Vending machine and associated cleaning procedure

Abstract

Vending machine (1), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine (2), with a water tank (3), a milk frother (4) and a removable milk reservoir (5) which can be connected to the milk frother (4) via a connection device (6) and a connecting line (7), wherein the connection device (6) can be positioned over a drip tray (9) when the milk reservoir (5) is not connected, such that water flowing through the milk frother (4), the connecting line (7) and the connection device (6) during a cleaning process flows into the drip tray (9), characterized in that a coupling (10) is provided, via which the positionable connection device (6) can be fixed to a spout cover (11), a device front (12) or a side panel (13).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage vending machine, in particular a coffee vending machine, comprising a water tank, a milk frother, and a removable milk reservoir. The invention also relates to a method for cleaning such a beverage vending machine.

[0002] A generic coffee machine is known, for example, from EP 3 415 053 A1.

[0003] Modern beverage machines, and especially fully automatic coffee machines, are capable of producing a wide variety of different beverages, including mixed coffee drinks such as cappuccino. Depending on the system, the milk foam required for this process is drawn from a milk reservoir, frothed, and dispensed through a spout. After producing several such mixed coffee drinks, or if the beverage machine has not been used for an extended period, it is necessary, or at least desirable, to rinse and clean the milk-carrying parts in the beverage machine, such as the milk frother and milk-carrying connecting lines. This is done as follows for these machines, which can be roughly divided into three different systems: In a vending machine that draws milk from a milk carton or container via a hose, the milk intake hose is typically pulled out of the milk container, wiped clean, and placed in the drip tray, a grounds tray, or a glass. Water and steam are then passed through the hose and the milk frother, which allows at least a large portion of the milk to be rinsed out.

[0004] In a system that uses a milk jug that can be docked to the vending machine, the milk jug is first removed from the vending machine, the milk is removed from the jug, the jug is rinsed, and then reconnected to the vending machine. Water or steam is then passed through the entire milk system, which also allows most of the milk to be dispensed. Finally, the milk jug is cleaned again. This version and the one described above feature a milk frother and are suitable for a so-called second-cup function.

[0005] In the third system, a milk jug is also docked to the beverage machine, with the latter providing the necessary operating media, such as steam, water, and air. A milk foam dispenser is integrated into the milk jug, preventing a two-cup function. Due to the complex design, this system requires particularly laborious cleaning of the individual components to remove milk residue.

[0006] The disadvantage of the aforementioned variants, however, is that for a thorough and hygienic cleaning of the milk-carrying parts, they often have to be removed from the device and cleaned separately. This often leads to cleaning being used less or hardly at all due to the considerable effort involved.

[0007] The present invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a beverage dispenser which overcomes the disadvantages known from the prior art and, in particular, also enables simplified cleaning of milk-carrying parts.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​equipping a beverage vending machine with a removable milk reservoir that can be connected to the beverage vending machine via a connecting device and can thus be easily decoupled from the beverage vending machine via the connecting device when cleaning milk-carrying parts in the beverage vending machine. At the same time, the connecting device is either already positioned over a drip tray during cleaning or can be positioned over such a drip tray in such a way that water flowing through the milk frother or all milk-carrying parts during the cleaning process can drain into the drip tray.The beverage dispenser according to the invention, which can be designed in particular as a fully automatic coffee machine, has a water tank, a milk frother, and the previously described removable milk reservoir, which can be connected to the milk frother via the connection device and a connecting line. According to the invention, the connection device is positioned above the drip tray when the milk reservoir is not connected, or can be positioned above it, in such a way that, during the cleaning process, rinsing water flowing through the connecting line can drain directly into the drip tray. This significantly simplifies the cleaning process of all milk-carrying parts in the beverage dispenser, which is why cleaning is generally more convenient for the user and is therefore more likely to be carried out by them.In the beverage vending machine according to the invention, cleaning of the milk-carrying parts is thus possible without major reconstruction work and, in the best case, simply by removing the milk reservoir, whereby, in addition, the connection device may have to be positioned accordingly above the drip tray, unless this is already pre-positioned.

[0010] According to the invention, the connecting device can be positioned above the drip tray when the milk reservoir is not connected. A coupling is provided by which the positionable connecting device can be fixed to a spout cover, a front of the appliance, or a side panel. Such a coupling thus makes it possible to remove the connecting device from its original position intended for connection to the milk reservoir and position it in a more convenient position for cleaning. Such a coupling can, for example, also have a handle element by means of which the coupling and the connecting device can be easily grasped.

[0011] The coupling is conveniently equipped with a permanent magnet, which allows it and the connection device to be secured to a magnetic component of the outlet cover, the front of the appliance, or the side panel. Such a permanent magnet thus offers the great advantage of being able to easily and quickly secure the connection device in a position favorable for the rinsing process.

