing opening of the liquid channel is electrically heated, wherein at least one control and / or regulating device which is set up and provided for the fact that, immediately after the actuation of a tap and the associated opening of a valve of the connection, at least one heating element which is arranged on or in the region of the dispensing opening can be heated to a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for the germ-free dispensing of beverages according to the respective preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] When treating drinking water or table water for individual consumers (households) or large-scale consumers (hospitals, businesses), it is crucial that the tapped or dispensed water is made available to the consumer in a germ-free state.

[0003] In particular, there is a risk that, with irregular use, but also with frequent use of such systems, one or more drops of water may remain at the free end of the tap, which could give rise to germs, or that the edge of the outlet may occasionally collect germs from the environment, for example, from users of the system or from the surrounding area. Such problems occur not only in drinking water or table water treatment, but generally with beverages that are dispensed in non-sterile environments.

[0004] The present invention now attempts to eliminate the above-mentioned problems and therefore offers, among other things, a device for the germ-free dispensing of beverages, which enables germ-free dispensing in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner by, in particular, individually setting a reheating interval after a dispensing process.

[0005] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1.

[0006] DE 298 23 757 U1 is based on the objective of creating an improved drinking water treatment plant or table water system, in particular to ensure improved, satisfactory, and, if possible, complete cleaning and / or disinfection and / or sterilization of the water dispensing device. However, no chemicals are to be used for this purpose.

[0007] EP 0 983 961 A1 relates to a device for the sterile dispensing of beverages or for the sterile mixing of different beverages, in particular different types of water, at the dispensing points of drinking water treatment plants or table water systems. To prevent the buildup of germs at the outlet of the dispensing point, it is proposed to electrically heat the area of the dispensing opening of the liquid channel intermittently or continuously, thus preventing germ formation.

[0008] DE 199 09 996 A1 shows that a table water bottling plant receives a supply of tap water, which is cooled and treated with compressed carbon dioxide to produce soda water, particularly for drinking applications. The bottling plant comprises a sterilization unit, a heating device, an ejection unit, a UV radiation emitter, a drying unit, and a liquid or gas purification device, or a combination of some or all of these units.

[0009] According to the invention, the device for the germ-free dispensing of beverages, for example still water and / or water enriched or mixed with CO2 or O2, milk, alcoholic or alcohol-containing beverages, etc., comprises a housing, wherein a liquid channel is formed with or in the housing.

[0010] This liquid channel has a connection for supplying the beverage and a dispensing opening for dispensing the beverage, wherein the dispensing opening or the area of the dispensing opening of the liquid channel is electrically heated or heatable.

[0011] According to the invention, the device comprises at least one control and / or regulating device which is designed and provided so that immediately after the actuation of a tap and the concomitant opening of a valve of the connection, at least one heating element which is arranged on or in the region of the dispensing opening can be heated to a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius.

[0012] Heating of the heating element directly leads to heating of the liquid channel, at least in the area of the discharge opening.

[0013] For this purpose, the control and / or regulating device can be in data communication with the valve and / or a power supply of the heating element, in particular an electric one. For example, the valve is a solenoid valve that is controlled and / or regulated by the control and / or regulating device. The same can apply to the heating element.

[0014] The combined inventive idea, according to which heating of the dispensing opening begins as soon as the tap is actuated or closed, in particular during dispensing, and the heating temperature of the heating element controlled or regulated by the control and / or regulating device to at least 80°C, therefore prevents a germ-laden liquid from being discharged from the dispensing opening.

[0015] According to at least one embodiment, the device for the germ-free dispensing of beverages, such as still water and / or CO2 or water with or without CO2, juices, milk, alcoholic and alcohol-containing beverages, etc., comprises a housing and a liquid channel arranged in the housing with a connection for supplying the beverage and a dispensing opening for dispensing the beverage, wherein the dispensing opening or the region of the dispensing opening of the liquid channel is heated or heatable, in particular electrically.

[0016] According to the invention, the device comprises at least one control and / or regulating device which is designed and provided so that immediately after the actuation of the tap and the concomitant opening of the valve of the connection, at least one heating element which is arranged on or in the dispensing opening can be heated to a temperature of at least 80°C.

