• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A device for preparing and / or dispensing liquid food, in particular coffee or milk products, has a cleaning system (60) with a cleaning container (62) for a cleaning agent solution, which can be connected to a supply line of the device for carrying out a cleaning process. The cleaning system has a connection for a cleaning agent container (62), in which a cleaning agent is held which can be conveyed to the cleaning agent solution via the connection to the cleaning container (62). The cleaning system (60) also has an access device for accessing a digital storage device (80) arranged on the cleaning agent container (62). To improve operational and product safety when dispensing liquid food, it is provided that, as part of the cleaning process, information about the amount of cleaning agent removed or remaining in the cleaning agent container (62) or the number of cleaning agents used is sent to the storage device (80) Detergent container (62) performed cleaning operations is restored. In this way, it is possible to check with each cleaning process whether the detergent container (62) still contains or can be sufficient detergent, based on a factory fill quantity, regardless of whether the container has been refilled if necessary.
    公开号:CH716748A2
    申请号:CH01294/20
    申请日:2020-10-12
    公开日:2021-04-30
    发明作者:Remo Weniger Stefan
    申请人:Franke Kaffeemaschinen Ag；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    The invention relates to a device for dispensing liquid food, in particular coffee or milk products, with a cleaning system which comprises a cleaning container for a cleaning agent solution, which can be connected to carry out a cleaning process with a supply line of the device, the cleaning system having a connection for a cleaning agent container, in which a cleaning agent is stored, which can be conveyed for mixing the cleaning agent solution via the connection to the cleaning container, and wherein the cleaning system has an access device for accessing a digital storage device arranged on the cleaning agent container.
    The invention also relates to a method for operating such a device in which at least occasionally an automated cleaning process is carried out by passing a detergent solution through one or more lines of the device, the detergent solution at least partially mixed from the detergent stored in the detergent container becomes.
    When preparing and dispensing liquid food, for example in the form of hot or cold drinks, the dispenser is often used to process the liquid food, for example by heating, cooling, mixing different food ingredients, foaming or the like. The components and line systems inside the beverage dispensing device that come into contact with the liquid food must be cleaned at regular intervals for reasons of hygiene. This is usually done by a cleaning system that rinses the affected components and pipe systems with a cleaning agent solution. Depending on the type of food, special cleaning agents must be used with which the food residues can be removed.
    For practical reasons, the detergent is often available as a concentrate from which the detergent solution is mixed together with water in the rinsing system. For this purpose, the cleaning system can in particular comprise a cleaning agent pump which is provided to convey the cleaning agent from a cleaning agent container into a mixing chamber or a cleaning container in which the cleaning agent solution is mixed. DE 10 2008 903 733 describes a cleaning module for machines for producing liquid food, in particular for coffee machines. The cleaning module comprises at least one cleaning agent container, a metering pump for conveying the cleaning agent and a mixing container for mixing a cleaning agent solution from supplied water and cleaning agent. The cleaning module is connected to the coffee machine instead of a food container to carry out a cleaning process.
    From DE 10 2014 215 689 a beverage dispensing device with a cleaning system is known, in which a cleaning agent container and an associated cleaning agent pump are integrated into the beverage dispensing device. If a food container is replaced by a cleaning agent mixing container, the beverage dispensing device recognizes this automatically and a cleaning process can be started.
    A detergent container for a cleaning system of a device for dispensing liquid food is described in WO 2017/025238 A1. This has a connection terminal arranged on the side with a pierceable closure and a removal line leading from this to the bottom area of the container. In addition, the cleaning agent container can be provided with an identifier in the form of a barcode or an RFID tag, with which the cleaning agent contained can be identified as suitable.
    When preparing hot beverages such as coffee beverages, the water heater used for the preparation must occasionally be decalcified for the purpose of cleaning. WO 2018/108437 A1 describes a fully automatic beverage machine for preparing freshly brewed hot beverages, in particular coffee beverages, which is equipped with a decalcifying system for automatically decalcifying the water heater installed therein. The decalcifying system comprises a mixing container for mixing a decalcifying agent solution, a receiving space for a storage container for liquid decalcifying concentrate and a metering pump for metered delivery of decalcifying concentrate from the storage container into the mixing container, in which the decalcifying agent solution is mixed from the liquid decalcifying concentrate and water.
    It has now been found in practice that such, designed as disposable detergent containers, which contain detergent or decalcifying agent tested and approved by the manufacturer of the device, are often refilled with unsuitable detergents for reasons of cost or availability. This not only leads to hygienic problems, but often also represents a cause of malfunctions and defects in the device.
    [0009] It is therefore an object of the invention to improve operational and product safety when preparing and / or serving liquid food.
