Sanification system for a machine for the preparation of beverages

Abstract

Sanification system (10, 10a) for a machine (35) for the preparation of a beverage, comprising a main body (11) in which there is created a chamber (12) for containing a liquid for the preparation of the beverage, which is provided with at least one inlet duct (13) for the liquid to be sanified and with at least one outlet duct (14) for the sanified liquid, and an emission device (15) for irradiating the inside of the chamber (12) with UV-C ultraviolet rays.

Description

[0001] “SANIFICATION SYSTEM FOR A MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION OF BEVERAGES”

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a sanification system for a machine for the preparation of beverages, in particular for the sanification of a liquid that flows in a hydraulic circuit and that is used for the preparation of a beverage inside the machine, for example water for the preparation of a coffee beverage, milk or other.

[0003] The following description will refer in particular to the sanification of the water for the preparation of a coffee beverage in a corresponding machine.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Consumers of coffee-based beverages are increasingly opting for preparations of beverages obtained through cold extraction, since the sensory results are different compared to a beverage extracted hot and then cooled. In the state of the art, these cold preparations are obtained with infusions lasting many hours (4-8 hours) in which the ground coffee is left to macerate.

[0006] To make this process convenient to use, coffee machine manufacturers have found various ways to try to make cold extraction faster, for example through suction of the water from the usual tanks associated with the coffee machine. For this reason, it is necessary to be able to guarantee that the water taken from the tank for these cold infusions does not contain any microorganisms that are then introduced into the cup, with obvious risks for the health of the consumer. In addition, in some countries there is no safe drinking water and high concentrations of pathogens can be found in it. For example, Escherichia Coli, Gram-negative bacteria, Enterococcus Faecalis, Gram-positive bacteria, are pathogens that can be easily found in contaminated water and have therefore been selected as target microorganisms to evaluate the efficiency of the disinfection system. In fact, both Escherichia Coli as well as Enterococcus Faecalis provide information on water quality and the adequacy of the treatment and safety of water distributed to consumers.

[0007] Water disinfection is therefore particularly important for cold coffee-based beverages, where the water used for the beverage preparation process is not heated.

[0008] Known disinfection systems for beverage preparation machines are bulky, difficult to maintain and limited in terms of disinfection efficiency.

[0009] US 9938165 B2 describes a device for disinfecting a liquid in transit comprising a plurality of ultraviolet ray emitting LEDs, each associated with a lens.

[0010] EP 3509996 Bl describes a cartridge for the treatment of a fluid by means of UV radiation comprising an external casing and a UV treatment module positioned inside the casing.

[0011] Other known sanification devices are described in CN 116172406 A, JP 4217768 B2 and US2022 / 0304342 Al.

[0012] There is therefore the need to perfect a sanification system for a machine for the preparation of beverages that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0013] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an effective sanification system, which can be easily integrated into a beverage preparation machine, and which guarantees the sanification of the liquid used for the preparation of the desired beverage.

[0014] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a sanification system that allows to eliminate, at least up to a satisfactory percentage, the microorganisms present in the liquid used for the preparation of the beverage, substantially in a single step, thus avoiding slowing down the machine’s normal operation. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine for the preparation of a beverage which is equipped with an effective sanification system.

[0015] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0017] In accordance with the above purposes, a sanification system according to the present invention for a machine for the preparation of a beverage comprises: a main body in which there is created a chamber for containing a liquid for the preparation of the beverage, the chamber being provided with at least one inlet duct for the liquid to be sanified and with at least one outlet duct for the sanified liquid; an emission device for irradiating the inside of the chamber with UV-C ultraviolet rays; and a reflector located between the emission device and the chamber, and configured to maximize the reflection of the ultraviolet rays, and maximize and concentrate the emission of the UV-C ultraviolet rays on the liquid inside the chamber, therefore substantially on the entire path of the liquid inside the chamber between the inlet duct and the outlet duct.

[0018] Thanks to the configuration disclosed above, the present sanification system is extremely compact and effective, thanks above all to the use of the reflector, and it can be easily integrated into the hydraulic circuit of a machine for the preparation of a beverage.

[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, the reflector is made with a material with high reflectivity to UV light, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or suchlike. According to another aspect of the invention, the emission device comprises a plurality of LEDs for emitting UV-C ultraviolet rays.

[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, the reflector comprises a series of slots which are positioned in correspondence with the LEDs.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, the system comprises a window made of material transparent to UV-C ultraviolet rays and located between the reflector and the chamber.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, the window has a surface that completely covers the chamber.

