Mixed drink producing apparatus with a degassing unit as well as household refrigeration apparatus with such a mixed drink producing apparatus

Abstract

A mixed drink producing apparatus with a dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a liquid addable to a mixed drink by the mixed drink producing apparatus and which is connected to a dispensing unit of the mixed drink producing apparatus for conducting the liquid from the dispensing container to the dispensing unit, and with a gas adding unit, which is formed for adding a carbonizing gas to the liquid, wherein the mixed drink producing apparatus has a degassing unit, by which the liquid can be degassed from carrier gases before supplying the carbonizing gas. There is also described a household refrigeration apparatus and a method for producing a mixed drink.

Claims

1. A mixed drink producing apparatus, comprising: a dispensing unit for dispensing liquid from the mixed drink producing apparatus, a dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a first liquid addable to a drink by the drink producing apparatus, wherein the dispensing container is connected to the dispensing unit of the drink producing apparatus for conducting the liquid from the dispensing container to the dispensing unit, a gas adding unit, which is formed for adding a carbonizing gas to the liquid, a degassing unit, by which the liquid can be degassed from carrier gases before supplying the carbonizing gas.

2. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the degassing unit is formed for vacuum degassing.

3. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the degassing unit is formed for thermal degassing.

4. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the degassing unit is formed for column degassing.

5. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the degassing unit is formed for pressure degassing with stripping gas.

6. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the degassing unit is formed for degassing by catalytic reactions.

7. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the degassing unit is formed for membrane degassing.

8. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the degassed and carbonized liquid is stored in the dispensing container.

9. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mixed drink producing apparatus has at least one further dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a further liquid addable to the mixed drink by the mixed drink producing apparatus and which is connected to the dispensing unit of the mixed drink producing apparatus for conducting the liquid from the further dispensing container to the dispensing unit.

10. The mixed drink producing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the two liquids have different freezing points.

11. A household refrigeration apparatus with a housing, in which a receiving space for food is formed, and with a mixed drink producing apparatus having: a dispensing unit for dispensing liquid from the drink producing apparatus, a dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a first liquid addable to a drink by the drink producing apparatus, wherein the dispensing container is connected to the dispensing unit of the drink producing apparatus for conducting the liquid from the dispensing container to the dispensing unit, a gas adding unit, which is formed for adding a carbonizing gas to the liquid, a degassing unit, by which the liquid can be degassed from carrier gases before supplying the carbonizing gas.

12. A method for producing a mixed drink by a mixed drink producing apparatus having the following steps of: providing a dispensing unit for dispensing liquid from the drink producing apparatus, providing a dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a first liquid addable to a drink by the drink producing apparatus, connecting the dispensing container to the dispensing unit for conducting the liquid from the dispensing container to the dispensing unit, adding a carbonizing gas to the liquid by a gas adding unit of the mixed drink producing apparatus, degassing the liquid from carrier gases by a degassing unit of the mixed drink producing apparatus before supplying the carbonizing gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Below, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail based on schematic drawings. There show:

[0030] FIG. 1 a perspective partial representation of an embodiment of a household refrigeration apparatus according to the invention; and

[0031] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of components of an embodiment of a mixed drink producing apparatus.

PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.

[0033] In FIG. 1, a household refrigeration apparatus 1 is illustrated in certain areas in a simplified perspective representation. Here, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 is for example a combined refrigerator-freezer. The household refrigeration apparatus 1 is formed for storing and preserving food. It includes a housing 2, in which a first interior container 3 is disposed. Walls of the interior container 3 bound a first receiving space 4 for food, wherein this receiving space 4 is a refrigerating compartment.

[0034] Moreover, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 includes a further interior container 5, which bounds a second receiving space 6 with its walls, which is a freezing compartment. The two receiving spaces 4 and 6 are separated from each other. In the shown embodiment, the receiving spaces 4 and 6 are disposed one above the other in vertical direction and thus in height direction (y-direction). In the embodiment, they are preferably closable by non-shown, respectively separate doors, which are in particular pivotably fastened to the housing 2.

[0035] Moreover, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 includes a mixed drink producing apparatus 7.

[0036] However, the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 can also be formed as a separate independent apparatus and thus be installed independently of a household refrigeration apparatus 1 and operable independently thereof.

