US-12622543-B2 - Beverage preparation device with a washing means

US12622543B2US 12622543 B2US12622543 B2US 12622543B2US-12622543-B2

Abstract

The invention relates to an appliance for the automated preparation of beverages, comprising a dispensing element ( 1 ), which comprises a plurality of dispensing openings ( 2 ) for dispensing individual beverage ingredients, and also comprising a washing device ( 3 ) for dispensing a washing fluid, wherein the washing device ( 3 ) is arranged in a retaining region ( 5 ) at a location remote from the dispensing element ( 1 ), wherein the washing device ( 3 ) can be removed from the retaining region ( 5 ), and wherein an accommodating region ( 4 ), which is designed to accommodate at least part of the washing device ( 3 ), is provided on the dispensing element ( 1 ), wherein a valve element ( 2 ) is provided, said valve element comprising a flushing-fluid inlet ( 23 ), an ingredients inlet ( 24 ) and a fluid outlet ( 25 ), which is connected to at least one dispensing opening ( 2 ), wherein the flushing-fluid inlet ( 23 ) opens out into a flushing-fluid channel and the ingredients inlet ( 24 ) opens out into an ingredients channel, and wherein the flushing-fluid channel and the ingredients channel come together to form a common fluid channel, which opens out into the fluid outlet ( 25 ).

Inventors

Hermann Redl

Assignees

REDL GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20200730
Priority Date: 20190802

Claims (17)

