Beverage dispensing unit for a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, and machine for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising such a dispensing unit

Abstract

A beverage dispensing unit (10) for dispensing a beverage comprises a nozzle (12), an alcove (16) provided with a nozzle protector (26) having protective walls (28) for substantially preventing a user from moving a container (C) so that the container (C) comes into contact with the nozzle (12), and a beverage dispensing passage (32). A lower portion (38) of the five protective walls (28) comprises a collection tray (44) having a first inner wall (48) having an upper edge (50) that defines a through hole (36), and a second inner wall (52) provided outwardly relative to the first inner wall (48).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing unit for a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, and to a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising such a dispensing unit.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, and more particularly to a machine that can be inserted into an automated beverage dispensing system. The machine can be used to prepare a variety of beverages. Such beverages typically consist of water (such as cold water, ambient water, still water, or carbonated water), or water and at least one beverage additive, such as a syrup or flavoring. [Background technology]

[0003] Known machines for preparing and dispensing beverages comprise a beverage dispensing unit provided with a nozzle connected to a pipe through which flows the beverage and / or ingredients for making said beverage, and an alcove defining a seat adapted to hold a container into which flows the beverage and / or ingredients for making said beverage to be dispensed through said nozzle.

[0004] Known machines have been in use for a long time and do not pose any particular problems if used correctly. However, serious problems can arise if the machines are used improperly.

[0005] For example, users of these machines may not place the container correctly in its seat in the alcove, causing the container to come into contact with the nozzle that is usually located at the top of the alcove. This occurs, for example, when a bottle is used as the container to fill with the beverage dispensed by the machine. During the dispensing of the beverage, the mouth of the bottle may be pressed against the nozzle, causing the beverage to overflow from the bottle and come into contact with the nozzle.

[0006] Additionally, a user may touch the nozzle while placing the container in the alcove or while waiting for the drink to be dispensed. Contact between the container and / or the user's hands and the nozzle may lead to hygiene and / or contamination issues.

[0007] There is therefore a need to provide a beverage dispensing unit for a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, as well as a machine for preparing and dispensing such beverages, which solves these hygiene and / or contamination problems, particularly in the event of improper use of the machine. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a beverage dispensing unit for a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, and a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages comprising such a dispensing unit, which solves the aforementioned hygiene and / or contamination problems of the prior art in a simple, economical and functional way.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates in a first aspect to a dispensing unit provided with a nozzle connected to a pipe through which flows a beverage and / or ingredients for making said beverage, and an alcove defining a seat adapted to hold a container into which flows said beverage and / or ingredients for making said beverage to be dispensed through said nozzle, said alcove also comprising a nozzle protector, as well as to a machine provided with this dispensing unit.

[0010] According to the present invention, the nozzle protector comprises a protective wall provided within the alcove below the lower end of the nozzle, the protective wall being shaped and dimensioned to substantially prevent a user from moving a container within the alcove so as to bring the container into contact with the nozzle and / or to prevent a user from touching the nozzle, and preferably shaped and dimensioned to at least partially surround the nozzle, and a beverage dispensing passage for discharging beverage from the nozzle through the protective wall into the lower part of the alcove.

[0011] The lower part of the protective wall is provided with a collection tray facing and remote from the nozzle, which makes it possible to collect any spilled beverage that may occur between the nozzle and the protective wall, for example, if the mouth of the container is pressed into tight contact with the nozzle protector or if the container is overfilled.

[0012] A dispensing unit configured in this manner and a beverage preparation machine equipped with this dispensing unit are advantageous in that they prevent hygiene and / or contamination problems of the nozzle in the event of incorrect container placement and / or improper use of the machine.

[0013] In one embodiment, the dispensing unit comprises a connecting member for removably connecting the nozzle protector to the alcove, in this way the nozzle protector can be removed from the alcove so that it can be, for example, cleaned periodically.

[0014] In one embodiment, the lower part has an outer surface facing the lower part of the alcove, the outer surface having a plurality of raised or recessed elements for preventing close contact between the mouth of the container and the nozzle protector when the mouth of the container is pressed against the outer surface. In this way, if the container is overfilled, most of the excess drink will flow along the outside of the container towards the lower part of the alcove and not towards the nozzle, thereby eliminating or at least reducing the risk of contaminating the nozzle. Furthermore, if the amount of drink flowing along the outside of the bottle is maximized, the user will realize that they are not operating the dispensing unit properly and will remove the container or stop dispensing the drink.

