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(11) | EP 3 854 750 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | BEVERAGE DISPENSER AND BEVERAGE DISPENSING METHOD |
| (57) The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser (1) comprising a receiving
unit (2) for a used container (B), a sterilising unit (3), a control unit (5), a filling
unit (4), a sensor (311) for detecting the cleanliness of the received container,
which allows the user to refill a reusable container guaranteeing an optimal cleaning
of the same already used container, and to a method for refilling a container with
beverage achieving this objective.
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TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser which allows the user to refill a reusable container guaranteeing an optimal cleaning of the same already used container, and to a method for refilling a container with beverage achieving this objective.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In the general field of beverage dispensing, due to sustainability reasons, in recent years it has become increasingly important the task of reusing the same container to reduce material waste.
[0003] Currently automatic machine which allow users to refill the same container are commercially available, but they are not able to guarantee high standard of cleanliness of the refilled container.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present description to provide a dispenser for administering a beverage with an already used container, with a better outcome in terms of cleanliness of the refilled container with respect to the prior art.
[0006] Another object of the present description is to provide a method for administering a beverage with an already used container, with a better outcome in terms of cleanliness of the refilled container with respect to the prior art.
[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a dispenser according to any of the appended dispenser claims.
[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a method according to any of the appended method claims.
[0010] The features of a dispenser and a method according to the present description will be clarified by the following not limiting description of respective exemplary respective embodiments of said dispenser and method according to the present description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a possible exemplary embodiment of a dispenser according to the present description;
Figure 2 is a schematic and internal partial view of that embodiment of the dispenser;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaning and sterilizing unit of that embodiment of the dispenser, with a sensor adopting an extracted operative position with respect to a chamber of the sterilizing unit and a container adopting a cleaning and sterilizing position of the container;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of that cleaning and sterilizing unit, with that sensor adopting a retracted not operative position with respect to that chamber and a container adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position;
Figure 5 is a detail of a longitudinal sectional view of that cleaning and sterilizing unit, with a closure of the container adopting a cleaning and sterilizing position of the closure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] This detailed description refers to a possible exemplary embodiment of a dispenser according to the present description. In the following, with "dispenser" it is intended that exemplary embodiment of the dispenser.
[0013] This detailed description refers to a possible exemplary embodiment of a method according to the present description. In the following, with "method" it is intended that exemplary embodiment of the method.
[0014] The dispenser is configured to carry out the method. The method is specially adapted to be carried out by the dispenser.
[0015] The dispenser 1 comprises a receiving unit 2. The receiving unit 2 is configured for carrying out a receiving phase. During the receiving phase, an already used container B is received from a user.
[0017] The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is schematically shown also in figures 3 and 4. The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is configured for carrying out a cleaning and sterilizing phase. During the cleaning and sterilizing phase, the received container B is cleaned and sterilized. The cleaning and sterilizing phase comprises a cleaning subphase, during which the container B is cleaned, and a sterilizing subphase, during which the container B is sterilized.
[0018] The dispenser 1 comprises an electronic control unit 5. The control unit 5 is in in communication at least with the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 to control the cleaning and sterilizing phase.
[0019] The dispenser 1 comprises a communication system 7 by means of which the control unit 5 is in communication with the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3.
[0020] The communication system 7 can be of any type, including a wired system and/or wireless system.
[0021] The dispenser 1 comprises a filling unit 4. The filling unit 4 is configured for carrying out a filling phase. During the filling phase, the received container B is filled with a specific beverage. The filling phase can be considered from a certain point of view as a refilling phase, because the container 3 is already used. Therefore, it can be said that, during the filling phase, the container B is refilled with the specific beverage.
[0022] The dispenser 1 comprises a transporting system 6 configured to transport automatically the received container B at least between the receiving unit 2 and the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3.
[0024] It is to be considered that the filling unit 4 can be at least a part of the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3, and vice versa. The filling unit 4 and the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 can also be embedded in the same unit.
[0025] The control unit 5 is in in communication, by means of the communication system 7, at least with the filling unit 4 to control the filling phase.
[0026] The dispenser 1 is configured for carrying out, by means of the control unit 5, an obtaining phase. During the obtaining phase, at least a geometric feature of the container B is automatically obtained. This geometric feature can include at least a shape and/or at least a size of the container B. The dispenser 1 is configured so that said geometric feature is obtained by means of a reading element 22.
