vending machine

Abstract

Vending machine (1), in particular coffee and / or tea machine, for a beverage, in particular coffee or tea, with gas admixture, comprising a pump (2), a mixing device (3) with a first supply line (3a) of a base beverage and with a second supply line (3b) of a gas, and a throttling unit (8), wherein the pump (2) is connected on the suction side to the mixing device (3) and on the pressure side to the throttling unit (8), characterized in that the throttling unit (8) has at least one throttling element.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a beverage vending machine, in particular a coffee and / or tea machine, for a beverage, in particular coffee or tea, with gas admixture according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Beverage vending machines, in particular coffee and / or tea machines or fully automatic coffee and / or tea machines, are also designed to prepare cold coffee and / or tea beverages.

[0003] Such beverages, such as coffee drinks, are also called nitro coffee because they contain a gas, such as nitrogen or ambient air. This creates a coffee drink with a unique mouthfeel thanks to its foamy consistency.

[0004] The basis for this type of nitro coffee is usually a so-called cold brew coffee, a coffee extracted in cold water over a long period of time.

[0005] Of course, hot extracted coffee drinks or tea drinks can also serve as a basis.

[0006] Document EP 3 763 223 A1 describes a method for dispensing a gas-enriched coffee or tea beverage, in which the coffee or tea beverage is stored in liquid form as a ready-to-drink beverage or concentrate in a storage container. The ready-to-drink beverage is pumped from the storage container to a beverage outlet by means of an electric pump, with the gas being supplied to the drawn-in coffee or tea beverage on the suction side of the pump. The gas-enriched coffee or tea beverage is pumped to the beverage outlet via a counterpressure element arranged downstream of the pump in the conveying direction.

[0007] These designs have proven themselves to be effective, but there is a constant need for improvements in the pursuit of cost savings in components, functional groups, assembly times and maintenance.

[0008] The invention therefore has the object of providing an improved beverage machine, in particular a coffee and / or tea machine, for a beverage, in particular coffee or tea, with added gas.

[0009] The invention solves this problem by a drinks vending machine with the feature of claim 1.

[0010] A beverage vending machine according to the invention, in particular a coffee and / or tea machine, for a beverage, in particular coffee or tea, with a gas admixture comprises a pump, a mixing device with a first supply line for a base beverage and a second supply line for a gas, and a throttle unit. The pump is connected to the mixing device on the suction side and to the throttle unit on the pressure side. The throttle unit has at least one throttle element.

[0011] One advantage is that the throttle element can be designed simply. A particularly advantageous feature is that this allows a uniform structure of the foam produced.

[0012] The pump is used to suck in the base beverage from a base beverage source and to pump the base beverage through the mixing device.

[0013] The mixing device has the function of mixing a quantity of air / gas from a gas source into the sucked-in beverage.

[0014] Furthermore, the pump serves to convey the beverage thus prepared through the throttling unit, whereby foam formation in the beverage occurs by throttling the conveyed volume quantity with at least one throttling element of the throttling unit.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous that a fine atomization of the gas / air coffee mixture from the pressure line can be achieved.

[0016] Tests have surprisingly shown that using this throttle element can achieve significantly good results for fine atomization of the gas / air coffee mixture from the pressure line.

[0017] Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0018] One embodiment provides that the throttle unit has at least two throttle elements arranged one behind the other in the flow direction.

[0019] The throttle elements finely atomize the gas-base beverage mixture in an associated line, which can also be designed as a hose.

[0020] The beverage foam produced in this way advantageously shows a very fine, uniform structure.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the at least one throttle element is designed as an orifice plate with a through-hole. These components are advantageously easy to manufacture and / or are available cost-effectively and in high quality as standard parts.

[0022] Another design provides for the aperture opening to be conical or cylindrical. This is advantageous because these shapes are easy to manufacture.

[0023] An advantage of a compact design results in another embodiment in which the orifice or several orifices are each arranged in a housing section of the throttle unit, wherein in the case of several orifices the housing sections are arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow.

