RU205595U1 - Liquid ingredient dispenser for bulk beverage machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the means of additional equipment for devices for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients, in particular, vending coffee machines, as well as for equipping automatic coffee machines. The device for supplying liquid ingredients for apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients contains containers for liquid ingredients, to each of which pipelines equipped with pumps are connected. In this case, each pump is connected to a controller, which is configured to connect to the gap of the wires connecting the control unit of the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients and the motors for dispensing bulk ingredients, through which the dispensing of bulk ingredients is controlled. And each pipeline with its second end communicates with the corresponding mixer of the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients.

Description

The utility model relates to the means of additional equipment for devices for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients, in particular, for vending coffee machines, as well as for equipping automatic coffee machines.

Currently, apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients are widely known and used. However, the range of free-flowing ingredients suitable for automatic dispensing is significantly limited because such ingredients must maintain their friability, solubility and taste without change for a long time. There are few ingredients with such a set of properties, even taking into account the addition of special chemical agents during their production: anti-caking agents, flavors, stabilizers, etc. Thus, the preparation of drinks only from bulk ingredients significantly limits both the range of devices and the taste of each drink. The use of additional liquid ingredients allows you to increase the range of the device, improve the taste of beverages and in some cases allows not to use anti-caking agents and other unnecessary chemicals that are not useful for the consumer.

There are various syrup stations for use in vending machines [Electronic resource. Access mode to the resource: https://blackstore.by/tekhnika/kofemashiny/siropnaya-stanciya-franke/ - free, date of access 04/28/2021; Electronic resource. Access mode to the resource: https://mnto.ru/product/siropnaya-stanciya-wmf-03-9023-0001/ - free, date of circulation 04/28/2021], as well as syrup modules for automatic coffee machines [Electronic resource. The mode of access to the resource: https://www.hegematic.com/wmf-9000s-kaffeemaschine/ - free, date of access 28.04.2021].

In known devices, which were originally made by manufacturers of devices for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients, as an option for their devices, the ability to control liquid ingredients is provided in advance, and the device is equipped with appropriate software and hardware - power switches for controlling the pumps for dispensing liquid ingredients. The machine's control unit controls the liquid ingredients directly.

Therefore, the disadvantage of these devices is that they have been developed by specific manufacturers for use in their own devices and, therefore, can only be connected to those devices that have such a possibility, i.e. the appropriate software is installed.

The technical result of the claimed utility model is to increase the versatility of the device for supplying liquid ingredients to expand the functionality of the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients.

The claimed technical result is achieved due to the fact that the device for feeding liquid ingredients for devices for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients contains containers for liquid ingredients, to each of which pipelines equipped with pumps are connected, and each pump is connected to a controller, which is configured to be connected to a break in the wires connecting the control unit of the machine for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients and the motors for dispensing bulk ingredients, through which the dispensing of bulk ingredients is controlled, and each pipeline communicates with its second end with the corresponding mixer of the machine for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients.

Thus, due to the combination of essential features of the claimed utility model, it was possible to increase the versatility of the device due to the fact that the controller is designed to be connected to a break in the wires connecting the control unit of the device for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients and the motors for dispensing bulk ingredients, which are used to control the dispensing of bulk ingredients, which makes it possible not to use any exchange protocols with the control unit of a particular apparatus and, accordingly, to connect the claimed device to any apparatus without pre-installed software for controlling the supply of liquid ingredients. In fact, the controller of the claimed device works with control signals after they exit from the control unit of the apparatus, and therefore it is not required to make any changes to it. The controller, analyzing the characteristics of the control pulse from the machine control unit, set by the user when programming the beverage recipe in the machine, either enables the dispensing of a bulk ingredient, or initiates dispensing of a liquid ingredient, and not the bulk one that is written in the machine program. Thus, it is possible to "teach" to dispense liquid ingredients those devices in which the manufacturer did not provide such an option.

The essence of the proposed technical solution is illustrated by the following figures and description.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the inventive device.

The device for feeding liquid ingredients for apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients (Fig. 1) contains containers 1 for liquid ingredients, each of which is connected to pipelines 2 equipped with pumps 3.

In this case, each pump 3 is connected to a controller 4, which is configured to be connected to the break of wires 5 connecting the control unit 6 of the device for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients and the motors 7 for dispensing bulk ingredients, through which the dispensing of bulk ingredients from containers 8 is controlled.

