EP1270501A1 - Unit for dispensing liquid food products - Google Patents
Unit for dispensing liquid food products Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1270501A1 EP1270501A1 EP02014339A EP02014339A EP1270501A1 EP 1270501 A1 EP1270501 A1 EP 1270501A1 EP 02014339 A EP02014339 A EP 02014339A EP 02014339 A EP02014339 A EP 02014339A EP 1270501 A1 EP1270501 A1 EP 1270501A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- unit
- outlet
- tank
- air intake
- liquid food
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
- B67D1/0003—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid
- B67D1/0009—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
- B67D1/0003—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid
- B67D1/0004—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
- B67D3/0029—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes provided with holders for bottles or similar containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
- B67D3/0029—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes provided with holders for bottles or similar containers
- B67D3/0032—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes provided with holders for bottles or similar containers the bottle or container being held upside down and provided with a closure, e.g. a cap, adapted to cooperate with a feed tube
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
- B67D2210/00002—Purifying means
- B67D2210/00013—Sterilising means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
- B67D2210/00002—Purifying means
- B67D2210/00013—Sterilising means
- B67D2210/00015—UV radiation
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a unit for dispensing liquid food products.
- the present invention relates to a unit for dispensing drinking water, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- a dispensing unit For dispensing drinking water, a dispensing unit is used comprising at least one outlet; a water tank; a hydraulic circuit connecting the outlet to the tank; and a pneumatic circuit for feeding ambient air into the tank to permit outflow of the water from the tank when the outlet is opened by the user.
- a major drawback of known units of the above type lies in the pneumatic circuit comprising an air intake which, being located to communicate with the outside, is easily contaminated by microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, ferments and/or protozoa present in the air, and which may therefore contaminate the water dispensed.
- a unit for dispensing at least one liquid food product comprising at least one outlet; a tank containing said product; a hydraulic circuit connecting said outlet to said tank; and a pneumatic circuit for feeding ambient air into said tank; the pneumatic circuit having an air intake communicating with the outside; and the unit being characterized by also comprising sterilizing means for sterilizing a space enclosing said air intake and the air drawn in by the air intake itself.
- Number 1 in Figures 1 and 2 indicates as a whole a unit for dispensing liquid food products - in the example shown, drinking water - and comprising a substantially tubular outer casing 2, which has a substantially vertical longitudinal axis 3, and is defined at the front by a front surface 4.
- Unit 1 has at least one water outlet 5, which is fitted to surface 4 of casing 2, has a longitudinal axis 6 substantially parallel to axis 3, dispenses, in the example shown, cold water, and has a known control lever 7 for opening or closing outlet 5.
- Outlet 5 is connected by a hydraulic circuit 8 to a drinking water source 9 defined, in the example shown, by a substantially cup-shaped vessel 10 fitted in known manner to the top portion of casing 2 in an upside down position so that the water flows down into circuit 8.
- vessel 10 may be eliminated, and circuit 8 may be connected directly to the water mains which thus defines source 9.
- Circuit 8 comprises a tank 11 which communicates hydraulically with vessel 10, has a substantially annular sealing member 12 extending inside tank 11 and about a neck 13 of vessel 10 to define a bottom chamber 14 containing water, and has a known cooling device (not shown) for cooling the water in chamber 14.
- Circuit 8 also comprises a conduit 15 hydraulically connecting tank 11 to outlet 5.
- Unit 1 also comprises a known pneumatic circuit 16 for feeding ambient air into chamber 14 and over the free surface of tank 11 to permit water supply to conduit 15, and therefore to outlet 5, when the user operates lever 7 to open outlet 5.
- Circuit 16 comprises a conduit 17 extending through tank 11 and communicating pneumatically with chamber 14 via a safety valve 18, and with the outside via an air intake 19, which is housed in a cavity 20 formed in casing 2, and has a known filter 21.
- Unit 1 also comprises a sterilizing device 22 in turn comprising an ultraviolet lamp 23, which is housed inside cavity 20, extends substantially parallel to axis 3, and irradiates intake 19 to sterilize the air drawn in by intake 19. More specifically, lamp 23 emits ultraviolet radiation of a wavelength substantially below 320 nanometers, and preferably ranging between 240 and 320 nanometers, to destroy microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, ferments and/or protozoa on intake 19 and in the air surrounding intake 19.
