Coffee machine with dispenser of a ready prepared chocolate-based beverage

Coffee machine, comprising at least one steam generator for producing steam and an apparatus for producing the coffee with associated dispensing device, a storage tank containing a ready prepared liquid chocolate product with a density suitable for being a conventional chocolate beverage, a heating device provided with an inlet and an outlet for the product to be heated and an inlet for introducing the steam, a line between said storage tank and the inlet of said heating device, a metering pump arranged along said line for conveying a predetermined amount of chocolate-based product from said storage tank to said heating device and for circulating it inside it, a line for the steam, connecting said steam generator to said inlet for the steam of the heating device, an intercept valve arranged along the said steam line as well as a beverage dispensing device connected to the outlet of the said heating device.The machine allows the dispensing of various types of beverages, such as chocolate, coffee, milk and cappuccino and owing to the presence of said intercept valve, said metering pump may dispense the chocolate beverage in hot condition or in cold condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coffee machine comprising at least one steam generator and suitable for dispensing a chocolate-based beverage.

Coffee machines suitable for preparing and dispensing various types of beverages are known in the specific technological sector.

An example of such machines is disclosed in WO-A-2006/135,864

In accordance with the known art these machines comprise an apparatus for producing coffee with an associated coffee dispensing device, a first water heater for producing steam, a second water heater for producing hot water for preparing the coffee in said apparatus, said first and second heaters being connected to a water source for replenishing them with water, a frothing device provided with an inner chamber for frothing the milk when required and at least one spout for dispensing the milk externally, said machine also comprising a milk line, connecting a source of liquid milk to the frothing device, a steam line, connecting said water heater for producing steam to the frothing device, as well as an air line, connecting an air source to the said frothing device, and respective intercept valves arranged along the said steam and air lines, said pump and said intercept valves arranged respectively along the air line and the steam line being able to be operated independently of each other such that the milk line, the steam line and the air line are connected to said chamber of the frothing device one at a time or in combination with each other.

Apparatus of the type mentioned above are known both in the sector of automatic beverage dispensing machines and in the sector of automatic machines used professionally in bars.

The various types of beverages which may be dispensed, as is known, comprise mainly cappuccino where an amount of—usually hot—foamed or frothed milk is added to the coffee, but also coffee with the addition of a small amount of hot or cold milk which is not frothed.

In the machines of the type mentioned above it was found that there also existed the need for other types of beverages, including mainly chocolate-based beverages.

EP-A-1,374,748 discloses an example of an apparatus for dispensing hot diary beverages which may include hot chocolate milk. However the disclosure of such a document does not contain any hint of making it possible the delivery of the beverages in the cold conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide the possibility of obtaining from a coffee machine, in particular but not exclusively of the type mentioned above, also both hot and cold chocolate-based beverages in order to satisfy the needs of users as regards variation of coffee and milk based beverages.

This object is achieved by a coffee machine which comprises at least one steam generator for producing steam, an apparatus for producing the coffee with associated dispensing device, a storage tank containing a ready prepared, liquid, chocolate product having a density suitable for being a conventional chocolate beverage, a heating device provided with an inlet and an outlet for the product to be heated and an inlet for introducing the steam, a line between said storage tank and the inlet of said heating device, a metering pump arranged along said line for conveying a predetermined amount of chocolate-based product from said storage tank to said heating device and for circulating said amount inside it, a line for the steam, connecting said generator to said inlet for the steam of the heating device, an intercept valve arranged along the said steam line as well as a beverage dispensing device connected to the outlet of the said heating device, wherein, owing to the presence of said intercept valve, said metering pump may dispense the chocolate beverage in hot condition or in cold condition.

With reference to abovementionedFIG. 1,1denotes in its entirety an apparatus for producing coffee, in particular espresso coffee, without this necessarily excluding a different type of coffee beverage.2denotes the coffee extraction device which is connected, by means of a line3, to a conventional dispensing device4below which a receiving cup, schematically denoted by5, is situated.