[0015] In one embodiment, the lower portion of the protective wall comprises a first outer surface facing the lower portion of the alcove, the first outer surface being concave with a recess facing the lower portion of the alcove, and a through-hole being provided at the bottom of the concave first outer surface, thereby making the through-hole less visible to a user and preventing the user from touching the through-hole.

[0016] In one embodiment, the beverage outlet passage of the nozzle protector comprises a through hole for the beverage to flow out, said through hole being bounded by a lower part of the protective wall.

[0017] In one embodiment, the underside of the collection tray is sloped towards the drainage passage to facilitate drainage of collected spilled beverage.

[0018] In one embodiment, the dispensing unit comprises locking means having a locked operating position and an unlocked operating position, for allowing removal of the nozzle protector from the alcove only when the locking means is in the unlocked operating position, the locking means comprising: a first fixing element fixed to the nozzle protector, a second fixing element fixed to the alcove, and a movable element interacting with the first fixing element and the second fixing element, the movable element comprising an operating part for moving the movable element between a first position that prevents removal of the nozzle protector from the alcove and a second position that allows such removal. These locking means may be used to prevent removal of the nozzle protector from the alcove by a user of the machine and to ensure that such removal is only possible by specialized personnel who have access to the movable element, for example to clean it periodically.

[0019] In one embodiment, the operating part of the movable element of the locking means is located in an inner part of the alcove, preferably an inner part that is not visible to the user, in order to avoid any unauthorized use of said movable element.

[0020] In one embodiment, the protective wall of the nozzle protector is provided with a gripping element, preferably a hollow open part at the bottom, to facilitate handling of the protector, for example when the protector needs to be removed from the alcove.

[0021] In one embodiment, the nozzle protector is provided with connecting members for removably connecting the nozzle protector to the alcove, these connecting members comprising connecting elements with heads that stand up from the protective wall of the nozzle body and are configured in such a way that they can be removably and slidably coupled to respective guide elements provided on the upper wall of the alcove, such that when the head and the guide elements are coupled to each other, the nozzle protector is movably connected to the alcove and at least partially surrounds the nozzle, and the nozzle protector can only be removed from the alcove when the head and the guide elements are decoupled. This type of connection ensures both a reliable and simple connection of the nozzle protector to the alcove, as well as an easy and quick removal of the nozzle protector from the alcove, for example when the nozzle protector needs to be cleaned.

[0022] In one embodiment, the protector has substantially the shape of a drawer, the protective wall of which comprises a front part substantially perpendicular to a lower part, said lower part comprising the beverage dispensing passage. This form of the nozzle protector is simple and ensures good rigidity and resistance to stresses to which the nozzle protector itself may be subjected.

[0023] In one embodiment, the through-hole in the nozzle protector for the beverage to flow out is bounded by an upper edge, the distance from the lower end of the nozzle to this upper edge being between 0.2 cm and 5 cm, more preferably between 0.5 cm and 3 cm. This distance helps to prevent all or at least most of the spilled beverage from reaching the nozzle, for example, when the mouth of the container is pressed into close contact with the nozzle protector and when the container is overfilled.

[0024] The present invention also relates to a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, comprising a main casing provided with at least one front wall and enclosing an internal volume designed to accommodate at least one beverage preparation device designed to prepare and dispense beverages, and a beverage dispensing unit connected to the beverage preparation device, the beverage dispensing unit being provided in the front wall of at least one side wall of the main casing.

[0025] According to the present invention, the beverage dispensing unit is a beverage dispensing unit according to one or more of the above-mentioned embodiments and preferred features.

[0026] This machine has the same advantages as those mentioned above for the dispensing unit.

[0027] In one embodiment, a main casing of a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages has at least one side wall and at least one opening defining a door compartment, at least one front wall of the machine is a door having an outer surface and an inner surface facing the internal volume of the main casing, the door being hinged to the main casing at a hinge axis and configured to close the door compartment in a machine operating configuration, a beverage dispensing unit being connected to the door, and an opening for inserting a container in an alcove seat being provided in the outer surface of the door.

[0028] This embodiment allows the dispensing unit alcove to be housed in a part of the machine that is easily reachable by the user, preferably on the exterior of the door, and alternatively allows the rear of the dispensing unit to be housed and protected inside the machine, where it cannot be reached by the user but can only be reached by specialized authorized personnel.