[0017] The advantage of the inventive design, according to which the heating process of the heating element begins immediately after the valve is opened (i.e., at the beginning of the dispensing process), is that the heating element is already warm when the dispensing process ends and does not need to be subsequently heated to a predetermined temperature. Therefore, a heating temperature of over 80°C is usually reached immediately after the heating process, which guarantees that no germs can enter the dispensing opening from the end of the dispensing process.

[0018] In this invention (tapping process begins immediately after opening the valve), the liquid to be tapped may already be slightly warmed up at the end of the tapping process, but then after the immediate tapping at an already high disinfection temperature

[0019] The heating element can, for example, be designed as a piece of pipe that is slid onto the outer circumference of the end section of the pipeline and secured there, for example, by gluing or screwing. It can also be designed as a sleeve or the like that is attached to the end of a liquid pipe. Alternatively, the heating device can be installed and integrated into the pipe wall, for example, in the immediate vicinity of the drain opening.

[0020] It is conceivable that the liquid channel in the area of the dispensing opening, instead of being briefly heated to such a high temperature, for example higher than 80°C, at regular intervals during the time in which no beverage is being dispensed, is not heated after the completion of a dispensing process (including reheating time) until the start or end of the immediately next dispensing process.

[0021] In the present invention, it is therefore possible to dispense with repeatedly heating the liquid channel during operation of the device, in particular between two immediately successive tapping processes.

[0022] The heating element is designed, for example, as a heating coil that is powered by a low voltage of, for example, 24 V. The current intensity is selected so that the inside of the pipe section of the ring, sleeve, or similar is heated to approximately 85 to 125°C, i.e., a temperature at which the buildup of a biofilm on the inside wall of the water outlet nozzle is reliably prevented. This creates a germ barrier at the outlet point, preventing germs from forming at the outlet and getting into the drinking water the next time water is drawn or from moving inwards.

[0023] According to the invention, heating of the heating element begins at least 0.1 s and at most 0.8 s after the valve of the connection is opened.

[0024] If the valve closes in a range between at least 0.1 s and at most 0.8 s after the valve has been opened or closed, this can be understood as an immediate closing of the valve in the sense of the invention.

[0025] This time range has proven particularly advantageous for the inventors in order to achieve an efficient germ barrier, which prevents germs from moving from a lower edge of the dispensing opening into the liquid channel and settling there after the dispensing process has been completed.

[0026] According to at least one embodiment, the end of heating of the heating element is accompanied by the end of a tapping process and the concomitant closing of the valve for at least 1 s. In other words, a post-heating period is created that lasts at least 1 s after the end of the tapping process.

[0027] According to at least one embodiment, after the end of a tapping process, a post-heating period beginning from then on depends in its length and on the length of the tapping process carried out immediately before.

[0028] For example, the longer a tapping process (time between the opening and closing of the valve with respect to a single tapping) lasts, the longer a correspondingly longer post-heating period is generated by the control and / or regulation device.

[0029] For example, the duration of the tapping process is linearly or quadratically related to the length of the reheating period. It is conceivable that the reheating period, according to a linear time relationship, is twice as long as the duration of the tapping process itself (linear relationship) or four times as long (quadratic relationship).

[0030] The length of the reheating period can therefore be calculated from such a factor multiplied by the duration of the tapping process. The duration of the tapping process can be specified or measured by the control and / or regulation device.

[0031] According to at least one embodiment, the duration of the reheating process is at least the duration of the tapping process carried out immediately before.

[0032] In such a variant, the above-mentioned factor cannot be less than one, but in one embodiment is exactly one.

[0033] According to at least one embodiment, the reheating process begins during a first time interval with a first temperature of the heating element, wherein after the expiration of the first time interval, reheating is carried out with at least a second, low temperature until the end of the reheating period.

[0034] In other words, the post-heating process is divided into at least two different time and temperature sub-ranges, while in the first time interval a so-called temperature plateau can be achieved.

[0035] For example, in a subsequent second time interval, the temperature is reduced continuously (i.e. linearly) to, for example, the minimum temperature of 80°C.

[0036] It is conceivable that during the first time interval, the first temperature is set between 85 and 125°C. While it is necessary to achieve the most comprehensive germ killing and / or germ count control possible during the first time interval of the post-heating process, it has been found that during the second time interval, as long as the temperature is maintained at at least above 80°C, sufficient germ killing and / or germ count control can still be achieved.

