SYSTEM/DEVICE FOR DISPENSING DRINKING WATER AND/OR BEVERAGES IN GENERAL

Abstract

 The invention is a system for dispensing drinking water and/or beverages in general, comprising at least one primary circuit (A) for the liquid to be dispensed, in turn comprising: a general feeding valve (10) for feeding a liquid to be dispensed into the system; a first dispensing solenoid valve (12, 22, 32) intended to selectively open/close to convey said liquid to a nozzle or tap or outlet in general (13); a feeding duct (14) suited to convey the liquid introduced through said general feeding valve (10) to said at least one dispensing solenoid valve (12, 22, 32). The system also comprises an injection circuit (D) for injecting a pressurized gas or air, in turn comprising means for selectively injecting said gas into said feeding duct (14), in order to completely or partially empty the system of said liquid.

Description

[0001] The present patent concerns systems and devices for dispensing drinking water or beverages and more specifically it concerns a new system/device for dispensing drinking water and/or beverages in general, for producing carbonated or still water, cold or at room temperature, for domestic use or for use in commercial establishments, restaurants, offices, industries and in general in all public and private establishments.

[0002] The present patent also concerns the procedure for using the new system and more specifically the procedure for emptying and cleaning the system.

[0003] Systems and devices for dispensing drinking water, which also serve the function of cooling water or producing carbonated water, are known.

[0004] In brief, said systems comprise:

• an inlet line for the drinking water to be treated;
• if necessary, a pump suited to circulate water within the system or to increase the pressure available for the system;
• if necessary, a water cooler;
• if necessary, a carbonator for adding carbon dioxide gas and produce carbonated water;
• filters;
• at least one water dispenser for dispensing the treated water;
• a valve system suited to manage water flows in such a way that water is selectively dispensed:
• still;
• carbonated;
• cold, either carbonated or still.

[0005] The known systems generally comprise a cylinder containing CO2, which is connected via a pressure reducer to a duct that conveys carbon dioxide gas into the device, thus producing carbonated water.

[0006] One of the drawbacks of the currently known systems lies in that they need periodic cleaning and sanitization of the system, which means that special procedures must be carried out and machine operation must be suspended for the time needed to perform said procedures. The use of ozone to sanitize circuits in this type of system is also known. Normally, however, at least in the systems installed "above the sink", sanitization is limited to the duct sections that are closest to the nozzles, since in this type of system there is a limited quantity of water in the ducts.

[0007] On the other hand, in the systems installed "under the sink", in which the ducts are longer and therefore contain more water, these must be sanitized through their entire length.

[0008] In order to overcome all the above-mentioned drawbacks, a new type of system/device for dispensing drinking water, producing carbonated or still water, cold or at room temperature, and/or for dispensing beverages in general, has been designed and constructed, wherein the invention also includes a special procedure for emptying and cleaning the system/device itself.

[0009] In a first embodiment of the system, the same is emptied and cleaned by introducing CO2 and/or air and/or any food grade gas under pressure into the entire circuit, causing the simultaneous emptying of the water and/or beverage contained therein. The complete draining of the water essentially takes place following the introduction of a pressurized gas into the entire circuit. The use of CO2 is particularly advantageous if the system is already equipped with a carbonator for the production of carbonated water.

[0010] Once the water draining operation has been completed, all the dispensing valves are closed, so that the presence of CO2 in the entire circuit for a given, even extended, period of time inhibits bacteria proliferation.

[0011] The execution and repetition of this procedure, during which water is drained from the system and the latter is filled with CO2, reduce bacteria proliferation in the circuit, as carbon dioxide is a bacteriostatic/bactericidal agent.

[0012] This procedure can be periodically repeated in an automatic manner, for example every time the system is switched off and every time it is restarted, thus taking advantage of the time during which the system is not normally used.

[0013] In a second solution, the system can also include an ozone generator that conveys ozone into the circuit once the water has been drained by introducing CO2.

[0014] The ozone that has been introduced in the closed circuit can be kept therein for a given period of time, after which it can be let out by opening a dispensing valve and again by introducing CO2.

[0015] According to the invention, the system can also comprise an additional sanitization circuit, with a sanitizer cartridge that can be used for sanitization purposes with the aid of a pump provided inside the machine.

[0016] This method makes it possible to obtain the recirculation of the mixture consisting of water and sanitizer within all the hydraulic circuits of the machine. Once this operation has been completed, this mixture must be eliminated from the circuit by introducing water from the water mains. Optionally, the circuit can be emptied by means of carbon dioxide, further guaranteeing the absence of bacterial growth. The new system can also comprise additional circuits for dispensing other types of food liquids, such as fruit juices or beverages in general.

[0017] In this case, the emptying and cleaning procedure involves first the step of draining the food liquid by introducing water, so as to remove any product residues, and then the above-mentioned step of draining the water by introducing CO2 and/or air and subsequently, if necessary, ozone.

