Patent Application
20190152756
This application claims the benefit of EP Patent Application No. EP17202640.3, filed Nov. 20, 2017, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a vessel a vessel extraction apparatus for use in a beverage dispenser for extracting a fluid from the vessel. The vessel may comprise a flavoring fluid and/or minerals for beverages such as water.
Prior art systems deliver minerals from a plurality of tanks into a beverage.
WO 2016/090235 A1 discloses an apparatus for a portable hydration system including a mechanical or a electromechanical mechanism for dispensing additives into a liquid. Such mechanism is not well suited for water dispensers.
DE 20 2010 006 679 U1 discloses an apparatus for producing mineral water comprising at least one mineral container located between a filter and a water outlet. A pump supplies the minerals from the tank into the filtered water.
US 2011/0159150 A1 discloses a method for producing mineral water by use of a mineral substance container including a pump.
EP 2 565 165 B1 discloses an apparatus and method for producing remineralized water.
WO 2007/001488 A1 discloses a cartridge for an additive dispensing system for dispensing a consumable additive to water.
WO 2007/088523 A2 discloses a fluid container having an additive dispensing system for dispensing a consumable additive to water.
WO 2008/129260 A1 discloses a water treatment cartridge, wherein the water to be treated passes the cartridge and wherein the cartridge comprises means for automatically releasing an additive into the water in the cartridge.
High efforts are required for producing the cartridges of the prior art. Further, prior art cartridges comprise undesired materials, such as plastic. Since the prior art cartridges comprise plastic and are formed by many different parts, they cannot fulfill high hygienic standards
Consequently there is a need for a vessel for mineralization fluids and/or flavoring fluids and an extraction apparatus for such vessels that can fulfill high hygienic standards for beverage dispensers.
The object of the present invention is achieved by a vessel according to claim 1, a set of vessels according to claim 4, a vessel extraction apparatus according to claim 5, a water dispenser according to claim 16 and a use according to claim 18. The depending claims relate to preferred embodiments.
A vessel according to the present invention comprises an essentially cylindrical vessel body having an opening, a cylindrical wall and a cylindrical base. A first groove is formed in the cylindrical wall and extends in axial direction at least a predetermined portion of the vessel body from the vessel neck. A second groove is formed in the cylindrical wall and extends in axial direction at least a predetermined portion of the vessel body from the vessel neck. The first groove is an orientation groove defining the orientation of the vessel with respect to a guide of a fluid extraction apparatus. The second groove is a coding groove identifying the type of vessel. The vessel may be a small container, a small bottle or the like.
The distance, such as the angular distance, between the first groove and the second groove may determine the type of vessel. The vessel may be filled with a flavoring fluid, mineralization fluid, food additives, nutrition additives, or the like for a beverage. The distance between the first groove and the second groove may identify which type of fluid is contained in the vessel.
The vessel may comprise a septum closing the opening. In use a hollow needle, preferably a pair of hollow needles may puncture the septum for extracting the fluid and venting the vessel.
The first groove and the second groove may extend to the end of the cylindrical wall that is proximal to the opening at the neck of the vessel for ensuring that the vessel can be smoothly introduced into a fluid extraction apparatus. The first and/or the second groove may extend at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferred at least 70%, most preferred at least 85% of the height of the cylindrical wall.
The first groove and/or the second groove do not extend to the end of the cylindrical wall that is distal to the opening. The first groove and second groove extend less than 95% of the height of the cylindrical wall, preferably less than 80% of the height of the cylindrical wall from the side proximal to the opening. A stop is formed at the end of the first and second groove. Since the first groove and second groove do not extend to the end distal to the opening the vessel cannot be inserted upside down in an extraction apparatus.
The vessel body, particularly the cylindrical wall and the base may be made of a chemically inert material, such as glass or ceramics. A lid is fixed to the neck of the vessel, wherein the neck is adjacent to the cylindrical wall. The lid may be screwed or glued to the neck. The lid may hold the septum. The lid may be made of glass, metal or plastic. The septum may be made of silicone.
