Arrangement consisting of a hot beverage preparation device and a cup warmer

Abstract

For an arrangement consisting of a hot beverage preparation device for dispensing hot beverages in portions and a cup warmer for providing pre-warmed drinking vessels for receiving beverages dispensed by the hot beverage preparation device, and optionally an additional accessory, it is proposed that the cup warmer be heated by means of a heat pump, which is arranged to absorb heat from the hot beverage preparation device and / or the additional accessory of the arrangement and to release it as usable heat to heat the cup warmer at a higher temperature.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement comprising a hot beverage preparation device for dispensing hot beverages in portions and a cup warmer for providing pre-heated drinking vessels for receiving beverages dispensed by the hot beverage preparation device.

[0002] For use with hot beverage preparation devices, particularly fully automatic coffee machines, so-called cup warmers are known. These are placed as an additional device next to the hot beverage preparation device and serve to preheat and prepare cups, saucers, glasses, and the like required for preparing hot beverages. Such a cup warmer has one or more electrically heated shelves on which the drinking vessels are stored. Such a cup warmer can be placed next to the hot beverage preparation device or operated as a stand-alone device. The disadvantage of an electrically heated cup warmer is its relatively high power consumption due to its open design.

[0003] DE202009011173U1 describes an espresso machine with a cooling device for coffee beans, which has a warm side used to heat cups. This machine uses the waste heat from the cooling system to warm the drinking vessels.

[0004] DE102015201063A1 describes a coffee machine that uses a heat exchanger in the form of a Peltier element to heat drinking vessels on a storage tray and simultaneously condense steam from the brewing unit. The Peltier element acts as a heat pump with a warm side for heating the drinking vessels and a cold side for condensing the steam.

[0005] DE102013214903A1 describes a milk cooling device for use in or with a coffee machine.

[0006] CN104864629A describes a beverage machine with cooling and heating function, which includes a cooling system with a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator.

[0007] JPH1075892A describes a coffee machine that allows both cooling and heating of coffee.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a cup warmer that can be operated in an energy-efficient manner and has a lower power consumption compared to known cup warmers.

[0009] To achieve the object, it is proposed according to the invention that the cup warmer is heated by means of a heat pump which is arranged to absorb heat and release it as useful heat for heating the cup warmer at a higher temperature.

[0010] According to the invention, the heat pump is designed as a compression heat pump with an evaporator for absorbing heat at a lower temperature, a condenser for dissipating heat at a higher temperature, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant between the evaporator and condenser. A so-called expansion valve, for example in the form of a throttle, is expediently provided in the refrigerant circuit on the flow path from the condenser to the evaporator. Upon passing through this valve, the liquid refrigerant expands and evaporates in the evaporator. Fluorocarbons or alternative natural refrigerants such as propane or propylene, ammonia, or carbon dioxide can be used as refrigerants in a conventional manner.

[0011] Furthermore, the inventive arrangement comprising a cup warmer and hot beverage preparation device, and optionally a further auxiliary device, additionally includes a fan for generating a convection current to transport waste heat from the heating device and / or the further auxiliary device to the evaporator of the heat pump. This allows the resulting waste heat to be used more efficiently.

[0012] A cup warmer according to the invention can operate with an efficiency greater than 3 under typical operating conditions, thus significantly reducing its power consumption. This cooling effect also cools the surrounding space. Since a cup warmer requires a continuous, yet relatively low, heating output, it can operate with a comparatively small heat pump. Since the operating temperatures of a cup warmer are relatively low, around 55°C, the heat pump can operate with high efficiency.