[0023] According to another aspect of the invention, the ducts are positioned on the same side of the sanification system.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the inlet and outlet ducts are positioned on a same side of the main body. Preferably, the main body can have a substantially rectangular shape, and the inlet and outlet ducts can be disposed parallel on a same long side of the main body. According to another aspect of the invention, at least the inlet duct comprises a first segment located at inlet to the containing body and a second segment which connects the first segment and the chamber, wherein the second segment has a passage section larger than the first segment. According to another aspect of the invention, the main body comprises a compartment separated from the chamber for housing a control device of the emission device.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, a cover equipped with a heat sink is positioned above the main body.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, the chamber is equipped with dividing walls in which apertures for the passage of the liquid are made.

[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, the chamber is equipped with a coil for the passage of the liquid. The invention also concerns a machine for preparing beverages, comprising a hydraulic circuit for distributing a liquid for the preparation of a beverage in which a sanification system is inserted.

[0028] According to another aspect of the invention, the hydraulic circuit comprises at least one pump upstream of which the sanification system is positioned. According to another aspect of the invention, the machine comprises a control unit configured to command the switching on of the LEDs when the activation of the pump is requested and / or based on the selection of a beverage made by a user on a user interface of the machine.

[0029] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0030] - fig. 1 is an exploded and three-dimensional view of a sanification system for a machine for the preparation of a beverage; - fig. 2 is an assembled view of the sanification system of fig. 1 ;

[0031] - fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a variant of the sanification system;

[0032] - fig. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of a chamber for containing the liquid used in the present sanification system;

[0033] - fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view of the chamber of fig. 4; - fig. 6 is a lateral view of a variant of the liquid containing chamber;

[0034] - fig. 7 is a plan view of the chamber of fig. 6;

[0035] - fig. 8 is a plan view of another variant of the liquid containing chamber;

[0036] - fig. 9 is a schematic representation of some components of a machine for the preparation of a beverage according to the present invention;

[0037] - fig. 10 is an additional schematic representation of some components of a machine for the preparation of a beverage according to the present invention.

[0038] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0039] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

[0040] DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0041] We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a nonlimiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0042] With reference to the attached drawings, see in particular fig. 1 and fig. 2, a sanification system 10 for a machine for the preparation of a beverage comprises a main body 11 in which there is created a chamber 12 for containing a liquid for the preparation of the beverage. The chamber 12 is provided with at least one inlet duct 13 for the liquid to be sanified and with at least one outlet duct 14 for the sanified liquid.

[0043] The ducts 13 and 14 are advantageously positioned on the same side of the sanification system 10, making it compact and configured to make it easy to connect with a hydraulic circuit of a machine for the preparation of a beverage, such as a coffee beverage.

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the inlet duct 13 comprises a first segment 13A located at inlet to containing body 11 and a second segment 13B that connects the first segment 13 A to the chamber 12. The second segment 13B has a larger passage section than that of the first segment 13A and has the function of slowing down the flow of liquid at inlet so that it remains in the chamber 12 for a longer period of time. Preferably, the passage section of the second segment 13B is comprised between

[0045] 1.5 and 10 times the passage section of the first segment 13 A, in particular between

[0046] 3.5 and 6 times.

[0047] According to another aspect of the invention, the outlet duct 14 also comprises a first segment 14A and a second segment 14B that connects the first segment 14A and the chamber 12 to each other, wherein the passage section of the second segment 14B is larger than that of the first segment 14A. The ratio of the passage sections between first and second segment can be the same as the one between the segments of the inlet duct. The inlet and outlet ducts 13, 14, and in particular the respective first segments 13 A, 14A and second segments 13B, 14B, can have substantially the same sizes as each other.

[0048] The sanification system 10 comprises an emission device 15 configured to irradiate the inside of the chamber 12 with UV-C ultraviolet rays. A reflector 16 is positioned between the emission device 15 and the chamber 12, which is configured to maximize the reflection of the rays in the chamber 12, and thus maximize and concentrate the emission of the UV-C ultraviolet rays substantially over the entire path of the liquid inside the chamber 12.

[0049] The emission device 15 is configured to deliver UV-C ultraviolet rays in a range of about 255-285 nm, which have proven to be particularly effective in destroying microorganisms.

[0050] The emission device 15 comprises a plurality of ultraviolet ray emitting LEDs 17. The number of the LEDs 17 can be variable from 1 to 5.

[0051] The LEDs 17 are mounted on a printed circuit 18 of the emission device 15. Preferably, the emission device 15 is disposed above the chamber 12. In the event the support main body 11 has a box-like shape, the emission device 15 and the LEDs 17 are preferably positioned on a larger-sized wall, facing the chamber 12 located below them.

