DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING HOT AND COLD LIQUID PRODUCTS IN A DISPENSING MACHINE

Abstract

The object of the invention is a device and method for dispensing hot and cold liquid products in a dispensing machine, stored in containers (2) provided with a cap (1), and wherein said device comprises a storage mechanism (19) for the products, a dispensing mechanism (9) that collects and heats the product, an uncapping mechanism (16) intended to remove the cap (1) from the container (2), and a turning mechanism (8) that rotates the container (2) pouring the product in a vessel to be consumed by the user.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing hot and cold liquid products in a dispensing machine, stored in containers (2) provided with a cap (1), that comprises: a fixed structure (18) of the dispensing machine, a storage mechanism (19) for containers (2) associated with the fixed structure (18), a dispensing area where the product is heated, the cap (1) is removed from the container (2) and the product contained in the container (2) is served, a dispensing mechanism (9) comprising: a first guide (6) associated with the fixed structure, a dispensing clamp (7), which is movable by means of the first guide (6), from the storage mechanism (19), to the dispensing area, the dispensing clamp (7) being intended to collect the container (2) from the storage mechanism (19) by means of the cap (1) and transporting it to the dispensing area, characterized in that the dispensing mechanism (9) additionally comprises: a second guide (12), associated with the fixed structure (18), perpendicular to the first guide (6), a heating clamp (10), which is movable by means of the second guide (12), from a position away from the container (2) to the dispensing area, intended to come into contact with the container (2) positioned in the dispensing clamp (7), a heater (11), located on one face of the heating clamp (10), which comes into contact with the container (2), intended to heat the product stored in the container (2), and and wherein the device additionally comprises: an uncapping mechanism (16) associated with the fixed structure (18), intended to remove the cap (1) from the container (2) positioned in the dispensing clamp (7) when the product has been heated, and a turning mechanism (8), associated with the first guide (6) and with the dispensing clamp (7), which rotates with respect to the first guide (6) dragging the dispensing clamp (7) and the container (2), pouring the product contained in said container (2).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the uncapping mechanism (16) comprises: a bent structure (20), associated with the fixed structure (18), a cap removal area, where the cap (1) is ejected, a mobile platform (15), associated with the bent structure (20), and movable with respect to it from the dispensing area to the cap removal area, a motor (14), positioned on the mobile platform (15), an uncapping element (13), associated with the motor (14), which is located over the cap (1) of the container (2) when the mobile platform (15) is in the dispensing area, and which rotates on itself descending vertically when the motor (14) is activated, unscrewing the cap (1) and holding it when it has been separated from the container (2), a protrusion (17) to the bent structure (20), positioned in the cap removal area, which comes into contact pressing the upper portion of the uncapping element (13), when the mobile platform (15) moves from the dispensing area to the cap removal area, the cap (1) being separated from the uncapping element (13), the cap (1) falling by gravity.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage mechanism (19) comprises: at least two pairs of gears (4), associated with the fixed structure (18), at least two chains (3), each one surrounding a pair of gears (4), at least one storage guide (5), attached to the two chains (3) and positioned horizontally, intended to hold the containers (2) secured by the cap (1) with the container (2) hanging under the storage guide (5).

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage mechanism (19), the dispensing mechanism (9), the uncapping mechanism (16) and the turning mechanism (8) are intended to serve hot products, and further comprising a second storage mechanism (19), a second dispensing mechanism (9), a second uncapping mechanism (16) and a second turning mechanism (8), intended to serve cold products.

5. A method for dispensing hot and cold liquid products, which uses the device described in any of claims 1 to 4, comprising the following stages: selecting the product to be dispensed, collecting the container (2) containing the selected product from the storage mechanism (19) with the dispensing clamp (7), holding it by the cap (1), moving the dispensing clamp (7) through the first guide (6) to the dispensing area, characterized in that the method additionally comprises de steps of: moving, if the product is served hot, the heating clamp (10) through the second guide (12) until it comes into contact with the container (2), heating, if the product is served hot, the product contained in the container (2) with the heater (11) associated with the heating clamp (10), unscrewing and removing the product cap with the uncapping mechanism (16), rotating the turning mechanism (8) that pulls the dispensing clamp (7), pouring the product contained in the container (2) into a vessel.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred practical exemplary embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

[0033] FIG. 1.—Shows a general view of the device in a dispensing machine for dispensing hot and cold products.

[0034] FIG. 2.—Shows a view of the storage mechanism.

[0035] FIG. 3.—Shows a view of the dispensing mechanism when the dispensing clamp moves to collect the container.

[0036] FIG. 4.—Shows a detailed top view of the dispensing clamp picking up the container, securing it by the cap.

