Device And Method To Prevent The Exsiccation Of Fluid Products In A Dispensing Machine For Said Products

Abstract

A device to prevent the exsiccation of fluid products in a delivery head of a dispensing machine for said fluid products. The device comprises a first element able to generate a flow of air mixed with steam or with at least a solvent, and a second element able to convey the flow towards a zone underneath the delivery nozzles of the delivery head and to create in said zone a determinate atmosphere, different from the atmosphere in the environment where the dispensing machine is to be found during use. The device also comprises detection elements arranged in proximity with the delivery head and able to detect one or more significant parameters of said determinate atmosphere, and a regulation circuit able to regulate one or more characteristics of said flow according to the values detected by the detection elements in order to maintain the significant parameters of the determinate atmosphere within a set of pre-determined values.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the device to prevent the exsiccation of fluid products according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and sectioned detail of the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of a part of the device in FIG. 1 applied in a dispensing machine for fluid products;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from above, partly in section, of a detail of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a device 10 according to the present invention to prevent the exsiccation of fluid products in correspondence with the delivery nozzles 11 of a delivery head 12 in a dispensing machine for said fluid products comprises an annular element 13 arranged substantially coaxial with the delivery head 12.

The annular element 13 is shaped so as to comprise an annular chamber 15 (FIGS. 2 and 4), which extends around the lower end 16 of the delivery head 12, and a compartment 19 arranged below the latter.

The compartment 19 (FIG. 2) is shaped so as to have the three following zones: an upper zone 19a, substantially cylindrical and with a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the lower end 16 of the delivery head 12; a lower zone 19b, also substantially cylindrical but with a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the said lower end 16; and an intermediate zone 19c, flared and connecting the two zones 19a and 19b.

In this way an annular passage 20 is achieved, some millimeters wide, between the upper zone 19a and the lower end 16 of the delivery head 12.

The distance D1 between the base of the annular chamber 15 and the lower end 16 of the delivery head 12 is advantageously between several tenths of a millimeter and one millimeter. The distance D2 between the lower end of each delivery nozzle 11 and the lower end 16 of the delivery head 12, on the contrary, is variable between zero and about 4 mm.

One end 21a of a pipe 21 (FIG. 1) is inserted into the annular chamber 15, while the other end 21b is inserted into a tank 22, substantially hermetic and in which a liquid is contained, for example water, or a solvent, such as for example a glycol.

A steam generation device 25 is able to introduce steam into the tank 22, by means of a pipe 26, and is connected to a control circuit 29, for example of the electronic type and provided with a microprocessor, which is able to regulate both the quantity and also the temperature of the steam delivered.

The steam generation device 25 can be any known device able to generate; steam, or a mixture of air saturated with steam, into the composition of which a solvent suitable for the fluid products dispensed at least partly enters. For example, for this use heating devices for heating the solvent contained in a tank can be destined. In this case, preferably, the heating devices are connected to the control means in feedback in order to vary the temperature of the steam obtained. It is also possible to use a nebulizer to generate a suspension of solvent particles. In this case, the nebulizer can also have the function of means for introducing the steam. Naturally, these examples are not to be considered restrictive, because they are known devices for generating steam, functioning according to principles that are different from those described here and which equally be adopted by the person of skill in the art who has understood the principles of the present invention.

In the annular chamber 15 (FIG. 2), advantageously in a position diametrically opposite that where the end 21a of the pipe 21 is to be found, two sensors 30, 31 are arranged, of a known type, which are able to detect the percentage of relative humidity (RH %) and temperature (° C.) of the fluid present therein and to transmit corresponding electric signals to the control circuit 29 (FIG. 1).

The device 10 as described heretofore functions as follows.

Through the pipe 21, a flow of air mixed with steam and/or with at least a solvent, contained in the tank 22, is introduced into the annular chamber 15. The optimum levels, included between maximum and minimum values, of the significant parameters of the flow, that is to say, those relating to relative humidity and temperature, are pre-determined and obtained by the steam generation device 25 under the control of the circuit 29.

