Dispensing assembly for cold beverages

Abstract

A dispensing assembly for cold beverages includes a beverage supply conduit, an opening and closing tap for closing or opening the beverage supply conduit, a beverage dispensing conduit delimiting a fluid passage, a dispensing outlet arranged at the end of the dispensing conduit, an air supply conduit delimiting an air passage. The tap is directly connected to the dispensing outlet by providing a connecting coupling which connects the air supply conduit to the beverage dispensing conduit, the beverage dispensing conduit comprising a Venturi segment between the tap and the outlet in which, by flowing through the Venturi segment, the fluid passage reduces the cross section thereof and then increases the cross section thereof as in a Venturi conduit. An air passage regulating valve is provided in said air supply conduit for regulating the width of the air passage.

Claims

1. A dispensing assembly for a cold beverage, comprising: a beverage supply conduit; an opening and closing tap for closing or opening the beverage supply conduit; a beverage dispensing conduit, said beverage dispensing conduit delimiting a fluid passage, said fluid passage having a cross section of fluid passage transverse to the longitudinal extension thereof; when open, said opening and closing tap fluidly connecting said beverage supply conduit to said beverage dispensing conduit; a dispensing outlet opening or dispensing outlet; said dispensing outlet being arranged at the end of said beverage dispensing conduit; an air supply conduit, said air supply conduit delimiting an air passage; said air supply conduit leading, on one side, directly outside the dispensing assembly, thus avoiding interposition of return devices or air supply pumps, and said air supply conduit leading, on an opposite side, into said beverage dispensing conduit; said opening and closing tap being directly connected to said dispensing outlet by providing a connecting coupling which connects said air supply conduit to said beverage dispensing conduit; wherein said beverage dispensing conduit comprises a Venturi segment between said tap and said dispensing outlet wherein, by flowing through the Venturi segment, the fluid passage reduces the cross section of fluid passage thereof and then increases the cross section of fluid passage thereof as in a Venturi conduit; said air supply conduit is engaged in said beverage dispensing conduit in said Venturi segment; said Venturi segment is arranged downstream of all beverage pressurizing devices, considering flow of the beverage; and said Venturi segment is arranged downstream of all mixing couplings of any fluid, other than air supplied in said Venturi segment, provided in said beverage supply conduit or in said beverage dispensing conduit.

2. The dispensing assembly of claim 1, wherein are provided one or more of the following alternatives: said assembly comprises an air passage regulating valve; said air passage regulating valve is provided in said air supply conduit for regulating a magnitude of the air passage; or wherein said Venturi segment has a portion having a minimum cross section of the cross section of fluid passage thereof; said air supply conduit is joined in said beverage dispensing conduit in or immediately after said minimum cross section of said Venturi segment; or wherein said opening and closing tap is directly connected to said dispensing outlet by providing a connecting coupling which connects said air supply conduit to said beverage dispensing conduit, thus avoiding further couplings to further conduits.

3. The dispensing assembly of claim 1, wherein are provided one or more of the following alternatives: said dispensing assembly comprises a tank; wherein said tank is a bag-in box; or wherein said dispensing assembly comprises a refrigerating device; and said tank is arranged in, or connected to said refrigerating device for cooling the beverage located in said tank; or wherein said tank is disposed inside a cold chamber or refrigerating device; or wherein said dispensing assembly comprises an instantaneous refrigerating device arranged along said beverage supply conduit; or wherein said dispensing assembly comprises a fluid energizing device or fluid pressurizing device arranged upstream of said Venturi segment with respect to said dispensing outlet; or wherein said fluid energizing device is a pump for drawing fluid from a tank, or for pressurizing said fluid, and is arranged upstream of a tank, or a device for injecting pressurized gas into said tank; said fluid energizing device causes a flow rate between 10 ml/sec and 20 ml/sec, and a pressure between 1.4 bar and 4.1 bar, allowing a prevalence which activates said Venturi segment; or wherein said dispensing assembly comprises a thrust device or pump arranged downstream of the tank to draw said cold beverage; said pump comprising a pump inlet and a pump outlet; said dispensing assembly comprises a first segment of beverage supply conduit; said first segment of beverage supply conduit connecting said tank to said pump inlet; said opening and closing tap is arranged downstream of said pump; said dispensing assembly comprises a second segment of beverage supply conduit, said second segment of beverage supply conduit connecting said pump outlet to said opening and closing tap or wherein said second segment of beverage supply conduit connects said pump outlet to said opening and closing tap, avoiding any couplings of other conduit for supplying gas; or wherein said first segment of beverage supply conduit connects said tank to said pump inlet, avoiding any couplings of other conduit for supplying gas; and/or wherein said refrigerating device regulates the temperature of said cold beverage in a controlled manner.

