Beverage preparation assembly

Abstract

The invention concerns a beverage preparation assembly (1) comprising: a container (2) for storing a water soluble beverage powder, said container comprising a tank (21) and a powder outlet (22), a dissolution chamber (3) for preparing a beverage from the water soluble beverage powder and a diluent, said dissolution chamber comprising at last one diluent inlet (31) and a beverage outlet (32), a chute (4) for guiding the water soluble beverage powder from the powder outlet (22) of the container to the dissolution chamber (3), an air outlet (5) configured for evacuating air from the dissolution chamber (3), wherein the powder outlet (22) is connected to the chute (4) by a conduit (6), and wherein the powder outlet (22), the conduit (5), the chute (4) and the dissolution chamber (3) are connected together through airtight connections, and wherein said assembly comprises an air inlet (8), said air inlet being positioned above the chute (4) only.

Claims

1. Process for the preparation of a beverage with a beverage preparation assembly comprising a container for storing a water soluble beverage powder, the container comprising a tank and a powder outlet, a dissolution chamber for preparing a beverage from the water soluble beverage powder and a diluent, the dissolution chamber comprising at last one diluent inlet and a beverage outlet, a chute for guiding the water soluble beverage powder from the powder outlet of the container to the dissolution chamber, an air outlet configured for evacuating air from the dissolution chamber, the powder outlet is connected to the chute by a conduit; wherein, the powder outlet, the conduit, the chute and the dissolution chamber are connected together through airtight connections, and the assembly comprises an air inlet, the air inlet being positioned above the chute only wherein the following steps are implemented: dispensing a dose of beverage powder from the powder outlet of the container and delivered to the dissolution chamber through the chute; delivering a dose of diluent in the dissolution chamber and mixing with the dose of powder to produce a beverage; the produced beverage is delivered through the chamber outlet (32); and during at least the delivering of the dose of diluent and the mixing step air is sucked from the air outlet so that an unidirectional flow of air is created from the air inlet down to the bottom of the chute.

2. Process according to claim 1 wherein the air is sucked from the air outlet during the whole process.

3. Process according to claim 1 wherein a flow rate at which the air is sucked is decreased during the step of dispensing the dose of the beverage powder.

4. Process according claim 1 wherein a flow rate of the air sucked from the air outlet is controlled so that the unidirectional flow of the air prevents mist from crossing a bottom section of the chute.

5. Process according to claim 1 wherein a flow rate of the air sucked from the air outlet is controlled so that an air velocity through the bottom of the chute is of at least 0.05 m/s.

6. Process according to claim 1 wherein the air is sucked from the air outlet by a sucking device and a flow rate of the air sucked from the air outlet is controlled by monitoring a power of the sucking device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood in relation to the following figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a beverage preparation assembly according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another beverage preparation assembly according to the present invention.

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b are respective side and perspective views of an example of single piece of material associated to the dissolution chamber as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the single piece of material of FIGS. 3a, 3b.

(6) FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the dissolution chamber of FIGS. 3a, 3b.

(7) FIG. 4c is a perspective view of a container powder outlet.

(8) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a beverage dispenser comprising at least one beverage preparation assembly according to the invention.

(9) FIG. 6 is a front view of a beverage dispenser comprising three beverage preparation assemblies according to the invention.

(10) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a beverage dispenser comprising at least one beverage preparation assembly according to the invention.

(11) FIGS. 8a, 8b, 8c illustrate various distributions of flows in beverage preparation assemblies,

(12) FIGS. 9a and 9b are a cross section views of a part of an assembly of the present invention illustrating the movement of the discharge port during beverage preparation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(13) FIG. 1 illustrates a beverage preparation assembly 1 according to the invention. The assembly comprises a container 2 for storing a water soluble beverage powder. The container comprises a tank 21 and a powder outlet 22. The container 2 usually comprises a dosing device for dosing and moving a dose of powder through the outlet 22. This device is not represented in FIG. 1.