[0013] A particular advantage arises when the cup warmer is operated in an arrangement with a hot beverage preparation device. The heat pump can be arranged in such a way that it absorbs heat from the hot beverage preparation device and releases it as usable heat at a higher temperature to heat the cup warmer. Thus, the waste heat generated by the hot beverage preparation device during operation, for example, from a hot water heater or a heater in a brewing unit, can be used to heat the cup warmer. It is also possible to absorb waste heat from another accessory device in the arrangement, such as a cooling device for the chilled storage of beverage additives, to heat the cup warmer.By combining it with a heat pump-powered cup warmer, not only can the waste heat from the hot beverage preparation device or another accessory be utilized, but the cooling of these devices can also be improved, as the heat pump extracts heat from the environment. This further reduces the power consumption of an accessory designed as a cooling device. Cooling is particularly advantageous, for example, for a bean container of the hot beverage preparation device or a milk pump located in the hot beverage preparation device or an accessory designed as a cooling device.

[0014] Preferably, alternatively or additionally, a second fan can be provided to generate a cooled convection flow from the evaporator of the heat pump for cooling the hot beverage preparation device and / or the additional accessory device. This improves the cooling of the hot beverage preparation device or the additional accessory device.

[0015] When operating with a cooling device designed as an add-on unit for storing chilled beverage additives, the heat pump can be configured to directly cool a cooling chamber of the cooling device as an alternative to heat transfer via convection. The heat pump can be configured to directly cool the cooling chamber. The heat pump can thus be used to simultaneously heat the heat exchanger and cool the cooling device, eliminating the need for a separate cooling unit for cooling the cooling device or its cooling chamber.

[0016] The cup warmer according to the invention advantageously has one or more cup rests heated by the heat pump. A common heating circuit can be provided for several cup rests, or a separate heating circuit can be provided for each cup rest, through which a heated heating fluid is circulated. The heating fluid can be circulated via a common or separate circulation pump for each cup rest.

[0017] The cup warmer is conveniently equipped with a thermostat, which controls the heat pump to heat the cup warmer to a temperature that can be set by the factory or specified by the user. For example, the heat pump's output can be regulated depending on the temperature measured by the thermostat, or the cup warmer can be kept within a tolerance range around the target temperature by selectively switching the heat pump on and off.

[0018] Further advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. It shows: Fig. 1 an arrangement comprising a hot beverage preparation device, a cup warmer and a cooling device, Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a cup warmer heated by a heat pump, which uses waste heat from the hot beverage preparation device, Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a cup warmer heated by a heat pump, which uses waste heat from a cooling device designed as an auxiliary device, Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of a cup warmer heated by a heat pump, which uses waste heat from both the hot beverage preparation device and the cooling device designed as an additional device, and Fig. 5 a fourth example, not according to the invention, of a cup warmer heated by a heat pump, in which the heat pump simultaneously serves to cool the cooling chamber of a cooling device.

[0019] The Fig. The arrangement shown in Figure 1 comprises a hot beverage preparation device 1 in the form of a fully automatic coffee machine, a cup warmer 2 with three heated cup resting surfaces 2A, 2B, 2C and a cooling device 3 designed as an auxiliary device in the form of a milk refrigerator with a cooling chamber closed by a door 3A, in which milk and optionally other liquid foods are stored, which can be automatically dispensed as beverage components via the fully automatic coffee machine 1.

[0020] The fully automatic coffee machine 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, a beverage outlet 1A for hot beverages, a steam wand 1B for manually frothing milk, a hot water outlet 1C for tea, a user interface 1D in the form of a touchscreen display and, in the upper area, two bean containers 1E, 1F and a chocolate powder container 1G.

[0021] The special feature of the illustrated arrangement is that the cup resting surfaces 2A, 2B, 2C of the cup warmer 2 are heated by a heat pump instead of the conventional electrical resistance heating elements. The heat pump absorbs waste heat from the fully automatic coffee machine 1 and / or the milk cooler 3 and releases it at a higher temperature to the cup resting surfaces 2A, 2B, 2C. The heat pump is conveniently thermostatically controlled to achieve a target temperature that can be set by the user or preset at the factory.

[0022] In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the cup warmer 2 is heated by absorbing waste heat produced by the fully automatic coffee machine 1 and transferring it to the cup warmer 2 at a higher temperature by means of the heat pump 4.

