Method and device for preparing beverages

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for the preparation and distribution of beverages obtained by mixing a highly concentrated juice with water. The method is of the type that provides for mixing in two stages; the second mixing is obtained by passing the first mixture through a device (34), provided with an impeller (34a), which is set in rotation by the passage of the first mixture. The device is of the type comprising means (2, 3) for loading and treating the water and means (4) for mixing the water with the highly concentrated juice, in which the means (4) comprise a Y-joint (29), in which juice and water converge to form a first blend, and a post-mixing device (34) adapted to perfect the first blend; the device (34) comprises an impeller (34a), equipped with vanes, which is rotated by the first blend, and completes the mixing of the beverage.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for the preparation and distribution of beverages obtained by mixing a highly concentrated juice with water.

[0002] Juices available today reach a concentration of 95% and, properly mixed with water, are able to provide a drink of equal quality to fresh.

[0003] There are currently on the market various types of beverage dispensers obtained by means of said mixing with water. These dispensers use peristaltic or gear pumps to feed the concentrated juice and exploit the pressure of the water network.

[0004] Said prior art devices have mixing problems whereby the drink prepared is of poor quality.

[0005] A first problem is due to the fact that the pressure of the water network often has strong fluctuations, said fluctuations effectively preventing correct mixing so that a significant fluctuation of the BRIX degrees (sugars contained in the juice) is created, altering the product and making it undrinkable.

[0006] To overcome this drawback, some dispensers resort to subsequent mixing with whisks. However, these systems are only available for products with a low fruit concentration. Operating with very high concentration juices (95%), the result of this post-mixing is the formation of clearly visible residues of syrup in the glass, not pleasing to the eye and also to the taste.

[0007] Of course, the temperature of the water is also of decisive importance, as a drink that is drunk at a temperature of 8-10 °C cannot be served at the temperature of the water supply, which also varies according to the season.

[0008] US-A-5 575 405 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0009] An object of the present invention is being able to prepare an optimal mixing, which is independent of the conditions of the water coming from the water supply.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is being able to dilute a 95% concentrated fruit juice by not altering the taste and without releasing residues, providing a drink equal to the fresh one.

[0011] These and other objects are achieved with a device and a method respectively according to claims 1 and 9.

[0012] The dispensing device for beverages obtained by mixing highly concentrated juices with water is of the type comprising: first means of water loading for mixing with a highly concentrated juice; second means for treating said water; third means for mixing said water with said high concentration juice; wherein said third means include: a Y fitting in which said high concentration juice and said water converge; a post-mixing device adapted to perfect said mixing; wherein said post-mixing device comprises an impeller provided with vanes, the completion of the mixing being carried out by the vanes of said impeller which is rotated by the mixture itself.

[0013] Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variants of the present invention form the subject of the dependent claims.

[0014] It is understood that all the attached claims form an integral part of the present description.

[0015] With a device according to the invention, an optimally prepared drink is obtained which has organoleptic characteristics practically the same as the fresh product.

[0016] The present invention will be better described by a preferred embodiment, provided by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the dispenser according to the invention; and FIG. 2 shows a post mixing device.

[0017] The present invention therefore relates to a method for preparing a beverage by mixing a highly concentrated juice with water, of the type which provides for the formation of a first mixture of water and concentrated juice followed by a second mixing, aimed at obtaining a optimal mixture, characterized in that said second mixing is obtained by passing said first mixture through a post-mixing device (34) provided with an impeller (34a) which is rotated by the passage of said first mixture, so that the forced passage around said impeller (34a) perfects the mixing of the water with the juice.

[0018] With reference to FIG. 1, (1) designates a block diagram of a beverage dispenser according to the invention.

[0019] Said beverage dispenser (1) includes: first means (2) of water loading for mixing with a high concentration juice; second means (3) for treating said water; third means (4) for mixing said water with said high concentration juice.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the dispenser according to the invention provides for dispensing, in addition to the drink obtained by mixing the highly concentrated juice with water, also natural water and carbonated water.

