Receiving Device for Receiving a Bottle on a Carbonation Machine; Carbonation Machine, and Method for Using a Carbonation Machine

Abstract

A carbonation machine that includes a receiving device for receiving a bottle, the receiving device has a fastening device which has an iris device, which has an opening configured to have a variable size, the receiving device is transferable from a bottle-receiving state, which is configured for receiving the bottle, into an attachment state, in which the bottle is attached to the receiving device, and as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, a size of the opening of the iris device decreases, and in the bottle-receiving state, the bottle is arranged in a non-vertical receiving position on the receiving device; and in the attachment state, the bottle is arranged in a preparation position, and as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the bottle is tilted from the non-vertical receiving position into the preparation position.

Claims

1.-29. (canceled)

30. A carbonation machine comprising: a receiving device for receiving a bottle, the receiving device has a fastening device for fastening the bottle, the fastening device comprises an iris device, the iris device has an opening, the opening of the iris device is configured to have a variable size, wherein the receiving device is transferable from a bottle-receiving state, which is configured for receiving the bottle, into an attachment state, in which the bottle is attached to the receiving device, wherein as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, a size of the opening of the iris device decreases, and wherein in the bottle-receiving state, the bottle is arranged in a non-vertical receiving position on the receiving device; and in the attachment state, the bottle is arranged in a preparation position, and as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the bottle is tilted from the non-vertical receiving position into the preparation position.

31. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the iris device has an iris element, the iris element is configured to pivot, the iris element is arranged in a radially outer position in the bottle-receiving state, and wherein as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the iris element is pivoted from its radially outer position into a radially inner position about a pivot axis, the radially inner position is provided for fastening the bottle.

32. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the iris element has a guide means, the fastening device has an intermediate element, the intermediate element has a counterpart guide means which in complements the guide means of the iris element, wherein as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the iris element is guided from its radially outer position into its radially inner position by the guide means and the counterpart guide means.

33. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 32, wherein the intermediate element has a further guide means, wherein the receiving device has a further counterpart guide means which in complements the further guide means of the intermediate element, wherein as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the intermediate element is guided by the further guide means and the further counterpart guide means such that the intermediate element performs a rotational movement in a circumferential direction of the intermediate element.

34. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 33, wherein as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the iris element is guided from its radially outer position into its radially inner position by the rotational movement of the intermediate element and by the guide means and the counterpart guide means.

35. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the iris device has a plurality of iris elements, the plurality of iris elements are each pivotable, wherein the plurality of iris elements are each arranged in a radially outer position in the bottle-receiving state, and as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the iris elements are each pivoted from their radially outer positions into radially inner positions about their pivot axes, wherein the radially inner positions are provided for fastening the bottle, and optionally the plurality of iris elements comprise five iris elements, wherein in the attachment state, the bottle is arranged in a vertical preparation position.

36. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 35, wherein the pivoting of the plurality of iris elements from their radially outer positions into their radially inner positions causes the size of the opening of the iris device to decrease.

37. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 32, wherein the guide means of the iris element has a projection, pin and/or bolt, the counterpart guide means of the intermediate element has a rail configured for guiding the guide means, has a recess and/or depression.

38. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 33, wherein the further guide means of the intermediate element has a projection, pin and/or bolt, the further counterpart guide means of the receiving device has a rail configured for guiding the further guide means, has a recess and/or depression.

39. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 33, wherein the intermediate element comprises a disk-shaped main body having a central opening.

40. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the carbonation machine comprises a safety element that is a safety door and/or a safety window, and wherein in the attachment state, the safety element is be arranged in front of the bottle such that, by means of the safety element, the bottle is arranged within the carbonation machine.

41. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 40, wherein the carbonation machine comprises an actuation element for the initiation of a carbonating operation by a user, the actuation element being coupled to the safety element such that a carbonating operation can be started only when the safety element has been arranged in front of the bottle such that, by means of the safety element, the bottle is within the carbonation machine.

42. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 40, wherein the carbonation machine comprises a seal means for sealing off the bottle with respect to surroundings during a carbonating operation, wherein the seal means seals off the bottle with respect to the surroundings by means of a pressure provided by a gas cartridge, during the carbonating operation.

43. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 40, wherein the carbonation machine comprises a pressure chamber, the pressure chamber is formed adjacent to the seal means.

44. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 43, wherein during the carbonating operation, the pressure chamber is connected via a gas connection to an interior of the bottle such that, during the carbonating operation, a positive pressure provided by the gas cartridge is generated in the pressure chamber, wherein the seal means is pushed against the bottle such that the bottle is sealed off with respect to the surroundings by the positive pressure in the pressure chamber.

45. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 40 wherein the carbonation machine has at least one pressure relief valve via which a positive pressure that is present in the bottle can be dissipated after the carbonating operation.

46. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 45, wherein the pressure relief valve is switchable between a closed position, in which a positive pressure in the bottle is maintained, and an opened position, in which a positive pressure in the bottle can be dissipated via the valve, and optionally the carbonation machine has a control element for switching the pressure relief valve.

47. The carbonation machine as claimed in claim 46, wherein the safety element is configured such that, when the safety element is opened, the pressure relief valve is moved into its opened position and a positive pressure that is present in the bottle is dissipated.

48. A method for using a carbonation machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the method comprises: in a first step, with the receiving in the bottle-receiving state, the bottle is arranged on the receiving device of the carbonation machine, wherein the bottle has a liquid, in a second step, the receiving device transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, wherein, during the transfer from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the bottle is fastened by the iris device to the receiving device, and in a third step, the liquid in the bottle is carbonated.

49. The method as claimed in claim 48, wherein in or during the second step, as the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, an iris element of the iris device is guided by its guide means in the direction of a bottle neck of the bottle such that the bottle is fastened by means of the iris element to the receiving device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective illustrations of a carbonation machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a carbonation machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an iris device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of an intermediate element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of the iris device of FIG. 4, and of the intermediate element of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a counterpart guide part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] FIGS. 8 and 9 are illustrations of the iris device of FIG. 4, of the intermediate element of FIG. 5, and of the counterpart guide part of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 10 is a perspective sectional illustration through a carbonation machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 11 is a sectional illustration through a carbonation machine according to an embodiment of the present invention in plan view.

[0075] FIG. 12 is a sectional illustration through a carbonation machine in the region of the receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] Identical parts are always denoted by the same reference designations in the various figures, and will therefore generally also each be designated or mentioned only once.

[0077] FIG. 1 is 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 1 comprises a receiving device 10. When the receiving device 10 is in the bottle-receiving state, the bottle 2 can be arranged in a tilted, non-vertical receiving position on the carbonation machine 1. The central axis 2 of the bottle 2 is accordingly not vertical, but extends obliquely. By means of a tilting movement 100, the bottle 2 can be transferred from the receiving position into an, in particular vertical, preparation position.

[0078] The tilting movement 100 of the bottle 2 may for example be performed by a user, who moves the bottle 2 from the receiving position into the preparation position. It is alternatively or additionally possible that the bottle 2 performs the tilting movement 100 from the receiving position into the preparation position automatically under gravitational force, in particular without additional force being applied by the user. It is alternatively or additionally conceivable that the carbonation machine 1 and in particular the receiving device 10 is acted on by a spring force, wherein the spring force causes and/or assists the tilting movement 100 of the bottle 2. According to the invention, it is advantageously possible that a part of the receiving device 10 performs the tilting movement 100 concomitantly with the bottle 2, wherein the receiving device 10 is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state of the receiving device 10, in which the bottle 2 is fastened to the receiving device 10.

[0079] A gas cartridge that provides the gas for carbonating a liquid, in particular water, which is situated in the bottle 2 can be introduced on the rear side 1 of the carbonation machine 1.

[0080] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the carbonation machine 1 according to FIG. 1 in an attachment state, in particular after the completion of the tilting movement 100. In the attachment state, the bottle 2 is situated in the vertical fastening position or preparation position, such that a carbonating operation can be performed.

[0081] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a carbonation machine 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the illustration shows the attachment state, in which a carbonating operation can be performed. The carbonation machine 1 comprises a safety element 60, in particular a safety door 61. In the attachment state, the safety element 60 is arranged in front of the bottle 2 such that the bottle 2 is arranged entirely within the carbonation machine 1. The safety element 60 thus protects the user and the surroundings of the carbonation machine 1, for example against bursting of the bottle 2. It is possible that the carbonating operation can be started only when the safety element 60 has been closed.