(14) The beverage preparation assembly 1 comprises a dissolution chamber 3 positioned under the powder outlet 22. This chamber 3 is configured for preparing a beverage from the water soluble beverage powder and a diluent. In FIG. 1 the dissolution chamber comprises two diluent inlets 31 and a beverage outlet 32. The diluent inlets are connected to a diluent supply. The diluent is usually water. The chamber presents an opened top 33 through which the dose of powder dispensed from the container outlet 22 can flow. In FIG. 1 the illustrated chamber is deprived of any mechanical device activated by a motor for improving dissolution. The dissolution is obtained by the contact of the diluent with the powder. Such a chamber can configured as described in WO 2008/071613. Yet the invention can also be implemented with a dissolution chamber comprising a whipper actuated by a motor (as illustrated in FIG. 7).

(15) The assembly 1 comprises an air outlet 5 configured for evacuating air from the dissolution chamber 3. This air outlet 5 is positioned near to the top of the dissolution chamber. This air outlet is connected to a sucking device, preferably a fan, usually through a conduit. In general the conduit comprises a filter to avoid that humidity and fines enter in the sucking device.

(16) The assembly 1 comprises a chute 4 for guiding the water soluble beverage powder from the powder outlet 22 of the container to the dissolution chamber 3. The chute is connected to the top of the dissolution chamber and this connection is airtight and watertight for example by means of a gasket 10 placed between the lateral edge of the chute and the top of the chamber. Preferably the chute is connected to the chamber so that the upper diluent inlet 31 and an the air outlet 5 are positioned in the annular space formed between the chute 4 and the lateral upper wall of the chamber.

(17) In the assembly 1 the powder outlet 22 is connected to the chute 4 by a conduit 6. The powder outlet 22, the conduit 6, the chute 4 and the chamber are connected together through airtight connections. Said air tight connections can be obtained with the conduit 6 forming tight connections at its both extremities with the other elements of the assembly. In FIG. 1 the first extremity 61 of the conduit connects to the powder outlet 22 and engages said powder outlet by surrounding it. This first extremity of the conduit 61 is horizontally oriented so as to surround the particular illustrated powder outlet of FIG. 1 and the conduit 6 presents a bent so that its second extremity 62 is vertically oriented, yet other configuration of the conduit can be implemented depending on the orientation and shape of the powder outlet. The second extremity 62 of the conduit is connected to the top 41 of the chute. In FIG. 1 the bottom of the conduit 6 forms the chute 4 and these both elements form one single piece of material 7. That guarantees a perfect air tight connection between these both elements. Yet according to the invention the conduit and the chute can be separated elements too, these elements being connected together through an airtight connection.

(18) The single piece of material 7 integrating the conduit 6 and the chute 4 is connected to the top of the chamber in an airtight manner with a gasket 10 as described hereabove. Said gasket enables a watertight connection also in case a whirlpool of water would reach the top of the chamber.

(19) Consequently the powder outlet 22, the conduit 6, the chute 4 and the dissolution chamber 3 form an airtight closed assembly. The assembly 1 defines a closed environment and a closed path for the powder flowing from the powder outlet to the dissolution chamber. The assembly 1 comprises one air inlet 8. This air inlet 8 is positioned above the chute 4 only. Due to the airtightness of the assembly around the path of the powder dose powder fines do not flow outside the dissolution chamber during dosing. Moreover the control of the air flow in said closed environment from the air inlet down to the chute bottom and through the air outlet enables the creation of a dry zone above the chute bottom and a wet zone under the chute bottom.

(20) Preferably the bottom section S2 of the chute 4 is configured for being sufficiently large so that powder can easily flows through it without depositing on the chute. By controlling the flow of air sucked at a flow rate Q through the air outlet 5 a unidirectional flow F of air from the air inlet 6 through the bottom section S2 of the chute is created. It means that air flows only according to one direction through that section that is from the top down to the chamber. Moreover said flow is preferably homogeneously distributed through the whole bottom section S2 of the chute.