[0018] According to the invention, as an alternative to the introduction of CO2, to empty the system it is possible to introduce air taken from the outside or any other food grade gas under pressure. Once the system has been emptied, a small quantity of CO2 can be introduced in the circuit to obtain further protection against bacterial growth, as described above.

[0019] The emptying operation can even be carried out only for the purpose of completely discharging a liquid whose temperature or composition is different from that required, for example in the case of carbonated water.

[0020] For example, if cold water is requested and must be dispensed, the water initially dispensed will not have the same temperature as just cooled water. According to the invention, in this case it is possible to drain the water present in the circuit, which has a higher temperature than desired, in order to subsequently be able to dispense the just cooled water at the desired temperature.

[0021] This procedure can be activated automatically according to the current and the required temperature values.

[0022] The operation of the system can be electronically controlled and can be automated. The new system can comprise one-way valves in order to control CO2 and ozone flows more precisely.

[0023] The present invention is particularly effective for application in systems installed "under the sink", where the procedure for cleaning the entire circuit is the one described above, according to which the circuit is first completely emptied by introducing CO2 and then, if necessary, filled with ozone.

[0024] The use of CO2 or the combination of CO2 and ozone has proven to be extremely effective, as it involves the entire circuit, including the dispensing valves and, past them, the outlet.

[0025] The characteristics of the new system are better clarified in the following description, making reference to the drawings, which are attached by way of nonlimiting example.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a diagram of the circuit of a possible embodiment of the new system. The system comprises a general feeding valve (10) by means of which the liquid to be dispensed is introduced in the system, and possibly a pump (11) for circulating the liquid. In the most frequent case, the liquid is water at room temperature, that is, not heated/cooled.

[0027] Figure 2 shows the same diagram shown in Figure 1, where for the sake of simplicity only the primary circuit (A), which supplies water at room temperature, is highlighted, while the remaining parts of the system are defined by broken lines. Said primary circuit (A) comprises a feeding duct (14) which conveys the fed liquid towards a first dispensing solenoid valve (12), by means of which the liquid can be selectively conveyed to a nozzle or tap or outlet (13).

[0028] According to a possible solution, the new system also comprises a cooling circuit (B) for dispensing cooled water.

[0029] For the sake of simplicity, Figure 3 shows only the cooling circuit (B).

[0030] Said cooling circuit (B) in turn comprises a cooling unit (21) with the related heat exchangers and a second dispensing solenoid valve (22).

[0031] In the cooling circuit (B) the water fed by the general valve (10) reaches said first solenoid valve (12), which is closed so that the water is conveyed to said cooling unit (21), where it is cooled.

[0032] The cooled water is then conveyed to said second dispensing solenoid valve (22), from which it is conveyed to the nozzle or tap or outlet (13).

[0033] According to a possible solution, the new system comprises also a carbonation circuit (C) for dispensing carbonated water.

[0034] For the sake of simplicity, Figure 4 shows only the carbonation circuit (C), which in turn comprises a CO2 injector (31), for example a cylinder with a pressure reducer, a hermetically sealed tank (33) that makes it possible to mix carbon dioxide with water, and a third solenoid valve (32) for dispensing carbonated water.

[0035] In particular, in the carbonation circuit (C) cold water is conveyed from said second solenoid valve (22), which is closed, to said tank (33), in which it is mixed with the CO2 introduced in said tank (33) through a duct (34), which in turn is connected to said CO2 injector (31) via a three-way connection (35). The water with addition of CO2 then reaches said third dispensing valve (32) through a dedicated duct (36).

[0036] Furthermore, the system is structured in such a way that all ducts can be selectively filled with CO2 and/or air and/or another gas under pressure, thus emptying the system of water and any liquids contained in the ducts.

[0037] For this purpose, the circuit comprises several independently controlled solenoid valves.

[0038] For the sake of simplicity, Figure 5 shows only the injection circuit (D), which is suited to fill the system with CO2 in order to completely empty the system. The same inventive concept is applied in the case where, instead, the emptying procedure is carried out through the introduction of air or another gas under pressure, wherein the gas used is conveniently a food grade gas.

[0039] The injection circuit (D) comprises one or more ducts (37, 38) which, via a diverter solenoid valve (39), convey CO2 or other gases from said injector (31) to said feeding duct (14), for example upstream of said pump (11).

[0040] Thus, the procedure for emptying the system by introducing CO2 therein and simultaneously filling it with CO2 includes the following steps:

1) draining the liquid from the primary circuit (A) containing water at room temperature, thus emptying it, and gradually filling it with CO2, as shown in Figure 6;

2) draining the liquid from the cooling circuit (B), if present, thus emptying it, and gradually filling it with CO2, as shown in Figure 7;

3) draining the liquid from the carbonation circuit (C), if present, thus emptying it, and gradually filling it with CO2, as shown in Figure 8. This emptying and progressive filling procedure takes place at the same time as the emptying and progressive filling of the cooling circuit (B), if present.