4. The dispensing assembly of claim 2, wherein said air passage regulating valve partializes the air supply conduit by continuously regulating air incoming into said Venturi segment.

5. The dispensing assembly of claim 2, wherein are provided one or more of the following alternatives: said air passage regulating valve comprises a valve seat arranged in a segment of said air supply conduit said air passage regulating valve comprises a shutter received in an adjustable manner in said valve seat, thus selectively occluding said air passage in an adjustable manner; or wherein said shutter is screwed in an adjustable manner in said valve seat and protrudes from said valve seat with a shutter adjustment knob accessible externally to said dispensing assembly to regulate the position of said shutter; or wherein said shutter adjustment knob comprises a follower inserted in a cavity provided in the beverage dispensing conduit to limit rotation of said shutter adjustment knob from a minimum in which the shutter occludes said air passage, to a maximum in which the shutter completely opens said air passage.

6. The dispensing assembly of claim 1, wherein are provided one or more of the following alternatives: said assembly comprises a nebulizer; said nebulizer is arranged in said beverage dispensing conduit downstream of said Venturi segment and said connecting coupling; or wherein said nebulizer comprises a nebulizer body arranged floating in a nebulization segment of said beverage dispensing conduit, thus forming a seat for said nebulizer; or wherein said nebulizer forces the fluid of the cold beverage combined with air, to flow around said nebulizer body to uniform air bubbles in said fluid.

7. The dispensing assembly of claim 3, wherein are provided one or more of the following alternatives: said tank is an open tank or an unpressurized tank; or wherein said tank is a pressurized tank and said beverage supply conduit is connected to said opening and closing tap, thus avoiding including a pump; or wherein said tank contains concentrated coffee or a concentrated beverage; or wherein said beverage supply conduit includes a coupling with a liquid supply conduit suitable for diluting the concentrated coffee; or wherein said liquid supply conduit is selectively regulated in the liquid flow by a liquid flow regulating valve provided in said liquid supply conduit; or wherein a pressure switch operatively connected to said pump is arranged between said tank and said pump; or wherein said pressure switch is regulated to detect opening of the opening and closing tap which generates a pressure lowering in the beverage supply conduit, thus actuating said pump; or wherein said opening and closing tap is a faucet provided with a control lever which opens or closes a tap shutter which opens or closes said beverage supply conduit by putting it into fluid communication with said beverage dispensing conduit.

8. The dispensing assembly of claim 1, wherein it is avoided to place, between said tank and said dispensing outlet, any device for injecting any gas into the beverage supply conduit.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the device according to the invention will appear in the description below of its preferred, non-limiting example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts an axonometric view of a dispensing assembly of a cold beverage;

(3) FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a dispensing assembly according to a first embodiment in which there are noted, again diagrammatically, the main components of the assembly;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view of an embodiment of a beverage dispensing conduit;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a section along the plane IV-IV in FIG. 3, of the dispensing conduit in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a section along the plane V-V in FIG. 3, of the dispensing conduit in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a section along the plane VI-VI in FIG. 3, of the dispensing conduit in FIG. 3;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a section along the plane VII-VII in FIG. 3, of a detail of the dispensing conduit in FIG. 3;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section of a dispensing conduit according to a further embodiment;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a section along the plane IX-IX in FIG. 8, of a detail of the dispensing conduit in FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10 shows, according to a further embodiment of the dispensing assembly of the beverage, a portion of the beverage supply conduit which converges into a tap connected to a beverage dispensing conduit similar to the one depicted in FIG. 4;

