Fluid connection system and coffee dispensing machine containing such system

Abstract

A fluid connection system (1) is described, made of a solid material block (2) and equipped with a plurality of holes (3) connected to respective paths (4) obtained inside it, and with valves (5) or pumps (7) or connection elements (9) or devices (11) for dispensing coffee, the holes (3) being designed to allow the connection of the fluid connection system (1) to such valves (5) or pumps (7) or connection elements (9) or devices (11) for dispensing coffee. A coffee dispensing machine (100) equipped with at least one fluid connection system (1) as indicated above is also described.

Description

[0001] FLUID CONNECTION SYSTEM AND COFFEE DISPENSING

[0002] MACHINE CONTAINING SUCH SYSTEM

[0003] The present invention relates to a fluid connection system and to a cof fee dispensing machine containing such a system .

[0004] Normally, a cof fee machine ( or one for dispensing similar drinks or creams and emulsions , both liquid and powdered) has a very large series o f tubes that connect to valves and then to pumps and tanks and probes and flow meters and many other dif ferent devices , to allow the final dispensing o f the cof fee drink starting from cof fee beans , liquids or powder .

[0005] All this branching obviously creates parts that have to be filled with hot and cold liquids and that in many cases would also have to be cleaned afterwards .

[0006] Furthermore , each connection is subj ect to gaskets and leaks due to consumption, especially i f the liquids are very hot and therefore cause the gaskets to expand . Finally, managing thermals becomes very complicated because the liquids lose heat and therefore it is not possible to obtain and maintain the right thermals .

[0007] Obj ect of the present invention is solving the aforementioned prior art problems , providing a fluid connection system that replaces the currently existing connections with a single perforated block to which valves , pumps and other connection elements are connected, to allow the same final operation o f the machine in which such connection system is inserted, such single perforated block containing paths which are capillary tubes , namely tubes whose internal diameter ranges from 0 . 8 to 3 mm .

[0008] A further obj ect of the present invention is to provide a machine for dispensing drinks , in particular cof fee , equipped with a fluid connection system as indicated above .

[0009] The above and other obj ects and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description, are achieved with a fluid connection system as described in claim 1 . Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention form the subj ect matter of the dependent claims . It is understood that all attached claims form an integral part of this speci fication .

[0010] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments , provided by way of example and not by way of limitation, with reference to the attached drawings , in which :

[0011] - Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views , from two di f ferent sides , of a possible embodiment of the fluid connection system according to the present invention;

[0012] - Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views , from two dif ferent sides , of a possible conformation of the pipes contained in the system of Figure 1 ;

[0013] - Figure 5 is a perspective view of the system of Figure 1 in a possible valve connection configuration;

[0014] - Figure 6 is a top view of the system of Figure 5 ;

[0015] - Figure 7 is a top view of the system of Figure

[0016] 1 in another possible connection configuration with pumps ;

[0017] - Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views , from two dif ferent sides , of the system in Figure 7 ;

[0018] - Figures 10 and 11 are schematic perspective views , from two di f ferent sides , of the system of Figure 1 in another possible connection configuration; and

[0019] - Figures 12 to 14 are perspective and side views of an embodiment of the cof fee making machine equipped with the system of the present invention .

[0020] With reference to the Figures , a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and described . It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modi fications ( for example , relating to shape , dimensions , various colors , and parts with equivalent functionality) may be made to the description without departing from the scope o f the invention as indicated in the appended claims .

[0021] According to the Figures , in an innovative way, the fluid connection system 1 of the present invention :

[0022] - is made of a solid block 2 ; is equipped with valves 5 or pumps 7 or connection elements 9 or devices 11 for dispensing cof fee ; is equipped with a plurality of holes 3 connected to respective paths 4 ( obtained inside the block 2 ) and designed to allow the connection of the fluid connection system 1 to such valves 5 or pumps 7 or other connection elements 9 or, as in the present invention, to devices 11 for dispensing coffee, in which the pumps 7 are controlled on the flow rate rather than on the pressure or even just on a fixed on and off regime;

[0023] - where the paths 4 are made up of capillary tubes, i.e. tubes whose internal diameter varies from 0.8 to 3 mm.

[0024] According to preferred embodiments, and depending on the applications, two possible values of the capillary tubes 4 are: internal diameter of 1 mm and external diameter of 1.5 mm internal diameter of 3 mm and external diameter of 3.45 mm.

[0025] The holes 3 have a diameter corresponding to that of the paths 4, preferably a diameter of 2 mm, and can possibly be closed with grains or other material, even sticky.

[0026] In particular, the solid material of which system 1 of the invention is made can be aluminum, or a semi-crystalline thermoplastic, in particular acetal or polyoxymethylene, POM.

[0027] Valves 5 and pumps 7 are commonly flanged. Furthermore , the valves 5 can be of the two-way or the three-way type . The pumps 7 , on the other hand, can be gear-type , with an inlet and an outlet , and can preferably be pulse-width modulated ( PWM) , or have a fixed flow rate or pressure .