[0041] Said step 1) of draining the liquid from the primary circuit (A) containing water at room temperature, thus emptying it, and gradually filling it with CO2 is carried out as follows:

1.a) the general feeding solenoid valve (10) is closed;

1.b) said first dispensing solenoid valve (12) remains open for the entire duration of the emptying procedure;

1.c) said diverter solenoid valve (39) is opened;

1.d) CO2 is fed through said one or more ducts (37, 38) until reaching the general feeding duct (14), from where it is conveyed to said first solenoid valve (12); in this way, the liquid present in the primary circuit (A) progressively flows out and the latter is progressively filled with CO2;

1.e) said first solenoid valve (12) is then closed so as to allow the system to be completely filled and to ensure an optimal bacteriostatic activity; before, at the same time as or after the closure of said first solenoid valve (12), said diverter solenoid valve (39) downstream of said CO2 injector is closed, too, so as to ensure that the CO2 introduced in the system remains there for a specific time interval.

[0042] Said step 2) of draining the liquid and progressively filling the cooling circuit (B), if present, with CO2 is carried out as follows:

2.a) the general feeding solenoid valve (10) is closed;

2.b) said first dispensing solenoid valve (12) is initially opened to drain any residual water from inside and then closed again to allow water to flow towards the cooling circuit (B);

2.c) said diverter solenoid valve (39) is opened before, at the same time as or after the operation described in point 2.b);

2.d) said second dispensing solenoid valve (22) is opened;

2.e) CO2 is fed through said one or more ducts (37, 38) until reaching the general feeding duct (14), from where it is conveyed to said first dispensing solenoid valve (12), then to said cooling circuit (B) and finally to said second dispensing solenoid valve (22); in this way, the liquid present both in the primary circuit (A) and in the cooling circuit (B) progressively flows out and the latter are progressively filled with CO2;

2.g) said second dispensing solenoid valve (22) is then closed so as to allow the system to be completely filled and to ensure an optimal bacteriostatic activity; before, at the same time as or after the closure of said second dispensing solenoid valve (22), said diverter solenoid valve (39) is closed, too, so as to ensure that the CO2 introduced in the system remains there for a specific time interval.

[0043] Said step 3) of draining the liquid and progressively filling the carbonation circuit (C), if present, with CO2 is carried out as follows:

3.a) the general feeding solenoid valve (10) is closed;

3.b) said first and second dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22) are initially opened to drain any residual liquid from inside and then closed to allow water to flow towards the cooling circuit (B) and the carbonation circuit (C);

3.c) said diverter solenoid valve (39) is opened;

3.d) said third dispensing solenoid valve (32) is opened before, at the same time as or after the operation described in point 3.b);

3.e) CO2 is fed through said one or more ducts (37, 38) until reaching the general feeding duct (14), from where it is conveyed, in succession: to said first dispensing solenoid valve (12), to said cooling circuit (B), to said second dispensing solenoid valve (22), to said carbonation circuit (C) and finally to said third dispensing solenoid valve; in this way, the liquid present in all the circuits (A, B, C) progressively flows out and the latter are progressively filled with CO2;

3.f) said third dispensing solenoid valve (32) is then closed so as to allow the system to be completely filled and to ensure an optimal bacteriostatic activity; before, at the same time as or after the closure of said third dispensing solenoid valve (32), said diverter solenoid valve (39) is closed, too, so as to ensure that the CO2 introduced in the system remains there for a specific time interval. The CO2 then reaches the nozzle or tap or outlet (13), through which the water contained in the system has been discharged to the outside.

[0044] The above procedure is repeated exactly in the same way if there are also n other liquid/beverage dispensing circuits with n dedicated dispensing solenoid valves. As shown in Figure 9, the system can also comprise a circuit (E) for the introduction of ozone into the system to clean the ducts, even in this case once the water present therein has been drained.

[0045] Said circuit (E) comprises an ozone generator (41) which introduces ozone into the duct (38) of the injection circuit (D) through a connection (42).

[0046] In particular, ozone sanitization can take place after the above-mentioned CO2 filling steps and includes the following steps:

1) reopening the last dispensing solenoid valve (12, 22, 32) which had been closed after emptying the system;

2) activating said ozone generator (41) for the time needed to fill the system;

3) interrupting ozone generation;

4) closing one or more of said dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22, 32) for a specific time interval;

5) reopening said dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22, 32) and said diverter solenoid valve (39) to empty the system of ozone by introducing CO2 therein;

6) closing said diverter solenoid valve (39);

7) optionally, cleaning the system by introducing water therein through said general feeding solenoid valve (10);

8) closing said dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22, 32).