The flow of air mixed with steam and/or with at least a solvent is introduced into the upper zone 19a of the compartment 19 through the annular passage 20, in a substantially radial and angled manner, advantageously orthogonal, with respect to the direction of delivery of the fluid products through the delivery nozzles 11. In this way, in the upper zone 19a, immediately below the delivery nozzles 11, a determinate atmosphere is created with a humidity rate (RH %) of between about 70% and about 95% and a temperature of between about 10° C. and about 40° C.

If we consider that dry air (for example 20% oxygen—molecular weight 32, and 80% nitrogen—molecular weight 28) is heavier than steam (molecular weight 18), the aforesaid determinate atmosphere tends to rise, because it is lighter, and to remain constantly in contact with the ends of the delivery nozzles 11. In this way the exsiccation of the fluid products present inside each of the latter is prevented.

The sensors 30 and 31 continuously detect the actual values of humidity and temperature and transmit the values in feedback to the control circuit 29, which if necessary modifies the operating conditions of the steam generation device 25 so that the values of the significant parameters are always included between the pre-determined limit values.

The parameters that can be controlled also comprise, for example but not exclusively, physical and chemical characteristics of the air and/or steam present in said upper zone 19a and in the surrounding environment, such as the relative or partial pressure. There are many variables on which the control circuit 29 can act in feedback, in order to modify the environmental conditions. Some particularly significant, but not restrictive, examples are temperature, partial pressure, strength, volume and quantity of the solvent introduced, the relative humidity of the mixture of air and steam introduced, the rate of introduction and, in general, one or more physical and/or chemical characteristics of the solvent, steam or mixture of air and steam introduced into the dispensing zone of the group of nozzles 11.

To be more exact, the control circuit 29 controls whether the air around the dispensing zone of the delivery nozzles 11 is saturated or near saturated with steam. If so, the control circuit 29 corrects in feedback the environmental conditions around the delivery nozzles 11, for example raising the temperature or lowering the relative humidity of the steam present in the upper zone 19a.

More generally, the control circuit 29 can act on the steam generation device 25 in order to vary the physical and/or chemical characteristics of the steam or air introduced into the annular chamber 15. To be more exact, both the temperature and also the quantity of steam introduced can be increased or decreased, so as to vary, for example, the partial pressure of the steam present in the dispensing zone of the delivery nozzles 11 in order to prevent dew point being reached.

The configuration of the lower part of the annular element 13 has been studied to exploit the characteristics of greater lightness of steam compared with air. The step-like conformation of the lower part of the annular element 13 and its position in contact with the lower end 16 of the delivery head 12 allow to enclose the steam in a limited environment, substantially delimited both above and laterally.

The control circuit 29 can also possibly act in feedback on the steam generation device 25 in order to activate it when another intake of steam is required, or to vary its flow rate. In this case, the consumption caused by the activation of the steam generation device 25 is considerably less than in the case of a continuous and constant feed throughout the period of functioning of the dispensing machine.

The provision of the control circuit 29, which can possibly be integrated into the circuitry of the dispensing machine itself, also allows to easily integrate the device 10 with known humidifying systems of the delivery nozzles 11 during the periods of inactivity of the dispensing machine. In fact, it is enough to provide sensor means, of a mechanical, optical, magnetic type or similar, able to detect the inactivity of the dispensing machine and/or the presence or absence in correspondence with the delivery head 12 of a cover device 40 (FIG. 3) for the head, able to create a closed chamber with damp atmosphere, of the known type as mentioned in the preamble to the present description. In these cases, the control circuit 29 is able to completely de-activate the device 10, until the dispensing machine is re-activated for a delivery and/or the cover device 40 of the delivery head 12 is removed.