[0029] This makes it possible, for example, to protect components of the dispensing unit that must not be operated by the user of the dispensing unit, and to allow these components to be operated only by authorized personnel who can only operate them when the machine door is open, thus preventing, for example, the user of the machine from operating a locking means that allows the nozzle protector to be removed from the alcove. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, or will be apparent from, the following description of the presently preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front perspective view of a dispensing unit according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic front perspective view of a dispensing unit according to the invention, with one of its components in an inoperative position; FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic top perspective view of the dispensing unit. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the dispensing unit taken along a central vertical plane. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic top perspective view of one component of the dispensing unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic bottom perspective view of one component of the dispensing unit. [Figure 7] 7 is a schematic front perspective view of a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, comprising the dispensing unit shown in FIGS. 1 to 6; FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic front perspective view of the machine of FIG. 7 shown in an open configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] With reference to the above drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a beverage dispensing unit 10 for a machine 100 for preparing and dispensing beverages according to the present invention. The beverage dispensing unit 10 comprises a nozzle 12 (Figures 2 and 4) connected to a pipe 14 (schematically shown in Figure 8) through which flows the beverage and / or ingredients for making said beverage, and an alcove 16 defining a seat 18 for holding a container C (shown in Figure 7) into which flows the beverage to be dispensed through said nozzle 12 and / or the ingredients for making said beverage.

[0032] The alcove 16 has an opening 20 for inserting the container C into a seat 18 in the alcove 16 itself, an upper part 22 in which the nozzle 12 is at least partially disposed, and a lower part 24 disposed substantially below the nozzle 12 for supporting the container C.

[0033] According to the present invention, the alcove 16 includes a nozzle protector 26 having a protective wall 28 disposed within the alcove 16 below a lower end 30 (FIG. 4) of the nozzle 12, the protective wall 28 being shaped and sized to at least partially surround the nozzle 12 to substantially prevent a user from moving the container C within the seat 18 of the alcove 16 so as to bring the container C into contact with the nozzle 12 and / or to prevent a user from touching the nozzle 12.

[0034] According to the invention, the nozzle protector 26 comprises a beverage outlet passage 32 for allowing the beverage to flow from the nozzle 12 through the protective wall 28 into the lower part 24 of the alcove 16 .

[0035] The alcove 16 has a substantially conventional shape and will not be described in detail. It preferably has an elongated shape and comprises a body 1 provided with side walls 2, an upper wall 3 and a lower wall 4. A seat 18 provided in a lower part 24 of the alcove is also of conventional shape and will not be described in detail. This seat 18 is provided with a collecting element 5, e.g. in the form of a drawer, adapted to collect excess beverage that does not flow into the container, and is provided with an overflow channel 6 for allowing this excess beverage to flow out of the alcove 16.

[0036] The alcove 16 is preferably dimensioned to allow the use of conventional refillable bottles, for example of the type having a volume of 0.5 l to 1 l.

[0037] Preferably, the alcove 16 is shaped and dimensioned to completely surround the container C when the container C is inserted in the alcove seat 18, except that the part of the container C facing the opening 20 remains visible. The top wall 3 further comprises conventional connection elements 8, 9 for removably connecting the nozzle 12 to said top wall 3, and / or conventional supply members 11 for supplying a beverage and / or its ingredients to the nozzle 12 through one or more pipes 14 (Figure 1).

[0038] The alcove 16 also comprises conventional connection means for connecting the alcove 16 to a conventional seat provided in a wall 104 of a machine 100 for preparing and dispensing beverages, in particular to a door 105 of the machine 100.

[0039] Preferably, the dispensing unit 10 comprises connecting members 34, 35 for removably connecting the nozzle protector 26 to the alcove 16, so as to enable removal of the nozzle protector 26 from the alcove 16 and to enable periodic cleaning of the nozzle protector 26.

[0040] Preferably, the connecting members 34, 35 comprise connecting elements 34' standing from the protective wall surface 28A facing the nozzle 12. The connecting elements 34' comprise heads 37 shaped in such a way that they can be removably and slidably coupled to respective guide elements 35' provided on the top wall 3 of the alcove 16, such that when the heads 37 and the respective guide elements 35' are coupled to one another, the nozzle protector 26 is movably connected to the alcove 16 and at least partially surrounds the nozzle 12 (as shown in Figure 4). Thus, the nozzle protector 26 can be removed from the alcove 16 (as shown in Figure 2) only when the heads 37 and the respective guide elements 35' are decoupled.

