Liquid beverage dispensing machine

Abstract

A brewing machine ( 1 ) for delivering hot beverages, the machine ( 1 ) including: an inlet ( 2 ) for receiving a supply of water; at least one boiler ( 7 ) which receives water from the water supply and which is capable of delivering hot water and/or steam; a mixing station ( 26 ) which receives hot water and a predetermined dose of a beverage (such as coffee) for mixing with said hot water and subsequent delivery of said beverage from said machine ( 1 ); a cooling chamber ( 10 ) which receives part of the water supply and which delivers hot water at a predetermined maximum temperature to said mixing station ( 26 ) via an outlet ( 19 ); the cooling chamber ( 10 ) including at least one inlet ( 12 ) and at least one outlet ( 14 ) wherein said cooling chamber ( 10 ) receives cold water from the water supply and wherein the cooling chamber ( 10 ) receives hot water from the boiler ( 7 ) for delivery to the mixing station ( 26 ); and wherein the temperature of the hot water in the cooling chamber ( 10 ) which is delivered to the mixing station ( 26 ) is tempered by cold water.

The claims defining the invention are as follows:  
     
         1  A brewing machine for delivering hot beverages; the machine including; 
 an inlet for receiving a supply of water; at least one boiler which receives water from said water supply and which is/are capable of delivering hot water and/or steam;  
 a mixing station which receives hot water and a predetermined dose of a beverage such as coffee for mixing said hot water and subsequent delivery of said beverage from said machine; a cooling chamber which receives part said water supply and which delivers hot water at a predetermined maximum temperature; to said mixing station via an outlet; the cooling chamber including at least one inlet and at least one outlet wherein said cooling chamber receives cold water from said water supply and wherein said cooling chamber receives hot water from said boiler for delivery to said mixing station, wherein the temperature of hot water from said cooling chamber which is delivered to said mixing station is tempered by cold water.  
 
     
     
         2  A brewing machine according to  claim 1  wherein there is one boiler for producing hot water and steam and said cooling chamber is intermediate said boiler and said mixing station.  
     
     
         3  A brewing machine according to  claim 2  wherein said cooling chamber receives cold water via a pipe which enters said chamber and returns to said boiler.  
     
     
         4  A brewing machine according to  claim 3  wherein said pipe is arranged in said cooling chamber to provide a predetermined pipe surface area in contact with boiled water delivered from said boiler into said chamber.  
     
     
         5  A brewing machine according to  claim 4  wherein said boiler includes a heat exchanger which receives cold water from said water supply via said cooling chamber and which delivers heated water from said exchanger to said cooling chamber for delivery to said mixing station.  
     
     
         6  A brewing machine according to  claim 5  wherein said station comprises a chamber having an opening which receives a dose of soluble coffee and said hot water from said cooling chamber.  
     
     
         7  A machine according to  claim 6  wherein the cooling chamber includes a supplementary heating element for maintaining the temperature of water delivered from said cooling chamber at a predetermined minimum temperature.  
     
     
         8  A machine according to  claim 7  wherein said cooling chamber further includes a thermostat which isolates said heating element when water in said cooling chamber reaches a predetermined maximum value.  
     
     
         9  A machine according to  claim 8  wherein the temperature of water delivered from said cooling chamber via an outlet from said cooling chamber to said coffee mixing chamber is maintained within the range of 85 deg C. to 93 deg C.  
     
     
         10  A brewing machine for the preparation of servings of one or multiple hot liquid beverages such as coffee, wherein the machine includes; 
 a boiler having at least one inlet and at least one outlet,  
 a cooling chamber including at least one inlet and at least one outlet and which is in communication with said water supply and which receives at least a portion of said water supply,  
 wherein said at least one outlet to said cooling chamber communicates with and delivers heated water to a beverage mixing station and said at least one outlet from said boiler communicates with a hot water valve and at least one other outlet to said boiler communicates with a steam valve;  
 the machine further including a supply of beverage which is delivered to said mixing station and which terminates in a beverage delivery outlet.  
 
     
     
         11  A brewing machine according to  claim 10  wherein said boiler further comprises a heat exchanger associated with said boiler and in fluid communication with said cooling chamber and which receives water from said water supply via said cooling chamber,  
     
     
         12  A machine according to  claim 11  wherein, said the beverage is water soluble coffee.  
     
     
         13  A machine according to  claim 12  wherein the heat exchanger receives cold water from said water supply via the cooling chamber.  
     