Moreover, preferably, the sensors 30, 31 can in any case send signals to the control system also during the period of inactivity of the dispensing machine, so as to signal possible anomalies of the cover device 40, when the chamber is closed, of the humidification of the delivery nozzles 11 and possibly cause the activation of alarms and/or automatic corrective operations, for example the topping up of the humidification tank of the cover device 40.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts or steps may be made to the device 10 and the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, the end 21a of the pipe 21 can be arranged in the center of the group of delivery nozzles 11. In this case, a deflector must be suitably associated with the end 21a in order to direct the flow of air mixed with steam and/or with at least a solvent in a direction substantially angled and preferably orthogonal with respect to the outlet direction of the fluid products from the group of delivery nozzles 11.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific example, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of device or method, having the characteristics as set forth in the following claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. A device to prevent the exsiccation of fluid products in a delivery head of a dispensing machine for said fluid products, wherein said delivery head is provided with one or more delivery nozzles, comprising first means able to generate a flow of air mixed with steam or with at least a solvent, second means able to convey said flow towards a zone underneath said delivery nozzles and to create in said zone a determinate atmosphere, different from the atmosphere in the environment where said dispensing machine is to be found during use, the device also comprising detection means arranged in proximity with said delivery head and able to detect one or more significant parameters of said determinate atmosphere, and regulation means able to regulate one or more characteristics of said flow according to the values detected by said detection means in order to maintain the significant parameters of said determinate atmosphere within a set of pre-determined values.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said detection means comprise one or more sensors able to detect the conditions of relative humidity (RH %) and temperature (° C.) of said determinate atmosphere.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said sensors are arranged around said delivery nozzles.

4. A device as in claim 2, wherein said regulation means comprise a control circuit connected to said sensors and able to control the aforesaid first means, in order to generate said flow of air mixed with steam or with at least a solvent and having pre-determined values of humidity, temperature and flow rate, included within upper and lower limit values.

5. A device as in claim 1, wherein said first means comprise a steam generation device connected to a tank in which a liquid, such as water, or a solvent is contained.

6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said second means comprise a substantially annular distribution chamber arranged around the ends of said delivery nozzles.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein said distribution chamber is made in an annular element arranged around a lower end of said delivery head and shaped so as to define a compartment arranged below said delivery head.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein said compartment is divided into three zones arranged one above the other, with a diameter decreasing from the top towards the bottom: an upper zone, substantially cylindrical and with a greater diameter than the outer diameter of said lower end of said delivery head; a flared intermediate zone connecting said upper zone and a lower zone, substantially cylindrical, with a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said lower end.

9. A device as in claim 8, wherein between said upper zone and said lower end of said delivery head an annular passage is defined through which said flow of air mixed with steam or with at least a solvent is able to reach said upper zone of said compartment in a substantially angled manner with respect to the direction of the outlet flow of said fluid products from said delivery nozzles.

10. A device as in claim 9, wherein said annular passage is some millimeters wide.

11. A device as in claim 7, wherein the distance between the base of said distribution chamber and said lower end of said delivery head is some tenths of a millimeter.

12. A device as in claim 7, wherein the distance between the lower end of each of said delivery nozzles and said lower end of said delivery head is variable between zero and about 4 mm.

13. A device as in claim 7, wherein said sensors are arranged either in said distribution chamber or in the vicinity of said upper zone, or inside said upper zone.

14. A device as in claim 6, wherein a pipe is able to introduce said flow of air mixed with steam or with at least a solvent into said distribution chamber taking said steam or solvent from said tank.

15. A device as in claim 1, wherein said second means comprise a tubular element associated with a deflector able to direct said flow of air mixed with steam or with at least a solvent in a direction substantially angled with respect to the direction of the outlet flow of said fluid products from said delivery nozzles.

16. Method to prevent the exsiccation of fluid products in a delivery head of a dispensing machine for said fluid products, wherein said delivery head is provided with one or more delivery nozzles, comprising the following steps: generating a flow of air mixed with steam or with at least a solvent; conveying said flow towards a zone underneath said delivery nozzles and creating in said zone a determinate atmosphere, different from the atmosphere in the environment where said dispensing machine is to be found during use, the method also comprising the following steps: detecting one or more significant parameters of said determinate atmosphere by means of detection means arranged in proximity with said delivery head; regulating, by means of regulation means, one or more characteristics of said flow according to the values detected by said detection means in order to maintain the significant parameters of said determinate atmosphere within a set of pre-determined values.