    The object is achieved with regard to an operating method for a device for dispensing liquid food by the features of claim 1 and with regard to the device for dispensing liquid food by the features of claim 2. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.
    In an operating method of the type mentioned, the invention provides that in the course of the cleaning process on the storage device information about the amount of detergent removed or remaining in the detergent container or about the number of cleaning processes performed using the detergent container is stored back.
    In this way, it can be checked with each cleaning process whether sufficient detergent is or can be contained in the detergent container starting from a factory-filled amount, regardless of whether the container has been refilled if necessary. In the latter case, the information would remain in the memory that the cleaning agent has been used up and the container must be replaced with a new one, so that manual refilling of the container would be inexpedient. Likewise, a started cleaning agent container can be removed from the cleaning system and inserted into another device, because the information about how many cleaning processes is still available on this device would still be retrievable from the storage device.
    In a device of the type mentioned, according to the invention, a control signal connected to the access device is provided, which is designed to store information on the storage device about the amount of detergent removed or remaining in the detergent container as part of a cleaning process via the access device on the number of cleaning processes carried out using the detergent container. This ensures that the storage device connected to the cleaning agent container always contains the information from which it can be recognized that there is still sufficient cleaning agent in stock for a further cleaning process, and a cleaning process can otherwise be aborted.
    Appropriately, the controller is therefore designed to read the information stored on the memory device about the removed or remaining in the detergent container or about the number of cleaning processes carried out using the detergent container, stored on the memory device before carrying out a cleaning process and when a maximum amount withdrawn is exceeded or undershot a minimum amount remaining in the detergent container or exceeding a maximum number of cleaning processes to output an error message and to cancel the cleaning process.
    In a preferred embodiment, the information about the removed or remaining amount of cleaning agent or the number of cleaning processes is stored using a cryptographic method to protect against manipulation. The storage device and the information stored on it are thus secured against falsification, so that the information cannot simply be reset again in the event of an undesired refilling of cleaning agent. Such cryptographic methods are known per se to the person skilled in the art. Examples of this are encryption methods that work with a private and a public key, cryptographic signature methods, or block-chain methods. The key required for the encryption can be stored in the controller in such a way that it is inaccessible to a user.
    Alternatively or cumulatively, the memory device can also be equipped with a non-rewritable memory that allows only one-time write access. The controller can be designed in such a way that it stores the information in an unoccupied memory area of the memory device without overwriting previous data entries. In this way, the history of the information stored in the memory is always retained without any gaps, so that any manipulation of the information contained can be identified.
    The detergent container is preferably designed as a disposable container and is filled with detergent, sealed airtight and supplied with an intact sealing film. This ensures that a suitable cleaning agent or a cleaning agent prescribed by the manufacturer is used so that the device is cleaned in accordance with the regulations.
    In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning system has a metering pump for the metered delivery of detergent from the detergent container into the cleaning container, in which the detergent solution is mixed from detergent and water, preferably warm water. The cleaning agent is thus in the form of a concentrate, so that the supply in the cleaning agent container is sufficient for a large number of cleaning processes. The detergent container thus remains in its separate receiving space and only needs to be replaced after the detergent has been completely used up.
    In the context of the present invention, the cleaning system preferably comprises a receiving space for the detergent container, in particular in the form of a slot, on the side facing away from an insertion opening, a hollow mandrel for piercing a closure of the detergent container provided with a puncture area is arranged, the hollow mandrel is connected to a cleaning agent supply line of the cleaning system.
    The detergent container is in particular closed on all sides, so that no detergent can run out or be spilled when it is inserted into the beverage dispenser. When the detergent container is inserted, the closure of the detergent container is pierced by the spike. The cleaning agent can be conveyed out of the cleaning agent container through the puncture channel or the mandrel by a cleaning agent pump of the cleaning system in order to mix a cleaning agent solution therefrom and thus to carry out a cleaning process. The mandrel remains in the puncture channel of the pierced stopper to remove cleaning agent and creates a fluid-tight connection between the cleaning agent container and the cleaning system.
    A second hollow mandrel is preferably arranged on the side of the receiving space facing away from the insertion opening at a height corresponding to a second puncture area of the detergent container, via which air can flow into the detergent container. With such a beverage dispensing device, a detergent container can thus be easily inserted through the insertion opening into the receiving space, with the puncture area (s) being pierced by the puncture spike (s) and the detergent container being automatically connected to the detergent system for removing detergent when it is inserted.
    In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a food pump for conveying the liquid food from a food storage container connected to the food supply line to a beverage outlet, wherein the food supply line can be decoupled from the food storage container and connected to the detergent container and the control is designed to carry out a cleaning process is to control the pump in order to deliver the detergent solution from the detergent container through the one or more food lines. The cleaning agent solution is thus conveyed by the same pump and passed through the food lines with which the liquid food is also conveyed and dispensed. During a cleaning process, the food pump is cleaned at the same time.