[0037] Dividing the reheating process into at least two time intervals based on different temperatures can prove advantageous, among other things, because the first time interval, which is run at a "maximum" temperature, can be kept as short as possible to minimize the energy supply to the heating element. For example, the heating element is heated using a battery power supply.

[0038] According to at least one embodiment, the first temperature is kept constant in the first time interval, while in the second time interval the temperature drops, in particular gradually, to a lower limit temperature, in particular a temperature of 80°C.

[0039] “Gradual” in this context means that the temperature in the second time interval falls linearly, preferably over the entire time range of the second time interval.

[0040] According to at least one embodiment, the liquid channel in or in the region of the discharge opening has at least one reduced cross-section, in particular wherein this reduced cross-section can be adjusted from the outside by means of an adjustment means.

[0041] This means that, starting from the valve and extending toward the discharge opening, a predetermined cross-section is initially formed in the fluid channel within the discharge opening, with this cross-section then decreasing toward the end of the discharge opening. This reduced cross-section can therefore continue to the end of the discharge opening or be further narrowed by a further reduced cross-section.

[0042] For example, the reduced cross-section is designed as a step within the fluid channel. However, it is also conceivable that, instead of a step-like cross-section reduction, the cross-section is reduced by a conical constriction.

[0043] According to at least one embodiment, the heating element is arranged in a sleeve that encloses a lower region of the fluid channel. By arranging the heating element in this sleeve, a particularly simple replacement of the heating element can be accomplished or enabled.

[0044] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for the germ-free dispensing of beverages, for example still water and / or water enriched or mixed with CO2 or O2, juices, milk, alcoholic or alcohol-containing beverages, etc., by means of a device according to at least one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0045] This means that all features disclosed for the device are also disclosed for the method described here and vice versa.

[0046] According to at least one embodiment, immediately after actuating a tap and the concomitant opening of a valve of the connection, at least one heating element arranged at or in the region of the dispensing opening can be heated to a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius.

[0047] The method described here has the same advantages and advantageous configurations as the device described above. The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and several figures.

[0048] In the Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a device 100 described here, on the basis of which a method 1000 as described below can be carried out.

[0049] In the Fig. 2 shows a post-heating process comprising a first and a second time interval, wherein the post-heating temperature is plotted against the post-heating time.

[0050] In the figures, identical or identically functioning components are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0051] As from the Fig. 1, there is shown a device 100 for the germ-free dispensing of beverages, for example still water and / or water enriched or mixed with CO2 or O2, juices, milk, alcoholic or alcohol-containing beverages, etc., with a liquid channel 1 arranged in or formed in a housing with a connection 2 for supplying the beverage and a dispensing opening 3 for dispensing the beverage, wherein the dispensing opening 3 or the region of the dispensing opening 3 of the liquid channel 1 is heated, in particular electrically.

[0052] This dispensing opening 3 is heated by a heating element 4, which is controlled and / or regulated by a control and / or regulating device 6. In particular, a control and regulating device 6 is shown which is configured and provided so that immediately after actuation of a tap 5 and the concomitant opening of the valve 31 of the connection 2, at least the heating element 4, which is arranged on and in the region of the dispensing opening 3, can be heated to a temperature of at least 80°C.

[0053] The control and / or regulating device 6 can be connected to both the valve and the heating element 4 via data communication. For example, the control and / or regulating device 6 controls a battery element of the heating element 4, which supplies heating elements 41 of the heating element 4 with electrical energy, so that the heating elements heat up. As can be seen in particular from the Fig. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the heating element 4 is arranged circumferentially around the outer circumference of the discharge opening 3 and the liquid channel 1 in order to heat the wall material of the discharge opening 3 and / or the liquid channel 1. For example, the heating elements of the heating element 4 are in direct contact with the wall material of the discharge opening 3.

[0054] It is also conceivable that a predetermined selection of heating elements could be controlled and heated by means of the control and regulation device 6. This allows the heating effect of the heating element 4 to be adjusted.

[0055] It is conceivable for the heating element 4 to be formed from a synthetic material into which these heating elements are incorporated. By appropriately wiring the heating elements to each other and also to the control and / or regulating device 4, this selection of the heating elements to be supplied with electrical energy can be carried out by the control and / or regulating device 6.