[0052] The printed circuit 18 is electrically connected to a control device 19 that electronically manages the operation of the LEDs 17.

[0053] The control device 19 is positioned in a compartment 20 of the main body 11 separated from the chamber 12, for example by means of a wall 21.

[0054] A window 22 is positioned between the reflector 16 and the chamber 12, for example with a square or rectangular shape, made of a material transparent to UV- C rays, for example quartz.

[0055] The window 22 preferably has a surface such as to cover the entire chamber 12 where the liquid is subjected to the sanification treatment through the UV-C rays, in order to further increase the efficiency of the sanification system 10. The window 22 therefore has a surface substantially the same as the surface of the chamber 12.

[0056] At least one sealing packing 23, with an annular shape, is positioned between the reflector 16 and the window 22, in order to seal the chamber 12. A cover 24 is positioned above the main body 11 , which closes the chamber 12 and the compartment 20.

[0057] The cover 24 can be provided with a heat sink 25, for example equipped with fins 26. The heat sink 25 is configured to dissipate the heat generated by the emission device 15, in particular by the LEDs 17. The heat sink 25 can have an extension substantially equal to that of the chamber 12 and the compartment 20.

[0058] In order to further increase the efficiency of the sanification system 10, it is possible to make and / or line the cover 24 and / or the main body 11, at least the surfaces facing the inside of the chamber 12, using a material with high reflectivity to UV light, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or suchlike, which has a reflectivity comprised between 90 and 100%, or aluminum (Al), which has a reflectivity between 70 and 85%.

[0059] The heat sink can also be separate and applied on the cover 24, as in the embodiment of the sanification system 10a of fig. 3. In this embodiment, the fins 26a of the heat sink 25a are directed substantially orthogonally with respect to the fins 26 of the heat sink 25 of fig. 1 and fig. 2.

[0060] The reflector 16 can provide a series of slots 27 which, when assembly is completed, are positioned in correspondence with the LEDs 17, so as to guide and further concentrate the UV-C rays emitted by the LEDs 17 toward the chamber 12. If for example three LEDs 17 are provided, as many slots 27 are provided.

[0061] The reflector 16 can be made of a material with high reflectivity to UV light, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or suchlike, which has a reflectivity comprised between 90 and 100%, or aluminum, which has a reflectivity between 70 and 85%.

[0062] The sanification system 10, 10a is designed so that the water that passes through it can be sanitized in a single pass, thus avoiding slowing down the coffee machine’s normal operation. This also allows to avoid the sanification of the static water in the coffee machine’s tank, which presents several problems such as possible user exposure to UV rays and the choice of UV ray resistant polymers for the construction of the tank.

[0063] The sanification system 10, 10a is conceived so as to guarantee the disinfection of the water with the flow rates normally used in a coffee machine (approximately between 25 ml / min and 400 ml / min): this allows an easy integration of the sanification system with the existing architecture of a coffee machine.

[0064] The sanification system 10, 10a is conceived so as to guarantee the sanification of the volumes of water normally used for the preparation of coffee-based beverages, comprised between 20 and 200 ml per cycle, for a total amount of water comprised between 250 and 2500 liters.

[0065] The water disinfection chamber 12 is preferably designed so as to maximize the water’s exposure time to UV-C light.

[0066] According to one aspect of the invention, the chamber 12 comprises obstacle elements 36 protruding from a bottom wall 37 of the chamber 12 and configured to slow down the speed of the passing liquid. In particular, the obstacle elements 16 are located substantially parallel to the direction of inlet and outlet of the liquid.

[0067] As can be observed in particular in fig. 4 or fig. 5, the chamber 12 is equipped with dividing walls 28, for example two, equipped with water passage apertures 29. In this way, the tortuosity of the water’s path between the inlet duct 13 and the outlet duct 14 is increased, the water’s speed is significantly decreased and the water residence time in the chamber 12 is therefore increased. This increases the exposure time of the water in the chamber 12 to the UV-C ray emission device 15.

[0068] Preferably, the apertures 29 do not extend for the entire height of the respective walls 28, so that there remains in any case a raised portion internal to the chamber 12.

[0069] According to the embodiment of figs. 4 and 5, two dividing walls 28 can be provided disposed parallel to each other, in the space of the chamber 12 comprised between the apertures associated with the inlet 13 and outlet 14 ducts. The two dividing walls 28 can have an asymmetrical shape, with respective apertures 29 disposed offset with respect to each other. In particular, the wall 28 in proximity to the inlet duct 13 provides a segment of wall 28 with a greater height facing the compartment, while the aperture 29 extends for the remaining part, while the wall 28 in proximity to the outlet duct 14 provides a segment of wall 28 with a greater height on the opposite side.