[0082] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an iris device 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The iris device 30 is part of the receiving device 10 for a carbonation machine 1. The iris device 30 comprises a total of five iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, which together form a central circular opening 90. A bottle 2 can be arranged in the opening 90 (this is not illustrated). A guide means 41 in the form of a pin protrudes from the iris element 31 on the top side of the iris element 31. As the receiving device 10 is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the iris element 31 is automatically positively guided radially inward in the direction of the bottle by the guide means 41. For this purpose, the iris element 31 has a pivot pin 41 that protrudes downwardly from the iris element 31. A pivot axis 31 of the iris element 31, about which the iris element 31 is pivotable, extends through said pivot pin 41. The iris element 31 can thus perform a pivoting movement, symbolized by the arrow 300, from its radially outer position into its radially inner position. FIG. 4 shows the iris device 30 in a closed state, in which it is situated when the receiving device 10 is in the attachment state. The iris element 31 is accordingly illustrated in its radially inner position, in which it is situated in the attachment state in order to secure and fasten the bottle 2 in the receiving device 10. The further iris elements 32, 33, 34, 35 are designed correspondingly to the iris element 31. In particular, all iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 of the iris device 30 are of identical design. Thus, each of the further iris elements 32, 33, 34, 35 has a guide means 42, 43, 44, 45. As the receiving device 10 is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the further iris elements 32, 33, 34, 35 are each positively guided by their guide means 42, 43, 44, 45 such that the central opening 90 of the iris device 30 decreases in size as the receiving device 10 is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state. For this purpose, the further iris elements 32, 33, 34, 35 each comprise a pivot pin 42, 43, 44, 45, through which pivot pins the pivot axes 32, 33, 34, 35 of the further iris elements 32, 33, 34, 35 respectively extend. The pivot axes 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 of the plurality of iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 are arranged parallel to one another. The plurality of iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 therefore together form an iris device 30 having the nature of an iris aperture, in which the size of the central opening 90 is variable by the movement of the plurality of iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35.

[0083] FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of an intermediate element 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The intermediate element 70 has counterpart guide means 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 for guiding the guide means 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 of the plurality of iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. The counterpart guide means 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 are each designed as depressions in the form of rails in the main body 77 of the intermediate element 70. A dedicated rail is provided for each guide means 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 of the plurality of iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, into which rail in each case one of the guide means 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 engages. The counterpart guide means 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 in the form of rails are each of curving form and are oblique with respect to the radial axis 400 and with respect to the circumferential direction of the intermediate element 70, such that the iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 are each pivoted about their pivot axes 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 during a rotational movement of the intermediate element 70. The intermediate element 70 furthermore has a further guide means 76 in the form of a pin that protrudes radially outwardly from the main body 77. The further guide means 76 may interact with a further counterpart guide means 81 of the receiving device 10. The main body 77 of the intermediate element 70 is disk-shaped and has a central opening into which the bottle neck of a bottle 2 can be guided.

[0084] FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of the iris device 30 and of the intermediate element 70 according to the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5. The iris device 30 and the intermediate element 70 are part of the fastening device 20 for securing a bottle 2 in the receiving device 10. The plurality of iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 are arranged underneath the intermediate element 70, and the guide means 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 engage into the counterpart guide means 71, 72, 73, 74, 75.

[0085] FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a counterpart guide part 80 of the receiving device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The counterpart guide part 80 is attached in a static manner to the carbonation machine 1. As the receiving device 10 is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the counterpart guide part 80 therefore does not concomitantly perform the tilting movement 100 of the bottle 2, but remains immovable on the carbonation machine 1. The counterpart guide part 80 comprises a further counterpart guide means 81 which is designed as a rail and which is provided for guiding the further guide means 76, designed as a pin, of the intermediate element 70. The further counterpart guide means 81 is of curving form and/or is, at least in part, oblique with respect to a vertical direction, and is thus configured to guide the further guide means 76during the tilting movement that the intermediate element 70 performs concomitantly with the bottle 2such that the intermediate element 70 is forced to perform a rotational movement in a circumferential direction of the intermediate element 70.

