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KR-102965366-B1 - A drain tray for a solenoid valve of a coffee dispensing machine and a coffee dispensing machine equipped with said drain tray

KR102965366B1KR 102965366 B1KR102965366 B1KR 102965366B1KR-102965366-B1

Abstract

A drainage tray (1) for a solenoid valve (200) of a coffee dispensing machine (100) is disclosed, comprising a base portion (2) having at least one bottom (3) that extends laterally with at least one side wall (4) that terminates at an opposite end (5). The base portion (2) defines a collection cavity (6) for at least one fluid coming from the machine (100). The tray (1) comprises a cover portion (7) having at least one top wall (8) that extends laterally with at least one side wall (9) that terminates at an edge (10) positioned to engage with an engaging edge (5). The cover portion (7) defines a cover cavity (11) that defines each section (12) together with the collection cavity (6) of the base portion (2). The tray (1) includes at least one inlet (13) connectable to a solenoid valve (200) of the machine (100) for transporting each hot waste fluid (F1) toward the compartment (12). The tray (1) includes an outlet (19) for the outflow of at least one fluid coming from the machine (100) accumulated inside the collection cavity (6) of the base portion (2). The tray (1) includes a heat exchanger (21) disposed inside the compartment (12), having at least one coil (23) positioned to remain at least partially immersed in the fluid (F1) of the solenoid valve (200) of the machine (100).

Inventors

  • 친골라니 클라우디오 엔리코
  • 파리니 마우로

Assignees

  • 시모넬리 그룹 에스.피.에이.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20201008
Priority Date
20191010

Claims (10)

  1. As a drain tray (1) for a solenoid valve (200) of a coffee dispensing machine (100), the drain tray (1) is: A base portion (2) having at least one bottom (3), wherein at least one side wall (4) having at least one interlocking edge (5) terminates at the opposite end of the bottom (3) and extends laterally from the bottom, and the bottom (3) and side wall (4) of the base portion (2) define at least one collection cavity (6) for at least one fluid coming from the coffee dispensing machine (100); At least one cover portion (7) having at least one upper wall (8), wherein at least one side wall (9) extending laterally from the upper wall (7) and terminating at the opposite end of the upper wall (8) having at least one interlocking edge (10) arranged to interlock with the interlocking edge (5) of the base portion (2), the upper wall (8) and the side wall (9) of the cover portion (7) define at least one cover cavity (11), and the cavities of the collection (6) and the cover (11) define each housing section (12) of the discharge tray (1); said at least one cover portion (7); At least one inlet (13) connectable to such solenoid valve (200) of the coffee dispensing machine (100) to enable the transport of each hot waste fluid (F1) coming from the solenoid valve (200) toward the housing compartment (12) of the drain tray (1); At least one outlet (19) enabling the outflow of at least one fluid from each machine (100) for distributing coffee accumulated inside the collection cavity (6) of the base portion (2) of the drainage tray (1); and A drain tray (1) comprising: a heat exchanger (21) having at least one transport duct (22) of the supply fluid (F2) of the coffee dispensing machine (100) having at least one exchange section (23) wound with a coil having at least two turns (24) that is disposed inside the housing section (12) of the drain tray (1) and maintained by being at least partially immersed in the hot waste fluid (F1) coming from at least one solenoid valve (200) of the coffee dispensing machine (100).
  2. In paragraph 1, The exchange portion (23) of the transport duct (22) of the heat exchanger (21) is spirally extended around a reference axis (X) that extends across at least one side wall (9) of the cover portion (7) of the drain tray (1), the drain tray (1).
  3. In paragraph 2, The transport duct (22) of the heat exchanger (21) above is, A first connecting fitting (25) that is fluidly connected to the first end of the exchange portion (23) and extends laterally with respect to the reference axis (X) of the exchange portion (23) and at least one side wall (9) of the cover portion (7) of the drainage tray (1); and A drainage tray (1) having a second connecting fitting (27) that fluidly communicates with the second end of the exchange portion (23) opposite the first end and has a first section (27a) that extends parallel to the first connecting fitting (25) and a second section (27b) that extends across the first section (27a) and the first connecting fitting (25).
  4. In paragraph 3, At least one of the connecting fittings (25, 27) of the transport duct (22) of the heat exchanger (21) is placed on a flat surface adjacent to the upper wall (8) of the cover portion (7) of the drain tray (1).
  5. In paragraph 4, At least a portion of each turn (24) of the exchange portion (23) of the transport duct (22) of the heat exchanger (21) is extended between the interlocking edge (10) of the cover portion (7) of the drain tray (1) and the inlet (13) of the hot waste fluid (F1) coming from at least one solenoid valve (200) of the coffee dispensing machine (100), the drain tray (1).
  6. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 5, A drain tray (1) further comprising a holding chamber (14) disposed inside the cover cavity (7) of the housing compartment (12) for accommodating at least the exchange portion (23) of the transport duct (22) of the heat exchanger (21), wherein the holding chamber (14) is fluidly connected to the housing compartment (12) through at least one through opening (18).
  7. In paragraph 6, The drain tray (1) is defined by a fixed portion (15) integrally coupled to the cover portion (2) of the drain tray (1) and a removable portion (16) that can be inserted into the fixed portion (15) and fixed thereon by at least one coupling element (17).
  8. In Paragraph 7, A drain tray (1), wherein the fixed portion (15) of the holding chamber (14) comprises at least two assembly/disassembly slots (26) that enable the insertion or removal of the heat exchanger (21) along the direction across the upper wall (8) of the cover portion (7) of the drain tray (1).
  9. In paragraph 8, Each assembly slot (26) of the holding chamber (14) is extended between the end edge (15c) of the fixed part (15) of the holding chamber (14) and the upper wall (8) of the cover part (7) of the drainage tray (1).
  10. A general supply valve (102) that can be connected to a water supply network or similar water supply source arranged in series with a supply pump (103); At least one indirect water heating boiler (105) and at least one direct water heating boiler (106) operatively positioned between a general valve (102) and at least one solenoid valve (200) for coffee distribution; and A coffee dispensing machine (100) of the type comprising a hydraulic circuit (104) extending between a general supply valve (102), a boiler (105, 106), and a solenoid valve (200) for coffee dispensing, A machine (100) further comprising at least one drain tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which fluidly communicates with at least one solenoid valve (200) of the coffee dispensing machine (100) through at least one discharge duct (104a) of the hydraulic circuit (104).