With its second end, each pipeline 2 communicates with the corresponding mixer 9 of the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients.

The number of containers 1 can be from 2 x or more, depending on the specified amount of liquid ingredients. Containers 1 are glass or plastic containers approved for contact with food. The diameter of the neck must allow the insertion of pipeline 2 into the container. The volume of the container can be selected from 0.5 to 5 liters. The most convenient is the use of 1 glass bottle with a capacity of 1 liter as a container. These bottles are most often used by manufacturers of professional syrups for packaging their products. This is convenient, since you do not need to pour the syrups into another container. The lid / stopper of container 1 must fit snugly against the neck to provide protection against insects, dust, etc. getting inside the container.This lid / stopper must have two holes: for pipeline 2 and for a tube (not shown in the figure) that provides air flow from the outside to replace the pumped-out volume of the liquid ingredient. The diameter of these holes should be slightly less than the diameter of the corresponding line 2 and tube. This is also necessary to exclude the possibility of insects and dust getting inside the container 1. When the liquid ingredient runs out in the container 1, the pipeline 2 is moved to a new container 1 filled with a new portion of the liquid ingredient, together with a lid / stopper and a check valve at the end.

As liquid ingredients, syrups and ready-made drinks can be used without any solid inclusions with a viscosity that allows them to be pumped.

Each pipeline 2 is a channel for transferring liquid from the container 1 through the corresponding pump 3 to the corresponding mixer 9 of the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients. Pipeline 2 is lowered at one end into container 1 through a hole in the lid / plug. The second end of the pipeline 2 is made in the form of a hook, allowing it to be hung on the funnel of the corresponding mixer for dispensing a liquid ingredient into the mixer 9. The mixer 9 provides vigorous mixing of the liquid ingredient entering it through the funnel with hot boiling water coming from the boiler of the apparatus, and the subsequent dispensing of the resulting mixture into the glass 10 for the consumer. This process is fundamentally no different from the process of dissolving bulk ingredients, poured into the mixer 9 also from above through its funnel, dissolved there in hot boiling water and then fed into a glass for the consumer. The connection of the pipeline 2 to the pumps 3 is carried out by means of the fittings provided for these purposes by the pump manufacturer.

Pump 3 is a peristaltic pump with a pumping speed sufficient to pump the required volume of liquid ingredient.

The control unit 6 of the apparatus controls the motors 7 for dispensing bulk ingredients in accordance with the recipes programmed by the user of the apparatus. Control is carried out by means of wires 5. When connecting controller 4, it is necessary to disconnect wires 5 from motors 7 and connect them to the input of controller 4, and connect the output of controller 4 to motors 7.

Controller 4 is a board with microcircuits and power switches. It is connected to the wires 5 in the gap (using the appropriate connectors) in such a way as to receive control signals from the control unit 6, and on their basis control both the motors 7 of dry ingredients and the pumps of 3 liquid ingredients. The user gets the opportunity to program the dispensing of not only bulk ingredients, but also liquid ones. This is achieved by changing a specific parameter of the control signal, such as the pulse width or the number of control pulses, depending on the type of control signal of a particular apparatus.

The inventive device can be built into the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients if there is enough space in the apparatus to accommodate the elements of the device. If there is not enough space inside the apparatus, then the inventive device can be made in a separate housing installed next to the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients, and is connected to it by means of pipeline 2 and wires - in the break of wires 5.

The claimed device operates as follows.

The control signal programmed by the user and coming from the control unit 6 for the bulk ingredient 1 is set. Its duration determines the group of selected ingredients. Until the setting signal is received, the controller 4 commutes the control signals to the bulk ingredients corresponding to them as provided in the apparatus (except for ingredient 1). The received short setting signal, with a duration less than t1, commutes the subsequent control signal to the first group of liquid ingredients. If the setting signal turns out to be long, longer than t2, then the subsequent control signal will go to the liquid ingredient from the second group. If the setting signal is longer than t3, then after the end of the interval of duration t3, bulk ingredient 1 begins to be dispensed. Thus, the dispensing of all liquid ingredients is switched on by two successive control signals, the dispensing of bulk ingredient 1 is made by one control signal, which exceeds the dispensing time by an interval of duration t3, and the dispensing of the remaining bulk ingredients occurs as provided for in the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients - with one control signal of the duration required for dispensing. For the above time intervals, the following condition must be maintained: t1 <t2 <t3. The specific size of these intervals depends on the circuitry of the controller 4 and on the type of control signal generated by the control unit of the apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients. The duration of the intervals t1, t2, t3 should be sufficient for reliable recognition and comparison, regardless of the ambient temperature, the scatter of the parameters of the controller board elements in the case of 4 analog elements used in the controller circuitry to set time intervals. The use of a microprocessor-based circuit design increases the recognition accuracy and, therefore, makes it possible to reduce the intervals t1, t2, t3. If the control signal comes from the control unit 6 of the apparatus in a pulse-modulated form, then its duration can be judged by counting the modulating pulses included in it. In this case, it becomes possible to significantly reduce the time intervals without losing the accuracy and reliability of the comparison.