     
         14  A machine according to  claim 13  wherein, when water from said water supply is delivered from said cooling chamber to said heat exchanger, the heat exchanger delivers heated water to said cooling chamber.  
     
     
         15  A machine according to  claim 14  wherein, the heat exchanger is located inside the boiler.  
     
     
         16  A machine according to  claim 15  wherein, said cooling chamber delivers water to said mixing station at a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         17  A machine according to  claim 16  wherein the temperature of water delivered from said cooling chamber falls within the range of 85 deg C. to 93 deg C. via an outlet from said cooling chamber to said coffee mixing chamber.  
     
     
         18  A machine according to  claim 17  wherein; the coffee mixing station comprises a chamber which receives soluble coffee stored in a coffee reservoir adjacent said mixing chamber.  
     
     
         19  A machine according to  claim 9  or  18  wherein said boiler includes a first outlet which delivers hot water via a control valve to at least one hot water delivery nozzle.  
     
     
         20  A machine according to  claim 10  wherein said boiler includes a second outlet which delivers steam via a steam control valve to at least one steam delivery nozzle.  
     
     
         21  A machine according to  claim 20  wherein the cooling chamber includes a supplementary heating element for maintaining the temperature of water delivered from said cooling chamber at a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         22  A machine according to  claim 21  wherein, said water supply is delivered under pressure generated by a delivery pump  
     
     
         23  A machine according to  claim 21  wherein the water supply line includes an overflow which operates in the event of over pressure in the supply line.  
     
     
         24  A machine according to  claim 23  wherein said coffee reservoir includes means to advance soluble coffee to said coffee mixing chamber upon demand by an operator.  
     
     
         25  A machine according to  claim 24  wherein a solenoid valve is located intermediate said cooling chamber and said control valve for delivery of hot water to said coffee mixing chamber.  
     
     
         26  A machine according to  claim 25  wherein a solenoid valve is located intermediate said boiler and said control valve for delivery of hot water to said hot water nozzle.  
     
     
         27  A machine according to  claim 26  wherein a second solenoid valve is located intermediate said boiler and said control valve for delivery of steam to said steam delivery nozzle.  
     
     
         28  A machine according to  claim 27  wherein said water supply is circulated through said machine by an electric motor.  
     
     
         29  A machine according to  claim 28  wherein a heating element is housed in the boiler for heating said water delivered by said water supply.  
     
     
         30  A machine according to  claim 29  wherein; said boiler includes a relief valve for release of steam in the event of over pressure.  
     
     
         31  A machine according to  claim 30  further including a control panel for setting machine operations.  
     
     
         32  A machine according to  claim 31  wherein the cooling chamber includes a thermostat  
     
     
         33  A beverage dispensing machine for the preparation of servings of one or multiple hot liquid beverages such as coffee, wherein the machine includes; 
 a boiler having an inlet which receives a supply of water;  
 a cooling chamber including at least one inlet in communication with said water supply and at least one outlet and which is in communication with a heat exchanger located inside said boiler;  
 wherein one outlet from said cooling chamber communicates with and delivers heated water to a coffee mixing chamber; and  
 wherein one outlet to said boiler communicates with a hot water valve and at least one other outlet from said boiler communicates with and delivers steam to a steam valve;  
 the machine further including a supply of soluble coffee which is delivered to said coffee mixing chamber which terminates in a coffee delivery outlet.  
 
     
     
         34  A cooling chamber for use in a machine for dispensing hot beverages, the machine including; 
 and inlet for receiving a supply of water, at least one boiler which receives said water supply and which is/are capable of delivering hot water and/or steam;  
 a mixing station which receives hot water and a dose of a beverage for mixing with said hot water and subsequent delivery of said beverage from said mixing chamber; wherein said cooling chamber receives at least part of said water supply and delivers hot water to said mixing chamber via an outlet at a predetermined maximum temperature; the cooling chamber including at least one inlet and at least one outlet wherein said cooling chamber receives cold water from said water supply and wherein said cooling chamber receives hot water from said at least one boiler for delivery to said chamber, wherein the temperature of hot water in said cooling chamber which is delivered to said mixing station is controlled.  
 