    To carry out a cleaning process, only the suction hose has to be removed from the food storage container and connected to a connection leading to the detergent container. It is also possible to remove the food storage container from the device and replace it with a detergent container.
    In the context of the present invention, the term cleaning process should also be understood to mean a decalcifying process. The cleaning process can therefore also include, in particular, the decalcification of a hot water generator used to prepare drinks. For this purpose, the device preferably comprises, in addition to the hot water generator, a pump for conveying drinking water from a drinking water inlet to the hot water generator. In this case, a decalcifying agent is used as the cleaning agent, which is kept in the cleaning agent container. A decalcifying agent solution is mixed from the decalcifying agent and water in the cleaning container as a cleaning agent solution. To carry out the cleaning process, the pump is connected to the cleaning container on the inlet side, if necessary via corresponding switchover valves.
    In a further advantageous embodiment, the cleaning system can have a water inlet that can be connected to the cleaning container via a shut-off valve, as well as several outlet connections connected to the cleaning container and separately activated via separate outlet valves, to which several devices for dispensing liquid food can be connected. Thus, separate devices can be provided at a beverage station, for example for different liquid foods, which have a common cleaning system.
    The cleaning system within the meaning of the present invention can be integrated into a beverage dispensing device designed as a compact device or implemented as an independent unit, e.g. as a cleaning device designed in the form of an auxiliary device. Accordingly, the device for dispensing liquid food can also be designed as a compact device or as a distributed system. In the latter case, the device can be designed as a beverage station consisting of several devices. For reasons of space, for example, one or more counter devices at which the actual dispensing of the liquid food takes place, a cooling device designed as an under-counter or side device for storing and possibly conveying the liquid food, as well as a separately arranged cleaning device as mentioned above can be provided are connected hydraulically and in terms of control technology. The counter device can in particular be a fully automatic coffee machine that is used to prepare freshly brewed hot beverages and that can also be used to dispense cooled beverages or beverage additives, such as milk, milk foam and / or cold-extracted, chilled coffee, so-called cold brew coffee.
    The storage device is preferably a radio-addressable transponder, in particular an RFID tag. The structure of a transponder or RFID tag basically provides an antenna, an analog circuit for receiving and transmitting (transceiver) as well as a digital circuit and a permanent memory. The digital circuit can be designed as a small microcontroller. In addition, however, a memory device can also be used within the scope of the invention, which is accessed in the manner of a chip card via electrical contacts.
    Further advantages and properties of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments on the basis of the figures. There are shown: FIG. 1 a water flow diagram of a cooling device with four pump modules for dispensing liquid food and FIG. 2 an enlarged view of a pump module of the cooling device from FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a cleaning system for the four pump modules from FIG. 1; FIG. 4 shows a section through a cleaning agent container inserted into a compartment of the cleaning system, FIG. 5 shows the sequence of a cleaning process in a flowchart, and FIG. 6 shows, in a further exemplary embodiment, a hot beverage preparation device with a flow heater and a cleaning system for automatic decalcification of the flow heater.
    In the device shown in Figure 1 is a cooling device 10 with four pump modules 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30 inserted therein. At each of the pump modules 30, 30', 30", 30 is one of the im Cooling chamber of the cooling device 10 connected to the storage container 13, 13 ', 13 ", 13'" for liquid food. The storage containers 13, 13 ′, 13 ″, 13 ′ ″ can, for example, be disposable containers in the manner of a bag-in-box packaging, that is to say a tube container held in a cardboard box.
    The pump modules 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30 serve to dispense liquid food from the respectively connected storage container and are connected to a drinks machine for this purpose. The output itself takes place at the drinks machine, which in the exemplary embodiment is a fully automatic coffee machine itself can be of known design, on which, in addition to freshly brewed coffee beverages, milk, milk foam and, for example, cold-extracted, chilled coffee can be dispensed from the cooling device 10.
    In Figure 1, the structure and the hydraulic interconnection of the pump modules 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30 within the cooling device 10 is shown in the form of a so-called water flow diagram. In this case, a total of four identically constructed pump modules 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30'". Each of the pump modules is connected on the suction side to a storage container 13, 13 ', 13 ", 13"', each of which is designed as a disposable container in the form of a bag-in-box packaging The relevant suction line 34 'is connected to a front connection 34 of the respective pump module 30, 30', 30 ", 30" '. The suction line 34' can be removed from the respective storage container 13, 13 ', 13 ", 13"' if necessary and instead are connected to the second front-side connection 35, namely when a cleaning process is to be carried out. A cleaning device 60 connected to the cooling device 10 via corresponding supply lines 61 is used for cleaning. the structure and function of which is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG.