[0027] In this connection, the container B can comprise a storage element S. The storage element S stores at least a first information indicative of the geometric feature. The dispenser 1 is configured so that, during the obtaining phase, the reading element 22 interacts automatically with the storage element S to read the abovementioned information, and automatically communicates this information to the control unit 5 by means of the communication system 7.
[0028] The control unit 5 is in communication, by means of the communication system 7, with the reading element 22, to obtain the geometric feature.
[0029] As an alternative the dispenser 1 could be configured for allowing a user to insert the geometric feature in the control unit 5 by means of an interface 111 of the dispenser 1.
[0030] The dispenser 1 comprises a sensor 311. The sensor 311 is configured for carrying out a detecting phase. During the detecting phase, the cleanliness state of the received container B is automatically detected.
[0031] In the context of the present application, the cleanliness state can be considered for example a contamination state of the container B.
[0032] The dispenser 1 is configured so that, by means of the control unit 5, the cleaning and sterilizing phase is automatically correlated to the detected cleanliness state.
[0033] In this way, the cleaning and sterilizing phase can be tailored or adjusted automatically in relation to the detected cleanliness state. Therefore, the dispenser allows for saving cleaning and/or sterilizing material and/or energy, and/or in general the costs associated to the cleaning and sterilizing phase. In fact, the higher is the cleanliness state, the less intense the cleaning and sterilizing phase can be.
[0034] The control unit 5 is in communication, by means of the communication system 7, with the sensor 311 to get the detected cleanliness state, so that the cleaning and sterilizing phase can be correlated to the detected cleanliness state.
[0035] The sensor 311 is a part of the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3, in the sense that the dispenser 1 is configured so that the sensor 311 operates in the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3. The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 comprises a chamber 32 for defining a cleaning and sterilizing position of the container B in the chamber 32. In figures 3 and 4 the container B is in dashed line and adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position.
[0036] The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is configured to generate a movement of the sensor 311 relative to the chamber 32. The movement of the sensor 311 is between an extracted operative position of the sensor 311 and a retracted not operative position of the sensor 311.
[0037] In Fig. 4 the sensor 311 adopts the retracted not operative position and the container B adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position. In Fig. 3 the sensor 311 adopts the extracted operative position and the container B adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position.
[0038] The extracted operative position is such that, as the container B adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position, the sensor 311 is internal relative to the container B.
[0039] The container B comprises a main body B' and an outlet provided for example at the top of the main body B'. The container B can be for example a bottle. In this case, the outlet B" is provided at the top of the neck of the bottle B. The container B, however, can be a receptacle of any kind.
[0040] The retracted not operative position of the sensor 311 is such that, as the container B adopts the cleaning and sterilizing position, the sensor 311, with respect to the extracted operative position, is closer to an outlet B" of the container B.
[0041] The dispenser 1 is configured so that, by means of the control unit 5, the movement of the sensor 311 is automatically controlled as a function of the obtained geometric feature. In this way the operative position of the sensor 311 can be optimized in relation to the geometric feature of the container B.
[0042] Moreover, the movement of the sensor 311 allows for starting the detecting phase while the sensor 311 is moving, in order for the sensor 311 to capture more information regarding the cleanliness state.
[0043] The movement of the sensor 311 allows to adjust automatically the operative position of the sensor 311 as a function of the geometric feature.
[0044] Therefore, the detection of the cleanliness state of the container B is improved. This allows also for the cleaning and sterilizing phase to be furtherly tailored to the actual cleanliness state of the container B.
[0045] It can be that, in the retracted not operative position, the sensor 311 is external relative to the container B adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position.
[0046] This allows to start the detecting phase also when the sensor 311 is external with respect to the container B, so that to furtherly improve the accuracy of the detecting phase.
[0047] The dispenser 1 is configured so that, during the obtaining phase, the type of beverage previously used in or for the container is automatically obtained.
[0048] The dispenser 1 is configured so that said type of beverage previously used is obtained by means of the reading element 22.
[0049] In this connection, the storage element S stores a second information regarding the type of beverage previously used. During the obtaining phase, the reading element 22 interacts with the storage element S to read the above mentioned second information, and communicates this second information to the control unit 5 by means of the communication system 7.