[0012] As an alternative to the permanent magnet, it can also be provided that the coupling has a first coupling piece with a plug-in contour and the outlet cover, the front of the device or the side part has a second coupling piece with a receptacle in which the plug-in contour can be received in a form-fitting manner and in this way the connecting device can be fixed to the outlet cover, the front of the device or the side part. The first coupling piece thus serves as a plug for insertion into a corresponding receptacle designed as a second coupling piece, which also enables a comparatively simple and quick positioning of the connecting device in a position in relation to the drip tray that is favorable for the cleaning process. As an alternative to the permanent magnet, it can also be provided that the coupling is arranged on the second coupling piece, for example the outlet cover, the front of the device or the side part, and the receptacle is arranged on the first coupling piece.

[0013] The connecting device and / or the coupling expediently comprises a guide device, for example a spout or a channel, for draining water during the cleaning process. Such a channel or spout can enable a comparatively simple drainage of water flowing through the milk frother or the connecting line and the connecting device, thereby also simplifying the cleaning process of the milk-carrying parts in the beverage vending machine according to the invention.

[0014] The present invention is further based on the general idea of ​​specifying a method for cleaning the previously described drinks machine, in which the milk reservoir is first removed from the drinks machine and then the connecting device is positioned over the drip tray in such a way that, during the subsequent cleaning process, water flowing through the milk frother and the connecting line can flow into the drip tray. If the connecting device is already positioned over the drip tray in such a way that water can flow through it into the drip tray, there is no longer any need to manually position the connecting device before initiating the rinsing process. The advantage of the method according to the invention is a comparatively simple and rapid process sequence in which only a few manual steps are required and as a result such a cleaning process or method can also be carried out by a user ora user. The method according to the invention thus increases comfort and thereby improves hygiene.

[0015] The connecting device is secured to the outlet cover, the front of the device, or the side panel via a coupling. This can be achieved, for example, via a positive connection or a permanent magnet. In the latter case, the permanent magnet is arranged in the first coupling piece and secured to a magnetizable component of the beverage dispenser designed as a second coupling piece, or vice versa. All embodiments have in common that the connecting device can be positioned quickly and easily in a position favorable for cleaning.

[0016] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0017] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0019] They show, schematically, Fig. 1 a beverage vending machine according to the invention in a view, Fig. 2 a sectional view through the beverage dispenser according to the invention with a milk reservoir connected, Fig. 3 a representation as in Fig. 2, but with the milk reservoir removed and the connection devices fixed in different alternative positions.

[0020] According to the Fig. 1 to 3, a beverage dispenser 1 according to the invention, which may be designed, for example, as a fully automatic coffee machine 2, comprises a water tank 3, a milk frother 4 and a removable milk reservoir 5. The milk reservoir 5 can be connected to the milk frother 4 via a connecting device 6 and a connecting line 7 (cf. Fig. 2). As in particular the Fig. 2, a suction lance 8 or a suction hose 8' is provided in the milk reservoir 5, which extends from the connection device 6 to a bottom of the milk reservoir 5. According to the invention, the connection device 6 is not connected when the milk reservoir 5 is not connected, as is the case according to the Fig. 3, is positioned or can be positioned above a drip tray 9 such that, during a cleaning process, water flowing through the milk frother 4 and the connecting line 7 as well as the connection device 6 can drain into the drip tray 9. This considerably facilitates the cleaning process of the components through which milk flows during operation of the beverage machine 1, namely at least the connection device 6, the connecting line 7 and the milk frother 4.

[0021] In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, a coupling 10 is provided, via which the positionable connecting device 6 can be fixed to a spout cover 11, a device front 12, or a side panel 13. The coupling 10 can, for example, have a first coupling piece with a permanent magnet, via which the connecting device 6 can be fixed to a magnetic component, designed as a second coupling piece, of the spout cover 11, the device front 12, or the side panel 13. In such an embodiment, it is of course also possible to construct the spout cover 11, the device front 12, the side panel 13, or the cup support surface 14 entirely or at least partially from a magnetic metal.

[0022] Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the coupling 10 to have a first coupling piece with a plug-in contour (not shown in detail) and for the outlet cover 11, the device front 12, the side part 13 or the cup support surface 14 to have a second coupling piece with a complementary receptacle into which the plug-in contour can be received in a form-fitting manner and in this way for the first coupling piece and the connecting device 6 to be fixed to the second coupling piece and thus to the respective component, that is to say to the outlet cover 11, the device front 12, the side part 13 or the cup support surface 14.

[0023] It is even conceivable that a flushing path required for flushing is only created by the coupling 10 or by connecting the first coupling piece to the second coupling piece and thus closing the coupling.

