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EP-3731948-B1 - FILTER FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINES

EP3731948B1EP 3731948 B1EP3731948 B1EP 3731948B1EP-3731948-B1

Inventors

  • BEDOCCHI, Gianluca

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20181220

Claims (14)

  1. A filter (10) operating on a liquid, preferably water for making hot or cold beverages; the filter comprising: - containment means (12) formed by a body (120) defining a chamber (13) for housing filtering media (15) for filtering the liquid, which is made to flow into the chamber (13); the body (120) having a longitudinal axis of extension and defining a first and a second end of the chamber (13); - a cap (127) which can be associated with the body (120) at the first end of the chamber (13) and is removable from the body (120); - means (14) for the inlet of the liquid in the containment means (12), the means (14) for the inlet of the liquid extending along the longitudinal axis of extension of the body (120); - means (16) defining an outlet of the liquid from the containment means (12); the means (16) for the outlet of the liquid extending transversely to the axis of longitudinal extension of the body (120); the means (14) for the inlet of the liquid and the means (16) for the outlet of the liquid from the containment means (12) being both situated at the same first end of the chamber (13), wherein the means (14) for the inlet and the means (16) defining an outlet are made on the cap (127); characterised in that the filter further comprises: - first filtering means (20) arranged inside the body (120) and at the second end of the chamber (13), opposite the first end, and configured for filtering the incoming fluid; - second filtering means (22) and third filtering means (24) located one after the other along the axis of extension of the body (120) and configured for filtering further and in succession, relative to a direction of flow of the liquid, the fluid before its outlet, wherein the cap (127) is configured to house the second and third filtering means (22, 24); the second (22) and the third (24) filtering means being stably housed inside the cap (127) at the first end of the chamber (13); said filtering media (15) being positioned between the first (20) and the second filtering means (22) and housed in an intermediate zone (13') of the housing chamber (13) defined by the body (120).
  2. The filter according to claim 1, comprising means (18) configured for conveying the liquid to the second end of the chamber (13) for housing the media (15) opposite the first end in which are positioned the means (14) for the inlet of the liquid; the conveying means (18) being positioned inside the filtration chamber (13) that is, inside the body (120); the conveying means consist of a conduit (18), made of flexible material connected at a respective end to the means (14) for the inlet of liquid and which releases the liquid inside the housing chamber (13) at the second end of the chamber.
  3. The filter according to claim 2, wherein the first means (20) for filtering the inlet liquid are supported by means (18) for conveying the liquid.
  4. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first means for filtering the liquid flowing into the housing chamber (13) comprise a disc-shaped element (20) provided with a plurality of perpendicular through holes (201) for the liquid.
  5. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (120) defining the filtering chamber (13) has a transverse bottom end wall (121).
  6. The filter according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the second (22) and third (24) filtering means of the liquid before the outlet from the housing chamber (13) are supported by means (18) for conveying the liquid into the chamber (13).
  7. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second filtering means of the liquid at the outlet from the housing chamber (13) comprise a disc-shaped element (22) provided with a plurality of perpendicular through holes (221) for the liquid, in such a way as to define primary filtering means of the liquid at the outlet from the chamber (13).
  8. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third filtering means of the liquid before its outlet from the housing chamber (13) comprise a pad-like element (24) made of porous material, which is able to retain solid particles with small dimensions.
  9. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third means (24) for filtering the liquid are positioned in contact with the means (16) for the outlet of the liquid from the housing chamber (13).
  10. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (120) defining the housing chamber (13) comprises a main body (120) and the cap (127) for closing the main body (120); the cap (127) being designed to be associated, through corresponding threaded means (128), to the main body (120), with the interposition of corresponding seal means, in particular in the form of an O-ring (129).
  11. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second means (22) for filtering the liquid at the outlet from the chamber (13) comprise a perimeter surface for engaging against an inner surface of the cap (127).
  12. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third filtering means (24) have a perimeter surface for engaging against an inner surface of the cap (127).
  13. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means (32) for controlling the flow rate of liquid at the inlet, configured to keep in a floating condition, in the liquid to be treated, the filtering media (15), at a middle zone (13') of the housing chamber (13), wherein the means (32) for controlling the flow rate of inlet liquid are defined by a nozzle (32) which is able to allow the passage of a flow of liquid suitable to keep in a floating condition, in the liquid to be treated, the filtering media (15) at the middle zone (13') of the housing chamber (13).
  14. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filtering media (15) consist of respective microspheres, preferably ceramic, in particular made of CWSR.