[0037] The mixed drink producing apparatus 7 is disposed in a receiving area 8 of the housing 2. This receiving area 8 is separated from the receiving spaces 4 and 6. It can be provided that the receiving area 8 is bounded by walls of a separate interior container, which is also foamed in the housing 2. However, the receiving area 8 can also be formed integrated in the interior container 3 or the interior container 5.

[0038] In the embodiment, it is provided that the receiving area 8 is disposed between the receiving space 4 and the receiving space 6 in height direction.

[0039] The mixed drink producing apparatus 7 is disposed accessible from the front side and thus from the front and the visible side. In particular, it is not closable and thus not coverable on the front side by a door.

[0040] The mixed drink producing apparatus 7 has a housing 9.

[0041] In the embodiment, it is provided that the housing 9 and thus the entire mixed drink producing apparatus 7 can be extracted from and again retracted into the receiving area 8 in depth direction and thus in horizontal direction corresponding to the z-direction corresponding to a drawer. In FIG. 1, the completely extracted state is shown.

[0042] Here, it is preferably provided that the horizontal displaceability is formed by a displacing device 10, which has multiple supporting positions. In the embodiment, it is provided that the displacing device 10 includes at least two, in particular four supporting positions. In the embodiment, they are formed as rails, which can also be extraction rails. In particular, here are disposed a first rail 11 in an upper left corner area, a second rail 12 in the upper right corner area, a third rail 13 in the lower right corner area and a further rail not recognizable in FIG. 1 in the lower left corner area. By this four-position support, a very secure and spread- and tilt-proof displacement, respectively, of the housing 9 is allowed.

[0043] Thus, the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 is advantageously displaceably supported in the interior container 8. Advantageously, the displacing device 10 also has an extraction stop, by which the drink apparatus formed in particular as a mixed drink producing apparatus 7 is secured in position in a completely extracted position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, over-extraction cannot be effected such that the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 cannot fall out to the front and tilt downwards, respectively.

[0044] Advantageously, it is also provided that the displacing device 10 has a displacing protection, by which the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 is disposed extraction-secured in the position completely retracted into the receiving area 8. Thereby too, undesired slipping out or protruding to the front then present is avoided. Undesired leakage or dripping of a liquid or hitting thereto is thereby prevented. This displacement protection can be a locking device. However, in addition or instead of it, a magnetic mount can also be provided.

[0045] Advantageously, an access 15 is formed at a vertical sidewall 14 of the housing 9, which is closed by a flap 16. After opening the flap 16, the interior of the housing 9 can be accessed such that the simple and unrestricted accessibility is allowed for purposes of exchange or filling. Additionally or instead of it, it can also be provided that a corresponding access is formed at an opposing further vertical sidewall 17 and/or at least one such access 15 is formed at a ceiling wall 18 of the housing 9.

[0046] Moreover, the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 includes a recess or placing bay 19 on the front side, into which a drinking vessel can be placed, by which the mixed drink to be produced and dispensed by the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 can then be collected. The mixed drink producing apparatus 7 includes a dispensing unit 20 with in particular a single outlet or a dispensing opening 21. Preferably, it can be provided that an own outlet is respectively present for discharging each liquid from a container. Moreover, it can also be provided that an additive in powder form or gel form or further liquid form can be admixed to this mixed drink to be produced, which can be produced and thus mixed from at least two different liquids. Thereto, it can in particular be provided that a capsule receptacle 22 is formed, into which a capsule having the mentioned additive or an addition medium can be inserted. Upon dispensing the mixed drink, this ingredient or additive is then removed from the capsule and added to the mixed drink in particular before or after dispensing into the drinking vessel effected via the dispensing opening 21.

[0047] Moreover, it can in particular be provided that the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 has a capsule storage 23 or a capsule stock. A capsule or multiple capsules can be stored in this capsule storage 23 such that they are always present locally at the apparatus itself. In an advantageous implementation, it can be provided that this capsule storage 23 is cooled such that the capsules located therein can also be stored correspondingly cooled.

[0048] Preferably, it is provided that the capsule storage 23 can be opened by push-push mechanics and the capsules received therein are then freely accessible for example in the form of a displaceable storage in the form of a rail and for example can then be simply removed from above.