(21) Based on the value of the section S2 and on the value of the flow rate Q sucked through the outlet 5 the unidirectional air flow flowing through the chute bottom 43 present a sufficient velocity V2 to create a screen to prevent mist of the dissolution chamber from crossing the bottom section S2 of the chute. This mist is usually composed of vapour, humid air, water droplets, water splashing and is naturally moved by convection from the chamber up to the chute. The velocity V2 of the air through the chute bottom is defined to be superior to the velocity of air moving through convection. The air flow through the chute bottom 43 creates a barrier to humidity generated in the chamber. As a consequence the upper part of the assembly above the bottom chute 43 always remains dry, so the superior face 44 of the chute on which powder fines may fall always remain dry. When powder is dosed the dose of powder slides on said superior dry face 44 of the chute and does not react with humidity in the chute leading to sticky deposits on the chute as in the chutes of the prior art. So the operator can rapidly clean said part of the chute when the assembly is disassembled for cleaning operation. FIG. 8a illustrates the creation of unidirectional flow F of air homogeneously distributed through the chute bottom. This flow creates a virtual frontier between an upper dry zone and a lower wet zone. On the contrary FIG. 8b illustrates the creation of a flow of air through the chute bottom that is not homogeneously distributed; for that reason a flow of mist F.sub.m is able to flow upwardly in the chute. This default is due to a too big section of bottom chute S2.

(22) In the assembly 1 the section S3 of the air outlet 5 is preferably defined so that water present in the dissolution chamber cannot be sucked through the air outlet 5. In particular S3 shall not be too small, otherwise the pressure drop would be such that droplets of liquid would be sucked during beverage preparation or cleaning. FIG. 8c illustrates an embodiment where a too important air flow at the air outlet 5 sucks liquid in the outlet.

(23) Similarly on the assembly 1 the section S1 of the air inlet 8 is preferably defined so as to avoid pressure loss. In particular S1 shall not be too small, otherwise the flow rate of air Q would need to be significant and the control of the air flow at the section S2 would be difficult to control.

(24) In general, for a particular section S2 at the bottom of the chute the air flow rate Q is controlled so as to reach the objective of maintaining a unidirectional and preferably homogeneous flow of air through the section S2. Other parameters can be optimised: the distance between the air inlet 8 and the chute bottom, the section S1 of the air inlet, the section S3 of the air outlet, the presence and the geometry of the annular wall 41.

(25) In order to prepare a beverage with beverage preparation assembly 1 a dose of beverage powder is dispensed from the powder outlet 22 of the container and delivered to the dissolution chamber 3 through the chute 4, then a dose of diluent is delivered in the dissolution chamber and mixed with the dose of powder to produce a beverage, and the produced beverage is delivered through the chamber outlet 32. During at least the whole powder and diluent mixing step air is sucked from the air outlet 5 so that: an unidirectional flow F of air is created from the air inlet 6 down to the bottom 43 of the chute, and the unidirectional flow F of air prevents any flow of mist produced from flowing up through the chute 4.

(26) Preferably air is sucked also during the step of powder dosing. Eventually the flow rate at which the air is sucked can be decreased during said step of dispensing a dose of beverage powder. This decrease avoids that a too important flow of air sucks powder fines through the extraction duct.

(27) FIG. 2 illustrates a beverage preparation assembly such as described in FIG. 1 except that the chute 4, the conduit 6 and the air outlet 5 are part of one single piece of material 7. The water and airtight connection with the powder outlet 22 and the dissolution chamber 3 is obtained with gaskets 10. In FIG. 2 the assembly comprises an annular wall 42 that surrounds the bottom wall 43 of the chute. This annular wall defines two annular spaces: a first internal annular space 421 between said annular wall 42 and the bottom wall 43 of the chute, and a second external annular space 422 between said annular wall 42 and the top wall 34 of the chamber.

(28) The bottoms of the both spaces 421, 422 are opened above the dissolution chamber 3.

(29) The top of first internal annular space 421 is connected to the air outlet 5 configured for evacuating air from the dissolution chamber. So the annular wall 42 forms a conduit for sucking air from the chamber to the air outlet. The geometry of the first internal annular space 421 can be optimised in order to improve the control of the air flow through the system and in partivular near the air outlet if necessary.

(30) The annular wall also prevents water from diluent inlet 31 to be partially sucked because it creates a partition wall.

(31) FIGS. 3a and 3b are respective side and perspective views of an example of single piece of material 7 associated to the dissolution chamber 3 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The air inlet 8 is protected by a grid. Such a grid can avoid that insects or small pieces fall inside when the dispenser housing is opened.

(32) FIGS. 4a and 4b are perspective views of each of the single piece of material 7 and the dissolution chamber 3 of FIGS. 3a and 3b. The single piece of material 7 comprises connecting means 7a configured for fitting with corresponding connecting means 3a at the top of the dissolution chamber 3. In the illustrated embodiment the single piece of material 7 presents a slot 7a in its internal surface in which a pin 3a at the top of the dissolution chamber can slide.