    In the upper area of the flow chart, various hydraulic connections 16 are arranged on the cooling device 10, via which up to two external fully automatic coffee machines can be connected to the cooling device 10. The connections 16 include, on the one hand, hydraulic connections for the food lines 16a coming from the pump modules 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30"', as well as a connection for cold water 16b, which is used to rinse the pump modules 30, 30 'in a manner to be explained below. , 30 ", 30 '" is used with cold water, as well as a hot water connection 16c, which is looped through to the cleaning device 60, and is provided via the hot water from the hot water heater of a connected fully automatic coffee machine for cleaning processes.
    The pump module 30, enlarged as a detail in FIG. 2, comprises an electric pump 51 which is connected to the connection 34 on the suction side via a suction line 511. In the suction line 511 between the connection 34 and the pump 51 there is a flow meter 512 with which the amount of fluid sucked can be determined, as well as a closing valve 513, which is opened at the beginning of a product dispensing and closed after the product dispensing has ended in order to prevent fluid from flowing back Port 34 to prevent.
    A helical mixer 53 serving as a counter-pressure element is connected to the pressure side of the pump 51 via an outlet line 514. The outlet line 514 ′ leads from this to the rear plug connection 36.
    In addition, a gas supply line 516 opens into the suction line 511 between the flow meter 512 and the pump 51. In the gas supply line 516 there is a gas metering valve 517, a diaphragm 518 and a check valve 519. The gas metering valve 517 is in the exemplary embodiment as a clocked air valve, ie designed as a switching valve operated in rapid succession, opening and closing intermittently. The frequency with which the air valve 517 is operated can be in the range between 10 and 30 Hz. The check valve 519 only serves to prevent liquid from penetrating into the air supply line 516. To regulate the amount of air supplied, the frequency and / or pulse duty factor of the control signal with which the air valve 517 is activated can be varied.
    From the air valve 517, the air supply line 516 'leads to a pneumatic plug connection of the pump module 30. A gas such as nitrogen can be supplied via this. For this purpose, a high-pressure connection 311 is provided on the cooling device, as shown in FIG. A gas pressure container filled with nitrogen, for example a conventional gas cylinder with a gas pressure of approx. 200 bar, can be connected to this. For this purpose, a pressure reducer 312 and a closing valve 313 are located outside the cooling space at the high pressure connection 311. In the exemplary embodiment, the pressure reducer 312 is designed or set in such a way that it reduces the pressurized gas at the inlet to an outlet pressure of only 50 mbar by introducing the gas on the suction side of the pump into the suction line 511 via the air supply line 516.
    In the case of a pressure reducer (or pressure reducing valve), the output pressure is fed back to a control input and, via a pressure transducer, ensures that the pressure valve locks when the specified output pressure is exceeded and opens again when the pressure falls below it. This means that the outlet pressure cannot rise above this preset value. A piston or a membrane can serve as a pressure sensor.
    On the pump module 30 there are also two hydraulic connections 521 and 522. The air supply line 516 and the check valve 519 can be flushed via the connection 521, which is connected to the cold water connection 16b of the cooling device 10 via a valve block 17.
    The rear connection 522 is only connected through to the front connection 35 within the pump module 30. Outside the pump module 30, a line leads to the multiple connection 320, via which the cleaning agent feed lines 61 coming from the cleaning device 60 are connected.
    To carry out a cleaning process, the suction hose 34 'coming from the front connection 34 is connected to the second connection 35 and thus a loop is formed (dashed line in FIG. 1). A cleaning agent solution is provided by the cleaning device 60. The inlet-side valve 513 is opened and the pump 51 is switched on. Thus, the cleaning agent solution coming from the cleaning device 60 is sucked in via the suction line 34 'connected to a loop and conveyed via the outlet line 514 or the beverage line 16a connected to it in the direction of the external fully automatic coffee machine. There, the cleaning agent solution is either collected in a collecting container placed under the beverage outlet there or a drainage valve is opened and the cleaning agent solution is drained off in front of the beverage outlet in the direction of a drain. When the cleaning is finished, the cleaning device 60 switches over to rinsing and provides fresh water for a certain period of time for rinsing the lines.