[0024] A further embodiment provides for the second gas supply line to have at least one valve that is electrically and / or manually adjustable. This advantageously allows for easy regulation of the amount of air / gas added from the gas source.

[0025] In one embodiment, the base drink is a cold or hot drink, especially coffee or tea.

[0026] In yet another version, the base drink is cold coffee, known as cold brew coffee. This base drink has a unique flavor profile.

[0027] One embodiment provides for the gas to be nitrogen, air, or the like. The advantage here is that these gases are inexpensive.

[0028] In one version, the valve is connected to a pressure reducer on the inlet side. This allows the gas to be mixed into the drawn-in beverage at a reduced pressure using the pressure reducer. This allows for advantageously simple gas dosing.

[0029] The valve can be used to advantageously regulate the amount of air / gas mixed in from the gas source. This further simplifies and makes the mixing process more precise.

[0030] Foam formation in the beverage occurs by throttling the pumped volume with at least two throttling elements, which are two orifices arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow. This not only advantageously achieves a compact design but also enables particularly good foam quality.

[0031] Another design provides for a homogenizer to be placed between the throttle unit and an outlet line. This is also beneficial for foam formation, as it leads to the breakdown of larger bubbles.

[0032] The invention is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. The figures serve only to explain the invention in more detail and are not limiting. Individual features described can also be applied to further embodiments within the scope of general technical knowledge. They show: Fig. 1: a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a beverage vending machine according to the invention; and Fig. 2: a schematic sectional view of a throttle unit of the beverage machine according to the invention according to Fig. 1.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a beverage vending machine 1 according to the invention.

[0034] The beverage machine 1 comprises a pump 2, a mixing device 3, a base beverage source 4, a gas source 5, a throttle unit 8 and a homogenizer 9.

[0035] The pump 2 is connected to the mixing device 3 on the inlet side via a suction line 2a. The mixing device 3 has a first inlet with a first supply line 3a and a second inlet with a second supply line 3b.

[0036] The first supply line 3a is connected to the base beverage source 4, while the second supply line 3b is connected to an outlet of a valve 7. The first supply line 3a forms a coffee path.

[0037] The second supply line 3a can also be designed in a simple version without the valve 7 and have a fixed cross-section.

[0038] The base beverage source 4 can, for example, be a line to a container containing a base beverage. It is, of course, also possible for the base beverage source 4 to be a container. In this embodiment, the base beverage is cold coffee, called cold brew coffee, which has previously been extracted in cold water over a long period of time.

[0039] The base drink can also be tea, for example. Furthermore, the base drink can be both cold and hot. The base drink can also be tempered so that it has different temperatures.

[0040] The valve 7 is connected on the inlet side to a pressure reducer 6 via a connecting line 6a. The pressure reducer 6, in turn, is connected to the gas source 5 via a gas line 5a.

[0041] The gas source 5 can be designed in different ways. For example, it is a pressure reservoir for a gas, e.g., nitrogen, air, or the like. The gas source 5 can also be an exchangeable gas container. It is also conceivable for the gas source 5 to be a line connected to a special gas container.

[0042] The pressure of the gas source 5 is reduced by means of the pressure reducer 6. However, the gas source 5 can also have its own pressure reducer. The pressure reducer 6 is a fixed throttle configuration here and will not be explained further.

[0043] The valve 7 can be electrically and / or manually adjustable and serves to regulate the amount of air / gas added from the gas source 5.

[0044] The second supply line 3b, the valve 7, the connecting line 6a, the pressure reducer 6 and the gas line 5a form a gas or air path.

[0045] During operation of the beverage machine 1, the pump 2 sucks the base beverage, e.g. the cold coffee, from the base beverage source 4 via a suction line 2a, the mixing device 3 and the first supply line 3a.

