The present invention relates to a system and a method for delivering frozen or chilled beverages.
At present, the offer for beverage preparation devices (machines) delivering frozen beverages is relatively limited. The most known devices are granita devices embedding a cooling unit (compressor) and thus being very bulky and heavy, thus not suitable for home applications. Moreover, these devices are conceived for the preparation of large quantities of beverages and so need very long times to be ready for operation (typically, several hours). Similarly, water fountains and other cold beverage devices exist but do not guarantee real cold beverages and the products are often very limited, so they do not offer a real alternative to chilled ready-to-drink products.
Most frozen beverage devices known in the prior art, for example as described in document US 2011297272 A1, are very bulky and require the use of large cooling units; in fact, they are conceived for business applications (B2B). Some other devices known in the prior art disclose the dispensing of liquid product together with shaved ice (from water ice cubes) directly into a blending unit, being then blended, as per documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,960,701, 5,619,901 or US 2010151083 for example. However, these documents also disclose big and bulky devices not adapted to be easily used in home applications.
Devices for preparing the so called granita beverages are also known in the state of the art as per documents US 2012055189 A1 or US 2004060307 A1. However, the devices described in these documents are also voluminous devices, requiring long operation times and not adapted for home applications. In the prior art, there is also known a more compact system than the devices above. This system comprises a device, which prepares a frozen or chilled beverage by driving a frozen product in rotation and displacing the frozen product towards a slicing element such as a blade in order to slice the frozen product and subsequently use the sliced frozen product for the frozen or chilled final beverage. The system requires a direct interface between the frozen product and the device in order to rotate and displace the frozen product for slicing the frozen product. Usually, a claw of the device claws the frozen product and drives the frozen product in rotation for slicing the frozen product. Using the direct interface between the frozen product and the claw has several drawbacks. For example, the direct contact with the frozen product soils the claw, thereby negatively affecting the hygiene of the device and system, since the claw has to be cleaned regularly and may affect the quality of subsequently processed frozen products. Furthermore, since the claw is in direct contact with the frozen product, there is the risk that the claw will break the frozen product or get in direct contact with the slicing element. That is, there is also the risk that both the claw and the slicing element will be damaged by the moving claw.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method, which overcome the afore-mentioned drawbacks. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system, which reduces the contact between the frozen product and the system to a minimum for improving the hygiene and the durability of the device. Furthermore, the system should provide a simple and low cost preparation of frozen or chilled beverages.
These and other objects, which become apparent upon reading the following description, are solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims refer to preferred embodiments of the invention.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a system for delivering frozen or chilled beverages comprises a device, a container, the container comprising a frozen product and the device being configured for receiving the container and for processing the frozen product of the container to deliver the final beverage. The device comprises a slicing element, the slicing element and the frozen product being relatively rotatable to each other about a rotation axis in order to slice the frozen product, and a driving unit configured to provide the relative rotation between the slicing element and the frozen product. The container comprises a container inner wall being in contact with the frozen product, wherein the container inner wall has a cross-section, which is shaped such that a relative rotation between the container and the frozen product about the rotation axis is blocked.
In other words, the container inner wall connects to the frozen product by a form fit. This form fit effects a counter force against a rotation of the frozen product relative to the container about the rotation axis, thereby blocking this relative rotation between the container and the frozen product. In particular, a cross-section having only a substantially round shape cannot effect such a form fit and the so effected counter force or blockage, since due to the constant diameter of the round shaped cross-section there is no part of the cross-section, which could stay in the way of the frozen product, when the frozen product rotates about the rotation axis.
Thus, the relative rotation between the frozen product and the slicing element about the rotation axis in order to slice the frozen product can be effected by remaining the container and thus the frozen product stationary and rotating the slicing element about the rotation axis, by rotating the container and thus the frozen product about the rotation axis and remaining the slicing element stationary, or by rotating the container and thus the frozen product as well as the slicing element about the rotation axis in opposite directions. Thereby, for providing the relative rotation between the frozen product and the slicing element, no direct contact between device parts and the frozen product is required, thus resulting in an improved hygiene and durability of the device. The blocking of the relative rotation between the container and the frozen product is thus also independent from the aggregate condition of the frozen product (which particularly affects the adhesion or frictional forces between the container inner wall and the frozen product), e.g. even when the frozen product begins to melt or melts, a relative rotation between the container and the frozen product can be blocked by the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall.