    In operation, the suction line of each of the pump modules 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30'", as shown in Figure 1, is connected to an associated storage container 13, 13 ', 13 ", 13'". Via the control interface of the cooling device 10, the pump modules 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30'" can be controlled by a connected beverage dispensing device, for example a fully automatic coffee machine, so that cooled beverage is dispensed. For this purpose, the relevant inlet valve 513 is opened and the pump 51 is put into operation. If the air valve 517 is actuated at the same time and the closing valve 313 at the gas connection 511 is opened, gas is also sucked in by the pump 51. The amount of gas supplied can be dosed via the air valve 517. The pump 51 thus sucks in a liquid / gas mixture. The counter-pressure element 53 at the pump outlet causes a pressure increase within the pump 51. This leads to a thorough mixing of the liquid / gas mixture in the pump 51 and in this way generates a fine creamy or foam-like fluid enriched with gas, which via the discharge line 16a in Direction of the connected beverage dispensing device is promoted, where it can be dispensed at a corresponding beverage outlet or added to a coffee beverage or other beverage.
    The liquid foodstuffs that can be stored in the cooling device 10 are, in particular, milk and cold-extracted coffee drinks. Milk from a first storage container can be dispensed as milk or milk foam. Cold extracted coffee drink - so-called cold brew coffee - can be enriched with gas as so-called nitro cold brew coffee.
    In principle, the pump modules 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30'" can be constructed in the same way. However, it cannot be ruled out that the pump modules differ in their structure depending on the type of food provided.
    In Figure 3, the cleaning device 60 is shown enlarged. It comprises a cleaning container 62 in which the cleaning agent solution is mixed. For this purpose, detergent concentrate is conveyed from a detergent container 63 into the cleaning container 62. A metering pump 64 connected to the cleaning agent container 63 and a flow meter 65 with which the conveyed amount of concentrate can be measured and metered are used for this purpose. In addition, the flow meter 65 can serve as an empty signal sensor for the cleaning concentrate.
    A switching valve 66 is located behind the flow meter 65, which is brought into the lower switching position, not shown in FIG. 6, in order to fill the cleaning concentrate into the cleaning container 62. The switchover valve 66 is then brought into its upper switching position shown in FIG. In this switching position, hot water can be filled into the cleaning container 62 from the hot water connection 68 via the valve 69 opened for this purpose into the cleaning container 62. The amount of hot water that has been filled in can in turn be measured and dosed via the flow meter 65, so that a cleaning agent solution (“liquor”) of a predetermined concentration can be mixed in the cleaning container 62. A check valve 67 between the metering pump 64 and flow meter 65 prevents water from flowing in the direction of the detergent container 63 when the valve 69 is open.
    After the cleaning agent solution has been mixed in the cleaning container 62, the cleaning device 60 is ready for operation and can provide the cleaning agent solution to the cleaning agent lines 61. The cleaning agent solution is withdrawn from the cleaning container 62 via a withdrawal line 70 and a second flow meter 71. The cleaning agent lines 61 leading to the cooling device 10 are each connected to the second flow meter 71 via a valve 72a to 72d. The valves 72a to 72d are combined to form a valve block 72. To carry out a cleaning cycle of one of the pump modules 30, 30 ', 30' ', 30' '', the relevant valve 72a to 72d is opened so that by means of the pump 51 of the relevant pump module 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30'" via the Detergent line 61 detergent solution can be sucked in. Subsequently, it is rinsed again with warm water from the hot water connection 68, in that the valve 69 is opened and the switching valve 66 is brought into its upper switching position.
    An electronic storage device 80 in the form of a transponder is arranged on the cleaning agent container 63. The transponder can in particular be an RFID tag that can be read out and written to wirelessly. The cleaning device 60 has a corresponding access submission in the form of an RFID read / write device 81. This is positioned such that the transponder 80 can be read or written to when the cleaning agent container 63 is properly inserted in its receiving space. The read / write device 81 is connected via a signal line to a controller 20 which controls the cleaning process and, in the exemplary embodiment, is contained in the drinks machine or fully automatic coffee machine connected to the cooling device 10.
    The transponder or RFID tag 80 has, inter alia, an identifier which is used to determine whether the detergent container 63 used or the detergent contained therein is suitable. If this is not the case, an error message can be output via the control of the connected fully automatic coffee machine or a selection or execution of a cleaning process can be prevented. In addition, information about the capacity of the detergent container 63 and the amount of detergent still contained or already removed is stored on the RFID. It can thus be determined whether the container 63 still contains sufficient cleaning agent. If it is established that the cleaning agent container 63 is empty, or at least it should be, a corresponding error message is output and a cleaning process is prevented.
    FIG. 4 shows a lateral section through an exemplary cleaning agent container 63 which is inserted into a slot 82 of the cleaning device 60 designed to accommodate the cleaning agent container 63. The detergent container 63 is approximately cuboid, the sectional plane running perpendicular to the narrow side of the detergent container 63. In its front area pushed into the insertion compartment 82, a bottle neck 83 is attached to the detergent container 63, the end of which forms a connection terminal 84.