(12) FIG. 11 diagrammatically depicts a dispensing assembly according to various embodiments, in which the main components of the assembly are highlighted, again diagrammatically, which components are combined electrically- or electronically-controlled components;

(13) FIG. 12 diagrammatically depicts a dispensing assembly according to still further embodiments in which the tank is of the pressurized type and, according to a different embodiment, it contains concentrated coffee, and in which the beverage supply conduit provides a fluid coupling for diluting the concentrated coffee;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a longitudinal section of a dispensing conduit according to a further embodiment of the air supply conduit and of the closing device of said conduit which, in this drawing, is in closed position;

(15) FIG. 14 depicts the longitudinal section in FIG. 13 in which the closing device of the air supply conduit is in open position.

(16) FIG. 15 diagrammatically shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of the fluid energizing device;

(17) FIG. 16 diagrammatically shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of the fluid energizing device;

(18) FIG. 17 diagrammatically shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of a refrigerating device, here of the instantaneous type and downstream of the tank containing the fluid to be dispensed;

(19) FIG. 18 diagrammatically shows a sectional view of a different embodiment of the container for storing the fluid to be dispensed, here in the form of a bag-in box.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(20) The elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described below will be indicated using the same numeral.

(21) With reference to the figures, a dispensing assembly 1 of a beverage 2, for example but not necessarily a cold beverage such as cold coffee, comprises at least one beverage supply conduit 3.

(22) Said assembly 1 further comprises an opening and closing tap 4 for closing or opening the beverage supply conduit 3.

(23) According to one embodiment, said tap is a faucet of the type usually used for dispensing beer.

(24) According to one embodiment, said assembly 1 further comprises at least one beverage dispensing conduit 5.

(25) Said beverage dispensing conduit 5 delimiting a fluid passage 6.

(26) Said fluid passage 6 has a cross section of fluid passage 7 assessed transversely to the longitudinal extension thereof. Said longitudinal extension could also have a curvilinear orientation in addition to a rectilinear orientation.

(27) When open, said tap 4 fluidly connects said beverage supply conduit 3 with said beverage dispensing conduit 5, for example as depicted in FIG. 10.

(28) According to one embodiment, said assembly 1 comprises a dispensing outlet opening 8, or, in short, a dispensing outlet.

(29) Said dispensing outlet 8 is arranged at the end of said dispensing conduit 5.

(30) Advantageously, said assembly 1 comprises an air supply conduit 9.

(31) Said air supply conduit 9 delimits an air passage 10.

(32) Moreover, said air supply conduit 9 leads, on a first side thereof, directly outside the dispensing assembly 1, thus putting into communication said air passage with the ambient external to said assembly 1. Moreover, said air supply conduit 9 leads, on the side opposite to said first side, into said beverage dispensing conduit 5, thus forming a connecting coupling 11.

(33) According to one embodiment, said air supply conduit 9 leads, on a first side thereof, directly outside the dispensing assembly 1, thus putting into communication said air passage with the ambient external to said assembly 1, thus avoiding the interposition of return devices or air supply pumps or other means for pressurizing the air, thus leaving the flow of air inlet into said air passage with natural motion.

(34) According to one embodiment, said tap 4 is directly connected to said dispensing outlet 8 by providing one connecting coupling 11 alone which connects said air supply conduit 9 with said beverage dispensing conduit 5, thus avoiding further couplings to further conduits.

(35) According to one advantageous embodiment, said beverage dispensing conduit 5 comprises a Venturi segment 12 between said tap 4 and said outlet 8.

(36) By flowing through the Venturi segment 12, the fluid passage 6 reduces the cross section 7 thereof and then increases the cross section 7 thereof in the manner of Venturi conduit.

(37) According to one embodiment, said Venturi segment 12 has a portion having a minimum cross section 14 of the cross section of fluid passage 7 thereof.