Description

A drain tray for a solenoid valve of a coffee dispensing machine and a coffee dispensing machine equipped with said drain tray The present invention relates to a drainage tray for a solenoid valve of a coffee dispensing machine. The present invention also relates to a coffee dispensing machine equipped with the aforementioned drainage tray. The object of the present invention generally relates to the technical industrial field of coffee dispensing machines, and in particular aims at professional coffee dispensing machines. As previously announced, the technology sector of coffee dispensing machines is increasingly aligning with the general demand to reduce energy consumption and improve the overall performance of machines produced and sold. The increasing efforts of coffee dispensing machine manufacturers have made it possible to achieve significant results in terms of energy saving and overall dimensions, as well as to achieve a substantial reduction in external heat loss and optimize the performance and space of the internal components of the coffee dispensing machine. Despite various efforts to limit heat waste to the maximum extent, the applicant found that there is still significant room for improvement, particularly regarding the drainage of solenoid valves managing the hot water flow intended for coffee extraction. In relation to the extraction of coffee in the current machine for preparing and delivering a relatively hot beverage, the above operation is performed by controlling the corresponding flow of water heated to 90°C passing through each 3-way solenoid valve placed in each distribution group. The operation of each solenoid valve causes the passage of hot water through the corresponding distribution group and the relative extraction of the coffee. Once the coffee is brewed, the excessively hot water located between the coffee panel and the shower head of the distribution group is discharged through the drain to reduce pressure in the filter holder area, thereby allowing the operator to quickly and easily remove the filter holder. The hot water discharged by each solenoid valve first flows directly into each drain tray and then into the drain of the coffee dispensing machine, resulting in a significant waste of reusable heated water for the purpose of recovering thermal energy. The main objective of the present invention is to propose a drainage tray for a solenoid valve of a coffee dispensing machine that can solve the problems encountered in the prior art. In addition, the objective of the present invention is to further reduce heat loss of the coffee dispensing machine. In addition, the objective of the present invention is to increase the performance of the coffee dispensing machine. Another objective of the present invention is to optimize the power of the internal components of a coffee dispensing machine. Finally, the objective of the present invention is to reduce the total energy consumption of the coffee dispensing machine required to heat water supplied from a water supply network or similar source. The purpose specified above is substantially achieved by a drain tray for a solenoid valve of a coffee dispensing machine and a coffee dispensing machine equipped with such a drain tray, as described and claimed below. Now, for example, a description of a non-exclusive preferred embodiment of a coffee dispensing machine having a solenoid valve and said drain tray is reported. These descriptions are provided for illustrative purposes only and are therefore not for limiting purposes; reference will be made below with reference to the attached drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drain tray for a solenoid valve of a coffee dispensing machine according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an additional perspective view of the drainage tray of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the drainage tray of the prior drawings; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the drainage tray of the prior art; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of some components of the drainage tray of the prior art; FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a part of the components of the drainage tray shown in FIG. 5 in an assembled state; FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a component of the drainage tray shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a component of a drainage tray shown in FIG. 5 in an assembled state; FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a component of the drainage tray shown in FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a front view of the components of the drain exchange tray shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; FIG. 11 is an additional front view of a component of the collection exchange tray illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10; FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a component of the drainage tray shown in FIG. 8 to 11 taken along the line XII-XII of FIG. 10 and 11; FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a component of the drainage tray shown in FIG. 8 to 12 taken along the line XIII-XIII of FIG. 9; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a component o