BOILER FOR COFFEE VENDING MACHINES

Abstract

A boiler for coffee vending machines intended for being placed vertically inside a coffee machine and for heating water to prepare coffee. The resistance is not in direct contact with water and it is ensured that water which is evacuated from the boiler is at the suitable temperature. The boiler includes a first metal body provided with an electrical resistance integrated therein, a metal plate linked to the first body receiving heat from same, and a second partially convex body linked on the perimeter to the outer face of the first body and defining with the plate a water tank which is provided with a through inlet cavity arranged facing the plate and an outlet cavity.

Claims

1. A boiler for coffee vending machines, intended for being placed vertically inside a coffee machine and for heating water to prepare coffee, the boiler comprising: a first metal body provided with an outer face and an electrical resistance which is integrated in the first metal body and is configured to heat the first metal body; a metal plate linked to the outer face of the first metal body thus receiving heat from the first metal body; a second partially convex body linked on the perimeter to the outer face of the first metal body and defining with the metal plate a water tank which is provided with: a lower sector provided with a through inlet cavity facing the metal plate which extends from the water tank and is intended for being connected to a water network and for introducing water into the water tank; an upper sector opposite the lower sector and intended for being located above the lower sector according to a vertical direction in an assembled disposition of the boiler and which is provided with a through water outlet cavity which extends from the water tank and is intended for being connected with a distribution mechanism of the coffee machine and for discharging/evacuating the heated water.

2. The boiler of claim 1, wherein the second partially convex body further comprises a blind adapter which extends towards the inside of the water tank and is arranged in the proximity of the water outlet cavity and the boiler comprises a temperature probe which can be housed in the blind adapter.

3. The boiler of claim 1, wherein the metal plate is flat.

4. The boiler of claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the first metal body comprises a first central area and a first perimeter area surrounding the first central area, wherein the first central area is flat and depressed with respect to the first perimeter area and the metal plate is linked to the first central area and with the first perimeter area protruding from said metal plate.

5. The boiler of claim 4, comprising a compressible O-ring arranged on the perimeter between the metal plate and the second partially convex body, and is limited by the first perimeter area.

6. The boiler of claim 4, wherein the second partially convex body comprises a second central area in the shape of a longitudinal half-shell, from which a second perimeter area which is linked to the first perimeter area extends in an assembled disposition of the boiler.

7. The boiler of claim 6, comprising at least one reinforcement which can be linked to the second perimeter area by attachment elements.

8. The boiler of claim 1, comprising two casings made of polymeric material linked to one another in an assembled disposition of the boiler and surrounding the first metal body and the second partially convex body.

9. The boiler of claim 1, wherein the first metal body is made of aluminium and wherein the second partially convex body and the metal plate are made of stainless steel.

10. The boiler of claim 1, comprising a cylindrical tubular element provided with an open end, a closed end, and a central sector between the open end and the closed end, and wherein the closed end comprises an inlet hole which is arranged at the height of the inlet cavity, allowing water to enter the inside of the tubular element, and the open end contacts the metal plate and wherein the central sector comprises a lower through opening through which heated water is discharged.

11. The boiler of claim 10, wherein the tubular element comprises a conical lip which extends along the perimeter from the open end and describes a widening towards the metal plate and is in contact with the metal plate.

12. The boiler of claim 10, wherein the tubular element comprises in its central sector a through hole intended for evacuating the incoming air from the water inlet cavity and for being arranged above the lower opening according to a vertical direction in an assembled disposition of the boiler.

13. The boiler of claim 1, wherein the second partially convex body comprises an inlet adapter extending around the inlet cavity and an outlet adapter)extending from outlet cavity.

14. The boiler of claim 13, comprising a cylindrical tubular element provided with an open end, a closed end, and a central sector between the open end and the closed end, and wherein the closed end comprises an inlet hole which is arranged at the height of the inlet cavity, allowing water to enter the inside of the tubular element, and the open end contacts the metal plate and wherein the central sector comprises a lower through opening through which heated water is discharged, further comprising a bushing which is housed centered inside the inlet adapter extends from the inlet hole.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] 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, the following has been represented:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a boiler for coffee vending machines.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a boiler.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a tubular element arranged on a plate.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a boiler.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a section view according to the A-A section of the boiler of FIG. 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a boiler for coffee vending machines, intended for being placed vertically inside a coffee machine, as shown in the figure, and for heating water to prepare coffee.

[0038] The boiler comprises a first metal body (1) provided with an outer face (3) and an electrical resistance (2), which is integrated in the body and heats same. The boiler also comprises a metal plate (4) linked to the outer face (3) of the first body (1) receiving heat from same, not visible in the figure.

[0039] Likewise, the boiler comprises a second partially convex body (5) linked on the perimeter to the outer face (3) of the first body (1) and defining with the plate (4) a water tank (6) intended for housing the water to be heated.

[0040] The second body (5) is provided with a lower sector (7) having a through inlet cavity (8) which extends transversely from the tank (6) and is arranged facing the plate (4) and intended for being connected to a water network in order to introduce water into the tank (6), wherein the water introduced is at room temperature or is cold.

[0041] The second body (5) is also provided with an upper sector (9) opposite the lower sector (7) and intended for being located above the lower sector (7) according to a vertical direction in an assembled situation. The second body (5) is provided with a through water outlet cavity (10) which extends transversely from the tank (6) and is intended for being connected with a distribution mechanism of the coffee machine towards which the water heated water is discharged.