[0041] Preferably, the connecting members 34, 35 are bayonet coupling connecting members.

[0042] Preferably, the connecting element 34' is two pillar-shaped elements, the head 37 being shaped with a slit 37A below the upper portion of the head 37, which reduces the lateral dimension of the head 37, while the guide element 35' is two elongated through holes having a first portion 35A' with substantially the same lateral dimension as the head 37 and a second portion 35B' with substantially the same lateral dimension as the portion of the connecting element in which the slit 37A is provided.

[0043] Thanks to this shape of the connecting element 34' and the guide element 35', it is possible to connect the nozzle protector 26 to the upper part 22 of the alcove 16 by first inserting the upper part of the head 37 into the first part 35A' of the guide element 35' with the slit 37A engaged in the second part 35B' of the guide element 35', and then pushing the nozzle protector 26 towards the nozzle 12 until the head 37 reaches the end of the second part 35B' of the guide element 35' (as shown in Figure 3).

[0044] Preferably, the connecting element 34' is provided with a stroke end portion 39 (FIG. 6) that serves as the stroke end of the head 37, so that when the end of the stroke of the connecting element 34' is reached, the slit 37A' is accurately positioned in the second portion 35B' of the guide element 35'.

[0045] Preferably, the nozzle protector 26 also comprises a stabilizing element 40A that rises from the protective wall 28A facing the nozzle 12 and that is preferably arranged on the inside 28B of said protective wall 28, said stabilizing element 40A remaining close to the inner surface 2A of the side wall 2 of the alcove 16, which is furthest from the opening 20 of the alcove 16 itself. An upper edge 40B of this stabilizing element 40A is configured to contact and slide along the rear portion of the flat inner surface 3B of the top wall 3 of the alcove body 1. The stabilizing element 40A prevents the protector 26 from tipping when it is connected to or removed from its seat in the alcove 16.

[0046] Preferably, the connecting elements 34, 35 are bayonet coupling connecting elements shaped in such a way that they allow movement of the nozzle protector 26 coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the alcove 16 only in a first position of the two connecting elements 34, 35, i.e., for example, when the head 37 is inserted in the first part 35A' of the guide element 35', and then allow movement of the nozzle protector 26 perpendicular to said longitudinal axis only when the two connecting elements 34, 35 are in a second position, i.e., for example, when the head 37 is inserted in the second part 35B' of the guide element 35'.

[0047] Preferably, the beverage dispensing passage 32 comprises a through hole 36 for the beverage to flow out, which is bounded by a lower part 38 (FIG. 5) of the protective wall 28. The lower part 38 comprises an outer surface 40 facing the lower part 24 of the alcove 16, the outer surface 40 comprising a plurality of raised or recessed elements 42, here represented as concave recessed elements, for preventing intimate contact between the mouth C1 (FIG. 7) of the container C and the nozzle protector 26 when the mouth C1 is pressed against the outer surface 40, ensuring that any excess content of the container C flows along the outside of the container C towards the lower part 24 of the alcove 16 and not towards the nozzle 12.

[0048] The purpose of the recessed elements 42 is to prevent a seal if the mouth of the bottle comes into direct contact with the nozzle cover. Thus, some water will flow through these recessed elements 42 and around the bottle, allowing the user to realize that the bottle is overflowing and that the bottle needs to be removed. Without the recessed elements 42, a seal could form between the mouth C1 of the container C and the nozzle protector 26, allowing water to get inside the nozzle cover without the user realizing that water is spilling.

[0049] Preferably, the outer surface 40 of the protective wall 28 is concave with a recess facing the lower portion 24 of the alcove 16, and the through-hole 36 is provided at the bottom of the concave outer surface 40 so as to make the through-hole 36 less visible to the user and prevent the user from touching the through-hole 36.

[0050] Preferably, the lower portion 38 of the protective wall 28 is provided with a collection tray 44 facing and remote from the nozzle 12 for collecting any spilled beverage that may occur between the nozzle 12 and the protective wall 28. The collection tray 44 is a lower surface 46 facing the nozzle 12; a first inner wall 48 upstanding from the inner surface 46 and extending toward the nozzle 12, the first inner wall 48 having an upper edge 50 that defines the throughbore 36; A second inner wall 52 rises from the inner surface 46 and extends toward the nozzle 12, the second inner wall 52 being provided on the outside relative to the first inner wall 48.