[0070] The speed of the flow can also be significantly decreased also by increasing the section of the ducts 13 and 14, see fig. 6 and fig. 7. The main body 11 and the chamber can take on a cylindrical conformation. In the variant of fig. 8, a coil 30 is created inside the chamber 12 so that the water’s path is maximized in length between the inlet 13 and outlet 14 ducts, therefore the water residence time inside the chamber 12 is significantly increased.

[0071] A speed of the water inside the chamber 12 that guarantees an efficient disinfection can be comprised, for example, between about 30 and about 300 mm / s. In order to set the operation of the sanification system 10, 10a, it is first necessary to establish the desired microorganism killing rate, which is closely correlated to the dose of UV light and the water’s exposure time to the UV light: the higher the dose, the shorter the exposure time needed to reach a certain killing rate, and vice versa. This is in itself known. A correct water disinfection is made possible by choosing the right number of LEDs 17 and their optical power (or radiant flux, measured in mW); in particular, the number of LEDs allows the homogeneous distribution of light passing through the window 22, while the optical power defines the amount of energy available to kill the microorganisms. In the sanification system 10, 10a the number of LEDs 17 can, as mentioned, be comprised between 1 and 5.

[0072] The optical power (or radiant flux) can be determined as follows: select the target microorganism and the desired killing rate; define the dose (mJ / cm2) required to achieve the desired reduction for the selected microorganisms (these data are available in the literature); calculate the exposure time of the water to UV- C light, knowing the speed of the water and the length of the path within the sanification system 10, 10a; calculate the irradiance, defined as optical power per surface unit (mW / cm2), knowing the area illuminated by the UV-C light; calculate the optical power (or radiant flux). The goal for the water disinfection can be, for example, a killing rate of 99.9% in relation to Escherichia Coli. The UV-C dose required to achieve this reduction disinfection goal is comprised between 7 and 17 mJ / cm2. Based on these values, in the present sanification system 10, 10a the following ranges have been identified for the exposure time to UV-C rays when the water is in the chamber 12 and for the optical power of the LEDs 17: exposure time comprised between about 0.2 and about 1.5 seconds, as a function of the flow rate of the water for the selected beverage; optical power of the LEDs comprised between about 40 and about 60 mW. In choosing the total optical power of the LEDs 17, a margin of safety was considered, that is, the total optical power is overestimated, to compensate for the loss of efficiency of the LEDs 17 over time and the accumulation of mineral deposits on the window 22, which consequently reduces the transmittance of the UV-C light. The accumulation of mineral residues (limescale) on the window could prevent or limit the effectiveness of illuminating the water with UV-C light, since some of the radiation is absorbed by the mineral residues; this would obviously lead to reduced disinfection efficiency over time.

[0073] In the present solution, this problem is solved or in any case strongly limited by inserting the sanification system 10, 10a into the existing hydraulic circuit 31 of the machine 35 for the preparation of the coffee beverage (see fig. 9 and fig. 10): consequently, the mineral residues can be effectively removed, that is, chemically dissolved, during the descaling cycles of the machine 35. This allows to maintain a disinfection efficiency that is constant over time. In this hydraulic circuit 31, the following are schematized: a water containing tank 32, a flow meter 33, the sanification system 10, 10a and the water pump 34.

[0074] In fig. 9 the sanification system 10, 10a is positioned between the flow meter 33 and the pump 34, while in fig. 10 it is positioned between the tank 32 and the flow meter 33. In any case, the sanification system 10, 10a is positioned before the pump 34: this simplifies its construction and design, because after the pump 34 the water flows at high pressure, typically between 10 and 20 bar, and the hydraulic circuit 31 is subject to strong vibrations that could damage the LEDs 17. The activation of the LEDs 17 can, for example, be managed in two ways: turning on the LEDs 17 when the water pump 34 is operating; turning on the LEDs 17 when the user selects a cold beverage. This can be done by a control unit 38 of the machine 35.

[0075] For example, the machine 35 can comprise a user interface 39 by means of which a user can select a beverage to be prepared chosen from hot beverages or cold beverages, and the control unit 38 can command the activation of the LEDs 17 whenever the activation of the pump 34 is requested, regardless of the type of beverage requested, or possibly only in the event a cold beverage is selected.