[0023] The heat pump 4 integrated into the cup warmer 2 comprises, in a conventional manner, an evaporator 21 in which the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat. The evaporator 21 is connected via a refrigerant circuit 22 and a compressor 23 to a condenser 24 in which the pressurized refrigerant condenses again, releasing heat. An expansion valve 25 is arranged in the return flow path of the refrigerant circuit 22 between the condenser 24 and the evaporator 21. The expansion valve expands the liquid refrigerant and thereby evaporates again in the evaporator 21.

[0024] The condenser 24 is thermally connected to one or more of the cup resting surfaces 2A, 2B, 2C to heat them. Optionally, an additional heating circuit 26 can be provided, which is thermally connected to the condenser 24 and in which a circulation pump 27 circulates a heating fluid with which the cup resting surfaces 2A, 2B, 2C are heated. Additionally, a fan 28 can be provided, which generates a convection current within the cup warmer to distribute the heat emitted by the condenser 24. A further fan 29 can be provided, which generates a convection current 30, with which air cooled by the evaporator 21 is directed back to the fully automatic coffee machine. Excess cold air can also be released directly into the outside atmosphere.

[0025] A fan 12 arranged in the fully automatic coffee machine 1 generates a warm air convection flow 13, which transports waste heat from the fully automatic coffee machine 1 to the evaporator 21 of the heat pump 4. To enable the warm air convection flow 13 and the cold air convection flow 30 to be exchanged between the fully automatic coffee machine 1 and the cup warmer 2, corresponding ventilation openings are provided in the housings of the fully automatic coffee machine 1 and the cup warmer 2.

[0026] The heating circuit 26 with circulation pump 27 for distributing the heat emitted by the condenser 24 is optional, as explained, and can be omitted. In this case, the cup warmer or its cup rest surfaces 2A, 2B, 2C are heated directly by thermal contact with the condenser 24.

[0027] In the Fig. In the second exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 3, the heat pump 4 of the cup warmer 2 is operated with waste heat from the refrigerator 3. The heat pump 4 of the cup warmer 2 again has the evaporator 21, which is connected to the condenser 24 via the refrigerant circuit 22 and the compressor 23, with the refrigerant circuit 22 leading back to the evaporator 21 via the expansion valve 25. The fan 29 again generates a cold air convection flow 30, which in this case is directed to the refrigerator 3. The condenser 24 transfers the heat to the cup rest surfaces 2A, 2B, 2C to heat them. Optionally, an additional heating circuit 26 can be provided, which is thermally connected to the condenser 24 and in which a heating fluid circulates via the circulation pump 27. The fan 28 additionally generates a warm air convection flow within the cup warmer 2.

[0028] The refrigerator 3 has, in a conventional manner, a cooling unit whose structure is comparable to the heat pump 4 of the cup warmer 2. Refrigerant is evaporated in an evaporator 31, absorbing heat in the process. The refrigerant is conveyed via a refrigerant circuit 32 and a compressor 33 to a condenser 34, where it condenses again, releasing heat in the process. Located in the refrigerant circuit 32 between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 31 is the expansion valve 35, which can also be designed as a capillary tube, and in which the refrigerant is expanded again so that it can evaporate in the evaporator 31.

[0029] The heat released by the condenser 34 is circulated to the evaporator 21 of the heat pump 4 of the cup warmer 2 via a fan 38, which generates a warm air convection flow 39. At the same time, the air flow 30 cooled by the cup warmer 2 returns to the condenser 34 to efficiently cool it. The evaporator 31 cools, in a conventional manner, a cooling chamber 37 in which milk or other perishable liquid foods are stored, which can be automatically dispensed as beverage components via the fully automatic coffee machine 1.

[0030] The Fig. The third embodiment shown in Figure 4 combines the first two embodiments in that the heat pump 4 of the cup warmer 2 is fed by both the waste heat of the fully automatic coffee machine 1 and the waste heat of the refrigerator 3. Thus, both the waste heat generated by the fully automatic coffee machine 1 and the refrigerator 3 can be efficiently used to heat the cup warmer 2.