[0028] This fluid connection system 1 is thus used both as a support for all valves 5 and pumps 7 , and for the connections .

[0029] All possible pipe connections are inserted within the inventive system 1 , which, in a preferred but obviously not limiting embodiment , can be in the shape of a parallelepiped, in which the original pipes have been trans formed into paths 4 dug inside the solid block 2 of material and which end in exit holes 3 from the block 2 .

[0030] Obviously, a 2 mm hole costs much less than a metal or composite pipe , normally 4 or 10 mm or larger, and it also does not break or leak .

[0031] The connection between the holes 3 and the valves 5 or the pumps 7 or other connecting elements 9 or cof fee dispensing devices 11 is easy, as the flanges with which both the valves 5 and the pumps 7 are equipped already have a sealing O-Ring .

[0032] Practically, the inventive system 1 contains and replaces 90 / 95% of the circuits of a machine dispensing drinks or creams or emulsions or drinks: only the cold water, the anti-scale liquid and then in the future, perhaps other fluids (milk, flavorings, etc.) will come from outside, but they will connect to the inventive system 1 very simply with common quick couplings.

[0033] In practice, assembling a beverage dispensing machine goes from hours to minutes, and even maintenance and repairs are a simple replacement of a complete block 2 which will then be regenerated.

[0034] The invention also relates to a machine 100 for dispensing drinks, in particular coffee, which is equipped with at least one fluid connection system 1 as described above.

[0035] The system 1 is also able to treat the coffee extracted with the filter holder, with a special device that instantly recirculates it and can emulsify, mix, heat or cool it to obtain products different from those normally extracted.

[0036] Furthermore, the system 1 can emulsify, mix, heat or cool milk and its derivatives (even nonanimal derived) , concentrated coffee, flavorings based on alcohol, glycol or other.

[0037] The system 1 can also suck up any liquid product directly from an external source for later use as already explained .

[0038] The system 1 also manages a descaling liquid completely autonomously or on request or by time or other means , which can be used either hot or cold, or mixed with water .

[0039] Cleaning of every part of the system 1 is guaranteed both automatically and on demand .

[0040] The system 1 also uses components from Ferro Techniek BV, connected either in series or in parallel , fixed under the cup holder to heat it by exploiting their residual and latent heat .

[0041] The system 1 does not have boi lers or water reserves (hot or cold) , but , i f necessary, it can exploit a "backbone" of recirculating pipes with water at the desired temperature and which can act as a thermal flywheel .

[0042] Furthermore , through fixed or mobile systems operating on the principle of refrigerators , pressuri zed gases , Peltier cells , or other methods , it is possible to cool the liquid exiting from various systems : filter holders , pumps , mixers , or other, in order to improve the organoleptic qualities of the product .

[0043] Some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above : obviously, numerous variants and modifications, functionally equivalent to the previous ones, will be immediately evident to those skilled in the art, which fall within the scope of the invention as highl ighted in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Fluid connection system (1) characterized in that : it is made from a single block (2) of solid material it is equipped with valves (5) or pumps (7) or connecting elements (9) or devices (11) for dispensing coffee it is equipped with a plurality of holes (3) connected to respective paths (4) obtained inside it, said holes (3) being designed to allow the connection of said fluid connection system (1) to said valves (5) or said pumps (7) or said connection elements (9) or said devices (11) for the dispensing of coffee wherein the paths (4) are made up of capillary tubes, i.e. tubes whose internal diameter varies from 0.8 to 3 mm.

2. Fluid connection system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said capillary tubes (4) have an internal diameter of 1 mm and an external diameter of 1.5 mm.

3. Fluid connection system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said capillary tubes (4) have an internal diameter of 3 mm and an external diameterof 3.45 mm.

4. Fluid connection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holes (3) have a variable diameter.

5. Fluid connection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holes (3) are closed by grains or other fixed or removable systems, such as plastic, rubber, sealant, adhesive elements or other systems capable of permanently or temporarily closing all or part of the holes (3) .

6. Fluid connection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said solid material is aluminum or steel, or even divided into fractions of different materials suitable for being cooled or heated as needed.

7. Fluid connection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said solid material is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic, in particular acetal or polyoxymethylene, POM.

8. Fluid connection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valves (5) and the pumps (7) are flanged.

9. Fluid connection system (1) according to any ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the valves (5) are two-way or three-way types.

10. Fluid connection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pumps (7) are gear-type or operate with vibration, peristaltic, rotational, hydraulic or piston systems, with an entry point and an exit point.

11. Fluid connection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pumps (7) are pulse width modulated, PWM.

12. Machine (100) for dispensing coffee, characterized by being equipped with at least one fluid connection system (1) according to any of the previous claims connected to at least one device (11) for dispensing coffee.

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