[0051] The lower surface 46 slopes towards a drainage passage 54 for draining any spilled beverage collected within the tray 44 .

[0052] Preferably, the distance Z2 (FIG. 4) measured from the lower end 30 of the nozzle 12 to the upper edge 50 that defines the through-hole 36 for the beverage to flow through is between 0.2 cm and 5 cm, more preferably between 0.5 cm and 3 cm. This distance helps to prevent all or at least most of the spilled beverage from reaching the nozzle 12, for example, if the mouth of the container C is pressed into close contact with the nozzle protector 26 and if the container C is overfilled.

[0053] Preferably, the through hole 36 of the beverage dispensing passage 32 is coaxial with the corresponding outlet opening 40C of the nozzle 12 (when the nozzle protector 26 is connected to the alcove 16) and is larger (at least 10% larger) than this outlet opening 40C.

[0054] Preferably, the nozzle protector 26 comprises a locking means 56 having a locked (P1) operating position and an unlocked (Fig. 2) operating position, for allowing removal of the nozzle protector 26 from the alcove 16 only when the locking means 56 is in the unlocked operating position. Preferably, the locking means 56 comprises: For example, a first fixing element 56A fixed to the nozzle protector 26 on the inner surface 28A of the protective wall 28; a second fixing element 56C (FIG. 4) fixed to the alcove 16, for example being part of the upper wall 3 of the alcove 1; and a movable element 56B that interacts with the first fixed element 56A and the second fixed element 56C, the movable element 56B having an operating portion 56D for moving the movable element 56B within a range between a first position (P1, FIG. 4) that prevents removal of the nozzle protector 26 from the alcove 16 and a second position that allows such removal.

[0055] The movable element 56B is, for example, a pin having a shaped head 56E (FIG. 2) which can be engaged / disengaged with a suitably shaped seat 56F of the first fixed element 56A, for example, by rotating and / or pulling / pushing the pin within said seat 56F.

[0056] Preferably, the operating portion 56D of the movable element 56B of the locking means 56 is arranged in the hidden inner portion Z1 of the alcove 16, preferably in the upper wall 3 of the alcove 16 and in a more inner position relative to the alcove opening 20.

[0057] Preferably, the protective wall 28 is provided with gripping elements 60, preferably hollow open portions on the outer surface of this protective wall 28 (facing the lower portion 24 of the alcove 16), to facilitate handling of the protective body 26.

[0058] Preferably, the protective wall 28 has a substantially drawer-shaped configuration and comprises a front wall portion 28C substantially perpendicular to a bottom wall portion 28D comprising the beverage dispensing passage 32.

[0059] 7 and 8 show a machine 100 for preparing and dispensing beverages, comprising a main casing 101 provided with at least one front wall 102 enclosing an internal volume V designed to accommodate at least one beverage preparation device 103 designed to prepare and dispense beverages, and a beverage dispensing unit 10 connected to said beverage preparation device 103. The beverage dispensing unit 10 is provided in the front wall 102 of the main casing 101.

[0060] According to the present invention, the beverage dispensing unit 10 is the beverage dispensing unit 10 as disclosed above.

[0061] Preferably, the main casing 101 is provided with at least one side wall 114 and at least one opening 115 defining a door compartment. Preferably, the at least one front wall 102 is a door 116 having an outer surface Z3 accessible by a user of the machine 100 and an inner surface Z4 facing the interior volume V of the machine 100. The door 116 is preferably hinged to the main casing 101 of the machine 100 at a hinge axis A and is configured to close the door compartment when the machine 100 is in an operational configuration.

[0062] Preferably, the beverage dispensing unit 10 is connected to the door 116, and an opening 20 for inserting a container C in the seat 18 of the alcove 16 is provided in the outer face Z3 of the door 116. Preferably, the beverage dispensing unit 10 is fixed to the inner door face Z4 in a manner conventional to those skilled in the art.

[0063] Advantageously, the pin 56B of the locking means 56 is provided in a part of the beverage dispensing unit 10 located on the inner surface Z4 of the door 116, so that the pin 56B can only be moved when the door 116 is open (as in Figure 8) and therefore can only be accessed by specialized personnel and not by normal users of the machine. The nozzle protector 26 cannot therefore be moved from its normal position housed inside the alcove 16 (Figure 7) by users of the machine, but only by specialized personnel.