(38) According to one embodiment, said air supply conduit 9 is engaged in said beverage dispensing conduit 5, thus achieving a fluid connection between said two conduits, in said Venturi segment 12.

(39) According to one embodiment, said assembly comprises an air passage regulating valve 13.

(40) According to one embodiment, said regulating valve 13 is provided in said air supply conduit 9 for regulating the width of the air passage 10.

(41) According to one embodiment, said air supply conduit is engaged in said beverage dispensing conduit 5 immediately after said minimum cross section 14 of said Venturi segment 12.

(42) According to one embodiment, said assembly comprises a tank 15, for example a tank for containing said beverage, e.g. cold coffee.

(43) According to one embodiment, said assembly comprises a refrigerating device 16.

(44) According to one embodiment, said refrigerating device 16 comprises a temperature adjustment device 40. According to one embodiment, said temperature adjustment device 40 is connected to an adjustment device or a control device or a control unit 35, advantageously but not necessarily of the controlled type, or controller 36, and/or with a feedback from a temperature sensor.

(45) According to one embodiment, said tank is arranged in said, or is connected to said, refrigerating device 16 for cooling beverage 2 located in said tank.

(46) According to one embodiment, said assembly comprises a thrust device or pump 17.

(47) According to one embodiment, said pump 17 is arranged downstream of tank 15 to draw said cold beverage 2.

(48) According to one embodiment, said pump 17 comprises a pump inlet 19 and a pump outlet 20.

(49) According to one embodiment, said assembly comprises a first segment of beverage supply conduit 18.

(50) According to one embodiment, said first segment of beverage supply conduit 18 connects said tank 15 to said pump inlet 19.

(51) According to one embodiment, said tap 4 is arranged downstream of said pump 17.

(52) According to one embodiment, said assembly comprises a second segment of beverage supply conduit 21.

(53) According to one embodiment, said second segment of beverage supply conduit 21 connects said pump outlet 20 with said tap 4.

(54) According to one embodiment, said second segment of beverage supply conduit 21 connects said pump outlet 20 with said tap 4, thus avoiding all couplings of other conduit for supplying gas.

(55) According to one embodiment, said first segment of beverage supply conduit 18 connects said tank 15 to said pump inlet 19, thus avoiding all couplings of other conduit for supplying gas.

(56) According to one embodiment, said refrigerating device 16 regulates the temperature of said cold beverage 2 in a controlled manner.

(57) According to one embodiment, said air passage regulating valve 13 partializes the air supply conduit 9 by continuously regulating the entity of air inlet into said Venturi segment 12.

(58) According to one embodiment, said air passage regulating valve 13 comprises a valve seat 23 arranged in a segment of said air supply conduit 9. Said air passage regulating valve 13 comprises a shutter 22 which is received in an adjustable manner in said valve seat 23, thus selectively occluding said air passage 10 in an adjustable manner.

(59) According to one embodiment, said shutter 22 is screwed in an adjustable manner in said valve seat 23 and protrudes of said valve seat 23 with a shutter adjustment knob 24 which is accessible externally to said assembly 1 to regulate the position of said shutter 22.

(60) According to one embodiment, said shutter adjustment knob 24 comprises a follower 25 inserted in a cavity 34 provided in the body of the beverage dispensing conduit 5, which is closed in the longitudinal extension thereof to limit the regulating travel of said shutter adjustment knob 24, for example from a minimum in which shutter 22 occludes said air passage 10, to a maximum in which it completely opens said air passage 10.

(61) According to one embodiment, said shutter 22 is an electric or electronic valve for regulating the air flow 39.

(62) According to one embodiment, said electric or electronic valve for regulating the air flow 39 is connected to a control unit 35 and/or a controller 36.

(63) According to one embodiment, said air passage regulating valve 13 comprises a sleeve valve 45, which for example but not necessarily, surrounds the body of the beverage dispensing conduit 5 outside said Venturi segment 12, and in particular where the air supply conduit 9 defining said air passage 10 is present.