    From the lower region of the connection terminal 84, a removal line 85 runs parallel to the outside of the detergent container 63 to the bottom of the latter and opens into the cleaning agent container 63 there. The removal line 85 is connected in one piece to the cleaning agent container 63 via a material web 86. The bottle neck 83, which connects the detergent container 63 to the connection terminal 84, opens directly into the upper area of the detergent container 63. The lower area of the connection terminal 84 forms a first puncture area 87a which opens into the removal line 85. The upper region of the connection terminal 84 which opens into the bottle neck 83 forms a second puncture region 87b. The puncture regions 87a, 87b are provided with a common sealing film which covers the entire front opening of the connection terminal 84 and which is welded or glued onto the edge of the opening of the connection terminal 84. Behind the sealing film there is a common silicone molded part 88 as an additional leakage safety device, each with stoppers 88a, 88b protruding into the openings of the bottle neck 83 and the removal line 85, which have two centrally converging sealing lips at their respective ends. Further details of the cleaning agent container 63 can be found in the document WO 2017/025238 A1 mentioned at the beginning, to which reference is hereby made in full to avoid unnecessary repetition.
    In the insertion compartment 82, a hollow spike 89 is arranged on the right end face 82 ′ facing away from the insertion opening at the level of the first, lower puncture area, which pierces the sealing film when the cleaning agent container 63 is inserted into the insertion compartment 82. A cleaning agent feed line to the cleaning system 60 is connected to the hollow mandrel 89. A second hollow mandrel 90 is arranged above the hollow mandrel 89, which pierces the sealing film at the level of the second puncture area. The hollow mandrel 90 is connected to an air supply line 91 and ensures that air can flow into the cleaning agent container 63 when cleaning agent is removed.
    The detergent container 63 is designed as a disposable item and is filled with a detergent ex works. In the exemplary embodiment, the cleaning agent is a milk cleaner and is used to remove adhering milk residues, in particular proteins, from a milk foam system. In addition to being used for cleaning a milk system, the cleaning device 60 described above can also be used for devices for dispensing other liquid foodstuffs in which automated cleaning processes are carried out for reasons of hygiene. The cleaning agent with which the cleaning agent container is filled ex works can be selected here depending on the area of application and the type of food to be dispensed.
    In addition to the detergent container 63, the cleaning system 60 has, in particular, the metering pump 64 and the cleaning container 62, in which a cleaning agent solution is mixed from the cleaning agent and supplied water. To carry out a cleaning process, the connected pump module 30, 30 ', 30' ', 30' '' and the milk foam system of the connected fully automatic coffee machine, in particular its milk lines and any water heater and frothing chamber that may be present, up to the outlet for milk or milk foam, are filled with the cleaning agent solution flushed. Then it is rinsed with clear water.
    To stock the cleaning device 60 with cleaning agent, only the old, emptied cleaning agent container 63 needs to be removed and a new, fresh cleaning agent container is pushed into the insertion compartment 82. The spikes 89, 90 pierce the two puncture areas 87a, 87b and establish a connection between the cleaning agent feed line of the cleaning system 60 and the removal line 85 of the cleaning agent container and a connection to the air feed line 91. The cleaning system 60 is therefore ready for use immediately after the cleaning agent container 63 has been inserted.
    In FIG. 4, the transponder 80 of the cleaning agent container 63 is arranged in the upper region on its bottle neck 83. The associated read / write device 81 is located at a corresponding location outside the slide-in compartment 82 above the cleaning agent container 63. Of course, the transponder can also be located at any other suitable location on the cleaning agent container 63 and the associated reading / writing device 81 in the cleaning device 63 be arranged accordingly.
    The cleaning process is explained with reference to FIG. At the beginning of the cleaning process, the transponder or RFID tag of the cleaning agent container is read out in a step S1. On the basis of the information contained on it, it is now determined whether the cleaning agent container still contains or can contain sufficient cleaning agent. A check thus takes place P1 to determine whether the cleaning agent in the container has been used up or whether it is sufficient for a cleaning process. If the check shows that the cleaning agent has been used up, a corresponding error message is displayed in step S1a on the display of the connected fully automatic coffee machine and the cleaning process is terminated.
