Receiving Device for Receiving A Bottle on A Carbonation Machine, Carbonation Machine, And Method For Using A Carbonation Machine

Abstract

A receiving apparatus for receiving a bottle for a carbonation machine; the receiving apparatus has a securing apparatus for securing the bottle, the securing apparatus has a locking element, the locking element has a guiding means; when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the locking element is guided by the guiding means such that the bottle is secured by means of the locking element; the locking element is configured to be pivoted about a locking element axis; the locking element in the bottle receiving state is arranged in a radially outer position; when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the locking element is pivoted about the locking element axis from the radially outer position into a radially inner position, and the radially inner position is configured to secure the bottle.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. A receiving apparatus for receiving a bottle for a carbonation machine, wherein the receiving apparatus is configured to be moved from a bottle receiving state, which is provided to receive the bottle, into a fitting state in which the bottle is fitted on the receiving apparatus; wherein the receiving apparatus comprises a securing apparatus for securing the bottle, the securing apparatus comprises a locking element, the locking element has a guiding means; wherein when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the locking element is guided by the guiding means such that the bottle is secured by means of the locking element; wherein the locking element is configured to be pivoted about a locking element axis; wherein the locking element in the bottle receiving state is arranged in a radially outer position; wherein when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the locking element is pivoted about the locking element axis from the radially outer position into a radially inner position, and wherein the radially inner position is configured to secure the bottle.

26. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the receiving apparatus has a counter-guiding means, which complements the guiding means, wherein the receiving apparatus is configured such that when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the locking element is guided by the guiding means and the counter-guiding means such that the bottle is secured by means of the locking element.

27. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the locking element is pivoted by the guiding means and the counter-guiding means when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state from the radially outer position thereof into the radially inner position thereof.

28. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the securing apparatus comprises an additional locking element, the additional locking element has an additional guiding means; wherein the receiving apparatus is configured such that, when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the additional locking element is guided by the additional guiding means thereof in such a manner that the bottle is additionally secured by means of the additional locking element.

29. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the receiving apparatus has an additional counter-guiding means, which complements the additional guiding means, wherein the receiving apparatus is configured in such a manner that, when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the additional locking element is guided by the additional guiding means and the additional counter-guiding means in such a manner that the bottle is secured by means of the additional locking element.

30. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the additional locking element can be pivoted about an additional locking element axis, wherein the additional locking element is arranged in the bottle receiving state in a radially outer position, wherein the additional locking element, when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, is pivoted about the additional locking element axis thereof from the radially outer position thereof into a radially inner position, wherein the radially inner position of the additional locking element is provided to secure the bottle.

31. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the additional guiding means and the additional counter-guiding means are constructed in such a manner that the additional locking element is pivoted by the additional guiding means, and the additional counter-guiding means, when the receiving apparatus is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state out of the radially outer position thereof into the radially inner position thereof.

32. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the counter-guiding means has a rail which is configured to guide the guiding means, wherein the additional counter-guiding means has an additional rail which is configured to guide the additional guiding means.

33. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the locking element comprises a bracket having a circular arc region, wherein the locking element in the fitting state secures the bottle by the bracket, wherein the additional locking element comprises an additional bracket having an additional circular arc region, wherein the additional locking element in the fitting state secures the bottle by means of the additional bracket thereof.

34. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the locking element and the guiding means are constructed in one piece, wherein the additional locking element and the additional guiding means are constructed in one piece.

35. The receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the locking element has a plastics material, wherein the additional locking element has a plastics material.

36. A carbonation machine comprising a receiving apparatus for receiving a bottle as claimed in claim 25.

37. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 36, wherein the carbonation machine comprises a safety element comprising a safety door and/or safety disk, wherein the safety element can be arranged in the fitting state in front of the bottle in such a manner that the bottle is arranged using the safety element completely circumferentially inside the carbonation machine.

38. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 36, wherein the carbonation machine comprises a sealing means or sealing the bottle with respect to an environment during a carbonation operation, wherein the sealing means, by means of a pressure which is provided by a gas cartridge, seals the bottle with respect to the environment during the carbonation operation.