[0024] Depending on the embodiment, a simple magnetic fixation of the connecting device 6 to the respective component 11, 12, 13 or 14 is possible, or a positive connection.

[0025] In order to be able to reliably drain water flowing through the parts previously supplied with milk into the drip tray 9 during the cleaning process, the connecting device 6 and / or the coupling 10 or one of the coupling pieces can have a guide device 15 which is designed, for example, as a channel or as a spout.

[0026] Looking at the Fig. 2, one can see the connecting device 6 in its position of use, in which it is connected to the milk reservoir 5 in a milk-transferring manner. In this position, the connecting device 6 is already positioned such that after the milk reservoir 5 is removed, a rinsing process can be started and the water flowing through the previously milk-carrying parts 4, 6, 7 can be discharged via the guide device 15 into the drip tray 9. In this case, the connecting device 6, when the milk reservoir 5 is not connected to it, is already positioned above the drip tray 9 in such a way that the water can flow into the drip tray 9 during the cleaning process.

[0027] Alternatively, Fig. 3 shows a total of three different alternative positions for arranging the connection device 6 on the outlet cover 11, the appliance front 12, or the cup support surface 14. It is, of course, clear that these three arrangement positions represent alternative positions. Reference symbol A denotes the arrangement of the connection device 6 on the outlet cover 11, while B denotes the arrangement of the connection device 6 on the appliance front 12, and reference symbol C denotes the arrangement of the connection device 6 on the cup support surface 14.

[0028] With the beverage dispenser 1 according to the invention, cleaning of milk-carrying parts thereof can thus be made comparatively easy, since for this purpose, only the milk reservoir 5 must first be removed from the beverage dispenser 1, in particular from the fully automatic coffee machine 2. Furthermore, a distinction must be made between a beverage dispenser 1 in which the connection device 6 is already positioned such that the water cleaning the connection device 6, the connecting line 7, and the milk frother 4 can flow directly into the drip tray 9 (cf. Fig. 2) and the embodiment according to which the connecting device 6 can only be transferred into such a position as is the case with the three alternative positions according to the Fig. 3 is shown.

[0029] All in all, the process for cleaning the beverage machine 1 or its milk-carrying parts 4, 7, 6 is significantly simpler and more user-friendly, which means that cleaning can usually be carried out more frequently and thus hygiene can be increased. List of reference symbols 1 vending machine 2 fully automatic coffee machines 3 water tank 4 milk frothers 5 Milk reservoir 6 Connection device 7 connecting line 8 suction lance 9 Drip tray 10 Clutch 11 Outlet cover 12 Device front 13 Side panel 14 cup support surface 15 Guidance device

Claims

[1] A beverage machine (1), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine (2), comprising a water tank (3), a milk frother (4) and a removable milk reservoir (5) which can be connected to the milk frother (4) via a connecting device (6) and a connecting line (7), wherein the connecting device (6) can be positioned above a drip tray (9) when the milk reservoir (5) is not connected in such a way that, during a cleaning process, water flowing through the milk frother (4), the connecting line (7) and the connecting device (6) flows into the drip tray (9), characterized by that a coupling (10) is provided, via which the positionable connecting device (6) can be fixed to an outlet cover (11), a device front (12) or a side part (13). [2] Vending machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the coupling (10) has a permanent magnet via which the connecting device (6) can be fixed to a magnetic component of the outlet cover (11), the front of the device (12) or the side part (13). [3] Vending machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the coupling (10) has a plug-in contour and the outlet cover (11), the device front (12) or the side part (13) has a receptacle in which the plug-in contour can be received in a form-fitting manner and thereby the connecting device (6) can be fixed to the outlet cover (11), the device front (12) or the side part (13). [4] Vending machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the connecting device (6) and / or the coupling (10) has a guide device (15) for draining water during the cleaning process. [5] Vending machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the guide device (15) is designed as a spout or groove. [6] Method for cleaning a drinks machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the milk reservoir (5) is removed from the drinks machine (1) and in which the connecting device (6) is positioned above the drip tray (9) in such a way that, during a cleaning process, water flowing through the milk frother (4), the connecting device (6) and the connecting line (7) flows into the drip tray (9) and in which a cleaning process is then initiated, characterized by that the connecting device (6) is fixed via a coupling (10) to an outlet cover (11), a device front (12) or a side part (13). [7] Method according to claim 6, characterized by that the coupling (10) has a permanent magnet via which the connecting device (6) is fixed to a magnetic component of the outlet cover (11), the front of the device (12) or the side part (13). [8] Method according to claim 6, characterized bythat the coupling (10) has a plug-in contour and the outlet cover (11), the device front (12) or the side part (13) has a receptacle into which the plug-in contour is positively inserted, or vice versa, and thereby the connecting device (6) is fixed to the outlet cover (11), the device front (12) or the side part (13).

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