[0050] The control unit 5 is in communication, by means of the communication system 7, with the reading element 22, to obtain the type of beverage previously used.
[0051] The dispenser 1 is configured so that, by means of the control unit 5, the cleaning and sterilizing phase is automatically correlated also to the type of beverage previously used.
[0052] In this way the cleaning and sterilizing phase is furtherly tailored to the previous use of the container B.
[0053] The dispenser 1 is configured to carry out, by means of the control unit 5, a selecting phase during which the type of specific beverage, by which the container will be refilled during the filling phase, is selected automatically as a function of the obtained type of beverage previously used, such that the type of specific beverage is the same as the type of previously used beverage.
[0054] Alternatively the specific beverage can be selected manually by the user by means of the interface 111 which is in communication with the filling unit 4 by means of the communication system 7.
[0055] The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 comprises a sterilizing element 312. The sterilizing element 312 is configured for carrying out the sterilizing subphase. The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 comprises a supporting element 33.
[0056] The sensor 311 is carried by the supporting element 33. The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is configured so that the movement of the sensor 311 is caused by and/or corresponds to a corresponding movement of the supporting element 33.
[0057] The sterilizing element 312 is carried by the supporting element 33 in such a way to be integral with the movement of the sensor 311. This improves the compactness and lowers the mechanical complexity of the cleaning and sterilizing unit 3.
[0058] The sensor 311 is carried by the supporting element 33 with the mechanical interposition of the sterilizing element 312, in order to facilitate the manufacturing phase of the cleaning and sterilizing unit 312. In fact, for example the sensor 311 is more likely to be smaller than the sterilizing element 312.
[0059] The movement of the sensor 311 can comprise at least a translational component along the container axis, for example in the case the container B is a bottle. This improves the detecting phase in the case the detecting phase starts while the sensor 311 is still moving. The container axis is the axis going from the bottom of the container to the outlet of the container B. In the case the container B is a bottle, the axis is to be considered that going from the bottom to the neck of the bottle.
[0060] The chamber 32 extends along an extension axis X. The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 is configured so that, with the container B adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position, the axis of the container B coincides with the axis X of the chamber 32.
[0061] The supporting element 33 could be a rod. The rod extends at least mainly along the axis X of the chamber 32, in order to optimize the energy for the movement of the sensor 311 and the sterilizing element 312.
[0062] The sensor 311 and the sterilizing element 312 are positioned at an end of the rod. This makes easier the manufacturing method of the dispenser, especially in the case the sensor 311 is carried by the supporting element 33 with the mechanical interposition of the sterilizing element 312.
[0063] The cleaning and sterilizing unit 3 comprises a cleaning system. The cleaning system is configured for carrying out the cleaning subphase. The cleaning system comprises a first conduit 313. The cleaning system comprises a second conduit 314. The first conduit 313 opens out in the chamber 32 with a first opening 313a located at a first height along the axis X of the chamber 32. The second conduit 314 opens out in the chamber 32 with a second opening 314b located at a second height along the axis X of the chamber 32. The second height is different from the first height. In this way, the first conduit 313 and the second conduit 314 can be used to clean different parts of the container B, respectively, and in particular different parts of the neck of the bottle, respectively, in the case the container is a bottle.
[0064] During the cleaning and sterilizing phase, it can be possible that also a closure C of the container B is cleaned and/or sterilized, while the closure C adopts a cleaning and/or sterilizing position of the closure C in the chamber 32.
[0065] The different heights of the openings 313a and 314a allows to use the first conduit 313 and the second conduit 314 to clean different parts of the closure C, respectively. Those different parts of the closure C can be for example a screw and a rib of the closure C.
[0067] The dispenser 1 comprises a box having a front wall 11. The receiving unit 2 opens in the front wall to allow a user to insert the container B in the receiving unit 2.
[0068] The receiving unit 2 has an internal wall 21 delimiting a space for receiving the container B.
- a receiving unit (2) for carrying out a receiving phase during which an already used container (B) is received from a user;
- a cleaning and sterilizing unit (3) for carrying out a cleaning and sterilizing phase during which the received container (B) is cleaned and sterilized;
- a control unit (5) in communication with the cleaning and sterilizing unit (3);
- a filling unit (4) for carrying out a filling phase during which the received container (B) is filled with a specific beverage;
wherein:- the dispenser (1) comprises a sensor (311) for carrying out a detecting phase during which the cleanliness state of the received container (B) is automatically detected;
- the dispenser (1) is configured so that, by means of the control unit (5), the cleaning and sterilizing phase is automatically correlated to the detected cleanliness state.