39. A method for using a carbonation machine as claimed in claim 36, wherein the method comprises: in a first step, the bottle is arranged in the bottle receiving state of the receiving apparatus on the receiving apparatus of the carbonation machine, wherein the bottle has a liquid; in a second step, the receiving apparatus is moved out of the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, wherein, during the movement from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the locking element is guided by the guiding means thereof in such a manner that the bottle is secured to the receiving apparatus by means of the locking element; and in a third step, the liquid in the bottle is carbonated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] FIGS. 1 and 2 show perspective illustrations of a carbonation machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of a carbonation machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a receiving apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] FIGS. 5 and 6 show perspective illustrations of a receiving apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show sectioned illustrations of a receiving apparatus and a bottle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] FIG. 10 shows an illustration of a counter-guiding element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 11 shows an illustration of a locking element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 12 shows an illustration of another locking element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] In the various Figures, identical components are always given the same reference numerals and are therefore generally also only named or mentioned once.

[0081] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a carbonation machine 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a bottle receiving state. The carbonation machine comprises a receiving apparatus 10. In the bottle receiving state of the receiving apparatus 10, the bottle 2 can be arranged in a tilted, non-perpendicular receiving position on the carbonation machine 1. The central axis 2 of the bottle 2 is accordingly not arranged perpendicularly, but instead extends in an oblique manner. As a result of a tilting movement 100, the bottle 2 can be moved out of the receiving position into an in particular perpendicular preparation position.

[0082] The tilting movement 100 of the bottle 2 may, for example, be carried out by a user who moves the bottle 2 out of the receiving position into the preparation position, It is alternatively or additionally possible for the bottle 2 to carry out the tilting movement 100 from the receiving position into the preparation position automatically and in particular without additional application of force by the user as a result of gravitational force. It is alternatively or additionally possible for the carbonation machine 1 and in particular the receiving apparatus 10 to be acted on with a resilient force, wherein the resilient force brings about and/or supports the tilting movement 100 of the bottle 2. According to the invention, it is advantageously possible for a portion of the receiving apparatus 10 to carry out the tilting movement 100 together with the bottle 2, wherein the receiving apparatus 10 is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state of the receiving apparatus 10, in which state the bottle 2 is secured to the receiving apparatus 10.

[0083] A gas cartridge, which provides the gas for the carbonation of a liquid which is located in the bottle 2, in particular water, can be introduced at the rear side 1 of the carbonation machine 1.

[0084] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of the carbonation machine 1 according to FIG. 1 in a fitting state, in particular after the completion of the tilting movement 100. In the fitting state the bottle 2 is in the perpendicular securing position or preparation position so that a carbonation can be carried out.

[0085] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a carbonation machine 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the fitting state in which a carbonation can be carried out is illustrated. The carbonation machine 1 comprises a safety element 60, in particular a safety door 61. The safety element 60 is in the fitting state arranged in front of the bottle 2 in such a manner that the bottle 2 is arranged completely inside the carbonation machine 1. The safety element 60 consequently protects the user and the environment of the carbonation machine 1, for example, from the bottle 2 shattering. It is possible for the carbonation operation only to be able to be started when the safety element 60 is closed.

[0086] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a receiving apparatus 10 and the region of the carbonation machine 1 which surrounds the receiving apparatus 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The carbonation machine 1 comprises a gas supply means 53 which in the fitted state of the bottle 2 protrudes into the bottle 2. The receiving apparatus 10 comprises a covering element 55. The covering element 55 covers the locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 of the securing apparatus 20. Furthermore, a receiving portion 57 of the receiving apparatus 10 is shown. The receiving portion 57 comprises a recess in which the bottle neck of the bottle 2 can be introduced. The bottle 2 is guided and positioned by the receiving portion 57 when the bottle 2 is introduced into the receiving apparatus 10, which facilitates the introduction operation for the user and increases the user comfort.