Preferably, the slicing element is provided to remain stationary about the rotation axis, and wherein the driving unit is configured to rotate the container and thus the frozen product about the rotation axis, thereby providing the relative rotation between the slicing element and the frozen product in order to slice the frozen product. In other words, the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall effects that a rotation of the driving unit can be transmitted (transferred) to the frozen product by way of the container. Thus, a direct connection between the driving unit and the frozen product in order to rotate the frozen product relative to the slicing element can be omitted, resulting in a compact system with an improved hygiene.
Preferably, the container and thus the frozen product are provided to remain stationary about the rotation axis, and wherein the driving unit is configured to rotate the slicing element about the rotation axis, thereby providing the relative rotation between the slicing element and the frozen product in order to slice the frozen product. Thus, the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall effects that the frozen product cannot rotate with respect to the stationary provided container, while the rotating slicing element slices the frozen product. As such, the driving unit is not required to rotate the container for slicing the frozen product.
The cross-section of the container inner wall may be elliptically shaped and/or comprises at least one straight section and/or at least one round section. As such, the relative rotation between the frozen product and the container can be effectively blocked, i.e. a particularly good form fit between the container inner wall and the frozen product can thus be provided.
Preferably, the cross-section of the container inner wall has the shape of a polygon, e.g. of a triangle, a rectangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, or a circle segment.
The cross-section of the container inner wall may be uniform along the rotation axis and/or wherein the cross-section of the container inner wall extends substantially only along the rotation axis. Thus, the container and the cross-section of the container inner wall can be easily manufactured. Furthermore, since the entire container inner wall along the rotation axis or the symmetry axis connect to the frozen product by the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall, an effective form fit or blockage between the container and the frozen product can be effected.
The container may comprise a moveable lid, wherein the driving unit is preferably configured to displace the lid in order to displace the frozen product towards the slicing element. In other words, the displacing movement of the driving unit for displacing the frozen product towards the slicing element is transferred to the frozen product by way of the lid. The displacing movement facilitates a more effective slicing of the frozen product due to the so effected pushing of the frozen product against the slicing element. As such, slicing of the frozen product is more effective, while not having any direct contact between the device and the frozen product. Furthermore, the lid functions as a protection for the driving unit or the driving element facilitating the displacing movement so that the driving unit or said driving element cannot come in direct contact with the sliding element.
The lid may have a cross-section, which has a shape, which corresponds to the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall such that the lid is guidable by the corresponding shapes of the cross-sections of the container inner wall and the lid for displacing the frozen product towards the slicing element. Thus, the lid can be effectively displaced for an effective displacement of the frozen product. Furthermore, the connection by way of the corresponding shapes of the lid and the container inner wall (i.e. a form fit connection) facilitates that a rotation of the lid is transferred to the container inner wall and thus to the container and the frozen product.
The lid may comprise a circumferential edge, wherein the circumferential edge comprises a sealing element for closing the container by the lid in a sealing manner. Thus, degrading of the frozen product by way of the opening sealingly closed by the lid can be prevented.
Preferably, the sealing element is a sealing lip and/or integrally formed with the lid.
The frozen product may be displaceable through an opening of the container in order to be displaced towards the slicing element, wherein the container comprises a further lid for closing the opening of the container. Thus, the further lid, e.g. a membrane, effects that the food product is not degraded, when the frozen product is not yet displaced through the opening, i.e. prior to the processing of the frozen product. The further lid is preferably designed for being opened or removed manually and/or to open, when the frozen product is displaced through the opening and towards the slicing element. For example, the further lid may comprise weakened regions, which facilitate the opening of the further lid, e.g. when the food product pushes against the further lid for being displaced through the opening. Thus, the further lid can be easily opened without affecting the container.
Preferably, the container comprises a container outer wall comprising a cross-section being shaped for transferring a rotation of the driving unit of the system about the rotation axis to the container and thus the frozen product. Thus, a rotation of the system can be effectively transferred to the container and, thus, to the frozen product by form fit only. For example, the driving unit or a driving element of the driving unit grabs the container outer wall for transferring a rotational movement of the driving unit to the container. As such, no clamping force for clamping the container is required, thereby also preserving the container from mechanically degrading.
The shape of the cross-section of the container outer wall preferably corresponds to the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall. Thus, the container may have a constant wall thickness. Thereby, the container can be manufactured more efficiently.
The container may comprise an (machine-readable) identification element, e.g. a barcode and/or an RFID tag, wherein the identification element comprises processing parameters for processing the container by the system and/or information of the frozen product contained by the container, wherein, preferably, the container outer wall comprises the tag.