- a sterilizing device 22 in turn comprising an ultraviolet lamp 23, which is housed inside cavity 20, extends substantially parallel to axis 3, and irradiates intake 19 to sterilize the air drawn in by intake 19. More specifically, lamp 23 emits ultraviolet radiation of a wavelength substantially below 320 nanometers, and preferably ranging between 240 and 320 nanometers, to destroy microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, ferments and/or protozoa on intake 19 and in the air surrounding intake 19.
- intake 19 opens outwards at surface 4 and close to outlet 5, so that one lamp 23 is able to sterilize outlet 5, intake 19, and a space enclosing outlet 5 and intake 19.
Abstract
A unit for dispensing at least one liquid food
product has a hydraulic circuit (8) connecting at least
one outlet (5) to a tank (11) containing the product; and
a pneumatic circuit (16) for feeding ambient air into the
tank (11); a sterilizing device (22) being provided to
sterilize the air drawn in by an air intake (19) of the
pneumatic circuit (16).
Description
- The present invention relates to a unit for dispensing liquid food products.
- More specifically, the present invention relates to a unit for dispensing drinking water, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- For dispensing drinking water, a dispensing unit is used comprising at least one outlet; a water tank; a hydraulic circuit connecting the outlet to the tank; and a pneumatic circuit for feeding ambient air into the tank to permit outflow of the water from the tank when the outlet is opened by the user.
- A major drawback of known units of the above type lies in the pneumatic circuit comprising an air intake which, being located to communicate with the outside, is easily contaminated by microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, ferments and/or protozoa present in the air, and which may therefore contaminate the water dispensed.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a unit for dispensing liquid food products, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a unit for dispensing at least one liquid food product, the unit comprising at least one outlet; a tank containing said product; a hydraulic circuit connecting said outlet to said tank; and a pneumatic circuit for feeding ambient air into said tank; the pneumatic circuit having an air intake communicating with the outside; and the unit being characterized by also comprising sterilizing means for sterilizing a space enclosing said air intake and the air drawn in by the air intake itself.
- A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a schematic view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the unit for dispensing liquid food products according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the Figure 1 unit.
-
- Number 1 in Figures 1 and 2 indicates as a whole a unit for dispensing liquid food products - in the example shown, drinking water - and comprising a substantially tubular
outer casing 2, which has a substantially vertical longitudinal axis 3, and is defined at the front by afront surface 4. - Unit 1 has at least one
water outlet 5, which is fitted tosurface 4 ofcasing 2, has alongitudinal axis 6 substantially parallel to axis 3, dispenses, in the example shown, cold water, and has a knowncontrol lever 7 for opening orclosing outlet 5. -
Outlet 5 is connected by ahydraulic circuit 8 to a drinking water source 9 defined, in the example shown, by a substantially cup-shaped vessel 10 fitted in known manner to the top portion ofcasing 2 in an upside down position so that the water flows down intocircuit 8. In a variation not shown,vessel 10 may be eliminated, andcircuit 8 may be connected directly to the water mains which thus defines source 9. -
Circuit 8 comprises atank 11 which communicates hydraulically withvessel 10, has a substantiallyannular sealing member 12 extending insidetank 11 and about aneck 13 ofvessel 10 to define abottom chamber 14 containing water, and has a known cooling device (not shown) for cooling the water inchamber 14.Circuit 8 also comprises aconduit 15 hydraulically connectingtank 11 tooutlet 5. - Unit 1 also comprises a known
pneumatic circuit 16 for feeding ambient air intochamber 14 and over the free surface oftank 11 to permit water supply to conduit 15, and therefore tooutlet 5, when the user operateslever 7 to openoutlet 5.Circuit 16 comprises a conduit 17 extending throughtank 11 and communicating pneumatically withchamber 14 via asafety valve 18, and with the outside via anair intake 19, which is housed in acavity 20 formed incasing 2, and has a knownfilter 21. - Unit 1 also comprises a
sterilizing device 22 in turn comprising anultraviolet lamp 23, which is housed insidecavity 20, extends substantially parallel to axis 3, and irradiatesintake 19 to sterilize the air drawn in byintake 19. More specifically,lamp 23 emits ultraviolet radiation of a wavelength substantially below 320 nanometers, and preferably ranging between 240 and 320 nanometers, to destroy microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, ferments and/or protozoa onintake 19 and in theair surrounding intake 19. - In a variation not shown,
intake 19 opens outwards atsurface 4 and close tooutlet 5, so that onelamp 23 is able to sterilizeoutlet 5,intake 19, and aspace enclosing outlet 5 andintake 19. - Operation of unit 1 is easily deducible from the foregoing description, with no further explanation required.