[0087] FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of a receiving apparatus 10 and the region of the carbonation machine 1 which surrounds the receiving apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The covering element 55 is concealed in the illustration so that the portions of the securing apparatus 20 located behind can be seen. The securing apparatus 20 comprises a locking element 30 and an additional locking element 40. The locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 are shown in FIG. 5 in an open state, which they assume in the bottle receiving state of the receiving apparatus 10, so that the bottle 2 can be introduced. The locking element 30 comprises a bracket 32 which has a circular arc region and is constructed to grip in a circumferential direction around the bottle neck of the bottle 2. The additional locking element 40 comprises an additional bracket 42 which has an additional circular arc region and which is also constructed to grip in a circumferential direction around the bottle neck of the bottle 2. The locking element 30 can be pivoted about a locking element axis 30, in particular from a radially outer position which is illustrated in FIG. 5, into a radially inner position which is illustrated in FIG. 6, and which corresponds to a closed state of the securing apparatus 20. The additional locking element 40 can be pivoted about an additional locking element axis 40, in particular from a radially outer position which is illustrated in FIG. 5, and a radially inner position which is illustrated in FIG. 6 and which corresponds to a closed state of the securing apparatus 20.

[0088] The receiving apparatus 10 further comprises a counter-guiding element 13. The counter-guiding element 13 comprises a counter-guiding means 11 and an additional counter-guiding means 12. The counter-guiding means 11 is in the form of a rail 11, in particular a recess in the counter-guiding element 13. The pin 31 of the guiding means 31 engages in this rail 11 and is guided by the rail 11. The additional counter-guiding means 12 is in the form of an additional rail, in particular an additional recess in the counter-guiding element 13. The additional pin 41 of the additional guiding means 41 engages in the additional rail 12 and is guided by the additional rail 12.

[0089] When the receiving apparatus 10 is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the counter-guiding element 12 does not also carry out the tilting movement 100 of the bottle 2, but instead remains immovably on the carbonation machine 1. When the receiving apparatus 10 is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the locking element and the additional locking element 40 carry out a relative movement relative to the counter-guiding element 13 (and consequently with respect to the counter-guiding means 11 and the additional counter-guiding means 12). As a result of the relative movement, the pin 31 is moved in the rail 11 in particular from the bottom to the top. As a result of the geometric construction of the rail 11, the locking element 30 is in this instance forced to carry out a locking movement 33 in which it is pivoted in a radially inward direction toward the bottle 2. Accordingly, as a result of the relative movement, the additional pin 41 is moved in the additional rail 12 in particular from the bottom to the top. As a result of the construction of the additional rail 12, the additional locking element 40 is in this instance forced to carry out a locking movement in which it is pivoted radially inward toward the bottle 2. When the receiving apparatus 10 is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, the locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 are consequently automatically moved by the guiding means 31 and the counter-guiding means 11 or the additional guiding means 41 and the additional counter-guiding means 12 into a securing position in which the locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 secure the bottle 2 in the receiving apparatus 10, in particular with play 101, and prevent a removal and detachment of the bottle 2 form the receiving apparatus 10.

[0090] FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of the receiving apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 5, wherein the receiving apparatus 10 is located in the fitting state. The locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 have accordingly carried out their locking movements and are each located in the radially inner positions thereof, that is to say, in the securing positions thereof. The locking element 30 secures the bottle 2 (not illustrated) in the fitting state by means of the bracket 32 thereof, which engages around the bottle neck in a circumferential direction. The additional locking element 40 secures the bottle 2 (not illustrated) in the fitting state by means of the additional bracket 42 thereof which engages around the bottle neck in the circumferential direction. The bracket 32 extends in the embodiment illustrated over an angular range of slightly less than 180. Accordingly, the additional bracket 42 extends over an angular range of slightly less than 180. Together, consequently, the bracket 32 and the additional bracket 42 can in their radially inner position substantially completely surround the bottle neck and prevent the bottle 2 from being pressed out of the receiving apparatus 10 in an undesirable manner during the carbonation.