(64) According to one embodiment, said body of the beverage dispensing conduit 5 externally has a seat in which said sleeve valve 45 may slide to overlap and thus occlude said air passage 10.

(65) According to one embodiment, said sleeve valve 45 cooperates with gaskets, for example O-ring gaskets 46 inserted into body seats of the beverage dispensing conduit 5, for example around the suction mouth of said air supply conduit 9, or slightly above and slightly below and positioned circumferentially, to close the access of air in said air passage 10.

(66) According to one embodiment, said assembly 1 comprises a nebulizer 26.

(67) Said nebulizer 26 is arranged in said beverage dispensing conduit 5 downstream of said Venturi segment 12 and said connecting coupling of the air supply conduit 11.

(68) According to one embodiment, said nebulizer 26 comprises a nebulizer body 27 arranged floating in a nebulization segment 28 of said beverage dispensing conduit 5, thus forming a seat for said nebulizer 26.

(69) According to one embodiment, said nebulizer 26 forces the fluid of the cold beverage 2 combined with the air, to flow about said nebulizer body 27 to uniform air bubbles 29 in said fluid.

(70) According to one embodiment, said tank 15 is an open tank or an unpressurized tank.

(71) According to one embodiment, said tank 15 is a pressurized tank 41 and said beverage supply conduit 3 is connected to said tap 4, thus avoiding the presence of a pump 17.

(72) According to one embodiment, said tank 15 or 41 contains concentrated coffee or a concentrated beverage 42. According to one embodiment, said beverage supply conduit 3 includes a coupling with a liquid supply conduit 43 adapted to dilute the concentrated coffee.

(73) According to one embodiment, said liquid supply conduit 43 is selectively regulated in the flow of liquid by means of a liquid flow regulating valve 44 provided in said liquid supply conduit 43.

(74) According to one embodiment, a pressure switch 30 operatively connected to said pump 17 is between said tank 15 and said pump 17, or downstream of said pump 17.

(75) According to one embodiment, said pressure switch 30 is regulated so as to detect the opening of tap which generates a lowering of the pressure in the beverage supply conduit 3, thus actuating said pump 17.

(76) According to one embodiment, a shutdown pressure switch 37 operatively connected to said pump 17 is between said tank 15 and said pump 17, or downstream of said pump 17.

(77) According to one embodiment, said pressure switch 37 is regulated so as to detect the lack of fluid in the beverage supply conduit 3, for example due to the emptying of the tank 15, thus causing the shutdown of said pump 17. According to one embodiment, a button for restarting the pump is included when the tank is replenished or replaced with one containing the beverage.

(78) According to one embodiment, said tap 4 is a faucet provided with a control lever 31 which opens or closes a tap shutter 32 which opens or closes said beverage supply conduit 3 by putting it into fluid communication with said beverage dispensing conduit 5.

(79) According to one embodiment, said tap 4 is an electric or electronic tap 38 which, for example, opens or closes the fluid passage by means of a solenoid valve.

(80) According to one embodiment, said tap 4 is an electric or electronic tap 38 which is connected to a control unit 35 and/or a controller 36.

(81) According to one embodiment, it is avoided to provide, between said tank 15 and said dispensing outlet 8, any device for injecting any gas into the beverage supply conduit 3.

(82) A possible method for dispensing a beverage is described below.

(83) A method for dispensing a beverage, e.g. cold beverage, comprising the steps of: sending a cold beverage 2 from a tank 15 to a tap 4; accelerating the flow of the cold beverage 2 downstream of tap 4 by means of a Venturi segment 12; injecting air at ambient pressure into said Venturi segment 12 using only the depression formed by said Venturi segment 12; dispensing said cold beverage 2 mixed with air from a dispensing outlet 8.

(84) According to a further dispensing method, there are provided further optional steps of: storing the cold beverage 2 in the tank while regulating the temperature of the cold beverage 2 in a controlled manner; or, or with also forming a foam 33 in said Venturi segment 12 with the injection of air or, or with also following said injection into said Venturi segment 12, nebulizing said foam 33; or, or with also avoiding to inject any other gas into the cold beverage 2 which is not air taken at ambient pressure, along the whole path of the beverage from the tank 15 to the dispensing outlet 8.