[0049] Moreover, it can also be provided that the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 has a cartridge for admixing carbon dioxide into the mixed drink. Thereto, the accessibility for cartridge exchange is allowed via at least one present access 15. In an advantageous implementation, it is provided that the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 is connected to a water connection external to household apparatus such that supply of water is for example allowed via a house water network. This has the additional advantage that a liquid to be added to the mixed drink as water does not have to be stored in a largely dimensioned container in the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 but that this container can then be smaller dimensioned and can be refilled depending on demand and adapted to situation. It can then also be provided that such a water supply for producing the mixed drink is not supplied from the tank or the container provided for receiving this liquid in the mixed drink producing apparatus 7, but additionally or instead thereof can also be passed directly from this line to the dispensing unit 20 and thus also to the dispensing opening 21.

[0050] Thereby, in particular in production of hot drinks instead of a cold drink, the required energy for heating is reduced since the initial temperature of the water is higher. If carbonization of the mixed drink should then be desired, thus, this can be allowed via admixture of carbonized cold water, which is cooled in the mixed drink producing apparatus 7, or via a carbonized second liquid, which is then present in the second container.

[0051] It is in particular provided that the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 has a first container, in which a first liquid with a first freezing point, in particular water, is then provided or stored to then provide it for producing and dispensing a mixed drink depending on demand. Moreover, the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 includes a second container separated therefrom, which is formed for receiving a second liquid different from the first liquid, which has a freezing point different form the first liquid. In particular, the first liquid is water and the second liquid is alcohol such that the mixed drink can also be an alcoholized mixed drink.

[0052] In FIG. 2, a dispensing container 24 is shown in a schematic representation, which presents a first dispensing container of the mixed drink producing apparatus 7. In particular, this dispensing container 24 is formed for receiving a first liquid, which can be water or contain water. The mixed drink producing apparatus preferably includes at least one further dispensing container 25 in the embodiment, which is formed for receiving a further or second liquid, which is alcohol or contains alcohol. Both dispensing containers 24 and 25 are connected to the dispensing unit 20 and in particular the dispensing opening 21. It can be provided that upon producing a cooled mixed drink from both liquids, they are already mixed before reaching the dispensing opening 21 and thus a jet of the mixed liquids exits from the dispensing opening 21.

[0053] The mixed drink producing apparatus 7 includes a cooling device, in particular a refrigeration circuit, by which the dispensing container 24 and/or the further dispensing container 25 can be cooled in particular from the outside. Thereby, the liquids located therein are also cooled. In particular, the refrigeration circuit has a condenser and a compressor as well as two separate evaporators, wherein each one evaporator is thermally coupled to one of the dispensing containers 24 and 25.

[0054] The mixed drink producing apparatus 7 moreover includes a degassing unit 26. This degassing unit 26 is formed for degassing the first liquid and/or the second liquid. Thus, carrier gases in the liquid can be discharged by the degassing unit 26, wherein this is in particular effected before carbonization of the respective liquid and thus before the addition of in particular carbon dioxide to the respective liquid. For carbonizing, the mixed drink producing apparatus 7 includes a gas adding unit 27, by which the carbonizing gas can be added to the liquid and/or the further liquid. In particular, the addition of the carbonizing gas to at least one of these liquids is effected if this liquid is degassed by the degassing unit 26 and is in particular then still in the dispensing container 24 and/or 25.

[0055] The degassing unit 26 can in particular be formed for vacuum degassing. However, it can also be formed for thermal degassing or for column degassing. The degassing unit 26 can also be formed for pressure degassing with stripping gas. Furthermore, the degassing unit 26 can be formed for degassing by a catalytic reaction. Moreover, the degassing unit 26 can also be formed for membrane degassing.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0056] 1 Household refrigeration apparatus [0057] 2 housing [0058] 3 interior container [0059] 4 first receiving space [0060] 5 interior container [0061] 6 second receiving space [0062] 7 mixed drink producing apparatus [0063] 8 receiving area [0064] 9 housing [0065] 10 displacing device [0066] 11 rail [0067] 12 rail [0068] 13 rail [0069] 14 sidewall [0070] 15 access [0071] 16 flap [0072] 17 sidewall [0073] 18 ceiling wall [0074] 19 placing bay [0075] 20 dispensing unit [0076] 21 outlet [0077] 22 capsule receptacle [0078] 23 capsule storage [0079] 24 dispensing container [0080] 25 dispensing container [0081] 26 degassing unit [0082] 27 gas adding unit