[0056] In addition, the heating elements could either be completely embedded in the plastic material (they are then not visible from the outside), or the heating elements protrude from the plastic material or form a plane with it, so that in this case the heating elements come into direct contact with the wall material of the discharge opening 3 and / or the wall material of the liquid channel 1.

[0057] From the Fig. 2 shows that after the end of the tapping process (denoted by reference number 15), a post-heating period starting from then on is carried out with a predetermined time length NX, wherein a tapping process carried out immediately before is dimensioned with a time length AT1.

[0058] It can be seen that the time length NX of the reheating process is twice as long as the time length AT1 of the immediately preceding tapping process, whereby in the embodiment the Fig. 2 the time length NX of the reheating process only begins with the end of the tapping process 15. Further detailed is that the reheating process itself is divided into a first time interval NX1 and a second time interval NX2.

[0059] While the time interval NX1 is run at a first temperature NXT1 (and no heat is applied by the heating element 4 during tapping), the second time interval NX2 is run at a second temperature NXT2 that is continuously decreasing, particularly in the present embodiment, linearly decreasing. As soon as the temperature NXT2 differs from 80°C, the overall post-heating period ends.

[0060] A further tapping process of the same type, or even an identical one, as in the Fig. 2 shown tapping process, can be adjusted to the Fig. Connect as shown in figure 2.

[0061] Preferably, only a single reheating process is performed between two immediately consecutive tapping processes. In other words, the dispensing opening 3 is preferably not heated repeatedly, for example, periodically or intermittently, between two immediately adjacent tapping processes.

[0062] The invention is not limited to the description and the exemplary embodiment. Rather, the invention encompasses any novel feature and any combination of features, including, in particular, any combination of the patent claims, even if this feature or combination itself is not explicitly disclosed in the patent claims or the exemplary embodiments. List of reference symbols 1 fluid channel 2 connection 3 Discharge opening 4 heating element 5 tap 6 Control and / or regulating device 15 Tapping process 31 Valve 100 device 1000 procedures AT1 Duration of the tapping process NX Duration of the reheating process NX1 first time interval NX2 second time interval NXT1 first temperature NXT2 second temperature

Claims

[1] Device (100) for the germ-free dispensing of beverages, e.g. still water and / or water enriched or mixed with CO2 or O2, juices, milk, alcoholic or alcohol-containing beverages, etc., with a liquid channel (1) arranged or formed in a housing with a connection (2) for supplying the beverage and a dispensing opening (3) for dispensing the beverage, wherein the dispensing opening (3) or the region of the dispensing opening (3) of the liquid channel (1) is electrically heated, characterized by at least one control and / or regulating device (6) which is designed and provided so that immediately after the actuation of a tap (5) and the concomitant opening of a valve (31) of the connection (2), at least one heating element (4) which is arranged on or in the region of the dispensing opening (3) can be heated to a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius., and wherein heating of the heating element (4) begins at least 0.1 s and at most 0.8 s after opening of the valve (31) of the connection (2). [2] Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that an end of the heating of the heating element (4) extends at least 1 s beyond an end of a tapping process and a concomitant closing of the valve (31). [3] Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that after the end of a tapping process (15), a post-heating period starting from then on depends in its time length (NX) on the time length (AT1) of the tapping process carried out immediately before. [4] Device (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the time length (NX) of the reheating process is at least the time length (AT1) of the tapping process carried out immediately before. [5] Device (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized bythat the post-heating process begins during a first time interval (NX1) with a first temperature (NXT1) of the heating element (4), and after the expiry of the first time interval (NX1) is reheated with at least a second, lower temperature (NXT2) until the end of the post-heating period. [6] Device (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that in the first time interval (NX1) the first temperature is kept constant, while in the second time interval (NX2) the temperature falls, in particular gradually, to a lower limit temperature (NX2min), in particular a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius. [7] Device (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the liquid channel (1) in or in the region of the discharge opening (3) has at least a reduced cross-section, in particular wherein this reduced cross-section can be adjusted from the outside by means of an adjusting means. [8] Device (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the heating element (4) is arranged in a sleeve which encloses a lower region of the liquid channel (1).

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