Automatic beverage machine with purification system

Abstract

An automatic beverage machine, particularly a coffee machine (1), comprising a purification device (2), at least one first beverage system (3), and at least one second beverage system (4), wherein at least one second beverage system (4) has at least one input conduit (13) for additives, particularly milk, and at least one input conduit (13) for additives is connected to at least one connection terminal unit (11) connected to the at least one beverage system (4). The at least one connection terminal unit (11) has at least one first connection terminal (11a) to which at least one input conduit (13) for additives is fixedly connected to a first conduit end (13a), and at least one second connection terminal (11b) to which a second free conduit end (13b) is formed to the at least one input conduit (13) for additives. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for purifying an automatic beverage machine, particularly a coffee machine (1), which comprises a purification device (2), at least one first beverage system (3), and at least one second beverage system (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic beverage machine provided with a purification device described in the generic concept of claim 1, particularly a coffee machine, and a method for purifying the automatic beverage machine.

[0002] Automatic beverage machines, such as automatic cold beverage machines and automatic hot beverage machines, particularly coffee machines, have a beverage system equipped with various functional units, especially pipelines, heat exchangers, etc., for beverage production. A coffee machine for making coffee, particularly a coffee machine for making coffee with added milk or frothed milk, has a coffee system and a milk system as its beverage system.

[0003] The areas through which hot or cold beverages in the coffee system and milk system of a coffee machine, preferably pipelines, must be carefully purified periodically with a purification liquid. For this purpose, water in which a purifying agent is dissolved is generally used as the purification liquid. In order to ensure sufficient purification particularly in areas where hot and / or cold beverages, especially milk, flow through, a sufficient amount of purifying agent must be added to the water.

[0004] The area where "hot and / or cold beverages flow through" hereinafter means one or more areas through which only coffee, tea, water, chocolate / cocoa or milk flows as part of the hot or cold beverage.

[0005] Figures 1 and 2 show schematic block diagrams of an example of a coffee machine 1 equipped with a purification device 2 according to the prior art. Figure 1 shows the coffee machine 1 in the extraction process. The purification device 2 is only shown here by its reference numeral. Figure 2 shows the coffee machine 1 equipped with the purification device 2 according to the prior art in the purification process.

[0006] Coffee machine 1 is a beverage preparation machine and is shown in a simplified form. The following description is for illustrative purposes only and may apply similarly to other beverage preparation machines.

[0007] Coffee machine 1 here includes a purification device 2, at least one first beverage system 3, and at least one second beverage system 4. In the case of coffee machine 1, the first beverage system 3 is the coffee system. The second beverage system 4 here is the milk system.

[0008] The purification device 2 is used to purify the first beverage system 3 (coffee system), the second beverage system 4 (milk system), and the corresponding pipelines.

[0009] The conventional purification device 2 includes a first purification substance input unit 15 for a first beverage system 3 (coffee system) and a second purification substance input unit 17, separate from the first purification substance input unit 15, for a second beverage system 4 (milk system), in the form of a purification substance container 17a.

[0010] The first purification substance input unit 15 is located in the supply pipeline 16 between the water supply unit 5 and the first beverage system 3 (coffee system).

[0011] The first purifying substance input unit 15 has a device for inputting the purifying substance into the supply pipeline 16. The purifying substance can be in liquid or solid form. In solid form, the purifying substance can be inserted, for example, into a suitable insertion member for input. The purifying substance is also referred to as a purifying agent.

[0012] The first beverage system 3 (coffee system) is connected to the water supply unit 5 via a supply pipeline 16. The water supply unit 5 may be connected to a water tank (not shown).

[0013] A water sensor 14 is also located in the supply pipeline 16 to the first beverage system 3 (coffee system). This water sensor 14 is connected to the water supply unit 5 and is used to detect the pressure, quantity, and quality of the water supplied to the water supply unit 5.

[0014] To prepare the beverage, the first beverage system 3 (coffee system) prepares the coffee beverage in a first operating state of a coffee machine 1 having supplied water and ground coffee (not shown). The coffee beverage thus prepared is served via a coffee pipeline 3a.

[0015] Additives can be added to the coffee beverage. In this case, the additive is milk, which is pumped from the second beverage system 4 (milk system) through the additive pipeline 4a to the additive outlet 7. In this way, the additive is added later to the coffee already present in the tank, passing through the additive outlet 7 below outlets 6 and 7. Of course, it is also possible to introduce the coffee that has passed through beverage outlet 6 and the additive that has passed through additive outlet 7 into the tank simultaneously.