Examples.

Let's say that the machine for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients provides four bulk soluble ingredients: milk (ingredient 1), chocolate (ingredient 2), vanilla cappuccino (ingredient 3), mulled wine (ingredient 4) and grain coffee, the dispensing of which is controlled by the machine directly without intermediation. controller of the declared device. Additionally, six liquid ingredients were installed in the apparatus: raspberry syrup (syrup 1), cranberry syrup (syrup 2), sea buckthorn syrup (syrup 3), maple syrup (syrup 4), Amaretto syrup (syrup 5), chocolate syrup (syrup 6 ). The first three syrups are included in the first group, and from the fourth to the sixth - in the second. Suppose that the controller is made using analog and logic discrete elements, without the use of a microprocessor, the control signal from the control unit does not have pulse modulation, and the time intervals in this case are selected: t1 = 0.5 sec; t2 = 1 sec .; t3 = 2 sec.

Example 1. Then, if the user wants to program the dispensing of cranberry juice in the device for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients, with the declared device connected to it, then for this he will need to do the following:

1. Include the first group of liquid ingredients, which includes cranberry syrup. To do this, the user programs a control signal for the "Milk" bulk ingredient with a duration of less than 0.5 seconds. (t1).

2. In the second step, the user turns on the dispensing of cranberry syrup. To do this, he programs a control signal for dry ingredient 2 (chocolate) as long as necessary to obtain an optimal rich taste. As a result, if the user uses quality ingredients, then consumers will be able to enjoy natural, tasty and healthy cranberry juice.

Example 2. "Hot chocolate", in taste and aroma really similar to chocolate.

1. The user programs the dispensing of chocolate with a control signal for ingredient 2 (chocolate) of the required duration.

2. The user to switch on the second group of liquid ingredients programs the control signal for the bulk ingredient "Milk" for more than 1 sec. (t2), but less than 2 sec. (t3).

3. In the third step, the user turns on the dispensing of the chocolate syrup. To do this, he programs a control signal for dry ingredient 4 (mulled wine).

The result is a drink that looks more like chocolate than cocoa, as it would be without the addition of chocolate syrup.

Example 3. Grain cappuccino "Amaretto".

1. The user programs the grinding and brewing of coffee beans in the usual way.

2. Then he programs the dispensing of milk, for this he switches on the dispensing of bulk ingredient 1 for the time required to dispense the required amount of milk plus 2 seconds (t3). Since this signal was more than 1 second (t2) and, therefore, served as a setting signal for selecting the second group of liquid ingredients, the user can select a liquid ingredient from the second group with the next control signal.

3. To dispense Amaretto syrup, the user programs a control signal for bulk ingredient 3 (vanilla cappuccino). It turns out a drink prepared on the basis of grain coffee, significantly superior in taste, aroma and natural composition to any powder analogue (provided that the user chooses high-quality syrup and coffee beans). Machines for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients, without the possibility of adding syrups, can prepare Amaretto coffee only from ready-made powder, which, as a rule, contains a large amount of chemical additives.

Claims (1)

A device for feeding liquid ingredients for apparatus for preparing drinks from bulk ingredients, characterized in that it has containers for liquid ingredients, each of which is connected to pipelines equipped with pumps, and each pump is connected to a controller made with the possibility of connecting wires connecting the control unit of the beverage preparation apparatus and the motors for dispensing bulk ingredients, through which the dispensing of bulk ingredients is controlled, with each pipeline communicating with the corresponding mixer of the apparatus for preparing beverages from bulk ingredients with its second end.

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