[0037] FIG. 5.—Shows a detailed top view of the heating clamp moving closer to the container located in the dispensing clamp.

[0038] FIG. 6.—Shows a detailed view of the heating clamp in contact with the product in order to heat it.

[0039] FIG. 7.—Shows a view of the uncapping mechanism before removing the cap from the container.

[0040] FIG. 8.—Shows a detailed side view of the uncapping mechanism removing the cap from the container.

[0041] FIG. 9.—Shows a view of the protrusion of the uncapping mechanism when it comes into contact with the uncapper.

[0042] FIG. 10.—Shows a detailed side view of the uncapper in contact with the protrusion when the cap is released.

[0043] FIG. 11.—Shows a detailed view of the turning mechanism rotating 180° and pouring the product out of the container without a cap.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0044] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below with help from FIGS. 1 to 11.

[0045] The present invention describes a device for dispensing hot and cold liquid products in a dispensing machine, stored in containers (2) provided with a cap (1), which is shown in FIG. 1. The device comprises a fixed structure (18) of the dispensing machine, a storage mechanism (19), a dispensing mechanism (9), a dispensing area, where the product is heated, the cap (1) is removed from the container (2) and the product is served in a glass, an uncapping mechanism (16) and a turning mechanism (8).

[0046] The storage mechanism (19), which can be seen in FIG. 2 in a first embodiment, comprises two pairs of gears (4) associated with the fixed structure (18), and two chains (3), each one of them surrounding a pair of gears (1) and intended to transmit movement. The storage mechanism (19) further comprises at least one storage guide (5), attached to the two chains (3), parallel to the ground.

[0047] A horizontal spiral is positioned on the storage guide (5) in which the containers (2) secured by the cap (1) are placed, with the container (2) hanging vertically under the storage guide (5). The products advance to one end of the storage guide (5) due to the horizontal spiral rotating on itself. Alternatively, in a second embodiment, instead of a horizontal spiral, a pusher is located on the storage guide (5), which performs the same function of moving the containers (2) to the end of said storage guide (5) in order to be dispensed.

[0048] As seen in FIG. 3, when the product to be dispensed is selected, the dispensing mechanism (9) starts to operate. The dispensing mechanism (9) comprises a dispensing clamp (7), which is movable by means of a first guide (6), associated with the fixed structure (18), from the storage mechanism (19) to the dispensing area, said dispensing clamp being intended to collect the container (2) from the storage mechanism (19) by the cap (1), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0049] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the dispensing mechanism (9) further comprises a heating clamp (10), which can move on a second guide (12), associated with the fixed structure (18) and perpendicular to the first guide (6), from a position away from the container (2), to the dispensing area, coming into contact with the container (2), which the dispensing clamp (7) holds by the cap (1).

[0050] As can be seen in FIG. 6, there is a heater (11), which is intended to heat the product contained in the container (2), located on the face of the heating clamp (10) that comes into contact with the container (2).

[0051] Once the product has been heated, the uncapping mechanism (16), which is shown in FIG. 6, removes the cap (1) from the container (2). Therefore, the uncapping mechanism (16) comprises a bent structure (20) associated with the fixed structure (18), a mobile platform (15), associated with the bent structure (20), and that can be moved with respect to it from the dispensing area to a cap removal area.

[0052] The uncapping mechanism (16) further comprises a motor (14), positioned on the mobile platform (15), and an uncapping element (13), which is associated with the motor (14).

[0053] As shown in FIG. 8, when the mobile platform (15) is positioned in the dispensing area, the uncapping element (13) is located over the cap (1) of the container (2) held by the dispensing clamp (7). When the motor (14) is started, the uncapping element (13) rotates on itself and descends vertically, coming into contact with the cap (1), unscrewing and holding it once it has been detached from the container (2).

[0054] Once the cap (1) has been collected, the mobile platform (15) moves from the dispensing area to the cap removal area. In the cap removal area, a protrusion (17), which is associated with the bent structure (20) that appears in FIG. 9, is positioned.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 10, when the mobile platform (15) enters the cap removal area, the uncapping element (13) comes into contact with the protrusion (17), which presses vertically downwards, releasing the cap (1) from the uncapping element (13).

[0056] Lastly, once the product is hot and the cap (1) is removed from the container (2), the product is served. Therefore, the device comprises a turning mechanism (8), which appears in FIG. 11. The turning mechanism (8) is associated with the first guide (6) and with the dispensing clamp (6) and can rotate on itself. When rotating on itself, the turning mechanism (8) pulls the dispensing clamp (6) that holds the container (2) which no longer has a cap.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the container (2) rotates on itself an angle of 180°, the liquid product being poured into, for example, a bowl or glass, to be consumed straight away by the user.