[0016] The additive, namely milk, is drawn in here from the tanks 12 (two tanks 12 in this case) of the beverage unit 10 via supply lines 9,9'. There may be three or more tanks 12. For this purpose, one input line 13 is provided for each tank 12. The tanks 12 may be bags or milk cartons in containers.

[0017] Here, two arrows pointing in different directions are shown for supply lines 9 and 9'. This indicates, on the one hand, that milk is drawn from the milk container in the direction of the arrow in supply line 9'. On the other hand, that the purifying agent is introduced through supply lines 9 and 9' in two directions during the purification process, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0018] Each input conduit 13 is either fully flexible or at least partially flexible and has a first conduit end 13a, which allows each input conduit to be fixedly connected to a first connection terminal 11a of a connection terminal unit 11 in an appropriate form, for example, by a suitable tube / hose connector.

[0019] The second free pipe end 13b of each input pipe 13 is immersed in the liquid (additive) present inside the corresponding tank 12.

[0020] The connection terminal unit 11 forms an interface between the supply lines 9,9' and the input line 13. In a simple embodiment, the connection terminal unit 11 is formed as a branch from the supply lines 9,9' to the input line 13. In another embodiment, the connection terminal unit 11 may have valves (not shown, but easily conceivable) for individually connecting / disconnecting the input line 13 and / or the supply lines 9,9'.

[0021] In the supply pipeline 9,9', sensor 4b is used. This sensor 4b detects the flow rate in the supply pipeline 9,9'.

[0022] The beverage unit 10 can be cooled, for example, as a refrigerator.

[0023] The second purification substance input unit 17 is located within the beverage unit 10 and is configured as a purification substance container 17a into which liquid purification substances can be introduced. Of course, purification substance powder or purification substance tablets can also be added to water and dissolved beforehand or in the water in the purification substance container 17a.

[0024] In the purification process during the second operating state of coffee machine 1, the first beverage system 3 (coffee system) and the second beverage system 4 (milk system) are purified separately by the purification device 2, which originates from two different purification substance input units 15 and 17.

[0025] For the first beverage system 3 (coffee system), purification is performed from the first purification substance input unit 15 through the supply pipeline 16, the first beverage system 3 (coffee system), and the coffee pipeline 3a to the discharge section 8.

[0026] In the second beverage system 4 (milk system), separate from the first beverage system 3, preparations are carried out, and the second pipe end 13b of each flexible input pipe 13 or its flexible component is removed from each tank 12, and its first free pipe end 13a is inserted into the purified substance container 17a of the second purified substance input unit 17. The tanks 12 are removed and purified separately or replaced with new tanks 12. The tanks 12 may be commercially available beverage packages such as bags or packs.

[0027] Subsequently, purification is carried out starting from the purifying substance container 17a of the second purifying substance input unit 17, through the input pipeline 13, the connection terminal unit 11, the supply pipeline 9 or / 9' (supply pipeline 9' for return supply), the second drinking system 4 (milk system), and the additive pipeline 4a, and then proceeding to the discharge section 8.

[0028] The purifying agent for the first beverage system 3 (coffee system) is input into the first purifying agent input unit 15, mixed with water or dissolved in water, and supplied to the first beverage system 3 (coffee system) through the supply pipeline 16. In response, the purifying liquid flows through the coffee pipeline 3a to the discharge section 8. At this time, the coffee pipeline 3a is also purified.

[0029] Another purifying substance for the second beverage system 4 (milk system) is filled into the purifying substance container 17a of the second purifying substance input unit 17. Then, the purifying substance from the purifying substance container 17a of the second purifying substance input unit 17 is sucked in via the input pipeline 13, the connection terminal unit 11 and the supply pipeline 9' or 9 from the second beverage system 4 (milk system), and can be led through the second beverage system 4 (milk system). After the purification of the second beverage system 4 (milk system), the purifying substance reaches the discharge part 8 through the additive pipeline 4a. In this path, the pipelines 13, 9, 9', 4a and the connection terminal unit 11 are purified.

[0030] After the purification process, the final flushing process of the first beverage system 3 (coffee system), the second beverage system 4 (milk system) and the corresponding pipelines can be carried out, for example, using water.

[0031] In this case, the second free pipeline end 13b of the input pipeline 13 is inserted again into the corresponding, possibly new or separately purified tank 12.

[0032] German Patent Application Publication No. 102011077435 relates to a purification system for a hot beverage vending machine.