[0091] FIG. 7 shows a sectioned view of a carbonation machine 1 and a bottle 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The receiving apparatus 10 is located in the bottle receiving state. The bottle 2 is introduced in a tilted, non-perpendicular receiving position into the receiving apparatus 10. The receiving apparatus 10 comprises a receiving portion 57 with a recess, in which the bottle neck of the bottle 2 is partially introduced. As a result of the receiving portion 57, the bottle 2 is guided and positioned when the bottle 2 is introduced into the receiving apparatus 10 which facilitates the introduction operation for the user and increases the user comfort. The user presses the bottle 2 during introduction typically obliquely from below into the receiving apparatus 10 so that the bottle neck is guided into the receiving portion 57. This introduction movement of the bottle 2 as carried out by the user is advantageously limited in an upward direction by a collar 8 of the bottle 2 and the covering element 55 of the receiving apparatus 10. The collar 8 extends around the bottle neck in a circumferential direction completely circumferentially or only partially. The bottle 2 can in particular only be introduced into the receiving apparatus 10 until the collar 8 of the bottle 2 strikes the covering element 55 from below. As a result of the covering element 55 and the collar 8 of the bottle 2, the introduction depth of the bottle in the receiving apparatus 10 is consequently limited. In this manner, the bottle 2 can be arranged for the user in a comfortable and reproducible manner in a receiving position on the receiving apparatus 10. As an alternative to the collar 8, an expansion or protuberance of the bottle 2 which is constructed differently would also be conceivable. The receiving portion 57 and/or the covering portion 55 have an in particular circumferential inclined introduction portion by means of which the bottle 2 when introduced into the receiving apparatus 2 is preferably received, guided and positioned. The inclined introduction member is in particular constructed in such a manner that the diameter, which receives the bottle, of the opening of the receiving portion 57 and/or the covering portion decreases in the introduction direction.

[0092] In the bottle receiving state according to FIG. 7, the guiding means 31, in particular the pin 31, of the locking element 30 is arranged as a result of the tilted orientation of the locking element 30 at the bottom in the counter-guiding means 11, in particular the rail 11. The same applies accordingly to the additional guiding means 41 of the additional locking element 40, which is arranged at the bottom in the additional counter-guiding means 12, in particular the additional rail 12. When moving from the bottle receiving state (cf. FIG. 7) into the fitting state (cf. FIG. 8), the pin 31 moves in the rail 11 from the bottom to the top. As a result of the construction of the rail 11, the locking element 30 is in this instance forced to carry out a locking movement, in which it is pivoted radially inward toward the bottle 2. Accordingly, as a result of the relative movement, the additional pin 41 in the additional rail 12 is moved from the bottom to the top, whereby the additional locking element 40 is also forced to carry out a locking movement in which it is pivoted radially inward toward the bottle 2. The locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 are consequently, when the receiving apparatus 10 is moved from the bottle receiving state into the fitting state, automatically moved by the guiding means 31 and the counter-guiding means 11 or by the additional guiding means 41 and the additional counter-guiding means 12 into a securing position, in which the locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 secure the bottle 2 in the receiving apparatus 10 and prevent a removal and a detachment of the bottle 2 from the receiving apparatus 10. The corresponding fitting state of the receiving apparatus 10 is illustrated in FIG. 8. The bottle 2 and the portions of the receiving apparatus 2, which are movable during the tilting movement, have in this instance been moved into a perpendicular position. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the user still retains the bottle 2 and where applicable presses it upward. A contact between the collar 8 and the covering element 55 is thereby further formed.

[0093] FIG. 9 shows a fitting state after the user has released the bottle 2. The bottle 2 moves within the play 101 which it has in the fitting state in a downward direction until a projection 6 of the bottle 2 rests on the locking elements 30, 40 which are located in the securing position. Consequently, it is possible for the collar 8 no longer to touch the covering element and to be spaced apart therefrom. The spacing between the collar 8 and the covering element 55 is in this instance particularly dependent on the size of the play 101 which the bottle 2 has in the perpendicular securing position thereof in the fitting state. The projection 6 on the bottle neck has in the illustrated embodiment a rectangular cross section and extends from the bottle neck in an outward direction. Other shapes and configurations, in particular other cross sectional geometries, are also conceivable for the projection 6. It is preferably possible for the projection 6 to be constructed in a circumferential direction completely circumferentially around the bottle neck. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the projection 6 to be constructed only partially, in particular with interruptions in a circumferential direction. As a result of the projection 6 and the locking element 30 and the additional locking element the bottle is secured to the receiving apparatus in such a manner that the bottle 2 cannot leave the receiving apparatus 10 in the fitting state so that a safe carbonation can be carried out. As a result of the bracket-shaped locking elements 30, 40 and the circular arc portions thereof, a particularly large contact region between the projection 6 and the locking elements is formed, which leads to a particularly advantageous mechanical stability.

[0094] It is possible for the bottle 2 to have a bead 7, in particular a bead 7 which is formed completely circumferentially in a circumferential direction around the bottle neck. The bead 7 is arranged below the projection 6, It is possible for the locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 to be able to be arranged in the region of the bead 7 around the bottle neck in order to lock the bottle neck.