    If the test P1 shows that the detergent container still contains sufficient detergent according to the information read from the RFID tag, the cleaning process is continued and, in step S2, detergent is transferred from the detergent container 63 into the cleaning container 62 by means of the metering pump 64 pumped and filled with a prescribed amount of water, so that a detergent solution is created. Now, in step S3, the pump 50 of the relevant pump module 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30'" is switched on and the cleaning agent solution is thus conveyed through the food lines of the pump module 30, 30 ', 30 ", 30'" and the connected fully automatic coffee machine. When sufficient cleaning agent has flowed through the food lines, the valve 65 and then the valve 517 are rinsed with clear water in step S4 by opening or switching over. At the end of the cleaning process, information is written back to the transponder 80 or the memory contained therein by means of the read / write device 81, which can be used to check again for the next cleaning process whether there is still sufficient cleaning agent. The aforementioned information is stored in encrypted form so that it cannot be changed without knowledge of the inaccessible key stored in the controller 20.
    Such information can either indicate the amount of cleaning agent removed. The capacity of the detergent container, which is known or is stored in the transponder, can then be used to determine how much detergent is still present. It is also possible to immediately determine the remaining amount of cleaning agent and store it on the transponder.
    Alternatively or cumulatively, only the number of cleaning processes carried out can be stored. This can be done either by a counter that is counted up with each cleaning process. In this case, the detergent container is designed for a certain number of cleaning processes and when the corresponding count is reached, an empty message is output and a further cleaning process using the relevant detergent container is prevented. It is also possible that the number of cleaning processes carried out is saved by counting down a counter. In this case, the counter indicates the remaining number of cleaning processes that can still be carried out based on the number of runs provided at the factory.
    Another embodiment is shown in FIG. Elements that are the same and have the same effect are provided with the same reference symbols as in the first exemplary embodiment. This is a hot beverage preparation device such as a fully automatic coffee machine. This comprises an instantaneous water heater 91 in the form of a compact heating cartridge and a water pump 90, with which drinking water can be conveyed from a water connection - which is also to be understood as a water tank - to the instantaneous water heater 91.
    In the water flow direction upstream of the water heater 91 are the water pump 90 and a flow meter 92, which are connected to the water heater 91 via a line 95. At the hot water outlet of the flow heater 91, for example, a brewing group for preparing coffee or a beverage outlet for preparing tea can be connected in a conventional manner to the hot water line 96.
    On the suction side, the water pump 90 is connected to a drinking water connection 101 of the public pipeline network via a drinking water supply line 93. In addition, a shut-off valve 102, a check valve 104 and a pressure reducer 103 are provided in the supply line 93. Instead of a drinking water connection 101 of the public pipeline network, a connection coming from a water tank can alternatively also be provided.
    Since the instantaneous water heater 91 is prone to calcification due to the high temperatures required for rapid heating of the water and the narrow but long flow paths, a cleaning system 60 is also integrated into the hot beverage preparation device. The decalcification system 60 comprises a mixing container 62, a detergent container 63 for liquid decalcifying concentrate and a metering pump 64. The drinking water supply line 93 located on the suction side of the water pump 90 can be connected via a switch valve 94 to a suction line 70 reaching to the bottom of the mixing container 62 in order to provide a Decalcification sucking in a decalcifying agent solution from the mixing container 62 and conveying it to the flow heater 91.
    The decalcifying agent solution is mixed in the mixing container 62 by conveying a meterable amount of the decalcifying concentrate via the supply line 98 into the mixing container 62 via the metering pump 64. Via a directional valve 69, which is connected to the supply line 95 connected to the pump 90 on the pressure side, fresh water can be filled into the mixing container 62 via the supply line 97 by means of the water pump 90. The amount of fresh water filled in can be measured with the aid of the flow meter 92. The valve 69 is closed after a predetermined amount of water has been poured into the mixing tank 62.
    After the decalcifying agent solution has been mixed in the mixing container 62, the supply line 93 can be connected to the suction line 70 via the valve 94. The decalcifying agent solution is then conveyed from the mixing container 62 through the water heater 91 via the water pump 90. During the decalcifying process, the flow heater 91 can be switched on, since at higher temperatures of the decalcifying agent solution a more rapid dissolution of lime residues is achieved.
    After the decalcification process has ended, the switching valve 94 is switched back to the operating position in which the supply line 93 is connected to the water connection 101, and the water heater 91 is rinsed again with fresh water by means of the water pump 90. The optional check valve 104 prevents any decalcifying agent solution still located in the supply line 93 from flowing in the direction of the water supply 101. The control of the valves 94, 69 and the metering pump 64 can take place in the same way as the control of the other directional control valves via the control 20, which thus also carries out the decalcification process.
    As in the previous exemplary embodiment, the cleaning agent container 63 with the decalcifying concentrate is also designed as a disposable container and is provided with an RFID tag 80. The RFID tag can also be accessed via a read / write device 81 connected to the controller 20 and information relating to the amount of cleaning agent removed or still contained in the cleaning agent container 63 is stored there, or before a cleaning agent is carried out, in particular in the manner explained above. and descaling process can be read out. The disposable container can, for example, be opened and connected to the metering pump 64 by piercing it with a removal lance or a spike.