[0064] In FIG. 8, the rear of the beverage dispensing unit 10 is protected by a shell 10' fixed to the inner surface Z4 of the door 116.

[0065] While the invention has been described with reference to the above-described exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the invention as claimed is in no way limited to these exemplary embodiments.

[0066] Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist for specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred to herein.

[0067] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and similar terms should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean "including, but not limited to." [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 10. Beverage dispensing unit 10' Beverage Dispensing Unit Shell 12 nozzles 14 Pipe 16 Alcove 18 Alcove seat 20 Alcove Opening 22 Upper part of the alcove 24 Lower part of the alcove 26 Nozzle protector 28 Protective wall of nozzle protector 28A Protective Wall 28B Inside the protective wall 28C Front part of protection wall 28D lower part of protection wall 30 Lower end of nozzle 32 Beverage pouring passage of nozzle protector 34, 35 Connection member for spout unit 34' Connection element of the connection member 35' Guide element for connecting member 35A' First portion of guide element 35B' second part of guide element 36 Through hole 37 Head of connecting element 37A Head slit 38 Lower part of protective wall 39 Stroke end portion of connecting element 40 Outer surface of the lower part of the protective wall 40A Nozzle protector stabilizing element 40B Upper edge of stabilizing element 40C Nozzle Outlet Opening 42 Raised or depressed elements 44 Collection Tray 46 Underside of collection tray 48 First inner wall of collection tray 50 upper edge of first inner wall 52 Second inner wall of collection tray 54 Discharge passage 56 Nozzle protection body locking means 56A First fixing element of locking means 56B Movable elements of locking means 56C SECOND SECURING ELEMENT OF LOCKING MEANS 56D Operating parts of movable elements 56E Movable element forming head 56F Seat of first fixing element 60 Protective wall gripping element 1 Alcove body 2 Alcove side walls 2A Inner surface of side wall 3 Alcove upper wall 3B Flat inner surface of upper wall 4 Alcove lower wall 5. Seat collection elements 6 Outlet passage of seat 8, 9 Connection elements for the upper wall of the alcove 11 Alcove upper wall supply member 100 Beverage Dispenser 101 Machine main casing 102 Machine front wall 103 Beverage preparation equipment 104 Machine Wall 105 Machine Door 114 Main casing sidewall 115 Main casing opening 116 Machine Door A Door hinge shaft C container C1 Container mouth V Main casing internal volume Z1 Inner part of the alcove Z2 Distance of the upper edge of the first inner wall Z3 door exterior Z4 door interior

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser unit (10) for a machine (100) for preparing and dispensing beverages, comprising: a nozzle (12) connected to a pipe (14) through which the beverage and / or the ingredients for preparing the beverage flow; an alcove (16) defining a seat (18) for holding a container (C) into which the beverage dispensed through the nozzle (12) and / or the ingredients for making the beverage flow; Equipped with The alcove (16) an opening (20) for inserting the container (C) into the seat (18); an upper portion (22) in which said nozzle (12) is at least partially disposed; a lower portion (24) for supporting the container (C), located substantially below the nozzle (12); Equipped with The alcove (16) is provided with a nozzle protector (26), the nozzle protector (26) a) a protective wall (28) disposed within the alcove (16) below the lower end (30) of the nozzle (12), the protective wall (28) being shaped and dimensioned to substantially prevent a user from moving the container (C) within the seat (18) so as to bring the container (C) into contact with the nozzle (12) and / or to prevent the user from touching the nozzle (12); b) a beverage outlet passage (32) for discharging the beverage from the nozzle (12) through the protective wall (28) into the lower part (24) of the alcove (16); Equipped with The lower portion (38) of the protective wall (28) is provided with a collection tray (44) facing the nozzle (12) and remote from the nozzle (12) for collecting any spilled beverage that may occur between the nozzle (12) and the protective wall (28), the collection tray (44) being: a lower surface (46) facing the nozzle (12); a first inner wall (48) upstanding from the inner surface (46) and extending toward the nozzle (12), the first inner wall (48) having an upper edge (50) that bounds the through hole (36); a second inner wall (52) rising from the inner surface (46) and extending toward the nozzle (12), the second inner wall (52) being disposed outwardly relative to the first inner wall (48); Equipped with A beverage dispensing unit (10).