An inventive set of vessels comprises a plurality of the above described vessels. The set comprises at least two different types of vessels. Each type of vessel is defined by a predetermined distance between the first and second groove. In one embodiment all vessels of the set are of a different type and comprise a different distance between the first groove and second groove. The distance may be an angular distance. In each vessel type a different type of fluid may be filled. The vessel extraction apparatus may detect the type of vessel and thereby also the fluid filled into the vessels based on the distance between the first groove and second groove. On each of the vessel of the set of vessel a colored portion may be arranged, wherein the colored portion of each vessel type comprises a different color. For example the cylinder base of each vessel type may comprise a different color. On each vessel a memory device, such as an RFID tag, may be arranged indicating serial number and the type of vessel.
A vessel extraction apparatus according to the present invention is adapted to extract fluid from a plurality of vessels. Such vessel extraction apparatus comprises a plurality of receiving openings, wherein each opening is adapted to receive one of the vessels described above. The vessels may be part of the set of vessels described above to each receiving opening. A first protrusion and a second protrusion are associated to each receiving opening. The first protrusion is adapted to engage with the first groove of the vessel. The second protrusion is adapted to engage with the second groove of the vessel, which is of a vessel type that is associated or corresponds to the respective receiving opening. The distance from the first protrusion to the second protrusion of a first receiving opening differs from the distance from the first protrusion to the second protrusion of a second receiving opening. The two grooves of the vessels and the protrusion associated to a receiving opening ensure that only a vessel of a certain type can be inserted in the receiving opening. Thereby, it can be ensured that only the correct type of vessel may be inserted into the receiving opening and consequently the correct type of fluid is contained in the vessel. The receiving opening may comprise a color that is also comprised by the corresponding vessel to be inserted into this receiving opening for enabling a user to insert the correct vessel in the receiving opening.
The term “to each receiving opening a first protrusion and a second protrusion are associated” has to be interpreted such that the first and second protrusion may be formed at any place in the vicinity of the receiving opening that ensures that only one type of vessel, i.e. the vessel type with the corresponding distance between the first groove and the second groove can be inserted into the receiving opening. The first and second protrusion may be formed at the opening, an element above the opening or an element below the opening, for example. All these embodiments are covered by the term “associated”.
The distance from the first protrusion to the second protrusion of the first receiving opening differs from the distance from the first protrusion to the second protrusion of any other of the receiving openings of the vessel extraction apparatus. Such vessel extraction apparatus requires that in each receiving opening a different type of vessel is inserted.
To each receiving opening a receiving element may be associated. The first protrusion and the second protrusion associated to the receiving opening are located at the inner wall of the receiving element. In such embodiment the receiving opening may be formed by the receiving element or the receiving opening may be formed in an element located above the receiving element such as a lid, insert or plate located above the receiving element. In this embodiment, a vessel can only be inserted into the receiving element, if the distance of the first and second protrusion corresponds to the distance of the first and second groove of the vessel that is to be inserted into the receiving element.
The receiving element may be supported by a guide that allows a movement in the axial direction of a vessel positioned in the receiving element. In such embodiment the vessel is inserted in its axial direction into the receiving element and thereafter the receiving element is moved in the axial direction of the vessel by a force exerted by a user of the vessel.
The receiving element may be biased by an elastic element in the direction of the receiving opening, particularly in the axial direction of a vessel positioned in the receiving element. The force exerted by the elastic element counteracts a force applied by a user on a vessel in its axial direction thereof and ensures that the receiving element is held in its upper position if no vessel is placed into the receiving element.
The vessel extraction apparatus further comprises a latch that engages in a locked position in a locking opening of the receiving element. If the latch engages into the locking opening, the receiving element cannot be moved in the axial direction of a vessel to be inserted into the receiving element. A vessel positioned in the receiving element moves the latch into an unlocked position, in which the latch can disengage from the receiving element. In this embodiment the latch can extend in the locked position from outside the locking element into the receiving element, such as in the radial direction of the receiving element. The vessel positioned into the receiving element press the latch out of the inner portion of the receiving element, such that the latch merely extends from outside of the receiving element into the locking opening, but not from the locking opening over the inner wall into the inner portion of the receiving element. If the latch has an inclined surface or tapered surface, such as on its side directed to the receiving opening, a user can press the vessel and the receiving element in the axial direction of the vessel and the latch is moved out of the locking opening and receiving elements. This embodiment prevents misuse of the vessel extraction apparatus such that the receiving element can only be moved, if the correct type of vessel is inserted therein. Thereby, injury of a user may be prevented.