(33) FIG. 4c is a perspective view of the discharge port 220. The external shape of the discharge port is designed so that the extremity 61 of the single piece of material 7 can slide around the discharge port. The external shape of the discharge port 220 and the internal shape of the extremity 61 of the single piece of material 7 are conformal.

(34) Similarly the internal shape of the extremity 61 of the air outlet 5 and the external shape of the conduit to the air sucking device 9 can present conformal shapes so that they can be plugged one into another.

(35) Generally all the connections are made through air tight connecting means.

(36) The connections are also configured to enable easy dismantling for the operator.

(37) FIG. 5 illustrates a beverage dispenser comprising an assembly such as described hereabove. In the dispenser it is made apparent that the diluent inlets 31 of the beverage dispenser are connected to a supply of water that is preferably a boiler 13. The dispenser comprises a pump 12 to pump water from the boiler. The dissolution chamber 3 delivers the prepared beverage through its outlet 32 in a drinking cup that can be positioned in a dispensing area 17. A powder dosing device 11 at the bottom of the powder container 2 is actuated by a motor 111 to deliver a powder dose in the dissolution chamber. A fan 9 is connected through an extraction duct 91 to the air outlet 5. A user interface 14 enables a customer to select and launch a beverage preparation. A control unit 15 is linked to the user interface and the different motors to prepare the ordered beverage. All the different devices are housed in a housing 16. The above devices are current in the field of beverage dispensers.

(38) FIG. 6 illustrates the front view of the beverage dispenser of FIG. 5 from which the front housing panel has been removed. The dispenser comprises three beverage preparation assemblies 1a, 1b, 1c according to the embodiment described in FIGS. 3a, 3b. Each container 2a, 2b, 2c can store different soluble powder like instant coffee, milk powder and chocolate powder. The assemblies can also differ by the volume of the mixing chambers 3a, 3b, 3c that can depend on the nature of the beverage to be prepared. For example a bigger chamber may be required for preparing a milk beverage compared to a coffee. In this dispenser each beverage preparation assembly is dedicated to the preparation of a particular beverage from the powder stored in the container 2a, 2b, 2c of the assembly. For each specific beverage the assembly forms a powder distributing column dedicated to the preparation of the specific beverage. So no cross contamination can happen in a mixing chamber and each column can remain airtight.

(39) The air outlets of the beverage preparation assemblies are each connected to an extraction duct from which the fan 9 (illustrated in FIG. 5) sucks air. The diluent inlets of the chamber of each assembly are connected to the diluent supply illustrated in FIG. 5.

(40) FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative beverage dispenser wherein the dissolution chamber of FIGS. 1 to 6 is replaced by a dissolution chamber comprising a whipper 35 actuated by a motor 351. The other referenced elements in FIG. 7 are identical to the elements of FIG. 5 presenting the same reference.

(41) In both illustrated dispensers of FIGS. 5 and 7 the fluid system for delivering water to the dissolution chamber can comprise heating and/or cooling devices and valves in order to control the temperature of water and the sequence of introduction of water in the diluent inlets according to the beverage preparation recipe.

(42) FIG. 9a is a magnified cross section view of the tank outlet, the discharge port 22 such as illustrated in FIG. 4c, the top of the dissolution chamber and the single piece of material 7 such as illustrated in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a.

(43) The discharge port comprises: an internal delivery tube 221 comprising a hollowing-out 222 in its bottom part, an external movable cover 223 comprising a hollowing-out 224 in its bottom part.

(44) The internal delivery tube 221 is fixed and attached to the tank outlet. The external movable cover 223 surrounds the internal delivery tube 221 and is able to slide around it according to a translation movement between two positions.

(45) The dimensions of the both hollowing outs 222, 224 and the relative positions of the internal delivery tube 221 and the external movable cover 223 when assembled are configured so that the external movable cover 223 covers at least a part of the internal delivery tube 221 and the hollowing-outs 222, 224 overlap each other in one first position and cannot in the other second position. Then the dimension of the hollowing out 224 of the external movable cover is configured for overlapping at least the hollowing-out 222 of the delivery tube.

(46) In FIG. 9a the discharge port is represented in the second dosing position where the two hollowing outs 222, 224 overlap each other and enable the dispensing of the soluble beverage powder which is pushed by the activation of the dosing means 11.