Description

Technical field The invention relates to a filter operating on a liquid, preferably water, in particular water which is used for making beverages. More specifically, these beverages are in the form of hot or cold beverages, and the water is especially used in machines for dispensing respective beverages, for example in the form of respective beverage vending machines. Background art Known in the prior art are filters operating on water which are used for making beverages, in respective machines for dispensing respective beverages, the filters comprising respective containment means which comprise a respective body defining a chamber for housing corresponding media for filtering the liquid, means defining an inlet for the liquid into the containment means, and means defining an outlet of the liquid from the containment means. Patent documents US 2016/339371, US 6 533 931, US 2016/200612, US 4 457 849 and FR 651 511 illustrate corresponding filter solutions having a body which defines a containment chamber equipped with an inlet for the liquid and an outlet for the filtered liquid. These solutions comprise generic individual filtering means which are able to filter, only partly, all the impurities present in the water. In addition, there is the fact that any media present is not kept floating correctly with the risk of clogging of the filter or, even, with potential escape of the media together with the liquid potentially not filtered correctly. Moreover, the attachment systems are often positioned in zones opposite the filter body, thus creating problems for correct attachment of the filter between the zone for supplying water and the machine on which the filter is installed. As stated, therefore, one problem noted in relation to the prior art filters relates to the risk that the operator, responsible for the installation of these filters in the relative machines, positions the filter incorrectly, with the filtering media not being able to operate in an adequate manner and which would therefore release water which is not purified. Another problem noted in relation to the prior art filters relates to their excessive size, which makes their installation difficult in their respective dispensing machines. However, the need is felt in the sector to provide a filter which operates in a particularly effective manner. Moreover, the need is felt in the sector to provide a filter which is fixed in a particularly stable manner. Moreover, the need is felt in the sector to provide a filter which is particularly simple and easy to set up. Disclosure of the invention The invention proposes a new and/or alternative solution to the solutions known up to now and, more specifically, proposes to overcome one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks or problems and/or to meet one or more of the needs felt in the trade or inferable from the above. Brief description of the drawings The innovative aspects of the invention, or specific advantageous features, are set out in the appended claims and its technical features and advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows of a preferred, advantageous embodiment of it, which must be considered purely as a non-limiting example, the description being made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the filter according to the invention;Figure 2 is a perspective schematic view sectioned longitudinally of the preferred embodiment of the filter according to the invention;Figure 3 is a perspective schematic exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the filter according to the invention;Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view in cross section of an enlarged detail of Figure 2 of the preferred embodiment of the filter according to the invention;Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view in cross section of an enlarged detail of Figure 2 of the preferred embodiment of the filter according to the invention; Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of a filter 10 operating on a liquid, preferably water, in particular water which is used for making beverages, in particular in the form of hot or cold beverages, and especially which can be used in machines for dispensing beverages, for example in the form of respective beverage vending machines. As illustrated, the filter 10 comprises containment means 12 formed by a body 120 defining a chamber 13 for housing media 15 for filtering the liquid, which is made to flow into the chamber 13. The body 120 (cylindrical in shape) has a longitudinal axis of extension to define a first and second end of the chamber 13. The filter 10 also comprises means 14 for the inlet of the liquid in the containment means 12 (the body 120). The input means 14 of the liquid extend along the longitudinal axis of extension of the body 120 (basically, they are coaxial to the longitudinal axis of