In one embodiment the locking opening is arranged between the first protrusion (groove) and second protrusion (groove). The locking opening may be arranged in a portion between the first and second protrusion that forms an angle of 180° or less between the first protrusion and second protrusion. More particularly in a radial sectional view the locking opening may be arranged in a portion between the first and second protrusion that forms an angle of 180° or less between the first protrusion and second protrusion. This embodiment avoids that a counterfeited vessel may be introduced into the receiving element. In one embodiment a plurality of locking openings may be arranged around the receiving element. The locking openings may be positioned at different angular positions with respect to the first protrusion and second protrusion for detecting counterfeited vessels. The locking openings may be positioned at opposite sides of the center of the receiving elements.
In one embodiment the vessel extraction apparatus further comprises a push-push locking mechanism that is adapted to hold in a fixed position the receiving element against the force of the elastic element. In one embodiment the fixed position corresponds to a lower position of the vessel and/or the receiving element. The push-push locking mechanism allows the receiving element in the movable position of the push-push locking mechanism to be moved in the axial direction of the vessel positioned in the receiving element. The push-push locking mechanism is activated by pushing the receiving element in the axial direction of the vessel positioned in the receiving element, particularly in the downward direction. The person skilled in the art knows several embodiments for a push-push mechanism and consequently the push-push mechanism does not have to be described in further detail herein for the sake of brevity. The push-push locking mechanism ensures that the vessel can be held in the fixed position corresponding to the lower position, in which the fluid is extracted from the vessel in the receiving element.
The push-push locking mechanism is arranged at the receiving element, particularly adjacent to the outer surface of the receiving element.
The vessel extraction apparatus further comprises a pair of hollow needles comprising a first and second hollow needle positioned under the receiving element, wherein the pair of a hollow needles punctures the septum of the vessel positioned in the receiving element, when the receiving element is held in the locked position of the push-push locking mechanism.
The vessel extraction apparatus may further comprise a fill level detection element that is adapted to detect the fill level of the liquid in the vessel. The fill level detection element may puncture the septum, when the vessel is held in the locked position of the push-locking mechanism. The fill level detection element may be an electrode detecting a current flow. The fill level detection element may be adapted to puncture the septum in the locked position of the push-lock mechanism. The fill level detection element may protrude in the locked position of the push-lock mechanism higher as at least one of the first and second hollow needle from the septum. The current for detecting the fluid level may flow between the fill level detection element and one of the hollow needles. In one embodiment, the fill level detection element may be arranged between the first hollow needle and second hollow needle. In one embodiment, the fill level detection element may be arranged at the upper portion of the first hollow needle and at the upper portion of the second hollow needle. In this embodiment the current flows between the two electrodes arranged on the hollow needles. In another embodiment, the fill level detection element comprises two electrodes that protrude in the locked position of the push-lock mechanism additionally to the two hollow needles through the septum. In this embodiment the current flows between the two electrodes and not through the hollow needles.
It is to be understood that the vessel extraction apparatus may comprise a plurality of receiving openings, wherein to each receiving opening a receiving element, a latch, a push-push locking mechanism, a pair of hollow needles and a fill level detection element may be associated.
The invention also discloses a beverage dispenser comprising the vessel extraction apparatus described before and a set of vessels described above.
The beverage dispenser may comprise a filtering device for filtering water, wherein the outlet of the filtering device is connected to the outlet of a plurality of micro metering pumps, wherein the inlet of each micro metering pump is connected to a hollow needle of the pairs of hollow needles. The filtering device may be a reverse osmosis filter that outputs demineralized water. The micro metering pumps may introduce user selected minerals into the demineralized water, wherein the minerals are supplied by fluids located in vessels inserted into the vessel extraction apparatus. The water mineralized by the micro metering pumps may be output by a nozzle to a beverage vessel of a user.