(47) FIG. 9a illustrates too how the external movable cover 223 during powder dosing is displaced under the air inlet 8 and substantially closes the air inlet during that operation. As a consequence the risk that powder fines escape through the air inlet is even more reduced.

(48) Generally during that step of powder dosing the flow rate at which air is sucked through the air outlet is decreasedor even stoppedin order to avoid that powder fines are sucked through the air outlet. A drawback of this sucking decrease could be that potential mist in the dissolution could flow upwardly through the chute by natural convection; yet, the closing of the air path by the end of the external movable cover 223 reduces such a chimney effect by limiting the mist velocity and its chance to flow upwardly.

(49) FIG. 9b corresponds to FIG. 9a except that that the external movable cover 223 is in the first rest position where the two hollowing outs 222, 224 do not overlap each other and do not enable the dispensing of the soluble beverage powder.

(50) FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrates dimensions of the chute bottom section, the air inlet section and the air outlet section that enable a control of the air flow in the assembly according to the present invention. The illustrated assembly presents a section S2 at the bottom chute that is circular. The diameter of the bottom chute is of 40 mm which is sufficiently large to limit the risk that the powder falling from the discharge port 220 deposits on the chute. The section S2 is of 1257 mm.sup.2. By applying a suction of air at a flow rate of 3.8.10.sup.4 m.sup.3/s at the air outlet 5, a velocity V2 of air can be reached at the bottom chute 43 that mist elevating from the dissolution chamber cannot cross. The height between the air inlet 8 and the chute bottom 43 is of about 100 mm.

(51) In the same air sucking conditions the section S1 of the air inlet 8 is of about 200 mm.sup.2 preferably. In illustrated FIGS. 9a and 9b this section S1 corresponds to the sum of the sections of all the holes in the grid.

(52) In the same air sucking conditions the section S3 of the air outlet 5 (more clearly illustrated in FIG. 3b) presents a section of about 500 mm.sup.2 preferably.

(53) The present invention presents the advantage of avoiding the escape of powder fines in the machine.

(54) The present invention presents also the advantage of controlling the movement of humidity, steam and vapour generated during the beverage preparation and preventing the presence of humidity above the powder chute.

(55) In particular the present invention presents the advantage of creating separating the path of the powder from the container to the chamber in two zone: an upper dry zone and a lower humid zone.

(56) The assembly of the present invention forms an encapsulated path for the powder and for the flow of air inside the assembly. Due to encapsulation, powder fines do not flow outside the dissolution chamber during dosing. Moreover, due to the encapsulation, the movement of the air can be controlled: air can essentially only enter through the air inlet and essentially only flow out through the air outlet. As a consequence the control of the air flow rate by the sucking device enables a control of the movement and of the velocity of air at the different places of the assembly and in particular at the chute bottom. It becomes possible to create dry and wet zones in the assembly and to prevent humidity from flowing up from the wet zone to the dry zone.

(57) Another advantage of the present invention is that the manual cleaning interval of the chute can be optimised: it can be done less frequently and it can be done rapidly since no powder can stick in the chute.

(58) Although the invention has been described with reference to the above illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention as claimed is not limited in any way by these illustrated embodiments.

(59) Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.

(60) As used in this specification, the words comprises, comprising, and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean including, but not limited to.

LIST OF REFERENCES IN THE DRAWINGS

(61) 1, 1a, 1b, 1c beverage preparation assembly 2, 2a, 2b, 2c container 21 tank 22 powder outlet 220 discharge port 221 internal delivery tube 222 hollow out 223 external movable cover 224 hollow out 3 dissolution chamber 31 diluent inlet 32 beverage outlet 33 chamber opened top 34 chamber top wall 3a connecting means 35 whipper 351 whipper motor 4 chute 41 top of the chute 42 annular ring 421 first internal annular space 422 second external annular space 43 chute bottom 431 bottom wall of the chute 44 superior wall of the chute 5 air outlet 6 conduit 61 first extremity of the conduit 62 second extremity of the conduit 7 single piece of material 7a connecting means 8 air inlet 9 sucking device 91 extraction duct 10 gaskets 11 dosing device 111 motor of the dosing device 12 pump 13 boiler 14 user interface 15 control unit 16 housing 17 dispensing area