[0042] The cold water therefore enters through the inlet cavity (8) and collides with the plate (4), which has been heated by the first body (1) as a result of the electrical resistance (2) which is preferably over-injected. The water is thereby heated in an effective manner and discharged through the outlet cavity (10) to the coffee distribution mechanism, preventing the cold water entering through the inlet cavity (8) from being evacuated directly.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the boiler according to the present invention which again depicts the first body (1) with the electrical resistance (2) with respective ends intended for being connected to an electrical power source, the outer face (3), the metal plate (4) which can be linked to the outer face (3), and the second body (5).

[0044] It can be seen that the second body (5) comprises an inlet adapter (19) which extends around the inlet cavity (8) and an outlet adapter (20) which extends from the outlet cavity (10), these adapters being welded to the convex or curved area of the second body (5).

[0045] The second body (5) further comprises a blind adapter (22) which extends towards the inside of the tank (6) and is arranged in the proximity of the water outlet cavity (10) and the boiler comprises a temperature probe (36) which can be housed in the blind adapter (22) such that the temperature of the exiting water is obtained.

[0046] The outer face (3) of the first body (1) comprises a first central area (23) and a first perimeter area (24) surrounding same, wherein the first central area (23) is flat and depressed with respect to the first perimeter area (24). The plate (4), which is flat, is housed inside the first central area (23), leaving the lip or first perimeter area (24) higher than said plate (4).

[0047] In turn, the second body (5) comprises a second central area (25) in the shape of a longitudinal half-shell, from which a second perimeter area (26) extends. The surface which is in contact with the water of the second body (5) is rounded and continuous, so as to prevent the deposition of lime.

[0048] It can also be seen that the boiler comprises an O-ring (29) arranged along the perimeter on the plate (4), protruding slightly from the first perimeter area (24) and providing leaktightness. This O-ring (29) is therefore limited by the relief of the first body (1) generated by the difference in height between the first central area (23) and the first perimeter area (24) of said first body (1), and by the body (5). Therefore, when the second perimeter area (26) is linked with the first perimeter area (24), the O-ring (29) is compressed.

[0049] The boiler also comprises at least one reinforcement (27) which in the embodiment shown is a ring linked to the second perimeter area (26) by means of attachment elements (28). Both the first perimeter area (24) and the second perimeter area (26), as well as the reinforcement (27), have made thereon a plurality of attachment through holes which house the attachment elements (28) in an assembled situation, keeping the bodies (1, 5) at the desired distance from one another. Since these attachment elements (28) are screws, manual uncoupling of the elements is allowed.

[0050] The boiler comprises two casings (30, 31) made of polymeric material linked to one another in an assembled situation surrounding the bodies (1, 5). A first casing (31) is arranged on the first body (1) and a second casing (30) is arranged on the second body (5). The second casing (30) has complementary holes made thereon for the three adapters (19, 20, 21) which allow a correct adaptation to the shape of the first body (1).

[0051] The boiler further comprises a manually operated trigger (32) which, together with the elastic element (33), which can be housed therein and in a tubular cavity of the second casing (30), serves to fix the boiler to the coffee machine such that it is not necessary to use a tool for its removal or placement.

[0052] It can also be seen that the boiler has thermal protectors (34) configured for being arranged in two upper protuberances (35) of the first body (1) to cut off the energy of the heating resistance when, due to an abnormal situation, the boiler exceeds a temperature, protecting the system from overheating such as, for example, the breakage of a control card or a relay controlling same.

[0053] To ensure that the cold water or room-temperature water which enters the tank is heated before reaching the outlet cavity (10), the boiler comprises a tubular element (11) which is housed in the tank (6) in an assembled situation.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a tubular element (11) arranged on a plate (4). The tubular element (11) is cylindrical and is provided with an open end (12), a closed end (13), and a central sector (14) therebetween, wherein the closed end (13) comprises an inlet hole (15) which is arranged at the height of the inlet cavity (8), allowing water to enter the inside of the tubular element (11).

[0055] The open end (12) contacts the plate (4) and the central sector (14) comprises a lower through opening (16) through which heated water is discharged to the rest of the tank (6). A chamber is therefore created inside the tubular element (11) which slows down the flow of water towards the outlet cavity (8).

[0056] It can also be seen that the tubular element (11) comprises a conical lip (17) which extends along the perimeter from the open end (12) which describes a widening towards the plate (4) and is in contact with same. Likewise, a bushing (21) which is housed centered inside the inlet adapter (19) extends from the inlet hole (15).

[0057] The tubular element (11) comprises in its central sector (14) a through hole (18), visible in the preceding figure, intended for evacuating the incoming air from the water inlet cavity (8) and for being arranged above the lower opening (16) according to a vertical direction in an assembled situation.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a boiler for coffee vending machines, in which the flow of water as it enters the tank (6) through the tubular element (11) towards the outlet cavity (10) and the outlet adapter (20) is shown by means of arrows.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a view according to section A-A of FIG. 4 of the boiler, in which it is shown that water enters through the inlet adapter (19) and through the inlet bushing (15) into the tubular element (11). From inside the tubular element (11), the water exits downwards, moving up slowly and heating up as a result of the plate (4) until the outlet cavity (10), not visible in the figure. The measurement of the water outlet temperature is obtained as a result of the temperature probe (36) housed in the blind adapter (22).