Claims (5)
- A unit for dispensing at least one liquid food product, the unit comprising at least one outlet (5); a tank (11) containing said product; a hydraulic circuit (8) connecting said outlet (5) to said tank (11); and a pneumatic circuit (16) for feeding ambient air into said tank (11); the pneumatic circuit (16) having an air intake (19) communicating with the outside; and the unit being characterized by also comprising sterilizing means (22) for sterilizing a space enclosing said air intake (19) and the air drawn in by the air intake (19) itself.
- A unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said sterilizing means (22) comprise at least one ultraviolet lamp (23) so located as to irradiate said air intake (19).
- A unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the rays of said ultraviolet lamp have a wavelength substantially below 320 nanometers.
- A unit as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the air intake (19) and the outlet (5) are so located that said ultraviolet lamp (23) irradiates both the outlet (5) and the air intake (19).
- A unit as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein said product is drinking water.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT2001BO000414A ITBO20010414A1 (en) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-06-29 | UNIT FOR THE DISPENSING OF LIQUID FOOD PRODUCTS |
ITBO20010414 | 2001-06-29 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1270501A1 true EP1270501A1 (en) | 2003-01-02 |
Family
ID=11439459
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP02014339A Withdrawn EP1270501A1 (en) | 2001-06-29 | 2002-06-27 | Unit for dispensing liquid food products |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1270501A1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITBO20010414A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL2003676C2 (en) * | 2009-10-20 | 2011-04-21 | Sara Lee De Nv | Fluid packaging container. |
US20230083415A1 (en) * | 2018-05-03 | 2023-03-16 | Nypro Inc. | Apparatus, system, and method of providing a content level monitor |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3550782A (en) * | 1968-05-09 | 1970-12-29 | Louis P Veloz | Water sterilizer apparatus |
FR2607129A1 (en) * | 1986-11-20 | 1988-05-27 | Hannart Marc | Devices for making raw water drinkable, by sterilisation, and for distributing it at different temperatures |
US4757921A (en) * | 1985-05-24 | 1988-07-19 | Wm Still & Sons Limited | Water dispensers and methods |
US4801375A (en) * | 1987-02-17 | 1989-01-31 | Cuno Incorporated | Water vending system |
US4969991A (en) * | 1989-08-30 | 1990-11-13 | Valadez Gerardo M | Water purifying and dispensing system |
US5316673A (en) * | 1992-03-11 | 1994-05-31 | Harmony Brook, Inc. | Spout assembly for self-service purified water dispenser |
-
2001
- 2001-06-29 IT IT2001BO000414A patent/ITBO20010414A1/en unknown
-
2002
- 2002-06-27 EP EP02014339A patent/EP1270501A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3550782A (en) * | 1968-05-09 | 1970-12-29 | Louis P Veloz | Water sterilizer apparatus |
US4757921A (en) * | 1985-05-24 | 1988-07-19 | Wm Still & Sons Limited | Water dispensers and methods |
FR2607129A1 (en) * | 1986-11-20 | 1988-05-27 | Hannart Marc | Devices for making raw water drinkable, by sterilisation, and for distributing it at different temperatures |
US4801375A (en) * | 1987-02-17 | 1989-01-31 | Cuno Incorporated | Water vending system |
US4969991A (en) * | 1989-08-30 | 1990-11-13 | Valadez Gerardo M | Water purifying and dispensing system |
US5316673A (en) * | 1992-03-11 | 1994-05-31 | Harmony Brook, Inc. | Spout assembly for self-service purified water dispenser |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL2003676C2 (en) * | 2009-10-20 | 2011-04-21 | Sara Lee De Nv | Fluid packaging container. |
WO2011049446A3 (en) * | 2009-10-20 | 2011-09-01 | Sara Lee/De N.V. | Fluid packaging container |
JP2013508232A (en) * | 2009-10-20 | 2013-03-07 | コーニンクラケ ダウ エグバート ビー.ブイ. | Fluid packaging container |
AU2010308623B2 (en) * | 2009-10-20 | 2016-09-08 | Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. | Fluid packaging container |
US20230083415A1 (en) * | 2018-05-03 | 2023-03-16 | Nypro Inc. | Apparatus, system, and method of providing a content level monitor |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ITBO20010414A1 (en) | 2002-12-29 |
ITBO20010414A0 (en) | 2001-06-29 |
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Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20030703 |