[0086] FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective illustrations of the iris device 30, of the intermediate element 70 and of the counterpart guide part 80 as per FIGS. 4 to 7. Here, FIGS. 8 and 9 both illustrate the attachment state, in particular after the completion of the tilting movement 100 of the bottle 2. The iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 are thus each situated in their radially inner positions.

[0087] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the bottle 2 is secured in particular as follows. In the bottle-receiving state, the bottle 2 is introduced in an oblique position, or receiving position, into the receiving device 10. As the receiving device is transferred from the bottle-receiving state into the attachment state, the bottle 2 performs a tilting movement 100, wherein the bottle 2 is transferred from the oblique receiving position (in the bottle-receiving state) into an, in particular vertical, preparation position (in the attachment state). The iris device 30 and the intermediate element 70 perform this tilting movement 100 concomitantly with the bottle 2, whilst the counterpart guide part 80 remains static on the carbonation machine 1. During the tilting movement 100 of the bottle 2 from the receiving position (in the bottle-receiving state) into the preparation position (in the attachment state), the further guide means 76, designed as a pin, of the intermediate element 70 moves in a vertical direction in the further counterpart guide means 81, designed as a rail, of the counterpart guide part 80. In the process, owing to the geometrical design of the further counterpart guide means 81, the further guide means 76 is forced to perform a sideward movement. This sideward movement of the further guide means 76 leads to a rotational movement of the intermediate element 70 in the circumferential direction. The rotational movement of the intermediate element 70 in the circumferential direction causes the counterpart guide means 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 of the intermediate element 70 to likewise move in the circumferential direction, such that the counterpart guide means 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 are moved relative to the guide means 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 of the iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. The geometrical design of the counterpart guide means 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 is such that, in the process (that is to say during the rotational movement of the intermediate element 70), the guide means 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 are guided, at least in part, in a radial direction (or along the radial axis 400) by the counterpart guide means 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, whereby the iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 are each forced to perform pivoting movements about their pivot axes in the direction of the bottle neck. This causes the size of the opening 90 of the iris device 30 to be reduced and the iris device 30 to be guided into a locking position in which it prevents the bottle 2 from being able to escape downwardly from the receiving device 10.

[0088] FIG. 10 is a perspective sectional illustration through a carbonation machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The receiving device 10 of the carbonation machine 1 is situated in the attachment state. A projection 6 of the bottle 2, which is formed over the entire circumference on the bottle neck of the bottle 2 and which protrudes radially outward from the bottle neck, rests on the iris device 30, such that the bottle 2 cannot move downwardly out of the receiving device 10. The pivot pins 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 of the iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 are arranged in corresponding cutouts of a covering element 95 of the receiving device 10, such that the iris elements 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 are pivotable. The carbonation machine 1 furthermore comprises a gas feed means 53 which projects into the bottle 2 when the bottle 2 is in the attached state.

[0089] FIG. 11 is a further, schematic sectional illustration through the carbonation machine 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 10.