[0076] The sanification system 10, 10a is preferably devised to reduce water pressure drops to a minimum. This is achieved by designing the water inlet duct 13 and the water outlet duct 14 with the same internal diameter used in the rest of the hydraulic circuit 31 of the machine 35. This internal diameter can for example be comprised between 2 and 6 mm. Any reductions in the section of the pipes within the sanification system 10, 10a are also preferably to be avoided. The sanification system 10, 10a is devised in such a way as to reduce overall dimensions to a minimum and allow an easy integration into the existing architecture of the machine 35: an important characteristic to achieve this objective is to provide both the water inlet duct 13 and also the water outlet duct 14 on the same side of the machine 35. By way of example, the sanification system 10, 10a can have a length comprised between 40 and 70 mm, a width comprised between 40 and 70 mm, a height comprised between 10 and 30 mm.

[0077] The heat generated by the LEDs 17 is dissipated by means of the heat sink 25 to improve the efficiency and prolong the life of the sanification system 10, 10a. The heat sink 25 is made of a thermally conductive material such as aluminum or copper, and is located on the upper side of the sanification system 10, 10a. The printed circuit 18 that houses the LEDs 17 can be made of a thermally conductive material, such as aluminum. Finally, the sanification system 10, 10a is preferably located in the lower part of the machine 35: this allows the transfer of heat by natural convection to the upper part of the machine, where ventilation holes and grilles are present.

[0078] As has been ascertained, the present sanification system 10, 10a is extremely compact, efficient and can be easily applied to a machine 35 for the preparation of coffee, or other beverage.

[0079] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the sanification system for a machine for the preparation of a beverage as described heretofore, without thereby departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0080] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of sanification system for a machine for the preparation of a beverage, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0081] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Sanification system (10, 10a) for a machine (35) for the preparation of a beverage, characterized in that it comprises: a main body (11) in which there is created a chamber (12) for containing a liquid for the preparation of the beverage, said chamber (12) being provided with at least one inlet duct (13) for the liquid to be sanified and with at least one outlet duct (14) for the sanified liquid; an emission device (15) for irradiating the inside of said chamber (12) with UV-C ultraviolet rays; and a reflector (16) located between said emission device (15) and said chamber (12) and configured to maximize the reflection of said rays in said chamber (12) and maximize and concentrate the action of said UV-C ultraviolet rays on the liquid inside said chamber (12).

2. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in claim 1, characterized in that said reflector (16) is made with a material with high reflectivity to UV light, chosen from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or aluminum (Al).

3. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said main body (11) or at least the surface facing said chamber (12) is made of, or lined with, a material with high reflectivity to UV light, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or aluminum (Al).

4. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said emission device (15) comprises a plurality of LEDs (17) for emitting UV- C ultraviolet rays.

5. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in claim 4, characterized in that said reflector (16) comprises a series of slots (27) which are positioned in correspondence with said LEDs (17).

6. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises a window (22) made of material transparent to UV-C ultraviolet rays and located between said reflector (16) and said chamber (12).

7. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in claim 6, characterized in that said window(22) has a surface that completely covers said chamber (12).

8. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said inlet and outlet ducts (13, 14) are positioned on a same side of thesanification system (10, 10a).

9. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said main body (11) comprises a compartment (20) adjacent to and separated from said chamber (12) for housing a control device (19) of said emission device (15).

10. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that a cover (24) equipped with a heat sink (25, 25a) is positioned above said main body (11).

11. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that at least said inlet duct (13) comprises a first segment ( 13 A) located at inlet to said main body (11) and a second segment (13B) which connects said first segment (13 A) and said chamber (12), wherein said second segment (13B) has a passage section larger than the first segment (13 A), preferably comprised between 1.5 and 10 times the passage section of the first segment (13 A), in particular between 3.5 and 6 times.

12. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said chamber (12) comprises obstacle elements (36) protruding from a bottom wall (37) and configured to slow down the speed of the passing liquid.

13. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said chamber (12) is equipped with dividing walls (28) in which apertures(29) are made for the liquid to pass in a direction transverse with respect to the direction of inlet and outlet of the liquid.

14. Sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said chamber (12) is equipped with a coil (30) for the passage of the liquid.

15. Machine (35) for preparing beverages, characterized in that it comprises a hydraulic circuit (31) for distributing a liquid for the preparation of a beverage in which a sanification system (10, 10a) as in any claim hereinbefore is inserted.

16. Machine (35) as in claim 15, characterized in that said hydraulic circuit(31) comprises at least one pump (34) upstream of which said sanification system (10, 10a) is positioned.

17. Machine (35) as in claim 15 or 16, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (38) configured to command the switching on of the LEDs (17) when the activation of said pump (34) is requested and / or based on the selection of abeverage made by a user on a user interface (39) of said machine (35).

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