[0033] European Patent Application Publication No. 1911382 shows a device for preparing and outputting beverages equipped with a purification device.

[0034] German Patent Application Publication No. 102013112130 describes a method for identifying a purifying agent in a beverage machine, particularly a coffee machine.

[0035] Although these embodiments have been found to be good in themselves, there is an ongoing need for improvement in terms of structural members, functional groups, installation time and cost reduction in maintenance.

[0036] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to improve an automatic beverage machine, particularly a coffee machine, equipped with a purification device that can simplify purification and reduce costs.

[0037] A further challenge lies in providing an improved method for purifying automated beverage machines.

[0038] The present invention solves the above problems with an automatic beverage machine equipped with a purification device having the features described in claim 1, and with a method for purifying an automatic beverage machine as described in claim 8.

[0039] The automatic beverage machine of the present invention, in particular a coffee machine, comprises a purification device and at least one first beverage system and at least one second beverage system, wherein the at least one second beverage system has at least one input conduit for additives, in particular for milk, and the at least one input conduit for additives is connected to at least one connection terminal unit connected to at least one beverage system. The at least one connection terminal unit has at least one first connection terminal that fixes the at least one input conduit for additives to a first conduit end and at least one second connection terminal that forms a removable connection between a second free conduit end and at least one input conduit for additives.

[0040] This is advantageous because it prevents misconnection of the terminals. Furthermore, the fact that the second free conduit end is detachable at the additional terminal location of the terminal unit provides safe, easy, and quick handling.

[0041] A further advantage is that, in a simple embodiment, the connection terminal unit consists of only one or more connection terminals, in which case the input conduit can be connected and disconnected quickly and easily. Of course, the connection terminal unit can also be made larger and may have its own housing with additional functions such as stopcocks, valves, displays, etc.

[0042] A method for purifying an automatic beverage machine, particularly a coffee machine, comprising a purification device, at least one first beverage system, and at least one second beverage system, wherein at least one second beverage system has at least one input conduit for additives, particularly for milk, comprising the following steps: (VS1) a step of introducing a purifying substance or purifying agent in solid, liquid, and / or powdered form into a purifying substance input unit of the purification device; (VS2) a step of preparing a beverage unit of at least one second beverage system by removing a second free conduit end of at least one input conduit for additives from a tank and connecting it to a second connection terminal of a connection terminal unit, and detecting the second free conduit end of the at least one input conduit connected as described above using a sensor; and (VS3) a step of purifying both the first and second beverage systems after the second free conduit end of the connected at least one input conduit has been detected.

[0043] In this case, the special advantages are that, on the one hand, an additional container for the purified material is not required, and on the other hand, the purification process can only be carried out once the input pipeline is connected to its open end. This thus ensures the safe handling of the input pipeline, which is always closed during the purification process.

[0044] The advantageous configurations are described in each dependent claim.

[0045] In one embodiment, during a first operating state in which the coffee machine prepares a beverage, the second free end of at least one input conduit for additives is positioned within the additive tank. In this way, the input conduit can be used as usual for further additive suction, and advantageously, no additional structural members are required.

[0046] In yet another embodiment, in a second operating state of the coffee machine where the coffee machine is being purified, the second free end of at least one input conduit for additives is detachably connected to at least one second terminal of at least one terminal unit. This creates a loop in the input conduit, which is advantageously fully purifiable during the purification process, and in which case the purified liquid is discharged again through the second terminal of the terminal unit. Preferably, no purification work is required in the area of ​​the input conduit.

[0047] Furthermore, it is advantageous that at least one second connection terminal of at least one connection terminal unit has a sensor that detects the connection between at least one second connection terminal and a second free pipe end of at least one input pipeline for additives. This is because the purification process can only be started once one or more second pipe ends of the input pipeline are fully connected.

[0048] Another advantage is that at least one second connection terminal of at least one connection terminal unit is formed as a hose cover and / or quick coupling, because this allows for quick and secure connection and disconnection of the input conduit.

[0049] In another embodiment, it is advantageous for the purification device to have a sensor that detects and monitors the purifying agent, because this allows it to determine whether the purifying substance is present or no longer present.

[0050] In another embodiment, the purification system has a common purification substance input unit for purification agents for two drinking systems. This is advantageous because it allows for the elimination of multiple structural members.

[0051] In another embodiment of the method, the input method step (VS1) is configured such that the input purifying substance or input purifying agent is mixed with water and treated. In this way, simple purifying substance preparation can be advantageously carried out even in a coffee machine.