[0090] FIG. 12 is a further, schematic sectional illustration through the carbonation machine 1 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11. By contrast to FIGS. 10 and 11, the section plane extends vertically. In the illustration of FIG. 12, the receiving device 10 of the carbonation machine 1 is situated in the attachment state, before the carbonating operation is initiated. The iris elements of the iris device 30 are each in their radially inner position. The projection 6 of the bottle 2 is resting on the iris device 30, such that the iris device 30 prevents the bottle 2 from being able to escape downwardly from the receiving device 10. Here, the bottle 2 is secured in its vertical fastening position in the carbonation machine so as to have a vertical clearance 101. The clearance 101 is delimited here in particular by the collar 8 of the bottle 2, which is formed on the bottle neck in particular below the projection 6 and with a spacing to the projection 6, and the covering element 95. The collar 8 encircles the bottle neck over the full circumference, or only in certain portions, in the circumferential direction. In particular, the bottle 2 can be introduced into the receiving device 10 only as far as the point at which the collar 8 of the bottle 2 abuts against the covering element 95 from below. The depth to which the bottle can be introduced into the receiving device 10 is thus limited by the covering element 95 and the collar 8 of the bottle 2. It is preferably possible for the bottle to also have a clearance along the radial axis 400, and/or to be clamped by the iris device 30 so as not to be immovable along the radial axis 400. Advantageous compatibility of the receiving device 10 with bottles 2 that have different diameters at the bottle neck can thus be achieved. In the state shown in FIG. 12, the bottle 2 has already been let go of by the user who has inserted said bottle into the carbonation machine 1, such that the bottle 2 has moved downward within its clearance 101 and is resting with its projection 6 on the iris device 30, which is situated in the fastening position. Therefore, in the illustration shown, the covering element 95 is not in contact with the collar 8. The spacing between the collar 8 and the covering element 95 is in particular dependent on the size of the clearance 101 that the bottle 2 has in terms of its vertical fastening position in the attachment state. In the embodiment illustrated, the projection 6 on the bottle neck has an approximately rectangular cross section, wherein the projection 6 extends outward from the bottle neck. Other shapes and designs, in particular other cross-sectional geometries, are also conceivable for the projection 6. It is preferably possible for the projection 6 to be formed over the full circumference around the bottle neck in the circumferential direction. It is alternatively conceivable for the projection 6 to be formed only in certain portions, in particular with interruptions in the circumferential direction. By means of the projection 6 and the iris device 30, the bottle 2 is fastened to the receiving device such that the bottle 2 cannot exit the receiving device 10 in the attachment state, such that a carbonating operation can be performed reliably. Since the iris device 30 surrounds the bottle neck over the full circumference, a particularly large area of contact is formed between the projection 6 and the iris device 30, which leads to particularly advantageous mechanical stability.

[0091] The carbonation machine furthermore comprises a seal means 50, which is pushed onto the mouth region of the bottle 2 for sealing purposes during the carbonating operation. In the state shown in FIG. 12, the carbonating operation has not yet been initiated, and the seal means 50 is still spaced apart from the mouth region of the bottle 2.

[0092] To carbonate the liquid that is situated in the bottle 2, a gas feed means 53 projects into the bottle 2 from above. Via the gas feed means 53, CO.sub.2 can enter the bottle 2 from a gas cartridge during the carbonating operation. A positive pressure thus forms in the interior 3 of the bottle 2. The interior 3 of the bottle 2 is connected via a gas connection 52 to a pressure chamber 51. The gas connection 52 is guided through the seal means 50 that is provided for sealing the bottle 2 during the carbonating operation. Via the gas connection 52, the positive pressure that builds up in the interior 3 of the bottle 2 during the carbonating operation is transferred to the pressure chamber 51, such that a positive pressure also prevails in the pressure chamber 51. This positive pressure in the pressure chamber 51 pushes the seal means 50 downward onto the mouth region of the bottle 2. The projection 6 of the bottle 2 is thus pushed firmly onto the iris device 30, and the bottle 2 is securely fixed and clamped. Particularly advantageous automatic pneumatic sealing during the carbonating operation is thus possible. The seal means 50 is preferably flexible and/or pliable. The seal means 50 may for example be manufactured using silicone.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0093] 1 Carbonation machine [0094] 1 Rear side of the carbonation machine [0095] 2 Bottle [0096] 2 Axis of the bottle [0097] 3 Interior of the bottle [0098] 6 Projection [0099] 8 Collar [0100] 10 Receiving device [0101] 20 Fastening device [0102] 30 Iris device [0103] 31 Iris element [0104] 32-35 Iris elements [0105] 31 Pivot axis [0106] 32-35 Pivot axes [0107] 41 Guide means [0108] 42-45 Guide means [0109] 41 Pivot pin [0110] 42-45 Pivot pins [0111] 50 Seal means [0112] 51 Pressure chamber [0113] 52 Gas connection [0114] 53 Gas feed means [0115] 60 Safety element [0116] 61 Safety door [0117] 70 Intermediate element [0118] 71 Counterpart guide means [0119] 72-75 Counterpart guide means [0120] 76 Further guide means [0121] 77 Main body of the intermediate element [0122] 80 Counterpart guide part [0123] 81 Further counterpart guide means [0124] 90 Opening [0125] 95 Covering element [0126] 100 Tilting movement [0127] 101 Clearance [0128] 300 Pivoting movement [0129] 400 Radial axis