The system may further comprise an injection unit for providing a jet of liquid to the sliced product in order to dissolve and/or homogenize and/or hydrate the final beverage.
The system may further comprise a heating unit adapted to be coupled with the container to at least partially detach the frozen product inside the container before it is sliced. In other words, the heating unit effects that the frozen product cannot adhere to the container inner wall by adhesion or a frictional force anymore. However, the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall still effects that a relative rotation between the frozen product and the container about the rotation axis is still prevented/blocked. As such, for example the gravitational force and/or the driving unit facilitates the displacement of the food product towards the slicing element, while the form fit between the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall and the frozen product still effects due to the so effected counter force the relative rotation between the slicing element and the frozen product in order to slice the frozen product.
The system may comprise a mixing chamber for receiving the sliced product, wherein, preferably, the injection unit is provided for injecting the jet of liquid into the mixing chamber.
The mixing chamber preferably comprises a stirring element for stirring the sliced product in the mixing chamber. Thus, the final beverage in the mixing chamber can be more effectively homogenized.
The system may comprise a control unit for controlling at least the driving unit, the injection unit, the heating unit and/or the stirring element.
The control unit may be configured to read the identification element of the container and to control the driving unit, the injection unit, the heating unit and/or the stirring element according to the processing parameters.
According to a second aspect of the invention a method for delivering frozen or chilled beverages with a system as described above comprises the following steps: providing a relative rotation between the slicing element and the frozen product about a rotation axis in order to slice the frozen product, and blocking a relative rotation between the container and the frozen product about the rotation axis by the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall.
The above description and advantages of the system applies analogously to the method.
In the following, the invention is described exemplarily with reference to the enclosed figures, in which
The system 100 of the invention comprises a container 20 and a device 10, as represented for example in
The system 100 further comprises a driving unit 50 configured to provide the relative motion of the slicing element 60 and the frozen product in the container 20, as shown in
The frozen product can be driven indirectly by the driving unit 50 through the container 20. This means that, for example, in the case where you move the container 20 by rotation, the frozen product inside of it moves together with the container 20 (i.e. there is no sliding between container and the frozen product and they move solidarily). According to the invention, the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall 301 of the container 20 can facilitate such an indirect drive of the product, as will be described in the following in more detail. The driving unit 50 may be configured to displace or push the frozen product downwards by linear movement towards the slicing element 60 and preferably along the rotation axis, so there is a vertical sliding of the frozen product with respect to the container inner wall 301, while both (container and frozen product) rotate at the same time.
As represented in
In the system 100, the type and characteristics of the beverage delivered depend on one or a plurality of the following parameters: the speed of the relative motion of the slicing element 60 and of the frozen product in the container 20, the positioning of the frozen product within the system 100 and the temperature and/or quantity and/or flow rate of the jet of liquid provided to the frozen product, as well as the positioning of the interstice in the slicing element 60.
Different embodiments will be now presented covering different possibilities of the relative rotational motion of the frozen product of the container 20 about the rotation axis and with respect to the slicing element 60. One embodiment is represented by schematic arrows in
Another possibility is represented in
Still another embodiment is possible wherein the slicing element 60 simultaneously rotates and displaces inside the container 20 and with respect to the frozen product in it, which remains stationary, thus to produce the small slices or flakes of frozen product.
In order to make the frozen product inside the container 20 move with respect to the slicing element 60 (rotating and displacing as in
In another embodiment of the invention, the system 100 is further provided with a mixing chamber 30 to where the slices or flakes of frozen product are sent. There are several possibilities of incorporating this mixing chamber 30 in the overall system 100: the mixing chamber 30 can be the same as the recipient or cup 200 where the final beverage will be served (see for example
Another example is shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the system 100 shown in
In the preferred embodiment shown in
Preferably, the container 20 is provided with an identification element 22 (see for example
An important aspect of the present invention is the specifically designed shape of the container inner wall 301, which facilitates, in particular, that the contact between the frozen product and the device 10 can be reduced to a minimum, thereby also improving the hygiene and the durability of the device 10 and system 100. This and other preferred advantageous aspects of the container 20 will be described in the following with respect to
In the example shown in
In the exemplary container 20 shown in
As exemplarily shown in a schematic manner in
As shown in
As exemplarily shown in
With reference to the container 20 shown in
The container 20 may comprise a further lid (not shown) for closing the opening 95 in order to prevent a degradation of the frozen product by way of the opening 95. The further lid may be glued to the container 20. Preferably, the further lid is designed for being opened or removed manually or to open, when the frozen product is displaced though the opening 95 and towards the slicing element 60. That is, the pushing force of the frozen product acting on the further lid due to the displacement of the frozen product towards the slicing element 60 may remove or tear the further lid such that the frozen product can be displaced through the opening 95. Preferably, the further lid comprises weakened regions (e.g. a thinner wall thickness and/or perforations), which facilitate the tearing or removal of the further lid.