- said sensor (311) is a part of the cleaning and sterilizing unit (3) and the cleaning and sterilizing unit (3) comprises a chamber (32) for defining a cleaning and sterilizing position of the container (B) in the chamber (32);
- the cleaning and sterilizing unit (3) is configured to generate a movement of the sensor (311) relative to the chamber (32), between an extracted operative position of the sensor (311), in which the sensor (311) is internal relative to the container (B) adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position, and a retracted not operative position of the sensor (311), in which the sensor (311), with respect to the extracted operative position, is closer to an outlet (B") of the container (B) adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position.
- in the retracted not operative position, the sensor (311) is external relative to the container (B) adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position;
- the movement of the sensor (311) is such that the sensor passes through said outlet (B").
- the cleaning and sterilizing unit (3) comprises a sterilizing element (312) for sterilizing the container, and a supporting element (33);
- the sensor (311) is carried by the supporting element (33), the cleaning and sterilizing unit (3) being configured so that the movement of the sensor (311) is caused by and/or corresponds to a corresponding movement of the supporting element (33);
- the sterilizing element (312) is carried by the supporting element (33) so that to be integral with the movement of the sensor (311).
- the dispenser (1) is configured to carry out, by means of the control unit (5), an obtaining phase during which at least a geometric feature of the container (B) is automatically obtained;
- the dispenser (1) is configured so that, by means of the control unit (5), the movement of the sensor (311) is automatically controlled as a function of the geometric feature.
- the dispenser (1) is configured so that, during the obtaining phase, the type of the beverage previously used in the container is automatically obtained;
- the dispenser (1) is configured so that, by means of the control unit (5), the cleaning and sterilizing phase is automatically correlated also to the type of beverage previously used.
- the cleaning and sterilizing unit (3) is configured so that during the cleaning and sterilizing phase also a closure (C) of the container (B) is cleaned and/or sterilized;
- the cleaning and sterilizing unit (3) comprises a cleaning system for cleaning the container (B) and the closure (C), possibly one after the other;
- the chamber (32) extends along an axis (X) which coincides with an axis of the container (B) adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position;
the cleaning system comprising:- a first conduit (313) which opens in the chamber (32) with a first opening (313a) located at a first height along the axis (X) of the chamber (32);
- a second conduit (314) which opens in the chamber (32) with a second opening (314a) located at a second height along the axis (X) of the chamber (32);
wherein the first height is different from the second height.- a receiving phase during which an already used container (B) from a user is received;
- a cleaning and sterilizing phase during which the received container (B) is cleaned and sterilized;
- a filling phase during which the received container (B) is filled with a specific beverage;
- a detecting phase during which the cleanliness state of the received container (B) is detected;
wherein the cleaning and sterilizing phase is automatically correlated to the detected cleanliness state.- the detecting phase is carried out by a sensor (311) while the container (B) adopts a cleaning and sterilizing position of the container (B) in a chamber (32);
- the method comprises a movement of the sensor (311) relative to the chamber (32), between an extracted operative position of the sensor (311), in which the sensor (311) is internal relative to the container (B) adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position, and a retracted not operative position of the sensor (311), in which the sensor (311), with respect to the extracted operative position, is closer to an outlet (B") of the container (B) adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position.
- in the retracted not operative position, the sensor (311) is external relative to the container (B) adopting the cleaning and sterilizing position;
- the movement of the sensor (311) is such that the sensor passes through said outlet (B").
- the cleaning and sterilizing phase comprises a cleaning subphase and a sterilizing subphase, the sterilizing subphase being carried out by a sterilizing element (312);
- the sensor (311) is carried by a supporting element (33), so that the movement of the sensor (311) is caused by and/or corresponds to a corresponding movement of the supporting element (33);
- the cleaning and sterilizing element (312) is carried by the supporting element (33) so that to be integral with the movement of the sensor (311).
- an obtaining phase during which at least a geometric feature of the container (B) is automatically obtained; wherein the movement of the sensor (311) is automatically controlled as a function of the obtained geometric feature.