[0052] In yet another embodiment of the method, after the purification process, at the end of the purification method step (VS1), the second free pipe end of at least one input pipe is again detached from the second connection terminal of the connection terminal unit and placed in a new tank. This can be done advantageously simply and quickly. For this purpose, the second connection terminal of the connection terminal unit may have a quick coupling.

[0053] In another embodiment of the method, during the purification in the third method step (VS3) of purification, the presence of the purifying substance or purifying agent in the pipeline and the drinking system is detected and monitored by at least one sensor. This is advantageous in that it is ensured that the purifying substance is no longer present during subsequent beverage preparation. For this purpose, it is also advantageous that acoustic and / or optical signaling can be performed when the purification process is complete or when the purifying substance or purifying agent is no longer present in the pipeline and the drinking system.

[0054] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, with reference to examples. The drawings are used solely for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not intended to limit it. The individual features described may be adapted to other modified embodiments within the framework of general expertise. The drawings show the following: [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0055] [Figure 1] This is a schematic block diagram showing one embodiment of a coffee machine equipped with a conventional purification device. [Figure 2] This is a schematic block diagram showing one embodiment of a coffee machine equipped with a conventional purification device. [Figure 3] This is a schematic block diagram showing one embodiment of a coffee machine equipped with a purification device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic block diagram showing one embodiment of a coffee machine equipped with a purification device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a schematic flowchart illustrating the method of the present invention.

[0056] Figures 1 and 2 have already been described above.

[0057] Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a coffee machine 1 equipped with a purification device 2 according to the present invention. Figure 4 shows an enlarged schematic block diagram of the beverage unit 10 of Figure 3.

[0058] The coffee machine 1 according to the present invention includes, in this case, a purification device 2, at least one first beverage system 3 (coffee system), and at least one second beverage system 4 (milk system) to which a beverage unit 10 is assigned. A beverage tank 12, in this case milk, is located within the beverage unit 10. The beverage unit 10 may be, for example, a cooling tank, such as a refrigerator.

[0059] As already explained above, the first beverage system 3 (coffee system) is connected to the beverage outlet 6 via the coffee pipeline 3a, and the second beverage system 4 (milk system) is connected to the additive outlet 7 via the additive pipeline 4a. The connection to the discharge section 8 has also been explained above.

[0060] The purification device 2 of the coffee machine 1 according to the present invention includes a first purification substance input unit 15 for a first beverage system 3 (coffee system) equipped with a corresponding supply line 16, a second purification substance input unit 20 for a second beverage system 4 (milk system) located in a beverage unit 10, separate from the first purification substance input unit 15, and a connection terminal unit 11 for at least one input line 13 for an additive, which is milk.

[0061] The first purification substance input unit 15 is located in the supply pipeline 16 between the water supply unit 5 and the first beverage system 3 (coffee system).

[0062] At least one input conduit 13 has a first conduit end 13a and a second free conduit end 13b. The first conduit end 13a fixates the at least one input conduit 13 to a connection terminal 11a in the connection terminal unit 11. The second free conduit end 13b is freely movable relative to the first conduit end 13a and is located inside the tank 12 when the coffee machine 1 is operating and the beverage is being prepared, thereby allowing milk to be drawn from the tank 12 through the corresponding input conduit 13.

[0063] The connection terminal unit 11 of the coffee machine 1 equipped with the purification device 2 according to the present invention has at least one second connection terminal 11b as a removable connector for the free pipe end 13b of at least one input pipe 13.

[0064] In a simple embodiment, the connection terminal unit 11 may consist only of connection terminals 11a, 11b and corresponding connection conduits, and can be positioned adjacent to or within the second beverage system 4. Of course, the connection terminal unit 11 may also have its own housing.

[0065] When preparing the second drinking system 4 (milk system) for purification, the first free pipe end 13a of at least one input pipe 13 is removed from the tank 12 and then connected to at least one second connection terminal 11b of the connection terminal unit 11. This is done, for example, by having the pipe end 13a formed as a hose and pushed into the corresponding hose cover of each second connection terminal 11b of the connection terminal unit 11. Of course, other embodiments of the at least one input pipe 13, such as a joint tube, are also possible.

[0066] Of course, instead of a hose cover, you can also use a suitable standard hose connector, such as one with a quick closure.

[0067] In this way, at least one input conduit 13 forms a loop, which allows the purifying material to flush. A capture container or purifying material container 17a is not required.