With reference to
As previously described, the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall 301 facilitates that a rotation (and/or torque) of the driving unit 50 can be transferred to the frozen product. According to a preferred embodiment, the driving unit 50 cooperates with the container 20 or container body, preferably with the container outer wall 33. Thus, the container outer wall 33 preferably comprises a cross-section, which is shaped for transferring a rotation of the driving unit 50 about the rotation axis to the container 20 and thus—because of the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall 301—to the frozen product. As can be seen, e.g., in
As can be seen in
As can be seen in
Referring now to
A method for using the previously described system 100 comprises the following steps: providing a relative rotation between the slicing element 60 and the frozen product about a rotation axis in order to slice the frozen product, and blocking a relative rotation between the container 20 and the frozen product about the rotation axis by the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall 301.
The method may further comprise the step of displacing or dispensing the frozen product from the container 20 and slicing it, preferably at a certain rate defined by the relative motion of the slicing element 60 and of the frozen product. The method may further comprise the step of dissolving and homogenizing the sliced product with a jet of liquid provided by the injection unit 70.
The method of the invention may further comprise the step of detaching at least partially the frozen product inside the container 20 before it is sliced, preferably by heating, the heating being typically provided by the heating unit 21, as shown in
The method of the invention can further comprise the step of retrieving information in the identification element 22 in the container 20 and actuating the device 10 according to corresponding processing parameters, depending on the type of frozen product in the said container 20. The jet of liquid provided by the injection unit 70 to the sliced product can also be previously heated by a heater 71, as schematically shown in
In summary, as previously explained, the present invention addresses a system for delivering chilled or frozen beverages in a very short time and in a very hygienic manner, since there is substantially no direct contact between the device 10 and the frozen product; furthermore, the system is more durable and reliable, since in particular moving parts of the device 10 cannot be brought in direct contact with the frozen product and with the slicing element 60. The frozen products used in the device 10 are frozen blocks stored in the user's freezer, in a container 20 suitable to insert in the device 10 of the system of the invention. The user inserts a container 20 with the frozen block of product in the device 10 and it is processed. The first step consists in a slicing of the frozen product block so as to get ice flakes (shaved ice) of the product, as explained; then, these flakes are sprayed by a water jet so as to dissolve whole or part of it (further providing homogenization), depending on the desired final texture and temperature of the beverage. The device parameters are mainly the speed and thickness of the slicing, the positioning of the product block (the product can be layered for complex preparations, as represented schematically in
From a product point of view, the advantages of the system of the invention are numerous. First, the freezing process allows working with natural and fresh ingredients (nutriments are not damaged) and offer a very long preservation. Then, the slicing method allows cutting small pieces of product enlarging the scope of textures and in-mouth feelings. The variety of ingredients used in the device is very large, including fruits, vegetables, syrups, herbs, cereals, etc. The system of the invention is able to provide real cold and natural and fresh products using a low cost machine. And due to the non-direct contact between the device and the frozen product, which is particularly effected by the shape of the cross-section of the container inner wall 301 facilitating a slicing of the frozen product without directly connecting the device to the frozen product, the quality and hygiene of the final beverage is significantly improved.
Therefore, the system of the invention offers a wide range of real frozen and cold beverages in a very convenient way and with a low-cost machine. Moreover, the advantage of frozen base products are numerous and in line with present beverage trends demanding more freshness and natural products.
An embodiment of the system of the invention uses an additional mixing chamber to complete the shaving and dissolving features. The range of preparations is enlarged thanks to the mixing chamber arranged after the product outlet. Some of the advantages of this additional mixing chamber are the following:
It should be clear to a skilled person that the embodiments shown in the figures are only preferred embodiments, but that, however, also other designs of the system 100, the device 10 and the container 20 can be used.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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18215896.4 | Dec 2018 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2019/086787 | 12/20/2019 | WO | 00 |