[0046] In this example, the mixing device 3 has an annular jet nozzle. By means of the annular jet nozzle, gas from the gas path, ie, from the second supply line 3b, is added to the base beverage, e.g., coffee, which is drawn in from the first supply line 3a.

[0047] In another embodiment, not shown, the mixing device 3 can have an injector.

[0048] Pump 2 conveys the mixed beverage from the mixing device 3 via a pressure line 2b through the throttle device 8 and the homogenizer 9 into the outlet line 10. Pump 2 generates a specific system pressure in the pressure line 2b and the downstream functional groups. Pump 2 can be controlled so that both the volume flow it delivers and its pressure can be adjusted within certain limits.

[0049] On the pressure side, the pump 2 is connected via the pressure line 2b in the flow direction to an inlet 8_E of a throttle unit 8. An outlet 8-A of the throttle unit 8 is connected to the homogenizer 9 via a connection 8a. The throttle unit 8 is described in more detail below.

[0050] The homogenizer 9 has an outlet line 10 for the finished beverage.

[0051] The throttle unit 8 comprises at least one throttle element or several.

[0052] In this text, the term “throttle element” refers to both throttles and orifices.

[0053] Throttling the flow rate of pressure line 2b is crucial for achieving the foam quality of the finished beverage. Throttling the pressure in a flow rate can be achieved using either a throttle or an orifice plate.

[0054] However, a throttle cannot generate a constant pressure. In contrast, a clearly defined pressure is created behind the opening of an orifice plate in the direction of flow, which remains constant even as the system pressure increases. This is caused by turbulence that develops behind the orifice plate in the direction of flow.

[0055] In a minimal design, the throttle unit 8 has at least one throttle element. This minimal design is not shown here, but is easily understood.

[0056] Such a throttle element is here an orifice 14, 15 and is arranged in a housing 8b which has an inlet 8-E, to which the pressure line 2b is connected, and an outlet 8-A which is connected to the homogenizer.

[0057] Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the throttle unit 8 of the beverage machine 1 according to the invention according to Fig. 1 example with two throttle elements.

[0058] In the exemplary embodiment, the throttle unit 8 comprises a housing 8b divided into two housing sections 12, 13. The first housing section 12 is connected to the pressure line 2b via an inlet 8-E. A connection 8a connects an outlet 8-A of the second housing section 13 to the homogenizer 9.

[0059] An interior space 12a of the first housing section 12 and an interior space 13a of the second housing section 13 communicate with each other, being arranged one behind the other in the flow direction.

[0060] The two interior spaces 12a, 13a merge directly into each other. Of course, it is also possible that this transition, which is Fig. 2 is symbolically indicated by a dashed line, can have a special flow-related shape, e.g. a nozzle-like shape.

[0061] Each housing section 12, 13 has a throttle element in the form of an orifice 14, 15 with a respective passage opening 14b, 15b.

[0062] The passage openings 14a, 15a are both designed with the same dimensions and the same shape. Here, the passage openings 14a, 15a are conical, with the larger opening diameters facing the inlet 8-E. Other designs are also possible, of course, such as cylindrical passage openings. In this case, the inlet and outlet edges also play a corresponding role in influencing the flow.

[0063] An abrupt interruption of the volume flow from the pressure line 2b in the flow direction produces, from a certain pressure value behind a respective passage opening 14a, 15a, cavitations, ie formation and sudden collapse of bubbles filled with steam, in the volume flow.

[0064] Tests have surprisingly shown that using at least one throttle element as orifice plate 14, 15 achieves significantly good results for fine atomization of the gas / air-coffee mixture in the associated line (connection 8a, outlet line 9). The coffee foam produced in this way exhibits a very fine, uniform structure.

[0065] Even with two throttle elements arranged close together or at a short distance from each other as orifices 14, 15, significantly good results for fine atomization of the gas / air base beverage mixture are achieved. The distance between orifices 14, 15 can be, for example, in a range of 0 to 10 cm, preferably 2 to 10 cm.