     
     
         35  A cooling chamber according to  claim 34  wherein there is one boiler in said machine for producing hot water and steam and said cooling chamber is located intermediate said boiler and said mixing chamber.  
     
     
         36  A cooling chamber according to  claim 35  wherein said cooling chamber receives cold water via a pipe which enters said chamber and returns to said boiler.  
     
     
         37  A cooling chamber according to  claim 36  wherein said pipe is arranged in said cooling chamber to provide a predetermined pipe surface area in contact with boiled water delivered from said boiler into said chamber.  
     
     
         38  A cooling chamber according to  claim 37  wherein said boiler includes a heat exchanger which receives cold water from said water supply via said cooling chamber and which delivers heated water from said exchanger to said cooling chamber for delivery to said mixing chamber.  
     
     
         39  A cooling chamber according to  claim 38  wherein said cooling chamber further includes a heating element which increases the temperature of water for delivery to said mixing chamber from said cooling chamber when the temperature falls below a predetermined minimum delivery temperature.  
     
     
         40  A cooling chamber according to  claim 39  wherein said cooling chamber further includes a thermostat which isolates said heating element when water in said cooling chamber reaches a predetermined maximum value.  
     
     
         41  A cooling chamber according to  claim 40  wherein, said cooling chamber delivers water preferably cooled to around 85 deg C. to 93 deg C. via an outlet from said cooling chamber to said coffee mixing chamber.  
     
     
         42  A cooling chamber according to  claim 41  wherein said pipe is coiled inside said cooling chamber to maximise surface area contact with hot water in said cooling chamber.  
     
     
         43  A machine for dispensing hot liquid beverages such as coffee, wherein the machine includes means for controlling a supply of water to a boiler having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a cooling chamber including at least one inlet and at least one outlet and which is in communication with said water supply and which receives at least a portion of said water supply, a heat exchanger associated with said boiler and in communication with said cooling chamber and which receives water from said water supply; wherein said at least one outlet to said cooling chamber communicates with a coffee mixing chamber and wherein the cooling chamber regulates the temperature of water discharged from said cooling chamber for use in said coffee mixing chamber.  
     
     
         44  A machine for delivering hot beverages such as coffee wherein the machine is capable of delivery of soluble (instant) coffee; and wherein the machine includes a boiler and a cooling chamber for delivery of water for mixing with said soluble coffee; wherein said cooling chamber maintains the temperature of water delivered to said mixing chamber within a predetermined temperature range.  
     
     
         45  A machine according to  claim 44  wherein the boiler further comprises a heat exchanger which receives cold water from said water supply and returns hot water to said cooling chamber from said boiler for delivery to a mixing chamber in which said hot water mixed with said soluble coffee.  
     
     
         46  A machine for the preparation of servings of one or multiple hot liquid beverages such as coffee, wherein the machine includes; 
 means for controlling a supply of water to a boiler having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a cooling chamber including at least one inlet and at least one outlet and which is in communication with said water supply and which receives at least a portion of part of said water supply;  
 a heat exchanger associated with said boiler and in communication with said cooling chamber and which receives water from said water supply and delivers water to said cooling chamber;  
 wherein said at least one outlet to said cooling chamber communicates with and delivers heated water to a coffee mixing chamber and said at least one outlet to said boiler communicates with a hot water valve and at least one other outlet to said boiler communicates with and delivers steam to a steam valve;  
 the machine further including a supply of soluble coffee which is delivered to said coffee mixing chamber which terminates in a coffee delivery outlet.  
 
     
     
         47  A heat exchanger for use with a brewing machine for delivering hot beverages; the machine including a boiler, a mixing station and a cooling chamber, wherein said heat exchanger is located in said boiler and receives cold water from a water supply via said cooling chamber and which delivers heated water from said exchanger to said cooling chamber for delivery to said mixing station.  
     
     
         48  A heat exchanger according to  claim 47  wherein the temperature of said water delivered to said cooling chamber from said heat exchanger in said boiler to said mixing station is controlled by said cooling chamber.  
     
     
         49  A heat exchanger according to  claim 48  wherein said cooling chamber includes a thermostat which maintains the temperature of water delivered from said cooling chamber at a predetermined maximum and a heating element which maintains the temperature of said water at a predetermined minimum.