The characteristics of the coffee extraction device2depend on the preparation methods: it may be in the form of a simple mixer in the case of coffee which is soluble or in the form of concentrated syrup.

Alternatively, it may consist of a conventional device with filter.

Numeral6denotes schematically a conventional container for dispensing the soluble coffee or the concentrated coffee syrup or also represents the device for grinding the coffee beans in the case of traditional espresso coffee.

The extraction device2is connected by means of the line7to an intercept valve8which connects it to the hot water source which, in the case ofFIG. 1, consists of a heat exchanger9which is situated inside a steam generator10and, in the machine, is also intended to produce steam. The heat exchanger9is connected, by means of the line11and the line12, to a water source13for the necessary replenishing with water.

In the position where it intercepts the line7, the valve8connects the extraction device to an outlet denoted by14for removal of any residual matter.

The steam generator10is also replenished with water from the source13via the line15and the intercept valve16.

A milk frothing device, denoted overall by17, with an associated dispensing spout18situated above the cup5, is associated with the apparatus1for producing coffee. The frothing device17is connected, by means of the line19and the intercept valve20, to the steam generator10. By means of another line, denoted by21, the frothing device17is connected to an air source, denoted by22. An intercept valve23and, where necessary, an adjustable throttling device24are arranged along the line21.

Finally, the same frothing device17again is connected to a source25of liquid milk by means of a line26along which a pump27, operated by a conventional electric motor (not shown), is arranged. The pump27may be advantageously of the peristaltic type or gear type and the electric motor may be of the variable-speed type.

The source25of liquid milk consists of a storage tank28for concentrated milk in the fluid state which is conveyed, by means of a metering pump29, to a connector30which may also be designed to contain internally a non-return valve (not shown in the drawings) suitable for preventing bacterial contamination of the product contained in the storage tank28.

The water source13is connected to the connector30by means of a line31intercepted by the valve32.

Mixing of a predetermined quantity of concentrated milk and water from the source13is performed inside the connector30, resulting in the formation of cold diluted milk.

The latter, by means of the pump27and the line26, is propelled as far as the frothing device17where heating is performed by means of transfer of the condensation heat of the steam from the boiler10via the line19and the intercept valve20.

Any frothing of the milk is performed by means of the introduction of air along the line21and the adjustable throttling device24.

In the case where a quantity of cold milk is desired or requested by the user, the steam valve20is kept closed. In these conditions the cold milk may be dispensed in its liquid state or may also be frothed, by supplying air to the device17via the line21.

In accordance with the invention the coffee machine comprises a storage tank33containing a chocolate product in the liquid state already prepared with the conventional density of a chocolate drink ready for consumption.

The storage tank33, which may consist, for example, of a conventional liquid drinks carton, is connected to the inlet34aof a steam heating device denoted overall by34, by means of the line35and a metering pump36.

The steam heating device34, which may be of the conventional type, comprises an inlet34afor the product to be heated, an outlet34bfor the heated product and an inlet34cfor the heating steam.

The inlet34cis connected to the steam line19leading from the boiler10, by means of a line37and associated intercept valve38.

A line39leaving the heating device34connects the outlet34bof the latter to a dispensing device40.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, the dispensing device40for the chocolate-based beverage is situated preferably close to the respective coffee and milk dispensing devices4and18so that, with a single position of the cup5, it is possible to collect in the cup the various types of beverages which the machine is able to dispense.

Owing to the presence of the valve38along the line which conveys the steam to the heating device34, it is possible to dispense the chocolate drink supplied by the metering pump36both in the hot condition and in the cold condition.

From the above it can be understood that, depending on the opening state of the intercept valves8,20,23and38as well as operation of the milk pump27and the pump36for metering the chocolate-based product, various types of beverages, both hot and cold, may be dispensed, including, therefore, in addition to the usual coffee, cappuccino and milk, also chocolate, all of which in the same machine and using procedures which can be implemented automatically with the maximum flexibility as regards the type of beverage to be dispensed and at the same time ensuring a high degree of operational reliability.