    权利要求:
    Claims (11)
    [1]
    1. A method for operating a device (30. 30 ', 30 ", 30"') for the preparation and / or dispensing of liquid food, in particular coffee or milk products, in which at least occasionally an automated cleaning process is carried out by a cleaning agent solution through a or several lines (34 ', 514, 514', 16a) of the device (30. 30 ', 30 ", 30'") are conducted, the cleaning agent solution being at least partially mixed from a cleaning agent held in a cleaning agent container (63), and the detergent container (63) is equipped with a digital storage device (80) which can be accessed by means of an access device (81),characterized in thatDuring the cleaning process, information about the amount of cleaning agent removed or remaining in the cleaning agent container (63) or the number of cleaning processes carried out using the cleaning agent container (63) is stored back on the storage device (80).
    [2]
    2. Device for the preparation and / or dispensing of liquid food, in particular coffee or milk products, with a cleaning system (60) which comprises a cleaning container (62) for a cleaning agent solution, which is used to carry out a cleaning process with a supply line (34 ', 93 ) of the device can be connected, the cleaning system (60) having a connection (89) for a cleaning agent container (63) in which a cleaning agent is held which can be conveyed to the cleaning container (62) for mixing the cleaning agent solution via the connection (89) and wherein the cleaning system (60) has an access device (81) for accessing a digital storage device (80) arranged on the cleaning agent container (63),marked bya control (20) connected to the access device (81) for signaling purposes, which is designed to store information on the storage device (80) via the access device (81) about the removed or remaining in the cleaning agent container (63) as part of a cleaning process Amount of detergent or the number of cleaning processes carried out using the detergent container (63).
    [3]
    3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the controller (20) is designed to store the information stored on the storage device (80) about the amount of cleaning agent removed or remaining in the cleaning agent container (63) or about the number of uses before a cleaning process is carried out of the cleaning agent container (63) carried out cleaning processes and output an error message and cancel the cleaning process if a maximum withdrawn amount is exceeded or a minimum amount remaining in the cleaning agent container (63) is exceeded or a maximum number of cleaning processes is exceeded.
    [4]
    4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, in which the information about the amount of cleaning agent removed or remaining or the number of cleaning processes is stored using a cryptographic method to protect against manipulation.
    [5]
    5. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, in which the controller (20) is designed to store the information in an unoccupied memory area of the memory device (80) without overwriting previous data entries, the memory device (80) in particular a non-rewritable memory having.
    [6]
    6. Device according to one of claims 2 to 5, in which the integrated cleaning system comprises a metering pump (64) for the metered delivery of detergent from the detergent container (63) into the cleaning container (62), in which from detergent and water, preferably warm water , the detergent solution is mixed.
    [7]
    7. Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, with a receiving space (82) for the detergent container on its side (82 ') facing away from an insertion opening, a hollow mandrel (89) for piercing a closure (88a) provided with a puncture area (87a) of the detergent container (63) is arranged, wherein the hollow mandrel (89) is connected to a detergent supply line of the cleaning system.
    [8]
    8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, with a food pump (51) for conveying the liquid food from a food storage container (13, 13 ', 13 ", 13'") connected to the feed line (34 ') to a beverage outlet, wherein the feed line (34 ') can be decoupled from the food storage container (13, 13', 13 ", 13 '") and connected to the cleaning container (62) and the control (20) is formed, the food pump (51) for carrying out a cleaning process ) to control in order to convey the cleaning agent solution from the cleaning container (62) through the one or more lines (34 ', 514, 514', 16a).
    [9]
    9. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, with a hot water generator (91) and a pump (90) for pumping drinking water from a drinking water inlet (101) to the hot water generator (91), wherein the cleaning agent container (63) is a decalcifying agent and a decalcifying agent solution is mixed as a cleaning agent solution in the cleaning container (62) and the pump (90) can be connected to the cleaning container (62) on the inlet side for carrying out the cleaning process.
    [10]
    10. Device according to one of claims 2 to 9, in which the cleaning system (60) has a water inlet (68) that can be connected to the cleaning container (62) via a shut-off valve (69, 66), and preferably several connected to the cleaning container (62) and has separately activated outlet connections (61) via separate outlet valves (72a, 72b, 72c, 72d), to which further devices for dispensing liquid food can be connected.
    [11]
    11. Device according to one of claims 2 to 10, in which the digital storage device (80) is designed as a radio-addressable transponder, in particular an RFID tag.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    DE202020105834U1|2020-10-26|
    CN214760632U|2021-11-19|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    DE102019128129|2019-10-17|
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