[0021] Said first water filling means (2) comprise a first pipe (10), suitable for drawing water from a water distribution network and for introducing it into the external annular part (11a) of a tank (11), after having passed through a filter (12) and a pump (13).

[0022] Said filter (12), preferably with activated carbon, has the function of filtering any impurities present in the drinking water of the water supply, so as to deprive it of any bad tastes or smells that could characterize it.

[0023] The function of the filter (12) is also to block the passage of larger pollutants that are dangerous for the body, such as algae and sediments contained within pipes and ducts.

[0024] The pump (13) has the function of keeping the water in the tank (11) at the optimum pressure, acting as a stabilizer against any sudden changes in water pressure in the water supply.

[0025] Said second means (3) for treating said water comprise: said tank (11) which is divided into two parts, said external annular part (11a) and an internal part (11b); a CO 2 gas cylinder (12) coupled with a pressure regulator (13) and connected, through a second pipe (14) with the internal part (11b) of said tank (11).

[0026] Said tank (11) is equipped with fourth means (not shown) designed to maintain the temperature of the water contained within it, at a constant temperature of 8-10 °C, for example a coil connected to a thermostated refrigeration system.

[0027] From the external annular part (11a) of the tank (11), a third pipe (15) branches off, designed to lead the water withdrawn to mixing with the concentrated juice, as will be specified below.

[0028] A fourth pipe (17) which connects said third pipe (15) with the internal part (11b) of the tank (11) starts from a first T-fitting (16a) from said third pipe (15). In this way, part of the water drawn from the external part (11a) of the tank (11) is introduced into the internal part (11b) of the tank (11) itself, the flow of said water being regulated by a solenoid valve (18) and a non-return valve (19) for CO 2 . Here the water is enriched with CO 2 and becomes sparkling and goes directly to the distribution through a fifth pipe (20), the flow being controlled by a solenoid valve (21) and a flow regulator (22). The carbonated water is conducted up to a first nozzle (23), from which it is dispensed for pouring.

[0029] The cooled water, drawn through the third pipe (15), passes through a pressure regulator (24) and reaches a second T-fitting (16b). From here, along a sixth pipe (25) and regulated by a solenoid valve (26), it is led up to a second nozzle (27), from which it is delivered for pouring.

[0030] Said third pipe (15) continues beyond the second T fitting (16b), crosses a solenoid valve (28) and reaches a Y fitting (29).

[0031] Said third mixing means (4) comprise said Y fitting (29) in which the water coming from the third pipe (15) mixes with the concentrated juice coming from a container (30) and pushed by a pump (31) (for example of the gear or peristaltic type) through a seventh pipe (32). The beverage thus formed, passing through an eighth pipe (33) and passing through a post-mixing device (34) and a non-return valve (35), reaches a third nozzle (36) from which it is taken for pouring, said non-return valve (35) having the function of preventing dripping.

[0032] In practice, the juice coming from the container (30) and pumped at a constant pressure by the gear pump (31), mixes with the water, also at constant pressure, having passed through the pressure regulator (24), so that it mixes almost optimally when passing through the Y-piece (29). Optimal mixing will be achieved by the subsequent passage through the post-mixing device (34), where the mixture is forced to pass.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the water coming from the third pipe (15) (represented by a solid line) and the juice coming from the seventh pipe (32) (represented by a dashed line), join the passage in the Y fitting (29) to form a first blend. Said first mixture, traveling along a first section (33a) of the eighth pipe (33), reaches said post-mixing device (34), from which it exits through a second section (33b) of the eighth pipe (33).

[0034] Said post-mixing device (34) comprises an impeller (34a) provided with vanes. The completion of the mixing is carried out by the vanes of said impeller (34a) which is rotated by the first mixture itself.