(85) A person skilled in the art may make many changes, adaptations and replacements to the embodiments described herein or can replace elements with others which are functionally equivalent in order to satisfy contingent needs without however departing from the scope of protection as described and claimed herein.

(86) According to one embodiment, said Venturi segment 12 is arranged downstream of all beverage pressurizing devices 17.

(87) According to one embodiment, said Venturi segment 12 is arranged downstream of all mixing couplings of any fluid, other than air, provided in said beverage supply conduit 3 or provided in said beverage dispensing conduit (5).

(88) According to one embodiment, said tank 15 is a bag-in box 47.

(89) According to one embodiment, said tank 15 is arranged in a cold chamber or refrigerating device 16.

(90) According to one embodiment, said dispensing assembly 1 comprises an instantaneous refrigerating device 48 arranged along said beverage supply conduit 3.

(91) According to one embodiment said dispensing assembly 1 of a cold beverage 2 comprises a fluid energizing device 17, 49, or fluid pressurizing device, and in which said fluid energizing device 17, 49 is arranged upstream of said Venturi segment 12 with respect to said dispensing outlet 8.

(92) According to one embodiment, said fluid energizing device 17, 49 is a pump 17 for drawing the fluid from a tank 15, or a pump 17 for pressurizing said fluid, and is arranged upstream of a tank 15, or a device 49 for injecting pressurized gas, e.g. nitrogen N.sub.2, into said tank 15.

(93) According to one embodiment, said fluid energizing device 17, 49 causes a flow rate between 10 ml/sec and 20 ml/sec, preferably 14 ml/sec, and a pressure between 1.4 bar and 4.1 bar, preferably of 2.7 bar, thus allowing a prevalence which activates said Venturi segment 12.

(94) According to one embodiment, said tap 4 is an electrically-actuated automatic shut-off valve, for example a solenoid valve or an electric or electronic tap 38 and the air passage regulating valve 13 is made as an electric or electronic air flow regulating valve 39, both operatively connected and controlled by a control unit 35 and a controller 36.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(95) 1 dispensing assembly

(96) 2 cold beverage

(97) 3 beverage supply conduit

(98) 4 opening and closing tap

(99) 5 beverage dispensing conduit

(100) 6 fluid passage

(101) 7 cross section of fluid passage

(102) 8 dispensing outlet

(103) 9 air supply conduit

(104) 10 air passage

(105) 11 connecting coupling of the air supply conduit

(106) 12 Venturi segment

(107) 13 air passage regulating valve

(108) 14 minimum cross section

(109) 15 tank

(110) 16 refrigerating device

(111) 17 pump

(112) 18 first segment of beverage supply conduit

(113) 19 pump inlet

(114) 20 pump outlet

(115) 21 second segment of beverage supply conduit

(116) 22 shutter

(117) 23 valve seat

(118) 24 shutter adjustment knob

(119) 25 follower

(120) 26 nebulizer

(121) 27 nebulizer body

(122) 28 nebulization segment

(123) 29 air bubbles

(124) 30 pressure switch

(125) 31 control lever

(126) 32 tap shutter

(127) 33 foam

(128) 34 follower cavity

(129) 35 control unit

(130) 36 controller

(131) 37 pump shutdown pressure switch

(132) 38 electric or electronic tap

(133) 39 electric- or electronic-type air flow regulating valve

(134) 40 temperature adjustment device

(135) 41 pressurized tank

(136) 42 concentrated cold coffee or concentrated beverage

(137) 43 liquid supply conduit for diluting concentrated coffee or concentrated beverage

(138) 44 regulating valve of flow liquid for diluting concentrated coffee or concentrated beverage

(139) 45 sleeve valve

(140) 46 O-ring gaskets

(141) 47 bag-in box

(142) 48 instantaneous refrigerating device

(143) 49 pressurized gas injecting device