[0066] Before dispensing the foamed base beverage, coffee or tea, the mixture is passed through the homogenizer 9. Such a known component, with its internal honeycomb structure, leads to the dissolution of larger bubbles.

[0067] A control device, not shown but easily imaginable, controls the pump 2 and the valve 7. This control device can be constructed separately or integrated into a control system of the beverage machine 1.

[0068] A beverage, especially coffee or tea, can be prepared with the addition of gas using the beverage machine 1.

[0069] For this purpose, a base beverage is first sucked in from a base beverage source 4 by the pump 2 and conveyed through the mixing device 3.

[0070] A quantity of air / gas from the gas source 5 is mixed into the drawn-in beverage in the mixing device 3. The gas can be mixed into the drawn-in beverage at a reduced pressure using a pressure reducer 6.

[0071] Pump 2 then conveys the thus prepared beverage through the throttling unit 8, whereby foam formation in the beverage occurs by throttling the conveyed volume with at least one throttling element. The at least one throttling element is an orifice plate.

[0072] The finished beverage is dispensed afterwards or after homogenization of the beverage in a homogenizer 9.

[0073] The gas is passed through the second supply line 3b. In a minimal design, the second supply line 3b has a fixed cross-section.

[0074] In the embodiment shown, the amount of air / gas mixed in from the gas source 5 is regulated by means of at least one valve 7.

[0075] It is conceivable, for example, that the valve 7 is designed as a valve unit with two or more, even different, valves, whereby these valves can differ, for example, in their flow rate.

[0076] The valve 7 can also be part of the mixing device 3.

[0077] More than one pump 2 may be provided.

[0078] There may also be two or more mixing devices 3.

[0079] It is also conceivable that an additional pump is arranged in the gas path.

[0080] The throttle unit 8 may also have throttle elements arranged in parallel or parallel and one behind the other.

[0081] It is also conceivable, for example, that at least one of the through openings 14a, 15a of the panels 14, 15 has an oval and / or square cross-section.

[0082] The invention is not limited by the embodiment given above, but can be modified within the scope of the claims. Reference symbol 1 vending machine 2 pumps 2a intake line 2b pressure line 3 Mixing device 3a, 3b supply line 4 Basic beverage source 5 Gas source 5a Gas line 6 pressure reducers 6a connecting line 7 Valve 8 Throttle unit 8a connection 8b Housing 8-A outlet 8-E inlet 9 Homogenizer 10 Outlet line 11 vessel 12, 13 Housing section 12a, 13a interior 14, 15 aperture 14a, 15a passage opening QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 763 223 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Beverage machine (1), in particular a coffee or / and tea machine, for a beverage, in particular coffee or tea, with gas admixture, comprising a pump (2), a mixing device (3) with a first supply line (3a) of a base beverage and with a second supply line (3b) of a gas, and a throttle unit (8), wherein the pump (2) is connected on the suction side to the mixing device (3) and on the pressure side to the throttle unit (8), characterized by that the throttle unit (8) has at least one throttle element. [2] Vending machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the throttle unit (8) has at least two throttle elements which are arranged one behind the other in the flow direction. [3] Vending machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the at least one throttle element is designed as an orifice (14, 15) with a through opening (14a, 15a). [4] Vending machine (1) according to claim 3, characterized bythat the through opening of the diaphragm (14, 15) is conical or cylindrical. [5] Vending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the aperture (14, 15) is arranged in a housing section (12, 13) of the throttle unit (8). [6] Vending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second supply line (3b) of the gas has at least one valve (7) which is designed to be electrically and / or manually adjustable. [7] Vending machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the valve (7) is connected on the inlet side to a pressure reducer (6). [8] Vending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the base drink is a cold or hot drink, especially coffee or tea. [9] Vending machine (1) according to claim 7, characterized by that the base drink is cold coffee, which is called cold brew coffee. [10] Vending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gas is nitrogen, air or the like. [11] Vending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a homogenizer (9) is arranged between the throttle unit (8) and an outlet line (10).

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