[0035] According to the invention, said post-mixing device (34) is a volumetric liter-counter which, in addition to carrying out the optimal mixing, also measures the flow of the beverage, controlling the solenoid valve (28) and the gear pump (31), in order to dispense the right quantities.

[0036] The flow measurement allows, by sending the data on an iCloud ®< platform, connected to a data transmission network, signaling the need to replace the water filter (12) and the exhaustion of the concentrated juice and the CO 2 cylinder, blocking all dispensing until the operator carries out the reset after replacement. In this way it will be possible to remotely manage the dispenser according to the invention.

Claims

1. Dispensing device for beverages obtained by mixing highly concentrated juices with water, of the type comprising: - first means (2) of water loading for mixing with a high concentration juice; - second means (3) for treating said water; - third means (4) for mixing said water with said high concentration juice; wherein said third means (4) comprise: - a Y fitting (29) in which said high concentration juice and said water converge and a first mixture is formed; - a post-mixing device (34) adapted to perfect said first mixture; wherein said post-mixing device (34) comprises an impeller (34a) provided with vanes, the completion of the mixing being carried out by the vanes of said impeller (34a) which is rotated by said first mixture, characterized in that said post-mixing device (34), suitable for perfecting mixing, is a volumetric liter-counter suitable for measuring the flow of the beverage, controlling a solenoid valve (28) for regulating the flow of water and said pump (31 ), in order to dispense the right quantities of water and concentrated juice.

2. Beverage dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said third mixing means (4) further comprise a pump (31) adapted to withdraw said concentrated juice from a container (30) and to push it, through said Y fitting (29), to the subsequent mixing by said post-mixing device (34).

3. Beverage dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said post-mixing device (34) is provided with means suitable for sending the data relating to the beverage flow to an iCloud® platform, connected to a data transmission network, signaling the need for any replacement of components of the dispensing device and refilling of concentrated juice, in order to remotely manage the dispensing device.

4. Beverage dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first water loading means (2) comprise a first pipe (10), suitable for drawing water from a water distribution network and for introducing it into an external annular part (11a) of a tank (11), after passing it through a filter (12) and a pump (13), said pump (13) having the function of keeping the water in the tank (11) at optimal pressure, acting as a stabilizer against any sudden changes in water pressure in the water mains.

5. Beverage dispensing device according to claim 4, characterized in that said second means (3) for treating said water comprise: - said tank (11) which is divided into two parts, said external annular part (11a) and an internal part (11b); - a CO2 gas cylinder (12) coupled with a pressure regulator (13) and connected, through a second pipe (14) with the internal part (11b) of said tank (11), in which sparkling water is formed.

6. Beverage dispensing device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a third pipe (15) departs from the outer annular part (11a) of the tank (11) which: - through a pressure reducer (24) and said solenoid valve (28), it reaches said Y fitting (29); - through a first T-fitting (16a) and a fourth pipe (17), it feeds said internal part (11b) of the tank (11); - through a second T fitting (16b), a sixth pipe (25) and a solenoid valve (26), it delivers cooled natural water for the pouring.

7. Beverage dispensing device according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that a fifth pipe (20) departs from the internal part (11b) of said tank (11), suitable for withdrawing the sparkling water present in the internal part (11b) of the tank (11) and, through a solenoid valve (21) and a flow regulator (22), to deliver it for pouring.

8. Beverage dispensing device, according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said tank (11) is provided with fourth means adapted to maintain the temperature of the water contained inside it, at a constant temperature of 8 ÷ 10 °C.

9. Method for preparing a beverage using a device according to any one of the preceding claims, said method operating by mixing a high concentration juice with water, of the type which provides for the formation of a first mixture of water and concentrated juice followed by a second mixing, aimed at obtaining an optimal mixture, said second mixing being obtained by passing said first mixture through a post-mixing device (34) provided with an impeller (34a) which is rotated by the passage of said first mixture, in such a way that the forced passage around said impeller (34a) performs the mixing of the water with the juice.

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