[0047] According to the invention, the system can also comprise a sanitization circuit (F) for a sanitizing agent, shown in Figure 10.

[0048] More specifically, the sanitization circuit (F) comprises a recirculation duct (51) between said dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22, 32) and said feeding duct (14), a recirculation solenoid valve (52), a pump (11) and a cartridge (53) containing the sanitizing agent. By activating said pump (11) and opening said recirculation solenoid valve (52), the water present in the system is recirculated and mixed with said sanitizing agent, and subsequently it flows through all or part of the circuits (A, B, C) that make up the system, as described above with reference to the emptying procedure.

[0049] More specifically, the sanitization procedure includes the following steps:

1) closing said feeding solenoid valve (10);

2) opening said recirculation solenoid valve (52);

3) activating the pump (11) for a specific time interval;

4) at the end of the sanitization procedure, closing said recirculation solenoid valve (52) and opening said dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22, 32) and said feeding solenoid valve (10); after a few seconds, closing said first and second dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22), while said third dispensing solenoid valve (32) and said feeding solenoid valve (10) remain open until the sanitizing mixture has been completely removed from the system;

5) closing all the dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22, 32).

[0050] Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are made.

Claims

1. System for dispensing drinking water and/or beverages in general, comprising at least one primary circuit (A) for the liquid to be dispensed, in turn comprising:

- at least one general feeding valve (10) for feeding a liquid to be dispensed into the system;

- at least one first dispensing solenoid valve (12, 22, 32), designed to selectively open/close to convey said liquid to a nozzle or tap or outlet in general (13);

- at least one feeding duct (14), which conveys the liquid fed through said general feeding valve (10) to said at least one dispensing solenoid valve (12, 22, 32);

characterized in that it comprises an injection circuit (D) for injecting a pressurized gas or air, in turn comprising means for selectively injecting said gas into said feeding duct (14), in order to completely or partially empty the system of said liquid.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said injection circuit (D) comprises a diverter solenoid valve (39) suited to selectively convey said gas into said feeding duct (14).

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that said injection circuit (D) comprises a CO₂ injector (31) and one or more ducts (37, 38) which, through said diverter solenoid valve (39), selectively convey carbon dioxide into said feeding duct (14).

4. System according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an ozone generator (41) and one or more ducts (37, 38) through which ozone is conveyed into said feeding duct (14).

5. System according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sanitization circuit (F), in turn comprising:

- a recirculation duct (51) between said one or more dispensing solenoid valves (12, 22, 32) and said feeding duct (14);

- a recirculation solenoid valve (52) installed on said recirculation duct (51);

- a cartridge (53) containing a sanitizing agent and installed on said recirculation duct (51);

- a pump (11).

6. System according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cooling circuit (B) suited to cool the liquid to be dispensed, which in turn comprises:

- a cooling unit (21), to which the liquid to be cooled coming from said first solenoid valve (12), once the latter has been closed, is selectively conveyed;

- a second dispensing solenoid valve (22) downstream of said cooling unit (21).

7. System according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a carbonation circuit (C) to add CO₂ to said cooled liquid, which in turn comprises:

- said CO₂ injector (31);

- a hermetically sealed tank (33) in which CO₂ and the liquid to be treated are mixed, and which receives the liquid to be treated coming from said second dispensing solenoid valve (22) once the latter has been closed;

- a CO₂ supply duct (34) suited to convey CO₂ from said injector (31) to said tank (33),

- a third dispensing solenoid valve (32) downstream of said tank (33).

8. System according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises one or more additional circuits for dispensing other types of food liquids, such as fruit juices or beverages in general.

9. Procedure for emptying and cleaning the system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

a) closing said water feeding valve (10);

b) opening one or more of said dispensing valves (12, 22, 32);

c) feeding CO₂ or air or another gas under pressure into one or more of said circuits (A, B, C) making up said system, wherein said feeding step involves the progressive outflow of the liquid contained in the circuit/s and the progressive filling of the latter with CO₂;

d) closing one or more of said dispensing valves (12, 22, 32) after completely emptying the liquid.

10. Procedure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it also comprises a step during which CO₂ is kept inside the circuit by leaving said dispensing valves (12, 22, 32) closed for a specific time interval.

11. Procedure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises the repetition of said steps for a specific number of times.

12. Procedure according to any of the claims from 9 to 11, characterized in that it comprises the step of supplying ozone into said circuit, and wherein said ozone supply is carried out after emptying the water by introducing CO₂.

13. Procedure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises the step during which ozone is kept inside the circuit by leaving said dispensing valves (12, 22, 32) closed for a specific time interval.

14. Procedure according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises the step of letting the ozone out by opening said dispensing valves (12, 22, 32), with or without a further supply of CO₂.

Drawing