[0068] For this purpose, the connection terminal unit 11 may have, for example, a valve, which may enable such circulating purification / flushing of at least one input conduit 13. Various purification paths are possible.

[0069] In one variant of the purification process, the second drinking system 4 is purified only up to the connection terminal unit 11, in which case the second free pipe end 13b of the input pipeline 13 remains in its position within the tank 12 and is shut off by a valve in the connection terminal unit 11. This variant of the purification process can be performed, for example, daily, and additional purification of the input pipeline 13 connected to the free pipe end 13b of the second connection terminal 11b of the connection terminal unit 11 can be performed as needed at longer time intervals.

[0070] A sensor (not shown, but easily conceivable) is assigned to at least one second connection terminal 11b of the connection terminal unit 11. This sensor detects whether the conduit end 13a of the corresponding input conduit 13 is connected to the corresponding second connection terminal 11b.

[0071] The sensor may be, for example, a contact sensor, an proximity switch, or a microswitch, and such a sensor is operated from the connected conduit end 13a via a suitable plunger or the like.

[0072] The sensor is connected to the evaluation circuit of the control unit of coffee machine 1 (which is not shown but is easily conceivable). In this way, it is ensured that the input pipeline is connected before the purification process begins.

[0073] For the purification process of the milk system 4, the purifying agent is input to the second purifying substance input unit 20 of the beverage unit 10. The second purifying substance input unit 20 may be connected, for example, to the connection terminal unit 11 in order to introduce the purifying agent into the second beverage system 4 (milk system), although this will not be described in detail.

[0074] A modified embodiment of the coffee machine 1 according to the present invention is further illustrated in Figure 3.

[0075] In this modified configuration, the third purification substance input unit 18 is located in the supply pipeline 19 between the water supply unit 5 and the second drinking system 4 (milk system), and is connected to the water supply unit 5 or the water sensor 14 via a connection part 18a.

[0076] The third purifying substance input unit 18 can be provided in place of or in addition to the second purifying substance input unit 20.

[0077] In another variant not shown, the coffee machine 1 according to the present invention has a purification device 2 with a single, i.e., one common purification substance input unit 15. In other words, the purification substance input unit 15 is used to purify a first beverage system 3 (coffee system) and a second beverage system 4 (milk system). Only a single purification substance is input to the common purification substance input unit 15. This single purification substance purifies both systems, i.e., the first beverage system 3 (coffee system) and the second beverage system 4 (milk system).

[0078] For this purpose, the supply pipeline 16 shown in Figure 3 is also connected to a second drinking system 4 (milk system), for example, via a branch. Such a branch may have one or more valves to purify the two drinking systems 3 and 4 simultaneously or individually.

[0079] The purification substance input unit 15 can be used for two beverage systems 3 and 4 (basic purification substance), and the purification substance input unit 20, which has an acidic purification substance and / or descaling agent, can be used for a second beverage system 4 (milk system). Furthermore, two purification substances (basic and acidic) can be used for the two beverage systems 3 and 4, or a single purification substance input unit 15, 18, or 20 can be used for the two beverage systems 3 and 4.

[0080] Figure 5 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for operating the purification device 2 of the coffee machine 1 according to the present invention.

[0081] In the first method step VS1, the purifying material is input to the first purifying material input unit 15 and the second purifying material input unit 20 or 18, for example, in a solid, liquid, or / or powdered form.

[0082] Next, in the second method step VS2, the second free pipe end 13b of at least one input pipe 13 is removed from the tank 12 and connected to at least one second connection terminal 11b of the connection terminal unit 11, thereby preparing the drinking unit 10 of the second drinking system 4 for the purification process.

[0083] One or more second conduit ends 13b connected to at least one second connection terminal 11b are identified by their respective sensors in the connection terminal unit 11 and signaled to the control unit.

[0084] When the existing second pipe end 13b of the input pipe 13 is connected to the respective connection terminals 11b of the connection terminal unit 11, the purification process begins.

[0085] The purified material concentrate is mixed with water or treated. This can then be stored in a reservoir tank (not shown). The water is monitored for pressure, volume, and quality using appropriate sensors.

[0086] In the third method step VS3, both the first drinking system 3 and the second drinking system 4 are purified. During purification, the presence of purifying substances in drinking systems 3 and 4 is detected and monitored.

[0087] When the purification process is complete, or when no more purifying substances are present in the pipeline and drinking systems 3,4, this is signaled in a preferred manner, for example, acoustically and / or optically.