[0031] Finally, Fig.5 shows an alternative example, not according to the invention, in which the heat pump 4 of the cup warmer 2 simultaneously acts as the cooling unit of the refrigerator 3. In this case, the cup warmer 2 and refrigerator 3 are designed as a combination device and have a common evaporator 21, which is connected to the condenser 24 via the refrigerant circuit 22 and the compressor 23. The refrigerant circuit 22 then leads back to the evaporator 21 via the expansion valve 25. The evaporator 21 cools the cooling compartment 37 of the refrigerator 3. The condenser 24 is connected to the cup rests 2A, 2B, 2C to heat them. Optionally, an additional heating circuit 26 can be provided, which is thermally connected to the condenser 24 and in which the circulation pump 27 circulates a heated heating fluid with which the cup warmer 2 or its cup resting surfaces 2A, 2B, 2C are heated.In addition, warm air can be circulated within the cup warmer via fan 28. In this case, heat pump 4 also acts as a cooling unit for refrigerator 3, allowing for a particularly compact and cost-effective device.

[0032] Finally, it should be noted that the cup warmer does not necessarily have to be designed as an additional device or form a geometrically separate unit, but can also be mounted on the hot drinks maker or the cooling unit and thus be integrated with these units.

Claims

[1] Arrangement comprising a hot beverage preparation device (1) for dispensing hot beverages in portions and a cup warmer (2) for providing pre-heated drinking vessels for receiving beverages dispensed by the hot beverage preparation device (1), wherein the cup warmer (2) is heated by means of a heat pump (4) which is arranged to absorb heat from the hot beverage preparation device (1) and / or a further auxiliary device (3) of the arrangement and to release it as useful heat for heating the cup warmer (2) at a higher temperature, characterized by , that the heat pump (4) is designed as a compression heat pump (4) which has an evaporator (21) for absorbing heat at a lower temperature, a condenser (24) for dissipating heat at a higher temperature and a compressor (23) for circulating a refrigerant between the evaporator (21) and the condenser (24) and at least one fan (12, 38) is provided for generating a convection current (13, 39) for transporting waste heat from the hot beverage preparation device (1) and / or the further auxiliary device (3) to the evaporator (21) of the heat pump (4). [2] Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the heat pump (4) is arranged to absorb waste heat from at least one heating device (11) of the hot beverage preparation device (1), wherein the heating device (11) can in particular comprise a hot water heater, a steam generator and / or an electrically heated brewing chamber. [3] Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, in which the heat pump (4) is arranged to absorb waste heat from a cooling device designed as an auxiliary device (3) and connected to the hot beverage preparation device, in which chilled beverage additives are stored. [4] Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, in which a second fan (29) is provided for generating a cooled convection current (30) from the evaporator (21) for cooling the hot beverage preparation device (1) and / or the further auxiliary device (3). [5] Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cup warmer (2) has one or more cup resting surfaces (2A, 2B, 2C) which are heated by the heat pump (4). [6] Arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the cup resting surfaces (2A, 2B, 2C) are heated by at least one heating circuit (26) through which a heating fluid heated by the condenser (24) circulates. [7] Arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the cup resting surfaces (2A, 2B, 2C) are heated via a common heating circuit (26) and the heating fluid is circulated in the heating circuit (26) by means of a circulation pump (27). [8] Arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the cup resting surfaces (2A, 2B, 2C) are each heated by a separate heating circuit (26) and each of the heating circuits (26) is equipped with a circulation pump (27). [9] Arrangement according to claim 5, wherein one or more of the cup-resting surfaces (2A, 2B, 2C) are directly connected to the condenser (24) by thermal conduction in order to heat them.

10. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cup warmer (2) has a thermostat, depending on which the heat pump (4) is controlled in order to heat the cup warmer (2) to a predetermined or predeterminable temperature.

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