The invention also discloses a use of a vessel described above with a vessel extraction apparatus described above, comprising the step of introducing the vessel into an receiving opening of the vessel extraction apparatus such that the first groove and second groove of the vessel engage with the first protrusion and second protrusion of the vessel extraction apparatus. The vessel may be introduced into the vessel extraction apparatus such that the septum and at least a part of the first and second grooves enter the receiving opening of the vessel extraction apparatus.
These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in the disclosure that follows, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”
The vessel and the vessel extraction apparatus according to the present invention are described such that the vessel is introduced in the vessel extraction apparatus in a downward movement. It is be understood that the vessel can be moved in any direction such as horizontal, at any angle between horizontal and vertical, in the upward direction or the like into the vessel extraction apparatus. Consequently, the scope of protection of the appending claims covers all embodiments, independent of the angle in which the vessel is introduced into the vessel extraction apparatus. Drawings are not to scale and merely exemplary for understanding the principals of the present invention.
Reference is made to
The lid 212 can be made of glass or metal and can be glued or screwed to the essentially cylindrical vessel body 203. The septum 204 can be made of silicon.
According to the present invention the vessel 200 comprises a first groove 206 formed in the cylindrical wall 202. The first groove 206 is configured as an orientation groove defining the orientation of the vessel 200 with respect to a guide of a fluid extraction apparatus.
The vessel 200 further comprises a second groove 208 formed in the cylindrical wall 202. The second groove is configured as a coding groove identifying the type of vessel. A set of vessels comprises several types of vessels 200, wherein in each type of vessel a different fluid, such as a mineralization fluid, flavoring fluid can be filled. The distance between the first groove 206 and the second groove 208 determines the type of vessel.
The mineralization fluid is drawn from the plurality of vessels 200 located in the fluid extraction apparatus 300 according to the present invention. Each vessel 200 comprises a different type of mineralization fluid and/or flavoring fluid and/or supplementation fluid. Each micro metering pump 104a-104g is connected to a first hollow needle 324a-324g, which are each connected to one vessel 200 to draw a fluid therefrom. Each vessel 200 is also connected to a second hollow needle 326a-326g for venting the vessel in order to avoid negative pressure or a vacuum in the vessel.
Reference is made to
The vessel extraction apparatus 300 comprises seven receiving openings 302a-302g, wherein in each receiving opening a particular type of vessel 200 can be inserted. Underneath each receiving opening 302a-302g a receiving element 304a-304g is arranged. The receiving element 304a-304g is movable in the axial direction of a vessel 200 inserted into the receiving element 304a-304g by a guide 306a-306g.
As is shown in
As is shown in
Reference is made to
The hollow needles 324a, 326a are made of metal or any other chemically inertial material. Also the vessel 200 and the septum 204 are made of a chemical inertial material. Thereby, high hygienic standards can be fulfilled.
The push-push locking mechanism 308a, 320a holds the vessel securely in its fixed position, in which the hollow needles 324a, 326a penetrate the septum 204. Further, the latches 316a, 318a prevent injury of a user by the needles 324a, 326a by abusing the vessel extraction apparatus 300.
The distance between the first groove 206 and the second groove 208 defines the type of vessel 200 and which type of fluid is filled into the vessel 200. A plurality of protrusions 310a, 312a are associated to each receiving opening 302a-302g. The protrusions 310a, 312a, particularly the distance between the protrusions define(s), which type of vessels 200 can be introduced into the receiving opening 302a-302g. Since a distinct pair of needles 324a, 326a is associated to the protrusions 310a, 312a and the receiving opening 302a-302g, the pair of protrusions and grooves can define, which type of vessel and type of fluid in the vessel 200 can be extracted by the respective pair of needles 324a, 326a.
Although specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages. Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures and description. It is understood that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. The operations of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set. It is intended that the claims and claim elements recited below do not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim. The above described embodiments, while including the preferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP17202640.3 | Nov 2017 | EP | regional |