[0095] In order to carbonate the liquid located in the bottle 2, a gas supply means 53 protrudes form above into the bottle 2. Via the gas supply means 53, CO.sub.2 from a gas cartridge can reach the bottle 2 during the carbonation. An excess pressure is thereby formed in the inner space 3 of the bottle 2. Via a gas connection 52, the inner space 3 of the bottle 2 is connected to a pressure chamber 51. The gas connection 52 is guided by a sealing means 50 which is provided in order to seal the bottle 2 during the carbonation. Via the gas connection 52, excess pressure which builds up during the carbonation in the inner space 3 of the bottle 2 is transmitted to the pressure chamber 51 so that an excess pressure is also produced in the pressure chamber 51. This excess pressure in the pressure chamber 51 presses the sealing means 50 in a downward direction onto the opening region of the bottle 2. The projection 6 of the bottle 2 is thereby securely pressed onto the locking element 30 and the additional locking element 40 and the bottle 2 is securely fixed. The sealing means 50 can, for example, be produced by means of silicone.

[0096] FIGS. 8 and 9 consequently illustrate the play 101 which the bottle 2 may have in the securing position, in particular outside the carbonation operation.

[0097] FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of a counter-guiding element 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The counter-guiding element 13 comprises a counter-guiding means 11 and an additional counter-guiding means 12 which are in the form of a rail 11 and additional rail 12.

[0098] FIG. 11 shows a perspective illustration of a locking element 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The locking element 30 comprises a bracket 32 with a circular arc form so that the bracket 32 can be arranged in a circumferential direction around a bottle neck. Furthermore, the locking element 30 comprises a guiding means 31 which is in the form of a pin 31. The guiding means 31 is preferably constructed in an integral manner with the remaining locking element 30, whereby a high level of stability can be achieved. The locking element 30 can be pivoted about a locking element axis 30 and can thus carry out a locking movement from a radially outer position into a radially inner position which is indicated by the arrow 33. Via the pin 31, the locking element 30 can be guided in the rail 11 of the counter-guiding element 13.

[0099] FIG. 12 shows a perspective illustration of another locking element 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The additional locking element 40 is preferably formed in a reflected manner with respect to the locking element 30. The additional locking element comprises an additional bracket 42 with a circular arc form so that the additional bracket 42 can be arranged in a circumferential direction around a bottle neck. Furthermore, the additional locking element 40 comprises an additional guiding means 41 which is in the form of an additional pin 41. The additional guiding means 41 is preferably constructed integrally with the remaining additional locking element 40, whereby a high level of stability can be achieved. The additional locking element 40 can be pivoted about an additional locking element axis 40 and can thus carry out a locking movement from a radially outer position into a radially inner position. Via the additional pin 41, the additional locking element 40 can be guided in the additional rail 12 of the counter-guiding element 13.

[0100] The counter-guiding element 13, the locking element 30 and the additional locking element are, for example, plastics material components. However, materials other than plastics material can also additionally or alternatively be considered.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0101] 1 Carbonation machine [0102] 1 Rear side of the carbonation machine [0103] 2 Bottle [0104] 2 Axis of the bottle [0105] 3 Inner space of the bottle [0106] 6 Projection [0107] 7 Bead [0108] 8 Collar [0109] 10 Receiving apparatus [0110] 11 Counter-guiding means [0111] 11 Rail [0112] 12 Additional counter-guiding means [0113] 12 Additional rail [0114] 13 Counter-guiding element [0115] 20 Securing apparatus [0116] 30 Locking element [0117] 30 Locking element axis [0118] 31 Guiding means [0119] 31 Pin [0120] 32 Bracket [0121] 33 Locking movement [0122] 40 Additional locking element [0123] 40 Additional locking element axis [0124] 41 Additional guiding means [0125] 41 Additional pin [0126] 42 Additional bracket [0127] 50 Sealing means [0128] 51 Pressure chamber [0129] 52 Gas connection [0130] 53 Gas supply means [0131] 55 Covering element [0132] 57 Receiving portion [0133] 60 Safety element [0134] 61 Safety door [0135] 100 Tilting movement [0136] 101 Play