1 . A device for the automated preparation of beverages, comprising a dispensing element ( 1 ), which comprises a plurality of dispensing openings ( 2 ) for dispensing individual beverage ingredients, and a washing means ( 3 ) for dispensing a rinsing liquid, wherein the washing means ( 3 ) is arranged in a holding area ( 5 ) at a distance from the dispensing element ( 1 ), wherein the washing means ( 3 ) is removable from the holding area ( 5 ), and wherein a receiving area ( 4 ) is provided on the dispensing element ( 1 ), which is designed for at least partially receiving the washing means ( 3 ), characterized in that a valve element ( 22 ) is provided, which comprises a rinsing liquid inlet ( 23 ), an ingredient inlet ( 24 ) and a liquid outlet ( 25 ), which is connected to at least one dispensing opening ( 2 ), wherein the rinsing liquid inlet ( 23 ) opens into a rinsing liquid channel and the ingredient inlet ( 24 ) opens into an ingredient channel, and wherein the rinsing liquid channel and the ingredient channel converge to a common liquid channel, which opens into the liquid outlet ( 25 ), wherein the washing means ( 3 ) comprises a mechanically or electronically actuated outlet valve ( 6 ), for the rinsing liquid, configured to, upon actuation, enable flow of a rinsing liquid through only the rinsing liquid inlet ( 23 ) to the liquid outlet ( 25 ).
2 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the receiving area ( 4 ) is substantially circular and in that the washing means ( 3 ) comprises a projecting, substantially circular edge element ( 13 ), which is designed for being inserted into the receiving area ( 4 ).
3 . The device according to claim 2 , characterized in that a first sealing element ( 7 ) surrounding the edge element ( 13 ) is arranged on the free end of the edge element ( 13 ).
4 . The device according to claim 3 , characterized in that a magnetic holding element ( 8 ) is arranged in the receiving area ( 4 ) of the dispensing element ( 1 ), the magnetic holding element being designed to cooperate with at least part of the washing means ( 3 ), or in that a magnetic holding element ( 8 ) is arranged on the washing means ( 3 ), the holding element being designed to cooperate with at least part of the receiving area ( 4 ) of the dispensing element ( 1 ).
5 . The device according to claim 4 , characterized in that the magnetic holding element ( 8 ) is designed as a magnetic ring or as circular arrangement of multiple magnets ( 10 ).
6 . The device according to claim 5 , characterized in that a substantially circular second sealing element ( 9 ) is arranged in the receiving area ( 4 ).
7 . The device according to claim 6 , characterized in that the second sealing element ( 9 ) is arranged between the magnetic holding element ( 8 ) and the edge element ( 13 ) of the washing means ( 3 ) when the washing means ( 3 ) is arranged on the receiving area ( 4 ) of the dispensing element ( 1 ).
8 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the receiving area ( 4 ) is bounded by an outer wall ( 14 ).
9 . The device according to claim 8 , characterized in that the outer wall ( 14 ) has a rounding or bevel ( 15 ) on an inner circumference of the outer wall ( 14 ).
10 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that an outlet channel ( 11 ) is provided in the washing means ( 3 ) for discharging excess rinsing liquid via an outlet opening ( 12 ).
11 . The device according to claim 10 , characterized in that a double hose ( 18 ) with an inner hose ( 19 ) and an outer hose ( 20 ) is arranged on the outlet opening ( 12 ), the inner hose ( 19 ) being designed to provide the rinsing liquid and the outer hose ( 20 ) being designed to discharge the rinsing liquid.
12 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the washing means ( 3 ) is movably arranged in the holding area ( 5 ) and is designed to dispense the rinsing liquid when the washing means ( 3 ) is arranged in the holding area ( 5 ) and is vertically displaced relative to the holding area ( 5 ).
13 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the outlet valve ( 6 ) is designed in the form of a rotary nozzle.
14 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one sensor element are provided in the receiving area ( 4 ) of the dispensing element ( 1 ), which are designed to cooperate with at least part of the washing means ( 3 ) in order to indicate to a control unit the complete coupling of the washing means ( 3 ) with the receiving area ( 4 ).
15 . The device according to claim 14 , characterized in that the sensor element is designed as a magnetic reed contact ( 16 ).
16 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the valve element ( 22 ) comprises a first valve ( 26 ), the first valve ( 26 ) being arranged such that, in a first valve position, the flow of liquid between the rinsing liquid inlet ( 23 ) and the liquid outlet ( 25 ) is or can be prevented, and, in a second valve position, the flow of liquid between the rinsing liquid inlet ( 23 ) and the liquid outlet ( 25 ) is or can be enabled.
17 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the valve element ( 22 ) has a cooling inlet and a cooling outlet in order to supply and discharge cooling liquid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a 371 and claims benefit of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2020/071476 filed Jul. 30, 2020, which claims benefit of Austrian Application No. A50696/2019 filed Aug. 2, 2019, the specification(s) of which is/are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. The invention relates to a device for the automated preparation of beverages with the features of the preamble of the independent patent claim. Beverage preparation devices known in the art offer the possibility to prepare a plurality of mixed beverages in an automated manner. An arrangement of multiple dispensing openings is provided on a dispensing element, wherein a liquid ingredient for a mixed beverage can be conveyed into each dispensing opening. Such devices are particularly suitable for the preparation of cocktails, since such mixed beverages often comprise a large number of individual ingredients. With the aid of an automatic device, rapid preparation of the beverages and exact dosing of the ingredients are possible. The ingredients can be alcoholic beverages, such as spirits or liqueurs, non-alcoholic beverages, such as juices, syrups, water, mineral water, as well as other liquid ingredients, such as milk or cream. Such preparation devices inherently have a plurality of tubes, outlets, and other liquid-carrying elements. If a device is taken out of service overnight or for an extended period of time, the problem arises that ingredients may remain in the feed lines and the dispensing openings. On the one hand, this presents hygienic challenges, especially for perishable ingredients such as dairy products, and on the other hand, it can easily lead to clogging of feed lines and/or dispensing openings, in particular for ingredients with high sugar content. Therefore, the need arises to clean the preparation device after operation, which can be very labor-intensive. The time saved by using the preparation device is reduced again by the time-consuming cleaning work. Now, an object of the present invention is to reduce or completely overcome the above mentioned disadvantages of the state of the art. The object of the invention is solved by the characterizing features of the independent patent claim. The invention relates to a device for the automated preparation of beverages, comprising a dispensing element, which comprises a plurality of dispensing openings for dispensing individual beverage ingredients, and a washing means for dispensing a rinsing liquid, wherein the washing means is arranged in a holding area at a distance from the dispensing element. According to the invention, it is provided that the washing means can be removed from the holding area, and that a receiving area is provided on the dispensing element, which is designed to at least partially receive the washing means. This allows the washing means, when located in the holding area, to be used for washing drinking vessels, and in the receiving area, for rinsing the dispensing element. This enables at least the washing of the outer parts of the dispensing element and in particular the individual dispensing openings. Thus, a quick and easy basic cleaning of the dispensing element is possible, whereby this washing means can be used for two washing tasks. Optionally, it may be provided that the washing means comprises a mechanically and/or electronically actuated outlet valve, in particular a rotary valve, for dispensing the rinsing liquid. The outlet valve may be a pressure valve or a magnetic valve, for example. This enables a particularly good cleaning effect of the washing means. If a washing step is to be carried out, the washing means need only be pressed manually against the dispensing element. Optionally, it may be provided that the receiving area is substantially circular and that the washing means comprises a projecting, substantially circular edge element, which is designed for being inserted into the receiving area. This enables a simple connection between the receiving area and the washing means. In particular, the cooperation of the edge element and the receiving area can prevent uncontrolled splashing of the rinsing liquid. Optionally, it may be provided that a first sealing element surrounding the edge element is arranged on the free end of the edge element. This enables a liquid-tight connection between the washing means and the dispensing element. In addition to reducing soiling by spraying rinsing liquid, the washing performance can be improved, as the rinsing liquid can be conveyed in the direction of the dispensing element. Optionally, it may be provided that a magnetic holding element is arranged in the receiving area of the dispensing element, the holding element being designed to cooperate with at least part of the washing means, in particular with the edge element, or that a magnetic holding element is arranged on the washing means, in particular on the edge element, the holding element being designed to