[0088] After the purification process, the second free pipe end 13a of at least one input pipe 13 is again detached from at least one second connection terminal 11b of the connection terminal unit 11 and placed in the new tank 12.

[0089] The purification device 2 can be switched on by the operator as needed or upon request from the operating system of the coffee machine 1 (e.g., via the display).

[0090] Here, the purification process of the purification device 2 can be configured to be performed automatically at specific time intervals.

[0091] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments described above and can be modified within the framework of the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0092] 1 Coffee machine 2. Purification device 3. Beverage System 3a Coffee conduit 4. Beverage System 4a Additive line 4b sensor 5 Water supply section 6 Beverage outlet 7 Additive outlet 8 Discharge section 9,9' Supply line 10 beverage units 11. Connection terminal unit 11a, 11b Connection terminals 12 tanks 13 Input conduit 13a,13b Pipe end 14 Water Sensor 15. Purification substance input unit 16 Supply line 17. Purification substance input unit 17a Container for purifying substances 18. Purification substance input unit 18a Connection part 19 Supply pipeline 20 Purification substance input unit VS1, VS2, VS3 Method Steps

Claims

1. An automatic beverage machine, particularly a coffee machine (1), comprising a purification device (2), at least one first beverage system (3), and at least one second beverage system (4), The at least one second beverage system (4) has at least one input conduit (13) for additives, particularly for milk, and the at least one input conduit (13) for additives is connected to at least one connection terminal unit (11) connected to the at least one beverage system (4). In an automatic beverage machine, The at least one connection terminal unit (11) includes at least one first connection terminal (11a) that fixedly connects the at least one input conduit (13) for the additive to a first conduit end (13a), and at least one second connection terminal (11b) that forms a removable connection between the second free conduit end (13b) and the at least one input conduit (13) for the additive. An automatic beverage machine characterized by the following features.

2. The automatic beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein in a first operating state of the coffee machine (1) in which the coffee machine (1) prepares a beverage, the second free pipe end (13b) of at least one input pipe (13) for additives is located inside the additive tank (12).

3. The automatic beverage machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in a second operating state of the coffee machine (1) in which the coffee machine (1) is purified, the second free pipe end (13b) of the at least one input pipe (13) for additives is detachably connected to the at least one second connection terminal (11b) of the at least one connection terminal unit (11).

4. The automatic beverage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one second connection terminal (11b) of the at least one connection terminal unit (11) is formed as a hose cover and / or quick coupling.

5. The automatic beverage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one second connection terminal (11b) of the at least one connection terminal unit (11) has a sensor for detecting the connection between the at least one second connection terminal (11b) and the second free pipe end (13b) of the at least one input pipe (13) for the additives.

6. The automatic beverage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the purification device (2) has a sensor for detecting and monitoring the purifying agent.

7. The automatic beverage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the purification device (2) has one common purification substance input unit for purification agents for two beverage systems (3, 4).

8. A method for purifying an automatic beverage machine, particularly a coffee machine, comprising a purification device (2), at least one first beverage system (3), and at least one second beverage system (4), according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The at least one second beverage system (4) has at least one input line (13) for additives, particularly for milk. In the method, each of the following method steps, namely, (VS1) A method of inputting a purifying substance or purifying agent in solid, liquid, and / or powdered form into the purifying substance input units (15, 18, 20) of the purifying device (2), (VS2) A method step of preparing a beverage unit (10) of the at least one second beverage system (4) by removing the second free pipe end (13b) of the at least one input pipe (13) for the additive from the tank (12) and connecting it to the second connection terminal (11b) of the connection terminal unit (11), and detecting the second free pipe end (13b) of the at least one input pipe (13) connected as described above with a sensor, (VS3) A method step of purifying both the first drinking system (3) and the second drinking system (4) after the second free pipe end (13b) of the connected at least one input pipe (13) has been detected. Methods that include...

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein in the input method step (VS1), the input purifying substance or input purifying agent is mixed with water and treated.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, after the purification process, at the end of the purification method step (VS1), the second free pipe end (13b) of the at least one input pipe (13) is again removed from the second connection terminal (11b) of the connection terminal unit (11) and placed in a new tank (12).

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein during the purification in the third purification method step (VS3), the presence of a purifying substance or purifying agent in the pipeline and the drinking system (3, 4) is detected and monitored by at least one sensor, and acoustic and / or optical signaling is performed when the purification process is completed or when there is no longer any purifying substance or purifying agent in the pipeline and the drinking system (3, 4).

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