2. 2. The beverage extraction unit (10) of claim 1, further comprising connecting members (34, 35) for removably connecting the nozzle protector (26) to the alcove (16) to enable removal of the nozzle protector (26) from the alcove (16) and to enable periodic cleaning of the nozzle protector (26).

3. 3. The beverage dispenser unit according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the protective wall has an outer surface facing the lower portion of the alcove, the outer surface having a plurality of raised or recessed elements for preventing close contact between the mouth of the container and the nozzle protector when the mouth of the container is pressed against the outer surface, so that excess content of the container flows along the outside of the container towards the lower portion of the alcove and not towards the nozzle.

4. The beverage dispenser unit (10) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower portion (38) of the protective wall (28) has a first outer surface (40) facing the lower portion (24) of the alcove (16), the first outer surface (40) being concave having a recess facing the lower portion (24) of the alcove (16), and the through hole (36) being provided at the bottom of the concave first outer surface (40) so as to make the through hole (36) less visible to a user and prevent the user from touching the through hole (36).

5. A beverage extraction unit (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the beverage extraction passage (32) has a through hole (36) for allowing the beverage to flow out, and the through hole (36) is bounded by the lower part (38) of the protective wall (28).

6. 6. The beverage dispenser unit (10) according to claim 5, wherein the lower surface (46) is inclined towards a drainage passage (54) for draining the collected spilled beverage.

7. a locking means (56) having a locking position and an unlocking position, for allowing removal of the nozzle protector (26) from the alcove (16) only when the locking means (56) is in the unlocking position, the locking means comprising: a first fixing element (56A) fixed to the nozzle protector (26); a second fixing element (56C) fixed to said alcove (16); a movable element (56B) that interacts with the first fixed element (56A) and the second fixed element (56C), the movable element (56B) having an operating portion (56D) for moving the movable element (56B) between a first position that prevents removal of the nozzle protector (26) from the alcove (16) and a second position that allows said removal; Equipped with A beverage dispenser unit (10) according to claim 2.

8. 8. The beverage dispenser unit (10) according to claim 7, wherein the operating portion (56D) is arranged in an inner portion (Z1) of the alcove (16) that is not visible to the user.

9. A beverage dispenser unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the protective wall (28) is provided with a gripping element (60), preferably a hollow open portion at the bottom, to facilitate handling of the protective body (26).

10. 3. The beverage dispenser unit according to claim 2, wherein the connecting members for removably connecting the nozzle protector to the alcove comprise connecting elements rising from the protective wall surface facing the nozzle and comprising heads configured in such a way that they can be removably and slidably coupled to respective guide elements on the top wall of the alcove, such that when the heads and the guide elements are coupled to each other, the nozzle protector is movably coupled to the alcove and at least partially surrounds the nozzle, and the nozzle protector can be removed from the alcove only when the heads and the guide elements are decoupled.

11. A beverage extraction unit (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the protective wall (28) has a front wall portion (28C) that is substantially drawer-shaped and substantially perpendicular to a lower wall portion (28D) that includes the beverage extraction passage (32).

12. The beverage extraction unit (10) of claim 3, wherein the through hole (36) for the beverage to flow out is bounded by an upper edge (50), and the distance (Z2) from the lower end (30) of the nozzle (12) to the upper edge (50) is between 0.2 cm and 5 cm, more preferably between 0.5 cm and 3 cm.

13. A machine (100) for preparing and dispensing beverages, comprising: a main casing (101) provided with at least one front wall (102) enclosing an internal volume (V) designed to accommodate at least one beverage preparation device (103) designed to prepare and dispense beverages; a beverage dispenser unit (10) connected to said beverage preparation device (103); Equipped with The beverage dispenser unit is provided on the front wall (102) and is a beverage dispenser unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12. Machine (100).

14. The main casing (101) has at least one side wall (114) and at least one opening defining a door compartment; the at least one front wall (102) is a door (116), the door (116) having an outer surface (Z3) and an inner surface (Z4) facing the internal volume (V) of the machine (100), the door (116) being hinged to the main casing (101) at a hinge axis (A) and configured to close the door compartment in an operational configuration of the machine (100); 14. The machine (100) according to claim 13, wherein the beverage dispensing unit (10) is connected to the door (116), and the opening (20) for inserting a container (C) for the seat (18) of the alcove (16) is provided in the outer surface (Z3) of the door (116).

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